215 



Chamomile, the following is taken from the Treasury of Botany : 

 " The Chamomile, A. nobilia, is a native of Britain. Its stems are 

 procumbent, or erect, much branched, leafy, furrowed and hollow 

 in the interior. The leaves are downy, pinnately divided into 

 narrow segments. The bitterness of the Chamomile is due to a 

 principle which possesses tonic properties. The aromatic fragrance 

 is due to the presence of an essential oil, which is of a light blue 

 colour v/hen freshl}^ extracted. Both these ingredients exist in 

 larger quantities in the central 3^ellow florets than in the outer 

 white ones ; hence the Wild Chamomile is preferred for medicinal 

 purposes, as in the cultivated variety the flowers are apt to become 

 double by the conversion of the yellow tubular centi-al florets into 

 white strap-shaped ones like those of the ray. Owing to the 

 stimulant tonic properties, it is much used in certain cases of weak 

 digestion, and occasionally as an emetic, in the form of an infusion. 

 A. tincfuria furnishes a yellow dye." 



Chrysmithi'mum : C. sineiise, 8ab., a native of Japan, has by 

 the skill of the florist produced many hundred varieties of 

 extremely diiferent forms and sizes. Who has not heard of 

 English Chrysanthemum exhibitions where thousands of peoj^le of 

 all shades and grades of societj^ meet to admire this winter queen 

 of flowers 1 No matter whether it l)e at the London Aquarium, 

 the Tem})le, the London Parks, the Crystal Palace, or the pi'ovin- 

 cial tow7is, there do people go for the purpose" of seeing the 

 Chrysanthemum. C . Jrutescens, the Marguerite or Paris Daisy, 

 is also a most useful decorative plant, and so ai-e C. cariiiatum and 

 C coronarium, although perhaps to a less extent. The beautiful 

 Pyrefhriiins are included under Chiysanthemum by Bentham and 

 Hooker. 



Xem-olnna : a small genus with some two species. ]\\ 

 lohata, R. Br., is found commonly in Trinidad, where it is locally 

 known a.s " Herhe d Pique." Mr. Carr states: "The Herhe d 

 Fique (its local name) has an intensely uitter leaf, it has, or had 

 many years ago, a very great reputation in our suburbs and country 

 parts, as a fever cure." The Hon. Dr. L. A. A. de Verteuil, in 

 t\\e Agricultural Eecordior Augast, 1889, p. 19, writes: " Calea 

 Lohata (a synonym of N. lobata) — this plant I regard as a good 

 succedaneum of the cinchona ; in fact as good as any which can be 

 mentioned. But so bitter is it that it must be administered in some 

 spirit, rum for instance, or in powder. The whole plant may be 

 used." 



Cineraria : From C. crnenta, a native of the Canary Islands, 

 have developed numerous varieties of fine horticultui-a.1 plants, 

 extensively grovi^n in Europe and the United States of America, 

 C. maritima has acquired somewhat of a local I'eputation as a 

 partial cure for cataract of the eye. 



