616 SYSTEMATIC BOTANT. 



Gratiola officinalis, OflScinal Hedge Hyssop, was formerly officinal in our 

 pharmacopoeias. It possesses purgative, emetic, and diuretic properties, and 

 in large doses it is an acrid poison. 



Capraria b'fulia is usfd in Central America as tea. 



Digitalis purpurea. Foxglove.— This is by far the most important medicinal 

 plant in the order. The roots, leaves, and seeds are the most active parts of 

 the plant, but the leaves only are now officinal in our pharmacopoeias. Fox- 

 jflove is largely used as a diuretic in dropsies, and as a sedative of the circula- 

 tion in diseases of the heart, &c. In improper doses it is a deadly poison. 

 It owes its activity essentially to the presence of a peculiar bitter principle, 

 called Digitaline. Other species of Digitalis have similar properties to those 

 of D. purpurea, but they do not appear to be so active. 



Veronica officinalis .—The leaves have been employed in this country, and 

 on the Continent, as a substitute for Chinese tea : hence the plant is sometimes 

 called The de V Eur ope > 



Natural Order 178. Orobanchaceje. — The Broom-rape 

 Order. — Herbs of a more or less fleshy character growing 

 parasitically on the roots of other plants. Stems scaly, but 

 without any true green leaves. Calyx persistent, toothed. 

 Corolla in-egular, persistent; aestivation imbricate. Stamens 4, 

 didynamous; anthers 1 — 2 -celled. Ovary 1 -celled ; its com- 

 ponent carpels being placed to the right and left of the axis; 

 placentas 2 — 4, parietal; style 1. Fruit capsular. Seeds very 

 numerous, minute, with fleshy albumen, and a very small 

 embryo. 



Distribution, §-c. — Principally natives of Europe, northern 

 Asia, North America, and the Cape of Good Hope. Examples : 

 — Epiphegus, Orobanche, Lathrwa. There are 14 genera, and 

 116 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The presence of an astringent prin- 

 ciple is the most marked property of the plants of this order, 

 but they are altogether unimportant in a medicinal point of 

 view. The root of Epiphegus virginiana is called Cancer-root, 

 from its having been formerly used as an application to cancers. 

 It formed an ingredient in a once celebrated North American 

 nostrum, called Martin's Cancer Powder. 



Natural Order 179. LENTiBULARiACEiE. — The Butterwort 

 Order. — Herbs, growing in water, marshes, or wet places. Leaves 

 radical, entire or divided into thread-like filaments bearing Uttle 

 pouches or air vesicles. Flowers irregular. Calyx persistent, 

 2-lipped. Corolla 2-lipped. Stamens 2, included; anthers 1- 

 ccllcd. Ovary 1 -celled ; style 1, short; stigma 2-lipped; 

 placenta free central. Fruit capsular, 1 -celled. Seeds minute, 

 numerous, without albumen ; embryo minute, with the cotyledons 

 much smaller than the radicle. 



JJistribution, 8fc Natives of all parts of the globe, par- 

 ticularly tropical regions. Examples : — Utricularia, Pinguicula. 

 There arc 4 genera, and 175 species. 



Properties and Uses Of little importance. Pinguicula 



vulgaris is tonricd Butterwort from the property its leaves 

 possess of coagulating milk. 



