ALKANET. 17 



urominent scales*. The five filaments are short, and are fur- 

 nished with simple anthers. The germen is four parted, the 

 style simple, and the stigma bifid. The fruit consists of four 

 achenia or small nuts, invested by the persistent calyx. Plate 

 I., fig. 3, (a) the corolla and stamens ; (6) the pistil ; (e) the 

 persistent calyx investing the fruit. 



This plant is a native of the south of Europe, and was 

 originally brought to this country from Montpellier, about 250 

 years since. It is sometimes cultivated in our gardens, but its 

 roots never attain, in this climate, that fine colour for which the 

 foreign are so much prized. It flowers from June to October. 



The generic name of this plant is derived from a-y^nvaa,, paint, 

 because the roots were formerly used to afford a dye for stain- 

 ing the face. 



There is another species, the Anchusa officinalis, or common 

 Alkanet, which is sometimes, though rarely, found wild in this 

 country, and was once reckoned a valuable emollient, but it is 

 now held in little esteem. 



Qualities and General Uses. — The bark of the root has 

 been long valued for the fine red colour it affords. It is im- 

 ported into this country, chiefly from France, in long twisted 

 pieces of a dusky red hue. It imparts a deep red colour to 

 alcohol, ether, oils, and wax, but to water it only yields a dull 

 brown. It is used by dyers, and also by cabinet-makers for 

 staining wood^ and is said to be employed by vintners for stain- 

 ing the corks of their port wine bottles, or for colouring and fla- 

 vouring the spurious compounds sold as port wine. 



Medical Properties. — The Alkanet was formerly recom- 

 mended in several diseases, particularly as an astringent. It is 

 now used almost entirely for colouring oils, ointments, &rc. It 

 contains a peculiar colouring principle, which Dr. John calls 

 Pseudo-A lea n n in. 



* De CandoUe, in his Flore Francaise, states tliat the Dyer's Alkanet 

 is not the Anchusa Tinctoria of Linneeus, since it does not agree in the 

 generic character, the mouth of the tube of the corolla being naked, not 

 closed with scales ; moreover, Linnseus says Anchusa tomentosa, while this 

 plant is clothed with hairs. In the first editions of the " Species Plant- 

 arum, " we find Lithospermum tinctorium, only ; but in the editions by 

 Gilibert and some others, this plant is removed to the genus Anchusa. 

 De CandoUe asserts that the plant called Orcanette, used for its dye, and 

 growing abundantly in the south of France, (whence it is well known the 

 Alkanet of the shops is brought,) is a true Lithospermum. 



c 



