A C O 



OR, BOTANICAL DICTIONARY. 



A C R 



57 



adding two drachms of lump sugar, in powder, to two grains 

 of the extract. Its principal sensible effect was in exciting a 

 copious perspiration. A much larger dose has also been safely 

 administered, but it is recommended to begin with a small 

 quantity. Dr. Murray asserts its chief virtue to be in rheu- 

 matic and other chronic disorders, for which the above extract 

 is the best preparation. It is said to have been serviceable 

 in confirmed venereal cases, and even to have discussed nodes, 

 and cured obstinate ulcers. Its efficacy in the gutta serena 

 has been commended, but probably not with such certainty 

 ii.s in the forementioned disorders. Those which have blue 

 flowers are said to be more potent than those which are yel- 

 low or white. The variety of this species, is the most com- 

 mon in our English gardens, being cultivated for the spe- 

 cious appearance of its long spikes of blue flowers. It grows 

 nearly four feet in height, the spikes are above two feet long; 

 and being very hardy, growing in any soil or situation, and 

 multiplying greatly by its roots, it has been allowed a place 

 in most gardens and plantations of shrubs. It ought, how- 

 ever, to be admitted with great caution where children and 

 ignorant persons frequent. It flowers in May and June, and 

 the seeds ripen in September. 



4. Aconitum Pyrenaicum; Pyrenean or Fennel-leaved 

 Monk'sHood, or Wolfs-bane. Leaves many-parted ; divisions 

 linear, incumbent, and squarrose. This plant grows wild 

 on the Pyrenees, in Tartary, and Siberia. The spike nods 

 before the time of flowering, which in our gardens is in July: 

 it attains to four feet high, and has a long spike of yellow 

 flowers of a middling size. It may be allowed a place among 

 shrubs, or such parts of a garden as are not frequented by 

 children. 



** With five Capsules. 



5. Aconitum Anthora ; Salutary Monk's Hood. Flowers 

 with five pistils ; divisions of the leaves, linear. The flowers 

 are not so large as those of the common sort ; they are of 

 a sulphur colour, and make a pretty appearance in the bor- 

 ders of a flower-garden. This plant, though absurdly called 

 Salutary Monk's Hood, is only poisonous in a less degree 

 than the rest of the same genus. It was supposed to be a 

 remedy against poison, particularly that of the other Aco- 

 nites ; but that dangerous error is now happily exploded. 

 The taste of the root is sweet, with a mixture of bitterness 

 and acrimony. The smell is pleasant. It purges vehemently 

 when fresh, but loses its qualities when dried ; it is not used 

 in modern practice. Its native places are, the Alps of Swit- 

 zerland, Savoy, Piedmont, Dauphiny, Austria, Carniola, Si- 

 beria, &c.; flowering from August to September. 



6. Aconitum Variegatum ; Variegated, or Small Blue 

 Monk's Hood. Flowers with five pistils ; divisions of the 

 leaves parted half way, broader above. This species seldom 

 grows more than two feet high. The corollas will change 

 from variegated to plain : it flowers at the end of June. 

 Native of Italy and Bohemia. 



7- Aconitum Album ; White Wolfs-bane, or Monk's Hood. 

 Flowers with five pistils; leaves smooth, three-parted; seg- 

 ments acutely gashed ; the claw of the upper petal longer than 

 the side ones. It is rare in Europe, was brought from the 

 Levant ; and is characterized by Mr. Miller as having a tall 

 stem upwards of six feet high, palmate leaves, and large 

 white flowers. 



8. Aconitum Cammarum ; Purple Monk's Hood, or Wolfs- 

 bane. Flowers mostly with five styles ; divisions of the leaves 

 wedge-shaped, gashed, acute. It is found wild in Switzer- 

 land, Austria, Stiria, Piedmont, &c. ; and generally has a 

 stem six feet high. Flowers white, or pale blue. 



