BRE NONI AC EJE. 441 



as a substitute for Coffee. The name Hel/anthus (^A/OJ, the sun, and 

 /Zv6o$, a flower) is derived from the popular supposition, that ils large 

 heads of flowers follow the sun in its course (^[ 486). The roots of 

 Helianthus tuberosus, Jerusalem, or more properly, Girasole Artichoke, 

 are used as substitutes for potatoes. Eupatorium Ayapana, and Mikania 

 Guaco, have been used to cure the bites of snakes. Ceradia furcata 

 is a peculiar branching coral-like plant, which grows in dry sterile 

 places in the south and west of Africa, and yields a resinoid substance, 

 called by some African bdellium. Madia sativa has been cultivated 

 on account of its bland oil. The species of Lychnophora give a peculiar 

 feature to the mountains of Minas Geraes in Brazil. They grow like 

 Vellozias, and they are covered with a dense coat of long brownish- 

 coloured wool, which is often used for beds and pillows. 



918. Suborder Cichoracece. Most of the plants of this section yield 

 a milky juice, which is bitter, astringent, and sometimes narcotic. 

 By cultivation, some of them are rendered esculent. Cichorium Inty- 

 bus, Wild Succory, or Chicory, is cultivated for the sake of its root, 

 which is used as a substitute for, and as an addition to Coffee. The 

 blanched leaves of Cichorium Endivia constitute Endive. Taraxacum 

 Dens Leonis (or officinale), Dandelion, yields a milky juice, which, in 

 the form of extract, has been used medicinally as a diuretic and 

 alterative. It contains a bitter crystalline principle called Taraxacine. 

 Its root is mixed with Coffee in the same way as Chicory. The in- 

 spissated juice of Lactuca sativa, common Lettuce, and of L. virosa, 

 wild or strong-scented Lettuce, receives the name of Lactucarium, or 

 Lettuce-opium, and is used medicinally for allaying pain, and in- 

 ducing sleep. It contains a neutral active principle called Lactucin. 

 Other species of Lactuca yield an inspissated jtiice having similar 

 qualities. Scorzonera is the esculent root of Scorzonera hispanica, 

 while Salsafy is the root of Tragopogon porrifolius, which is called 

 the Oyster-plant in America. Many of the plants of the Cichoraceous 

 section, such as Hieracium, Sonchus, and Tragopogon, act as horolo- 

 gical and meteorological flowers (^[ 483, 484), their capitula opening 

 and closing at certain periods of the day, and in different states of the 

 weather. 



919. Order 107. Brunonincete, the Brunonia Family. (Monopet. 

 Pengyn.~) Calyx persistent, 5-partite, with bracts at the base. Corolla 

 inserted at the base of the calyx, monopetalous, nearly regular, wither- 

 ing; limb 5-parted, having central veins in its segments, which divide at 

 the top into two recurrent marginal veins; aestivation valvate. Stamens 

 5, inserted with, but free from, the corolla, alternating with its seg- 

 ments; anthers articulated with the short filaments, dithecal, introrse, 

 dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary free, unilocular; ovule solitary, erect, 

 anatropal; style single; stigma enclosed in a 2-valved cup or indusium. 

 Fruit a utricle, enclosed in the hardened calycine tube. Seed solitary, 



