COEOLLIFLOR^. 



579 



and hunger-staying properties of coffee, and its extensive employment 

 is much to be deprecated, as it is not unfrequently attended with inj'urions 

 effects. The fresh root has been employed in medicine, and possesses some- 

 what similar properties to that of Dandelion. A bine dye may be prepai-ed 

 from the leaves. Cichorium Endivia is the garden Succory or Endive, the 

 leaves of which when blanched are used as a salad. 



Lattuca.—L. sativa is the garden or common Lettuce. It is largely culti- 

 vated as a salad. As a medicine it possesses to a slight extent sedative, 

 anodyne, and antispasmodic properties. Lactuca virosa, the "Wild or Strong- 

 scented Lettuce, possesses much more evident anodyne and antispasmodic 

 properties than the common Lettuce. The inspissated juice of both Z. sativa 

 and Z. virosa is Lactucarium or Lettuce Opium, which is employed for its 

 narcotic properties. Z. vir^osa yields the best and the largest quantity of 

 Lactucarium. Z. rirosa is officinal in the British Pharmacopoeia. Other 

 species of Lactuca possess similar properties. 



Scorzonera. — S. hispanica has esculent roots, which are known under the 

 name of Scorzonera. and are much esteemed. The roots of S. deliciosa are 

 also much valued in Sicily, where it is a native. 



Taraxacuiyi Dens Leonis or Leontodon Taraxacum is the common Dan- 

 dehon. The root is very extensively employed as a medicinal agent. It is 

 commonly regarded as possessing aperient, diuretic, and alterative properties. 

 It contains a bitter crystalline principle, called Taraxacine, to which it 

 seems principally to owe its properties. "UTien roasted, it has sometimes 

 been employed as an addition to coffee, in the same manner as Chicory root. 



Tragopogon porrifolius. — The roots are eaten under the name of Salsafy. 

 and although a very useful vegetable, they are inferior to Scorzonera. In 

 America it is caUed the Oyster-plant, as the roots when cooked are thought 

 to have the taste of oysters, 



Natural Order 130. Campanulace.^. — The Hare-bell or Bell- 

 flower Order (fiffs. 959-961). — Character. — Herbaceous plants 

 or under-shrubs, with a milky juice. Leaves nearly always alter- 

 nate, exstipulate. Cali/x superior (Jig. 961), persistent (Jig. 673). 



Fig. 959. 



Fig. 960. 



Fig. 961. 



Fig. 959. Diagram of the flower of Rampion (Campanula Uaptmcidus). 



Fig. 960. Vertical section of the seed. Fig. 961. Vertical section of 



the flower. 



CoroZ^a monopetalous, regular (fgs. 411 and -463), marcescent 

 (Jigs. 411 and 674); (estivation valvate {Jigs. 411 and 959). 

 Stamens equal in number to the lobes of the corolla (Jig. 959), 

 with which they alternate ; anthers 2-celled, distinct or partly 

 united. Ovari/ inferior {Jig. 961). 2 or more celled {,figs. 616 

 and 959) ; stgle simple (Jig. 490), hairy ; stigma naked. Fruit 

 dry, capsular, dehiscing by lateral orifices {Jigs. 673 and 674;, 

 p p 2 