9. Aconitum Uncinatum; American Monk's Hood, or Wolfs- 

 VOL. i. 5. 



bane. Flowers mostly with five styles ; leaves many-lobed ; 

 helmet extended very far. It is a native of Pennsylvania. 



Acorus ; a genus of the class Hexandria, order Monogynia. 

 GENERIC CHARACTER. Calix: spadix cylindric, entirely 

 simple, covered with floscules ; spathe none ; perianth none, 

 unless the calix ;be so named. Corolla: petals six, obtuse, 

 concave, loose, thicker at the top, and in a manner truncate. 

 Stamina: filaments thickish, a little longer than the corolla; 

 anther thickish, twin, terminal, adnate. Pistilla: germen 

 gibbous, rather oblong, the length of the stamina; style none; 

 stigma a prominent point. Pericarp : a short triangular cap- 

 sule, attenuated to both ends, obtuse, three-celled. Seeds 

 many, ovate, oblong. ESSENTIAL CHARACTER. Spadix cy- 

 lindric, covered with floscules. Corollas: five-petalled, naked. 

 Style: none. Capsule: three-celled. The species are, 



1. Acorus Calamus ; Common Sweet Rush. The point of 

 the scape very long and leafy. This species is distinguished 

 by its long sword-shaped leaves, resembling those of the 

 flag, but narrower, anfl of a brighter green. The root has 

 a strong aromatic smell, and a warm, pungent, bitterish 

 taste : the flavour is greatly improved by drying them. The 

 roots are said to have cured agues when the Peruvian bark has 

 failed. No cattle whatever will eat this plant, which grows na- 

 turally on the banks of rivers, and in shallow standing waters. 

 It is found wild in many parts of England, grows plentifully 

 in the dykes of Holland, and is common in many other parts 

 of Europe. This plant will succeed very well in a garden, 

 if the ground be moist ; but never produces its spikes unless 

 it grows in the water. It continues flowering from June till 

 August, and multiplies itself fast by creeping roots. 



2. Acorus Gramineus ; Grass-ieaved Sweet Rush, or Chinese 

 Sweet Grass. The point of the stalk scarcely extending be- 

 yond 'the top of the spadix. The whole of this herb has an 

 aromatic smell when bruised, much resembling our English 

 sweet-flag ; for the sake of which it is ciiltivated. It is pro- 

 bably a native of China, as the Chinese frequently have it in 

 pots about their habitations. It flowers in the spring, must 

 be kept in a dry-stove, and does not require a great degree 

 of heat. 



Acrostichum ; a genus of the class Cryptogamia, order 

 Filices. GENERIC CHARACTER. The fructifications cover 



the whole under surface of the frond. Few of these 



species have yet been introduced into gardens. Those of 

 Europe may be either preserved in pots filled with gravel 

 and lime rubbish, or planted on walls and artificial rocks : 

 but most of them being natives of very hot climates, must 

 be planted in pots, and plunged into the bark pit. 

 * Frond simple, undivided. 



1. Acrostichum Lanceolatum. Fronds linear-lanceolate, 

 acute ; shoot climbing. It is a native of the East Indies and 

 Cochin-china, adhering to trees. 



2. Acrostichum Citrifolium. Fronds lanceolate-ovate, quite 

 entire; shoot-climbing. A native of America. 



3. Acrostichum Heterophyllum. Fronds quite entire, 

 smooth, petiolate; barren ones roundish, fertile linear. 

 It is found in the woods of the East Indies, Cochin-china, 

 and Africa. 



4. Acrostichum Crinitum. Fronds ovate, obtuse, hirsute, 

 crinite above. - 



5. Acrostichum Punctatum. Fronds heart-tongued, acu- 

 minate, quite entire, dotted above. This species very much 

 resembles Hart's-tongue. It is a native of China, where it 

 is used medicinally. 



6. Acrostichum Spicatum. Frond simple, petiolate, lan- 

 ceolate, attenuated to both ends, quite entire ; spike termi- 

 nal, linear. Found on the island of Mauritius. 



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