196 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



E.foetidim^ is considered a febrifuge in South America. In Brazil 

 E, Lingua Tucaiii Mart, is used in the treatment of aphtha, stoma- 

 titis. Many species in the temperate regions of South America have 

 leaves resembling those of the Bromeliacece, Pandanece, and some 

 Graminece, whence they have derived their specific names, and are 

 ornamental.^ Azorella,^ curious Andean plants whose habit, almost 

 always exceptional, becomes sometimes absolutely strange, is rich 

 in a sort of aromatic, stimulant gum with terebinthine odour. That 

 of A. glebaria ^ heals sores and has been substituted for copahu as 

 antiblennorrhagic. A. madreporica ^ is used in Chili in the treatment 

 of cephalalgea. A. Gilliesii^ has alimentary roots.^ Asterisciiun 

 chilense ^ is aromatic, tonic and carminative. At the Cape Arctopiis 

 echinatus ^ has the same properties. 



The fruits of Mijodocarjms, rich in gum-resinous reservoirs, are 

 extremely aromatic and from them a perfumed juice might be ex- 

 tracted. The Aralias are mentioned, some as tonic, others as 

 diaphoretic. A, edulis,^^ w^hich derives its specific name from the use 

 made of the young shoots in China and Japan, has bitter aromatic 

 roots. In North America, A. hispida ^^ has the same uses as Sarsa- 

 parilla and is sometimes employed to adulterate it. The same may 

 be said of A, nudicaulis,^'^ from the same country, and of xi. racemosa ^^ 

 and spinosa,^* Ginseng comprises the most celebrated of these plants 



- 1 L. Spec, 336 (part).— Michx. loc. cit. 163.— ^ Cham, et Schlchtl, Lihhcea (1826), 254, t. 



DC. Prodr. n. 54.— Rosenth. op. cit. 1139. 5.— Hook. ^oif. JWV.sc. i. 332, t. 68.— C. Gay, op. 



According to B. Seemann, it is a culinary plant cit. 100.— Anisillo Feuill. Jotirn. Obs. iii. 5, t. 



at Panama. 2 (Muchu of the Chilians). 



2 See A. Gray, Sillim. Journ. (1874) 443. ^ L. Spec. (ed. 2) ii. 1512.— Thunb. Fl. Cap. 



3 See H. Bn. Diet. Enc. Sc. Med. vii. 683. 255.— Ker, £ot. B^ff. t. 705.— DC. Prodr. iv. 

 ^ A. ccespitosa Vahl, S^77ib. iii. 48. — Jiolax 236. — Harv. and Soxd. FL Cap. ii. 664. — ^^H. 



glebaria Commers. ex Gaudich. Ann. Sc. Nat. Bx. Diet. Encycl. Sc. Med. vi. 38. 



ser. 1, V. 104, t. 3, fig. 2.— DC. Prodr. iv. 78, n, ^o Sieb. et Zucc. Fl. Jap. i. 57, t. 25.— Seem. 



1. — RosEXTH. op. cit. 1138. — B. gummifera Journ. Eot. vi. IZi. — A. cordata TE.v:sB.?--I)i- 



Sprexg. — £. complicota Sprexg. — Hydrocotyle morphnnthus edulis Miq. Comm. Phyt. 26. 



gummif er a l^Ama. ma. iii. loQ; J/;.t.l89,fig.21. n Michx. Fl. Bor.-Am. i. 185.— Vent. H. 



5 Clos. C. Gay Fl. Chil. iii. 79 {Llareta de Ceh. t. 41.— Lodd. Bot. Cab. t. 1306.— Torr. et 



Coquhnbo). This species is employed especially Gr. Fl. N.-Amer. i. 647. — Sims, Bot. Mag. t. 



by the shepherds of the Andes; it is rich in 1041 {Bristly Sarsaparilla, Wild Elder of the 



resiiious matter, and forms on the top of the Americans). 



mountains a thick rigid covering which from a 12 j^ g^g^^ 393 (^^^^ -Qj^^ — Rafix. Med. Bot. 



distance hardly appears of a vegetable nature. i. t. 8.— Torr. et Gr. FL N.-Amer. i. 646 (uild 



^ Hook. Bat. Misc. iii.— 0. Gay, loc. cit. 84.— Sarsaparilla). 



Bolax Gilliesii Hook. loc. cit. t. 63. '^ l^ g^^^^ 393 {Spinenard). 



7 It is said to constitute often the only nou- 14 l. Spec. 392.— Torr. et Gr. loc. cit. 647 



rishment of the herdsmen of the Andes. {Angelica-tree, PricMy As/i). 



