418 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



order. Saxifraga crassifolia and Hydrangea Thunbergii' may be used 

 instead of Tea. The medicinal properties 2 are not very noteworthy 

 in this order. It contains several astringent plants : Heuchera 

 americana? the root of which is used in the United States ; Chrysos- 

 plenium alternifolium* considered a slight tonic ; and several Peruvian 

 Weinmannias, which may be used to tan hides, and are sometimes 

 mixed with Cinchona barks 5 on account of their astringency ; the 

 Indian species are also astringent. The Francoas have similar- 

 properties ; the Chilians use their juice as a refreshing sedative and 

 antiphlogistic ; the roots are used for dyeing black. 6 Tetilla hydro- 

 cotylcefolia 1 is acidulous and of remarkable astringency. Its petioles 

 are used in dysentery. The Pittosporeee are all aromatic, resinous, 

 and bitter, but hardly seem to be used at all. 8 The Hamamelids are 

 also astringent. II. virginica is used in America for astringent 

 lotions, gargles, &c, owing to the tannin contained in its leaves and 

 bark. 9 It is also said to contain an essential oil. The Oriental 

 Plane is also astringent, for even the ancients regarded it as good to 

 stanch bleeding and cure chilblains, burns, ophthalmia, &c. A de- 

 coction of the roots of the Plane is used in America in the treatment 

 of ulcers and dysentery. People have gone so far as to recommend 

 it as a substitute for cinchona, and recommend it (in the kingdom of 

 Naples) in cholera. 10 All the parts of Myosurandra moschata have a 

 very aromatic and persistent smell of musk. 11 Several species of Biles, 

 notably the Black Currant, are tonic and stimulant, bearing glands 

 on their flowers which secrete an excitant scented substance. The 

 leaves of the Escallonias have often a very marked scent of Melilot ; 



1 It is named Celestial Tea (Amafsja; Fr., 8 Especially W. ovata Cav. (7c, vi. 45, t. 

 The du del) in Japan. Its ally (Plaiycrater 566), elliptica H.B. K. and Ballisiana H. B. K. 

 arguta Sieb. & Ztrcc.) serves the same purposes. The last especially has been fraudulently substit- 

 The leaves of Philadelphus taste of Cucumber. uted for Cinchona. In the Antilles the name of 



2 Endl., Enchirid., 410. — Lindl., Fl. Med., Tanrouges has been given to W. hirta Sw. and 

 273. — Rosenth., Syn. PI. Diaphor., 576, 1140. glabra L. F., which also possess astringent, tan- 



3 L., Spec., 328. — Tore., Fl. N.-Amer., i. ning barks, and exude a sort of gum. 



390. — H. viscida Puesh. Its astringency is very 6 F. sonchifolia is used in piles (RoSENTn., op. 



great, whence its name Alum-root. Several other cit., 576). 



species have similar properties (Rosenth., op. 7 Vulg. Culantrillo, Tela de capra. 



cit., 578). s In Australia the natives, when famished, 



4 L., Spec, 569. — DC, Prodr., iv. 48, n. 1 are said to eat their seeds, bathed in a viscid 

 (vulg. Dorine, Cresson de roclier, C. dore, Saxi- matter of disagreeable taste (Endl., Ftichirid., 



frage doree, Hepatique doree, Herbe a Varcham- 572). 



boticher). It is said to be aperient and slightly di- 9 Its seeds are said to be edible, 



luent; its leaves are eaten in salad and soup in the 10 Caz., PI. Med. Indig., ed. 3, 861 . 



Vosges. C.oppositifolium~L. (vulg. Repalique des » H. Bn., in Adansonia, ix. 237. 

 marais, Cresson de rocher) has the same properties. 



