60 NATURAL HltiTORY OF PLANTS. 



laxative, combustible oil used constantly in the arts in painting, in 

 the 23i'6paration of the colours, varnish, printer's ink, etc. The 

 abundant mucilage obtained by the contact of their outer coats with 

 water is also much iised medicinally, both externally and internally.^ 

 The purgative Flax,^ a species common in damp meadows, owes its 

 name to its evacuant properties. Its leaves have a slightly salt 

 and bitter taste. It was much used formerly, especially for obstinate 

 rheumatism, but is not much regarded now. In C'hili, Linum 

 aquilinum'^ is used as a cooling febrifuge. In Peru, L. selaginoidcs* 

 is considered aperient, bitter, stomachic. The Flaxes are much 

 cultivated in our gardens and green-houses for their pretty red, 

 yellow, white, or blue flowers, especially L. grandiflorum, perenne, 

 trigynum^ and many others. The Ilugonias seem to have very 

 different properties. In India, the root of H. Mystax ^ is crushed and 

 employed externally in cases of inflammation, especially those caused 

 by venomous snake bites. The bark is also alexipharmic. Inter- 

 nally, the whole plant is prescribed as a vermifuge, diuretic, and 

 sudorific, tonic, and stimulating. The root has the odour of violets. 

 H. scrrata^' (fig. 77-79) is considered as a tonic and sudorific in the 

 Mascareigne Islands. The Homniri are also stimulating plants, on 

 account of the resinous balsamic juice contained in several of them. 

 AuBLET compares that which is obtained in Guiana from H. halsami- 

 fenivf ^ and M'hich bears the name of Houmiri and Toiiri., to the balm 

 of Peru, on account of its qualities. The Caribees use it in the 

 treatment of tape-worm, and for blennorrhsea. They prepare lini- 

 ments from it which are applied to inflamed or painful joints. In 

 Peru //. florihundum ^ enjoys a similar reputation ; its juice or balsamo 



1 The seeds of L. jiereiim also jaeld oil, and it ■■ Lamk. Did. iii. 625. — DC. Prodi: n. 9. — A. 



can also te extracted it is said from those of i. S. II. Fl. Bras. Ma: i. 131. — Lindl. FL Mai. 



cathariicttm. 129. 



' L. Sptc. 401.— ScHKUHii, Maiidb. i. t. 87. — ^ L. .Syw. 944. — Rheed. Sort. Malab. ii. 29, t. 



Blackw. llcrh. t. 368.— DC. /V.,rf;-. n. 46.— 29.— DC. Prodr. i. 522, n. 1.— Endl. Fnchirid. 



LiNDL. Fl. Med. 129. — Endl. Enchirid. 623. — 529. — Lindl. Veg. Kiiitjd. 489. — Rosenth. o}>. 



Camer. BUja Bot. (Tub. 1712). — Slev. De Lino cit. 736. 



Sijlv. Oath. Anijl. (Jena, 1715).— MoK. i>« i(«8 "Lamk. Diet. iii. 149.— DC. Prodr. n. 2.— 



C'«</i. OT P«jv/(/('. (Dorp. 1835).— Paoenst. Veb. H. Mi/stiix Cav. Diss. iii. 177, t. 73, fig. 1 



Bin. Cath. (Miluch. 1845). — Rosenth. op. cit. (nee L.) 



893.— Caz. kc. cil. 593. — CathurloVoium praUitse ' Aubl. Oiiiai). i. 564, t. 225. — DC. Prodr. i. 



Reichji. 619. — Lindl. Fl. Med. 159. — Myrodendron am- 



3 JloLiN. Chil. 126.— DC. Prodr. n. 13.— ple.tieaide W. Spec. ii. 1171. 



Feuill. Per. iii. 32, t. 22, fig. 2.— Rosenth. " Makt. Nov. Gen. el Spec. ii. 146, t. 199.— 



0/;. (!(<. 894. — B. Chami.ssoins Si:ribde {I'aiii/o oi Lindl. /<7. J/tc/. 159; Veg. Kiiigd. 447. — Uelle- 



the Chiliana). riajtoribunda Makt. (ex Rosentu. op. cit.). 



