VENEZUELAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 321 
r 
Acad, Cass. Leop. Carol. Nat. Cur., vol. xxiv. p. 83). Yagrumo viaclio 
is Panax speciosum^ Willd., DC. Prod, iv. 254. 
Yerba bruna {MentJia aguatica^ L.; DC. Prod. xii. 170). Used as 
an aromatic, 
Yerha de cZ^t70= Nail -herb (Jussi^a angustifolia^ Lam.). The ver- 
nacular name is taken from the shape of tlie ovary. A decoction of 
the plant is said to be useful in diseases of the sexual organs, 
Yerba Luisa (Lippia cifriodora^ K., DC). An infusion of the leaves 
is used as a tonic ia stomachic disorders. 
Yerba mora {Solanum riodijlorumy Jacq., a. macropJiylluw), The 
juice of the leaves is said to cure various cutaneous diseases; poultices 
made of the leaves are used for headache and inflamed tumours, to pro- 
mote suppuration. 
Yara {Manihot utilmima^ Pohl). The bitter root, boiled and 
pounded, is used for making poultices in erysipelas, and the leaves are 
reputed to be soporific when put under the pillow. The poisonous sap 
of the tubers is called yare^ but it is of a very volatile nature. Several 
varieties of the form with non- poisonous tubers [i/, Aipi? Ed.] are 
cultivated in Venezuela. 
Yuquilla (Janipha Yuquilla^ H. B, and K. Syn. i. 418). This appears 
to be a doubtful species. A decoction of the tubers is recommended 
in gonorrhoea, and in clironic catarrhs. 
Zabila {Aloe viilgarlsy L. ; Griseb. 582). Used principally as an 
emmenagogue, but also in pulmonary diseases and syphilis. The 
leaves are called j?e/?cas, 
Zanahoria(J)aucas Carota, L. ; DC. Prod. iv. 211). The roots are 
used as emollients for the breasts of wet-nurses. (Conf. Apio.) 
Zarza or Zarzaparilla (^Smilax officinalis^ H. B. and K. See for 
further details, Seemann, Bot. Her. 217-320). "The Spanish term 
zarzaparilla (from zarza, bramble, and parilla^ a [small] vine) signifies 
a thorny vine" (Pereira, Mat. Med. ii. 1153). The medicinal pro- 
perties of this plant are well known. Throughout the country it is 
believed that the water running through the "zarzales" (places where 
Smilax qffichialis grows) is particularly wholesome, being supposed to 
extract from the roots a part of their power. This erroneous opinion 
has recently induced the Minister of the Interior of Venezuela to pro- 
hibit the gathering of zarzaparilla. 
Addenda. — Bejuco de cadena. The name of Ipomcea acetosifolia 
