LYTIIRARIACEM. 447 



may have an agreeable or offensive odour. The common Salicaria ^ 

 (fig. 386-392) so common at the waterside and in so many countries, 

 had formerly a certain reputation as an astringent, antidysenteric 

 medicine ; the root was more especially sought. A neighbouring 

 species, Lythrum hyssopifolmm,^ was formerly considered a vulnerary, 

 anti-scorbutic, and aperitive. L. alatum,^ of the United States, is 

 employed in the treatmeut of sores and ulcers. Several American 

 Nesceas are extolled as medicines. N, verticillata,'^ growing in 

 marshes, is reputed to cure abortion in animals which feed upon it. 

 N. sijpJiiUticaj^ to which the Mexicans attribute many properties, has 

 a diuretic, sudorific, and laxative juice. There is also in Peru a 

 Ouphea antisyphilitica^^ and G. microphylla ^ is reputed to have the 

 same virtues. There are likewise in this genus many plants with a 

 viscous tenaceous juice, secreted by numerous glands on the surface 

 of the stems and leaves. The Ammannia have sometimes insipid, 

 slightly fleshy leaves, used for the same purposes as purslain, but it 

 would be imprudent to eat them raw. Such is A, portula ^ (fig. 418, 

 419), considered edible in some countries. ^ A, vesicatoria,^^ on the 

 contrary, is an acrid plant, of a strong chloric odour ; its leaves are 

 preferred, in India, to cantharides, as producing a more rapid and less 

 painful vesication. The Lager sir oemias are magnificent ornamental 



1 Lythrum Salicaria L. Spec. 640.— DC. Frodr. ^ H. B. K. Nov. Gen. et Sp, vi. 202.— DC. 

 iii. 82, n. 13.— Geen. et Godr. Fl. deFr. i. 593. Prodr. iii. 87, n. 30 {Chiagari). C. Balsamona 

 — Caz. Fl. Med. Indig. ed. 3, 945. — Salicaria Cham, and Schlchtl and ingrata Cham, and 

 spicata Lamk, Fl. Frang. iii. 103.— /S. vulgaris Schlchtl, of Brazil (/Se^e ^Srtw^nas), are reputed 

 McENCH, Meth. 665. — Lysimachia purpurea qui- antisyphilitic and febrifuge. 



bnsdam spicata J. Bauh. [Red Lysimachia) . 7 H. B. K. Nov. Gen. et Sp. vi. 201. — DC. 



2 L. Spec. 642. — Eosenth. op. cit. 912. — Frodr. n. 28. G. Ap an xalon 'DC i^ consi^Qxe^ 

 Salicaria hyssopifolia Lamk. astringent in Mexico, and from C. lanceolata Ait. 



3 Pursh, Fl. Bor.-Amer. i. 334 (not Presl). (Atlanchan) a tincture is prepared with which 

 —DC. Prodr. n. 5. — Ell. Bot. Mag. t. 1812. — the abdomen of women in childbirth is rubbed. 

 L. vulneraria Schr. Fl. Far. Sort. Mon. t. 27.— s h. Bn. Bull. Soc. Linn. Far. (1876) 88.— 

 L. acinifolium Sess. et M09. (ex DC). — Z. Peplis Portula L. Spec. 474.— Schkuhr, Handb. 

 Kennedyanum H. B. K. Nov. Gen. et Sp. vi. 194. t. 99.— DC. Prodr. iii. 77, n. 1.— Gren. et Godr. 

 — L.virginicum'K'EV's. — Pythagoreaalata'RA.vis. Fl. de Fr. i. 597 . — Portula diffusa McENcn. A. 

 {Yerba del cancer). L. Hunteri DC. mingled with verticillaris {Rotala verticillaris L. ; — DC. Prodr. 

 Morinda, is used in India for dyeing. iii. 76) used in India in the treatment of 



"* H. B, K. ex KosENTH. op. cit. 914. — Lyth- 

 rum verticillatum L. 9 On the coasts where Pemphis acidula Forst. 



= H. B. K. ex RosENTH. op. cit. 911.— Seimia (fig. 410,. 411) grows, its slightly fleshy and 



syphilitica DC. Frodr. iii. 89. — Gynoria syphili- salt leaves are eaten as salad. 



tica M09. et Sess. ex DC. loc. cit. {EanchinoT). ^o Roxb. Fl. Ltd. i. 447.— DC. Prodr. iii. 78, 



N. salicifolia H. B. K. Nov. Gen. et Sp. vi. 192 n. 7.— Lindl. Fl. Med. 149.— Rosenth. op. cit. 



{Heim.ia salicifolia Link et Ott.), from the same 911. — A. baccifera li.?—Eapalocarpum vesicxto- 



country (fig. 394, 395), has analogous proper- rium Wight and Arn. {Baud-maree of the 



ties. Bengalese). 



