19 



No. 49. Senega or Snake Root {Poly gala Senega, CASE 

 L.). A perennial herb of the United States. The root has a 7. 

 distinctive odour and sweetish taste, changing to a sourish 

 acrid. Used against chronic bronchitis, asthma, rheu- 

 matism, &c. 



Near tiiis note Maloukang, Maluku, Ankalaki, 

 or Black Beni Seeds {Folygala hutyracea, Heckel), 

 occasionally imported from West Africa as oil-seeds. 

 The oil is said to be of " excellent quality and of 

 very agreeable taste." Note also BUAZE Fibre and nets 

 made of the fibre of Securidaca longepedunculata, Fres., a 

 branching shrub of Eastern Tropical Africa. 



Observe also SWAN RiVER BROOM (Comesperma sco- 

 parium^ Drum.). From a small knotty rootstock a 

 quantity of slender twiggy branches arise, the whole 

 forming a natural broom, which has only to be cut to be 

 ready for use. 



No. 50. Rhatany Root (Krameria argentea, Mart.). 

 Imported from Para. The bark is a powerful astringent 

 and tonic, employed in diarrhoea and dysentery. K, tri- 

 andra, Ruiz, and Pav., is the source of Peruvian Rhatany 

 and K. Ixina, L., that known as Savanilla, or New Granada 

 Rhatany. 



CMckweed Order {Caryophylleae), to which the 

 Pink, Carnation, and Catchfly belong. Chiefly herbs 

 inhabiting cold and temperate regions. A saponaceous 

 principle pervades many of the species, as Saponaria 

 officinalis^ L., Gyjosophila Struthium, L., G. Arrostiu 

 Guss., and G. paniculata^ L. The roots of the three last 

 named are used for washing silks and other delicate 

 fabrics. The Italian soap-root appears to be derived from 

 G. Arrostii ; that of Asia Minor from G. paniculata. 



No. 51. Tufts of Arenaria miisciformis. Wall., and CASE 

 Thylacospermum rupifragum, Schrenk, from exposed 8. 

 rocks 14,000 to 18,000 feet above sea-level in the 

 Himalaya. 



Purslane Order {Portulaceae). Succulent herbs or 

 small shrubs, found chiefly in dry arid places in South 

 America and at the Cape. Some are of value as pot-herbs, 

 as Portulaca oUracea, L. 



