208 WILD FLOWERS. 



rows, and open, yet shady woods, as well as in the 

 completely different localities of the dry and sun- 

 burnt soils of the Holmes in the Bristol Channel, 

 and on Portland Isle ; in both which places it is ex- 

 tensively collected as an article of commerce. Its 

 roots form the salep of our older cookery-books ; 

 and serve as one of the more harmless ingredients 

 used for adulterating arrow-root ; to which it bears 

 a close resemblance; being, like the arrow-root 

 (maranta esculenta) and its cogeners Taro (A. escu- 

 lenta), and the celebrated Egyptian arum (A. colocd- 

 sia\ of an acrimonious and even poisonous nature, so 

 that a slice of the root applied to the skin, in a 

 fresh state, instantly raises a blister. This property 

 is however completely destroyed either by drying, 

 by the application of heat, or by maceration in 

 water, when a simple farinaceous, or starchy sub- 

 stance remains, which is tasteless and perfectly 

 wholesome : a peculiarity, and a process, which 

 appear to have been early discovered, and applied 

 to plants of a similar nature by the rudest and least 

 civilized people, as the lowest tribes of negroes, and 

 Papuans, the South-sea Islanders, &c. 



Medicinally, the arum was formally employed in 

 its fresh state, as a powerful stimulant, though, as it 

 neither imparts its acrimonous principle to water, 

 nor spirit, it was necessary to extract the juice of 

 the plant, and administer it pure ; it was used 

 both externally and internally, and considered 

 invaluable in stimulating not only the languid tone 

 of a weakened digestion, but also the whole system 

 of circulation. It was also considered a cure for 



