634 OROBANCHACES. 
are bitter, others astringent, some purgative, emetic, or diuretic, 
and a few possess narcotic properties. A great many species 
are cultivated in our gardens, &c., on account of the beauty of 
their flowers. 
Capraria bifolia is used in Central America as tea. 
Digitalis purpurea, Foxglove.—This is by far the most important medi- 
cinal plant in the order. The roots, leaves, and seeds are the most active 
parts, but the dried leaves only are official in the British Pharmacopeeia. 
Foxglove is largely used as a diuretic in dropsies, and as a sedative of the 
circulation in diseases of the heart, &c. In improper doses it is a deadly 
poison. It owes its activity essentially to the presence of a powerfully 
poisonous bitter principle, called Dzgitalin, which in proper doses is used in 
medicine in the same cases-as digitalis itself; but it is a very variable sub- 
stance, and therefore uncertain in its action. Digitalin is also reputed to 
be a powerful anaphrodisiac. Ocher species of Digitalis have similar pro- 
perties to those of D. purpurea, but they are not so active. 
Gratiola officinalis, Hedge Hy ssop, was formerly official in our pharma- 
copeeias. It possesses purgative, emetic, and diuretic properties, and in 
large doses is said to be an acrid poison. 
“Leptandra virginica.—The rhizome and rootlets are official in the United 
States Pharmacopeia. The dried rhizome and more especially the resinoid 
powder, called leptandrin, which is obtained from it, are regarded as 
excellent cholagogues, and are used largely in the United States and else- 
where as substitutes for mercurials. 
Lyperia crocera.—The flowers of this plant, which is a native of South 
Africa, have been imported into this country from time to time, under the 
name of African Saffron. They closely resemble true saffron in smell and 
taste ; and have similar medicinal properties. They are also employed for 
dyeing ; they yield a fine orange colour, 
Scrophularia.—The fresh leaves of V. nodosa are sometimes used, in the 
form of an ointment or fomentation, in skin diseases and indolent tumours, 
&c. The leaves and roots of this species and of S. aquatica are purgative 
and emetic, and are supposed to be slightly narcotic. 
Verbascum.—The leaves of V. Thapsus, Great Mullein, have emollient, 
demulcent, and slightly narcotic properties. A decoction of the leaves in 
milk is frequently, used as a domestic remedy on the Continent and in 
Ireland in incipient phthisis. Smoking the dried leaves is also said to be 
useful in allaying cough in phthisis. Its seeds and those of V. nigrum are 
also stated to be ‘employed by poachers to stupefy fish in order that they 
may be readily taken. 
Veronica.—The leaves of V. officinalis have been used in this country, 
and on the Continent, as a substitute for China Tea, hence the plant is some- 
times called Thé de U Europe. They have also been considered diaphoretic, 
diuretic, expectorant, tonic, &c., and were employed formerly in pectoral, 
nephritic, and other complaints. 
Order 2. OROBANCHACE#, the Broom-rape Order.—Cha- 
racter.—Herbs of a more or less fleshy character, growing 
parasitically on the roots of other plants. Stems with scale-like 
leaves. Calys: persistent, toothed. Corolla irregular, persis- 
tent; xstivation imbricate. Stamens 4, didynamous ; anthers 
1—2-celled. Ovary 1-celled; its 2 component carpels being 
placed right and left of the axis; placentas 2—4, parietal ; 
style 1; stigma 2-lobed. Fruit a capsule. Seeds very numerous, 
minute, with fleshy albumen and a very small rudimentary 
embryo. 
