HUBTACEM 373 



remedies for madness, particularly B. palnstris,^ tricornis,^ Aparine.^ 

 The last has been recommended as aphrodisiac, antiscrofular and as 

 a remedy for affections of the liver, lungs, &c. They are in fact 

 very slightly active. Several have the reputation of easily curdling 

 milk ; whence the vulgar names applied to R, Aparine, vera, Mollugo, 

 &c. The Asperulas are sometimes astringent, particularly A. cynan- 

 cUica,'^ formerly prescribed for angina. A. odorata^ (fig. 231) known 

 by its agreeable odour, sometimes employed as tonic, stimulant, 

 diuretic, vulnerary, is placed among linen to perfume it and protect 

 it from insects, and on the banks of the Kliine a very common 

 aromatic drink ^ is prepared from it. It is also a tinctorial plant, as 

 are most of the Rubiece presently mentioned, particularly Ruhia 

 tinctonim. A native of the Levant, this plant is renowned for the 

 stability of its colour unequalled by the colouring matters of mineral 

 origin, and it is of such ancient introduction that Steabo informs us 

 of its cultivation as a tinctorial species by the Aquitani. That of the 

 Levant is highly esteemed, and that cultivated in Venaissin is scarcely 

 inferior in quality. Its chief colouring principles are alizarine and 

 purpurine. There is also a trace of xanthine, a yellow principle, at 

 first sweet, then bitter. The principles are extracted from the root 

 in which they do not appear to exist originally but to be formed by 

 oxydation; and the plant is banked up to increase the number of 

 roots. Other Rithias are tinctorial : R, peregrina/ furnishing a red 

 colour ; in India, R. cordata,^ yielding Munjeeth,^ or Bengal madder ; 

 at Tong-dong, R, angustissima,^^ the roots of which are highly coloured ; 

 in ChiH, R, Relhun^^ and chilensis ;'^^ in the Antilles, R. guadalupensis 



^ Galium palustre Jj. Spec. 153. Fr. ii. 13.— i?. angelica HrDS.— J?, tinctorum^ 



2 G. tricorne With. Brit. (ed. 2) 153.— DC. var. o Lamk. Fl. Fr. ii. 605. 



Prodr.n. \07. — G. spuriumBv d8. 8 Thunb. Fl. Jap. 60.— B. Mmjista Roxb. 



3 G. Sparine L. Spec. 157.— DC. Prodr. n, Fl. Ind. i. 383. 

 110. — Valantia Aparine Lamk. (paxt). — Ruhia ^ Indian Madder. 



tinctorum Lap. (not L.) *" Ex Lindl. Veg. Kingd. 110. 



* L. Spec. 151.— DC. Prodr. iv. 582, n. 9.— " Cham, et Schlchtl, LiniicBa (1828), 229.— 

 Hubia cynanchica J. Bauh. Hist. iii. 723, ic— DC. Prodr. iv. 592, n. 33.— i?. chilensis "W. 

 Galium cynanchica Scot. Fl. Cam. n. 447. (not Mo-l.) .—Galium Relbun Endl.— C. Gay, 



* DoD. Pempt. 355.— L. Spec. \60.— DC. Prodr. Fl. Chil. iii. l^6.—Rubiastrum . . . Feuill. Obs. 

 iv. 585, n. 31 ; Fl. Frang. n. 3340.— Gren. et iii. 60, t. 45. 



GoDR. Fl. de Fr. ii. 47. ^^ Mol. Chil. 118, not W.— DC. Prodr. iv. 



6 Maitratik, Malicein. 590, n. 21.— Galium chihnse Endl. ex C. Gay, 



7 L. Spec. 158.— Sow. Fngl. Bot. t. 851.— DC. loe. cit. 180 {Relbu, Relbun). 

 Prodr. iv. 589, n. 12.— Gren. et Godr. Fl. de 



