THYMELACE^E. 



Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 194. 



DAPHNE. 



Calyx tubular, withering ; tube cylindrical, coriaceous, longer 

 than the limb, imperfbrate at the base, containing the stamens ; 

 limb in 4 deep, ovate, spreading, coloured segments. Filaments 

 short, in 2 rows, from about the middle of the tube ; anthers 

 roundish-oblong, of 2 cells, simple, enclosed within the tube. 

 Ovary ovate ; style short, terminal ; stigma capitate, depressed, 

 entire. Berry oval, of 1 cell. Seed solitary, suspended, oval, 

 large, with a thin brittle skin. 



666. D. Mezereum Linn. sp. pi 509. Eng. Bot. t. 1381. 

 Woodv. t. 23. Smith Eng. Fl. ii. 228. FL Dan. t. 268. 

 In woods in various parts of Europe, especially in the central 

 countries. (Mezereum.) 



Stem bushy, 4 or 5 feet high, with upright, alternate, smooth, tough 

 and pliant branches ; leafy while young. Leaves scattered, stalked, 

 lanceolate, smooth, 2 inches long, appearing after the flowers, and 

 soon accompanied by flower-buds for the next season. Flowers highly, 

 and to many persons too powerfully, fragrant, seated in little tufts on 

 the naked branches, with several brown, smooth, ovate bracteas under- 

 neath. Calyx like a corolla in texture, crimson all over; the tube 

 externally hairy. Berries scarlet. Smith. In Germany the bark of 

 the stem and larger branches is removed in spring, folded in small 

 bundles, and dried for medicinal use. In this country the bark of the 

 root is employed. Its taste is at first sweetish, but afterwards highly 

 acrid. All the parts are excessively acrid, and act as a local irritant 

 poison. Voigt says that it vomits and purges and affects the urinary 

 organs, and that death takes place from its local operation. As a local 

 irritant, Mezereum bark is employed in France, under the name of 

 Garou, to produce vesication. In this country it is frequently employed 

 as a topical remedy for toothach. Dr. Withering cured a case of diffi- 

 culty of swallowing, by Mezereum, which he directed to be chewed 

 frequently. It has been recommended internally in venereal com- 

 plaints, but it appears not to have any influence over such maladies. 

 Dr. Cullen says he has employed it with success in some cutaneous 

 diseases. Pereira. 



667. D. LaureolaZmw sp.pl. 510. Eng. Bot. t. 119. Jacq. 

 FL austr. t. 183. Smith Eng. FL ii. 229. Woods of all Europe, 

 as far south as Sicily. (Spurge Laurel.) 



Whole plant very smooth. Stem 2 or 3 feet high, with round, pale 

 brown, upright, tough and pliant branches, crowned with tufts of 

 evergreen leaves, elegantly drooping in all directions, and about 2 or 3 

 inches long, on short footstalks. Flowers deep green, with orange 



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