HUMULUS. 



roundish, compressed ; stigmas 2, long, subulate, downy. The bracts 

 enlarge into a persistent catkin, each bract enclosing a nut enveloped 

 in its permanent bractlet, and several grains of yellow lupuline. The 

 ripe catkins are said to be narcotic and extremely bitter; pillows stuffed 

 with them have been used as agreeable sedatives. The infusion and 

 tincture act as pleasant aromatic tonics ; but Mr. Pereira doubts the 

 existence of the narcotic effects that have been ascribed to hops. 

 Certain yellow grains called Lupuline, found sticking to the surface of 

 the fruit, are considered to be the seat of the active principle. 



FICUS. 



Flowers monoecious, placed all over the inside of a large 

 fleshy hollow receptacle, which is closed up with a few scales. 

 $ irregular, of several unequal membranous segments. Stamens 

 1-5. $ . Calyx about 5-parted, membranous, converging over 

 a simple carpel, containing 1 suspended ovule, and terminated 

 by a subulate style and bifid stigma. Achenium lenticular, hard, 

 dry. Embryo curved, in the midst of fleshy albumen. 



610. F. Daemona Vahl. enum. ii. 198. Roxb. fl. ind. iii. 562. 

 Seacoast of Tanjore. 



Young shoots densely clothed with thick, soft, appressed, white hairs. 

 Leaves in general opposite, stalked, oblong, and oblong cuneate, acute, 

 serrate, above smooth, and hard, downy underneath, and elegantly 

 reticulated with numerous, soft, hairy veins, from 2 to 12 inches long, 

 often oblique, with a smooth green gland in the axils of the veins on 

 the under side ; petioles round, pubescent, with a green gland on each 

 side, at the base ; stipules within the leaves, deciduous. Fruit usually 

 in pairs, in radical withering racemes, which are frequently of great 

 length, with their apices penetrating the earth. In their native soil the 

 whole raceme, and fruit are often entirely under ground; the fruit is 

 also found singly or in pairs on the trunk and branches, though less 

 frequently than on the root. It is generally about the size of a large 

 nutmeg, obovate, very hairy ; the mouth shut with numerous scales, 

 the exterior ones glandular and more remote ; several obscure, equi- 

 distant ridges run from the eye towards the base. Male florets monan- 

 drous. Juice extremely poisonous. 



611. F. indica Linn. sp. pi. 1514. Willd. iv. 114-7. Roxb. 

 fl. ind. iii. 539. (Rheede i. t. 28. Rumph. iii. t. 84. bad.) 



East Indies. (Banyan Tree.) 



Branches spreading, sending down roots which strike into the earth 

 and, enlarging in diameter, become new trunks, by means of which the 

 tree gradually extends over a large extent of ground. Leaves stalked, 

 ovate-cordate, 3-nerved, entire, when young downy on both sides, when 

 old less so ; petiole with a broad smooth greasy gland at the apex, 

 compressed, downy ; stipules sheathing downy. Fruit in axillary pairs, 

 the size of a cherry, round and downy. Gum lac is obtained from 

 this in abundance. The white glutinous juice is applied to the teeth 

 and gums to ease the toothach ; it is also considered a valuable appli- 

 cation to the soles of the feet when cracked and inflamed. The bark 

 is supposed to be a powerful tonic, and is administered by the Hindoos 

 in diabetes. 



297 



