PSYCHOTRIA. 



somewhat racemose. The root possesses properties similar to those 

 of Ipecacuanha. It is the striated Ipecacuanha of Guibourt and Mr. 

 Pereira, &c., the black or Peruvian Ipecacuanha of others. It contains 

 according to M. Pelletier 9 per cent, of Emetina. 



878. P. noxia Aug. de St. Hil. pi. remarq. bras. 234-. t. 21. B. 

 DC.prodr. iv. 508; is a reputed poison in Brazil. 



PALICOUREA. 



All as in Psychotria, except the corolla, which is tubular and 

 cylindrical, and a little gibbous at the base or curved, 5-cleft, 

 bearded beneath the middle inside. The teeth of the calyx 

 and the lobes of the corolla, sometimes rather unequal. Ame- 

 rican shrubs usually destitute of pubescence. Leaves often 

 whorled and of considerable size. Flowers yellow or white, in 

 terminal sessile or stalked panicles, thyrses, or cymes. 



879. P. Marcgraavii Aug. de St. Hil. pi. remarq. bras. 231. 

 t.22. A. DC. prodr. iv. 525. Erva do Rato Marcgr. bras. 

 60. f. 2. Galvania Vellozii 7?. and S. Brazil in the woods of 

 Minas Geraes and Pernambuco. 



A shrub 5-6 feet high. Branches quadrangular, smooth. Leaves 

 short-stalked, oblong, acuminate, obtuse at the base, smooth ; stipules 

 interpetiolar, trifid. Cymes terminal, stalked, solitary or occasionally 

 3 together. Pedicels downy. Calyx 5-toothed, downy. Corolla 5-7 

 lines long, slightly curved, gibbous at the base, roughly downy, yellow- 

 ish saffron-coloured below, purplish above ; closely bearded with hairs 

 inside. Epigynous cup somewhat 2-lobed. Sometimes the leaves are 

 downy underneath. A poisonous plant, employed in Brazil to kill 

 rats and mice. Very little is known of its real properties. 



880. P. crocea DC. prodr. iv. 526. Psychotria crocea 

 Swartzfl. ind. occ. 429. (Browne jam. 1. 13. f. 1.) . West India 

 Islands. 



Quite smooth. Leaves ovate or oval-lanceolate, acuminate, rather 

 stiff. Stipules connected by a short ligula, two on each side, linear, 

 acuminate, twice as short as the petiole. Panicle corymbose, terminal, 

 saffron-coloured. Corolla obconical, tubular. Anthers projecting from 

 the tube, shorter than the limb. Berry somewhat double, DC. An 

 emetic according to Von Martius. 



881. P. speciosa HBK. iii. 368. DC.prodr. iv. 528. New 

 Granada, and Brazil. (Douradinha do Campo.) 



Branches smooth, round. Leaves oblong, acuminate, acute at the 

 base, membranous, roughish, shining; stipules smooth. Panicles 

 stalked ; their angular branches and corollas hairy and downy, DC. 

 The leaves have, by their yellow colour, obtained for the plant the 

 name of Goldshrub, highly spoken of in Brazil as an antisiphilitic. The 

 decoction, which in large doses forms a real poison, acts especially by 

 an increased action of the skin and kidneys, and the digestion is not 

 injured by moderate doses. Martius. 



882. P. officinalis Mart, in linncea 1830 litt. 39. DC.prodr. 

 iv. 530. Brazil. 



441 



