150 JKQUIRITY JEWEL WEED. 



^ inch long and rather less in diameter, one end trun- 

 cated with a central depression, hard and tough exter- 

 nally, and internally pinkish brown, with glistening 

 starch grains. Taste, faintly astringent and slightly 

 aromatic. Odour, none. 



JEQUIRITY. Abrus precatorius, Linn. 



N.O. Leguminosa. 



Syn. Indian Liquorice, Wild Liquorice. 

 Part used Seeds. 



Action Irritant. It may be very cautiously used in 

 eye diseases, and not until other means have been 

 exhausted, as it produces a violent conjunctival inflam- 

 mation and is likely to destroy the corneal structures. 



Distinctive character Seeds oval, rounded at the 

 ends, about inch in diameter, hard and polished, ver- 

 milion red, with the upper third black ; very hard and 

 tough. 



JEWEL WEED. Impatiens aurea, Muhl., 



and /. bi flora, Walt. 

 N.O. Gtraniacca. 



Syn. /. aurea, Muhl. = 7. pallida, Nutt., Pale Touch- 

 me-not, Balsam Weed. 7. biflora, Wa.\t. = I.fulva, Nutt., 

 Spotted Touch-me-not, Jewel Weed, Speckled Jewels. 



Part used --Herb. 



Action Aperient, diuretic. The fresh plants boiled 

 with lard form an excellent application for piles. The 

 juice is reputed to remove warts, corns, and cure ring- 

 worm. In jaundice and dropsy the decoction has been 

 found valuable in doses of a wineglassful repeated three 

 to four times a day. 



Distinctive character Stems jointed, leaves grey- 

 green, thin, ovate-oval, more or less toothed. Flowers 



