122 PHARMACAL PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



548. Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. Ice plant. Fig mari- 

 gold. Diamond fig. Ficoidece. 



A native of southern Europe, much used as a lawn and border plant. 

 The plant is very rich in potassium and sodium salts. The expressed 

 juice is used medicinally; has demulcent and diuretic properties. 



549. Mezereum, (Daphne mezereum L.) Mezereon. Thymelacece. 

 Well-known medicinal shrub, of which the bark is used. (U. S. D. 



and Materia Medicas.) (See Daphne.) 



550. Micromria chamissonis Greene. Yerba buena. Laliatce. 



A plant well known to Californians. The old name for San Fran- 

 eisco was Yerba Buena, in honor of this small, fragrant herb. Used 

 as a tea to cure colic and to purify the blood. 



A mint-like plant having the properties of the mints. In great re- 

 pute among Indians and the early missionaries, as a beverage in fevers 

 and as a tonic. (Proc. A. Ph. A. 31, 117, 1883.) 



551. Mimulus guttatus D.C. Scrophulariacece. 



Indians are said to use this plant as a source of salt. It is also eaten. 

 (Contrib. U. S. Nat. Herb. 7: (No. 3,) 387. 



552. Mimulus langsdorffii Donn. Monkey Flower. Scrophulari- 

 acece. 



Decoction of roots used for diarrhoea and dysentery. 



553. Mimulus moschatus Dougl. Musk plant. SehropJmlariacece. 

 Cultivated on account of the musk-scented foliage. Reputed to be 



useful in certain nervous disorders. 



554. Mimusops species. Zapote gum. Gum chicle. Sapotacece. 

 Several species are cultivated in the southern part of the State. The 



seeds of most species yield oil. Some yield gum used in the manufac- 

 ture of chewing gum. M. elengi and M. hexandra are used medicin- 

 ally. The bark has astingent, tonic and sialagogue properties. In 

 England the gum is said to be used as a substitute for gutta percha. 



555. Momordica balsamina L. Balsam apple. Cucurbit acece. 



A climbing plant cultivated for its fruit, which is eaten by some and 

 which has laxative properties. An infusion of the fruit, deprived of 

 the seed, is used as a liniment for chapped hands, burns, piles, and 

 the mashed fruit is used as a poultice. The extract is used in dropsy. 

 Plant is poisonous. 



556. Monarda punctata L. Horsemint. Labiatece. 

 Well-known cultivated herb. It is somewhat bitter and pungent, 



rich in volatile oil, also yields a camphor. It is stimulant and carmina- 

 tive, used as a popular remedy in flatulent colic and in sick headache. 

 M. fistulosa is said to be a very active diaphoretic, useful in fevers. 



