ISPAGHUL IVY. 145 



lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, or other flavours to 

 taste. 



Distinctive character This dried seaweed, errone- 

 ously called moss, has a flat forked frond varying in 

 width from -|- inch and about A-A inch thick. It 

 varies in length from 2^-5 inches, and has a fan-shaped 

 outline. The fronds oiGigartina mammillosa, J. Ag., which 

 have a similar shape, are usually incurved at the 

 margins of the stem, and have papillae on the ultimate 

 segments, but possess similar properties. Taste, 

 mucilaginous and saline. Odour, that of seaweed. 



ISPAGHUL. Plantago ovate, Forsk. 



N.O. Plant aginacea. 



Syn. Plantago Ispaghula, Roxb. ; Plantago decuwbens, 

 Forsk ; Spogel, Spogul. 



Part used Seeds. 



Action Demulcent, astringent. Useful in dysentery, 

 diarrhoea, and affections of kidneys and bladder. Dose 

 2 drachms of the seeds mixed with sugar and swallowed 

 dry. 



Distinctive character The seeds are greyish, boat- 

 shaped, with the hollow side exhibiting a brown centre. 

 About A inch long, and barely j% inch broad, the 

 margins are incurved on the hollow side. Taste, 

 mucilaginous. Odour, none. 



IVY. Hedera Helix, Linn. 



Syn. Common Ivy. N -- Araliacea. 



Parts used Leaves, berries. 



Action Stimulating, diaphoretic, cathartic. Exter- 

 nally the leaves have been employed as poultices or 

 fomentations in glandular enlargements, indolent ulcers, 

 abscesses, &c. The berries are found of use in febrile 

 disorders, and a vinegar of these was extensively used 

 during the London plague. 



Distinctive character Leaves dark green, paler 

 beneath, leathery, shining, long-stalked, about 2-4 inches 



