22 



Pharmacopoea. It is bitter and acrid, and contains a good 

 deal of a resinous substance, almost homogeneous to that 

 which we observe in" the root of the Polygala Senega. In 

 the form of decoction or tincture, this root is a great 

 favourite with the colonial farmer, in various diseases of 

 the chest, asthma, and such affections where a free secre- 

 tion of the mucous membrane of the lungs and bronchiae 

 is desirable. It also promotes perspiration, and acts as a 

 diuretic in gout and dropsy. This valuable root ought to 

 have a place in the Materia medica. 



TAKCHONANTHUS. Lin. 



(^CompositcB,) 



XIX. — SYNGENESIA. LIN. SYST. 



49. Tarchonanthus camphoratus. Lin. A shrub 4-5 

 feet high. Stem erect, striated ; branches angular, 

 shaggy. Leaves stalked, oblong, entire, rugose, blunt, 

 coriaceous, smooth above and tomentose beneath. 

 Flowers paniculate, terminal, many-headed ; flower- 

 stalks short, downy. 



The whole of this shrub has a camphorated odour. Its 

 leaves, when dried, are smoked by the Hottentots and 

 Bushmen instead of tobacco, and, hke the Dagga, exhibit 

 slight narcotic symptoms. In the form of infusion, they 

 promote perspiration, and are said to be useful in spasmodic 

 asthma. 



COTULA. Lin. 



( Compositce.) 



XIX. — SYNGENESIA. LIN. SYST. 



50. Cotula multiflda. D, C. Herbaceous, ascending, 

 smooth, branchy. Leaves semi-amplexicaul at base, pin- 

 natifid ; lobes trifid, acute. Flower-heads discoid, ter- 

 minal, yellow Scales of the involucre blunt, with a 

 membranaceous margin. 



This plant grows in the district of Uitenhage, and is 

 used by the Hottentots (who call it fKamso) in rheuma- 

 tism, scalds, and in cutaneous aftections. 



ARTEMISIA. Lin. 



(^CompositcB.) 

 XIX. — SYNGENESIA. LIN. SYST. 



51. Artemisia afra. Jacq. SufFrutescent. Stem 

 erect, branchy. Branches angular, furrowed, her- 



