SAW PALMETTO SCAMMONY. 251 



leaves about inch long. Flowers small, pinkish, in 

 axillary cymes, calyx teeth five, nearly equal, linear, 

 tapering upwards, and ciliate at the margins. Hairs 

 on the stem short, rather rigid, decurved. Taste, 

 aromatic, recalling thyme and marjoram, but distinct. 



SAW PALMETTO. Serenoa serrulate. Hook f. 



N.O. Palmacea. 



Syn. Sabal strrulata, R. and S. 

 Part used Berries. 



Action Nutritive tonic, diuretic, sedative. Is highly 

 recommended in all wasting diseases, as it has a marked 

 effect upon all the glandular tissues, increasing flesh 

 rapidly and building up the strength. Should be used 

 in consumption, atrophy of testes, mammae, &c. 



Preparations Fluid extract : Dose, -1 drachm. 

 Solid extract (ale.) : Dose, 5-15 grains. 



Distinctive character The fruits are oval or 

 globular, from f-i inch long, f-i inch broad, externally 

 black, with a thin, hard, but fragile pericarp covering 

 a shrunken, pale, brown, spongy pulp, which contains 

 oil, and a thin papery endocarp. The seed is pale 

 brown, globular or oval, with the hilum near the base. 

 Taste of the pulp, sweetish. Odour, none. 



SCAMMONY. Convolvulus Scammonia, Linn. 



N.O. Convolmdncta. 

 Parts used Root, resin. 



Action Drastic cathartic. The root is seldom used, 

 but generally the resin prepared therefrom. Even the 

 resin is generally combined with other cathartics, so as 



