CL. II.] '3. CIRC^A LUTETlxVXA. *]40 



na.) Fi Dan. 210. Engl Bot. 1056. Sturm DcuUJi. 

 Flor. Heft 23. 



Affinity. 



Ray was completely mistaken when he placed Circ^a along 

 with Callitriche, Stratiotes, and Hydrocharls., {Ray Syn. 

 p. 289.) Linnaeus also shewed no great insight into its affi- 

 nities, when he placed Circa^a along with Boerhaavia and 

 Valeriana, among the Aggregatae, {Orel. Nat. 48.) Adanson 

 first perceived its true relations, when he placed the plant 

 among the Oenagrae, {Famill. des Plantes^ p. 85.) Later bo- 

 tanists have followed Adanson more readily, since we have 

 become acquainted with a Mexican plant which is very like 

 the Circcea, namely Lopezia, Cav. in which we find only a 

 different numerical proportion. Ditmaria, too, {Eriama 

 Rudg.) lays claim to a still greater resemblance. The num- 

 bers 2, 4, 8, prevail in this family ; and although (Enothera 

 and Epilohium are removed from Circaa by different propor- 

 tions, yet Gaura and Haloragis fiu-nish intermediate mem- 

 bers of the series ; and Escallonia, Sm., although the num- 

 ber 5 prevails in it, opens its capsule exactly like the Circaa. 



Uses. 



The name Circaa was given to the plant by Lobelins, because 

 superstition regarded it as a charm ; hence, too, the English 

 name Enchanter's Night-shade. The well known witch 

 Circe is understood to have made use of this charm, and Ge- 

 rard affirms, that the Mandragora had been confounded 

 with this plant. At present no other use of it is known, ex- 

 cept that in America a yellow dye is procured from the root. 



4. 



Salvia Brasiliensis. 



6. calyce ampliato colorato tridentato corollam excedcnto, lb- 

 liib ovatis scrratii; acuniinatis glabris ba^i cuiicalis. 



