VENEZUELAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 315 
poultices are made for irritated parts of the skin. (The Creoles call 
** irritaciones '' a great number of complaints which have their origin in 
a morbid action of the organs.) 
Perejil {Peh'oselinum sativum, HofFm.). Cultivated, but only on 
account of the green leaves, as the root becomes tough and woody. 
Parsley is a known diuretic. 
Ficapica (^Miicuna urens, De Cand.), The vernacular name is de- 
rived from the Spanish verb picar = to stiilg. I believe another name, 
" Ojo de Zamuro " (eye of the carrion-vulture, VulUir aurea, L.), be- 
longs to the seeds of the same plant. Dr. Seemann found in Panama 
the name "Ojo de Venado" (Bot. Her. 109), Mucuna ureiis does not 
grow in the immediate neighbourhood of Caracas ; the nearest place is 
Dos Aguados, on the road from Caracas to Laguaira, perhaps 1500 
feet above the sea. In the valleys of Aragua I saw it frec[uenlly. The 
stinging hairs of the pods are sometimes taken with honey against worms. 
Fina (Jnanassa saliva, LindL). Cultivated on account of its deli- 
cious fruit, which is recommended as refreshment in liver complaints, 
in bilious fevers, and in jaundice. The rind is said to destroy bugs. 
Finon {Jatropha Curcas^ L.). This quick-growing shrub is used for 
fences. The seeds are a strong purgative. The milky sap of the 
stem is used in hsemorrhoids, on ulcers and w^ounds caused by burning. 
The seeds contain much oil, but this is here not extracted. Kloeden 
('Erdkunde/ i. 789) says that nearly 1000 tons of this oil go every 
year from Lisbon to England ; he calls it '' Saatol." 
Pira {Amarantlms payiiculatus^ S. strictus^ Moq.). A decoction of 
the root is recommended in astriction of the bowels, called " empacho " 
in this country. 
Pitaliaya (Cereus Pitahayay De Cand. ; C. variabilis, Pfr. Salm- 
Dyck, Cact. in Horto Dyckens. cultae, anno 1849, p. 49). The root 
is diuretic, and somewhat astringent. 
Foleo {Microme?na Brownd, Benth.). Tliis aromatic herb is used 
in diseases of the respiratory organs. A very strong decoction is said 
to be an emmenagogue, 
Fuclieri (Laiirinearum sp.). The name Fuclieri seems to be the 
same with PdY^Mrjwi, so that the tree might be Oroiea Pichurim, H. B. 
K 
and K. (Syn. i. 45S), now Nectandra Pithurim, Nees. This tree is 
supposed to give i\efabce Pichurim, which here in Caracas are sold by 
druggists under the name " Cobalonga," (See this word.) 
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