NAT. ORDER. PORTULACE.E. 39 



are also highly beautiful and ornamental ; yet no one can vie in elegance 

 and beauty the one under consideration. English botanists speak of 

 this as a rare curiosity, and only introduced into the European gardens 

 in the year 1827 ; many of its species are also enumerated, but none 

 of them worthy of particular notice at this time, as they will hereafter 

 be most accurately described. 



This plant is a native of North America and Canada, and is found 

 in greater abundance in the Northern States than any other part of 

 the globe ; some of its species are, however, natives of Chili, where 

 they are considered as one of the chief ornaments of the garden ; they 

 being planted out in the borders, and in small selected patches appro- 

 priated for the purpose. In this coimtry I do not recollect of seeing or 

 even hearing of any of the species under a state of cultivation, though 

 I think it would be well for some of our gardeners to try the experi- 

 ment. 



Medical Properties and Uses. From an extensive collection of 

 books both ancient and modern, treating upon botany and materia 

 medica, I can find no author who has ever described the medicinal 

 properties of this plant ; under these circumstances I can only relate 

 such facts as have been communicated to me by letter from physicians 

 of high respectability ; the general opinion of these gentlemen is, that 

 the plant in question possesses diuretic, diophorctic, and emmenagogue 

 properties ; it is recommended in gi-avel, kidney complaints, obstmcted 

 menstmation, &c. The leaves and roots possessing the same virtues. 

 For use, it is recommended to add one ounce of the dried leaves to one 

 quart of water, steep for a while, and drink from one to three wine- 

 glasses full per day. An extract is made by using the whole plant, in 

 which case it can be given in the form of pills ; one five grain pill for 

 a dose, two or three times a day. 



