370 GROUND-PINE. 



five-cleft ; the segments erect and acute. The corolla is bila- 

 biate, of a yellow colour spotted with red ; the tube longer than 

 the calyx ; the upper lip very small, bifid, erect ; the lower 

 elongated, trifid, the middle lobe largest, emarginate, obtuse. 

 The stamens are didynamous, bent towards the upper lip. 

 The germen is superior, four-parted, with a setaceous style, 

 longer than the stamens, and an acute stigma. The fruit 

 consists of four achenia, or small nuts, enclosed in the per- 

 sistent calyx. Plate 23, fig. 1, (a) calyx; (6) corolla; 

 (c) stamens ; (d) pistil. 



This plant is not uncommon in sandy and gravelly fields in 

 the eastern parts of England, especially in Kent. It is a native 

 of the south and middle of Europe, Palestine, Southern Africa, 

 and Virginia, flowering in April and May. 



Chamaepitys *, the name by which this plant has been long 

 known, is derived from %a/xa<, on the ground, mrvg^ a pine, 

 from the resemblance it bears in the form of its leaves and its 

 balsamic smell to the pine tree. It has been called provincially 

 Herb-ivy, Field-cypress, and Forget-me-not. 



Qualities. — Ground-Pine is viscid to the touch and has a 

 resinous smell, with a bitter and somewhat styptic taste. The 

 aqueous infusion is bitter and nauseous, and is rendered brown 

 and opaque by sulphate of iron ; it appears to contain no acid nor 

 ammoniacal salt. The aqueous extract is bitter and austere ; 

 the spirituous warm, sweetish, and bitter ; hence alcohol would 

 seem the better menstruum. 



Medicinai, Properties and Uses. — The flowers and leaves 

 of this plant have been held in much repute for their efficacy in 

 gout and rheumatic aflPections of the joints f, hence it was called 

 by the older botanists Iva arthritica, and formed an ingredient 

 in the celebrated Portland-powder j;. Its reputed tonic, sto- 

 machic, diuretic, and resolvent qualities have also recommended 

 it in visceral obstructions, jaundice §, and intermittent fevers, 

 paralysis, hysteric and hypochrondriacal affections, obstructed 



* " Chamaepitys Latine abiga vocatur, propter abortus, ob aliis thus terrse 

 cubitalibus ramis, flore pinus et odore." — Plin. Hist. lib. xxiv. c. 6. 



•j- Sennertus, Opera, t.v. & vi. p. l^^. — Claudiu. Consult, xix. p. 49.— 

 Siatthiol. in Dioscor. p. 669. 



+ See p. 154. 



§ Fernel. Method. Med. lib. v. c. 7. 



