CAI.TCIFLORJK. 531 



proportion of one-thii-d of the former to two-thii-ds of tLe latter, are said to 

 form a good substitute for China Tea, 



The following plants are fi-equently considered by botanists to constitute a 

 distinct genus, Avhich is termed Cerasus, but the species comprised in it are 

 now more fi-equently included under /"/•«« M5. Several species or varieties pro- 

 duce the fruits called Cherries : thus, P. virginiana of Miller, is the Wild Black 

 Cnerry of the "United States ; P. avium the Wild Cheny ; P. Padiis the Bird 

 Cherry ; and P. virginiana of Linnsus, the Choke Cherry or Choke-berry. 

 The latter is one of the fi-uits which is commonly mixed with Pemican. (See 

 Amelancfiier.) The leaves, bark, and fruit of the Prunus Laut-o-cerastis, 

 the Common Lam-el or Cherry-laurel, are poisonous. Their poisonous pro- 

 perties are due to the production of a volatile oil containing hydrocyanic 

 acid when they are moistened with water. Cherry-laurel water is anodyne 

 and sedative in its action, and may be employed in all cases where hydi-o- 

 cyanic acid has been used. It is, however, very Uable to vary in its strength. 

 It is prepared by the distillation of the fresh leaves with water. The bark 

 of P. virginiana ot Miller is officinal in the United States Pharmacopoeia 

 and is one of the most important of their indigenous remedies. It 

 is regarded as powerfully tonic, calmative of nervous irritability, and as an 

 arterial sedative, P. lusitanica is the Portugal Laurel of our shnibberies. 

 The kernels of P. ocddentalis and other species are used for flavouring liquem-s, 

 as Xoyeau, Cherry-brandy, Maraschino, &c. A gummy exudation somewhat 

 resembling tragacanth takes place more or less from the stems of the diffe- 

 rent species of Prunus. 



Sub-Order 3,— Rose.e- The Eoseae are chiefly remarkable for their astrin- 

 gent properties. Many yield edible fraits. 



Agrimonia Eupatoria has been used as a vermifuge and astringent. 



Brayera authelmintica is a native of Abyssinia. The flowers and tops of 

 this plant under the name of Cusso or Kousso have been long employed by 

 the Abyssinians for their anthelmintic properties. They have been also 

 used of late years in this and other countries for a similar purpose, and in 

 some instances with great success. Cusso is now officinal in the British 

 Pharmacopoeia. 



Fragaria elatior, F. vesca, d'c. fm-nish the different kinds of Strawberries. 



Geum urbanum. and G. rivale are reputed to possess aromatic, tonic, and 

 astringent properties. 



Gillenia trifoliata and G. stipulacea. — The roots of both these species are 

 ii>ed in the United States as medicinal agents. In email doses they are tonic, 

 and in larger doses emetic. They are commonly known under the names of 

 Indian physic, and American Ipecacuanha. 



Poientilla Tornientilla. — The rhizome and root possess astringent and tonic 

 properties. They are employed in the Orkney and Feroe Islands to tai-' leather ; 

 and in Lapland in the preparation of a red dye. Many other species possess 

 somewhat analogous properties. 



QuiUaia saponaria. — The bark of this and other species contains a large 

 amount of saponine. It is employed in some parts of America as a substitat-* 

 for soap. It has been much used in this country lately as a detergent, in 

 cases of scurfiness and baldness of the head. 



A'osa.— The various species and varieties of this genus are well known for 

 the beauty of their flowers and for their delicious odours. The fruit (com- 

 monly known under the name of the hip) of R. canina, the Dog-Rose, is 

 employed in medicine as a refrigerent and astringent. The dried petals of 

 the unexj^anded flowers of R. gallica constitute the red-rose leaves of the 

 shops. They are used in medicine as a mild astringent and tonic. The 

 flowers when full blo^\^l are slightly laxative. The petals of R. centifolia, 

 the Hundred-leaved or Cabbage-ros?. and of some of its varieties, are re- 

 markable for their fragrance. Rose water is prepared by distilling the fresh 

 petals with water to which a little spirit of wine has been added. The vola- 

 tile oil known in commerce as Attar or Otto of Rose, and which is now almost 

 exclusively obtained from the southern slopes of the Balkan, is, according to 

 Dr. R. Baur, distilled solely from the flowers of R. damascena. According to 

 the same author, however, the rose used for the purpose is R. moschata, while 

 others again have referred its botanical source to E. centifolia, R. senipervi- 



MM 2 



