GEBANIACEJS. S3 



In Abyssinia, TscJiokko or Mitchamitcho is considered a tolerably 

 good tenifuge, wbenceits name 0. anthelmintliica.} The Carambolas- 

 have generally the same properties as the 0. acetosella (Fr. Surelle), 

 to which they are nearly allied in organisation, bnt their fleshy 

 fruits rich in acid juice are especially useful. They are used to remove 

 spots of ink and mildcAV from linen, and to clean metals. They 

 are eaten raw or preserved with sugar or with vinegar ; as 

 condiments, they enter into the preparation of dishes called ac//ars, 

 are prescribed as refr'eshing drinks in fevers, and as anti- 

 scorbutics. These last properties are found in the Nasturtiums, 

 -princiYtallj in Trojjwolum majus^ (&g. 31-S7), minus * jwiifaphz/lhim,^ 

 (fig. 38, 39), etc., the sharp taste and chemical composition render- 

 ing these plants antiscorbutic like the Crucifers, ^ whence the name 

 of Indian and Mexican cress (Fr. Cresson (Vliide^ dc Mexique)^ etc., 

 given to these plants. ^Vith ns the flowers of Nasturtiums are 

 eaten as salad, and the buds and green fruit pickled with vinegar.'^ 

 The Floerkeas have the same properties and savour, but in a less 

 degree. It is nearly the same with the ]3aLsams. Their organs, 

 fleshy and rich in water, contain traces of acrid bitter qualities. 

 Impatiens NoU-tangere^ (fig. 49) was formerly much valued as 

 diuretic and autihemorrhoidal. It was toi^ically used for pains in 

 the joints, and was said to cure diabetes, but is not much thought 

 of at present. Several Balsams are tinctorial plants.^ In .Japan, 

 one of them /. cornuta^^'' is said to make the hair grow. The best 



1 A. Rich. i<7. Abyss. Tent. i. 124. — Eosenth. (Cloez) whose properties are the same; the pre- 

 op. cil. 897. sence of a free phosphoric acid has been maia- 



2 Namely Arerrhoa CiiramhuUi et Bilimbi (see tained (Buacosnot). To this is attributed tlie 

 p. 26, notes 6, 7). emission of light from the flowers during warm 



' L. Spec. 490. — Curt, in Bnt. Mug. t. 23. — nights, noticed by the daughter of Linx.ei-s. 

 Tuiip. in J9(W. 5c ^at.Ktl.i. 1.33.— DC. Prodr. ? The juice of these plants stains yellow. The 



i. G83, n. 2. — Gum. up. cit. iii. 571. — Uev. in B<it. tubercnles or subterranean stems are edible like 



Med. (lu xix. Siecle, i. 2.37. — (.'ardamiiidum am- those of Oca. 



pHiii-i folio el majori fore T. Inst. iSO.— Tlo/ci ^ li. Spec. 1328.— Schkuhr. ifrt/zr/i. t. 270. — 



iiidica scandeiii Nnstiirtii sapnre Hort. Lugd.- GuEN. et Godr. Fl. de Fr. i. 325. — Gum. op. 



Bat. ex T. (Blood flower, great Indian Cress, cit. iii. 571.- Rosentk. op. cit. 897 {Herbc dc 



American Cres.f). Sahite-C'at/icrine). 



* L. Spec. 490. — SciiKUHR. Jlundb. t. 105. — ' Especially /. ftdea Nutt. et iincloria A. 

 Curt, in Bot. Miuj. t. 98. - Cardamindimi minus et Rich. Fl. Abt/ss. Tent. i. 120 {Ensessella, Gaiire- 

 riihjare T. Inc. cit. {Petit Cresson d'liide). lile of Abyss.). The Tartars are said to colour 



* Lamk. Diet. i. 605 ; ///. t. 277. — DC. Prodr. their eyes and nails with the juice of several 

 n. 11. — C/i!/inocnrpi(sj)e>itnp/iylliis,'Doy, in Trans. Balsams and with alum. 



/;i«H. &<;. xvii. 13, 145. — A.S.K.fl.us.Bras. '" L. Spec. 1328. — Balsamina cornuta DC. 



t. i\.—? Maijnllana porrifolia Cav. Icon. iv. 51, Prodr. i. 686, n. 3. — BuRM. Zeijl. 41, t. 16, fig. 



t. 374.— DC. Pmdr. i. 684. 1.— LouK. Fl. Cochinch. ed. ulyssip. (1790), 626. 

 ' They produce also a sulphurate essential oil 



vofi. V. r 



