SCORZONERA OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 371 



recorded as having been cultivated in this country as far back 

 as 1562, and were then as now esteemed as pot-herbs. 



Savoy. {See Cabbage.) 



Scammony, the name of a purgative medicine obtained 

 from the tuberous roots of Convolvulus Scammonia, a perennial 

 climber of the Bindweed family (Convolvulacete), native of Asia 

 Minor, growing wild in open places among bushes. Its roots are 

 fleshy, single like a parsnip, or forked ; they contain a milky 

 juice, to obtain which the top of the root is cut in a slanting 

 manner, from which the juice runs into a shell placed to receive 

 it ; each root only yields a few drachms ; after a quantity is 

 collected it is put together and dried in the sun, and finally 

 moulded into cakes or balls ; it is also obtained by pounding the 

 roots. Pure Scammony is seldom to be obtained, being com- 

 monly mixed with the expressed juice of the roots, and even of 

 the stalks and leaves, and other ingredients. It comes to this 

 country chiefly from Smyrna. 



Scarlet -runner Bean {Phaseolus multiflorus), a climbing 

 plant of the Bean family (Leguminoscc), native of Mexico, where 

 its roots are perennial, but in this country it is cultivated as an 

 annual for the sake of its green pods, which are largely used as 

 a summer vegetable. It is remarkable as being one of the few 

 plants which twine in a contrary direction to the sun — that 

 is, from right to left. 



Scimitar Pods, Entada scandens, a strong fruticose climber 

 of the Bean family (Leguminosae), attaining a great height, 

 native of tropical India and America. It is remarkable for its 

 large hard woody flat pods, which are from 4 to 6 or even 8 feet 

 in length, and being often curved resemble a sword or scimitar. 

 They contain round hard convex seeds about 2 inches in dia- 

 meter, which are split open and made into snuff and toy boxes. 

 The seeds are sometimes sold in the streets of London under 

 the name of Indian filberts, but they are not eatable. They are 

 often carried by the Gulf Stream to the western shores of Scot- 

 land, and have been known to vegetate afterwards. 



Scorzonera (Scorzonera hisjmnica), a perennial herb of the 



