JUNIPERUS. 



length, while they become spreading, acerose, remote from each other, 

 and irregular in their insertion, being either opposite or ternate ; such 

 shoots are so dissimilar to the parent tree that they have repeatedly 

 been mistaken for individuals of a different species. The barren flowers 

 grow in small oblong aments, formed by peltate scales with the an- 

 thers concealed within them. The fertile flowers form a small roundish 

 galbulus, with 2 or 3 seeds, covered on its outer surface with a bright 

 blue powder. Similar in effects to J. Sabina, for which it is used in 

 North America as a substitute. 



1180. J. Sabina Linn, sp.pl 1472. Woodv. t. 94. Lou- 

 don Arb. et frut. Britt. 2499. Midland parts of Europe and 

 Russia in Asia. (Savin. ) 



A dull deep-green very compact bush, usually more disposed to 

 spread horizontally than to form a stem. Branches slender, round, 

 tough, closely covered with short acute imbricating leaves ; they are 

 very bitter and have a strong disagreeable smell. Fruit deep bluish- 

 purple, almost black, about the size of a currant. Oil of savin is a 

 powerful local stimulant, acting, when applied to the skin, as a rubefa- 

 cient and vesicant ; swallowed it occasions vomiting and purging. It is 

 a powerful stimulant, and exercises a specific influence over the urino- 

 genital apparatus. In certain cases of amenorrhoea it acts as a powerful 

 emmenagogue, and in pregnancy it has a strong tendency to produce 

 abortion ; it, however, frequently fails, and can only be given to a woman 

 at the risk of her life. Savin powder mixed with verdigris is used as 

 an efficacious application for the removal of venereal warts, and in the 

 form of ointment it is an excellent means of promoting discharge from 

 blistered surfaces. 



TAXACE.E. 



Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 316. 



TAXUS. 



Flowers dioecious axillary. $ Catkins roundish, surrounded 

 at the base by imbricated scales. Stamens 6-14, with peltate 

 3-8-celled anthers. ? Catkins bud-like, 1 -flowered, surrounded 

 by imbricated scales. Disk cup-shaped, at first inconspicuous, 

 afterwards increasing, becoming succulent, and enclosing the 

 nut-like seed. 



1181. T. baccata Linn, sp.pl. 1472. E. Bot. t. 746. Smith 

 Eng. Fl. iv. 253. Mountainous woods, especially in limestone 

 countries. (Yew.) 



Trunk straight, variously channelled longitudinally, with a smooth 

 deciduous bark ; and horizontal branches, spreading in opposite direc- 

 tions. Leaves scattered, nearly sessile, 2-ranked, linear, entire, very 

 557 



