146 ()Naokacj:j:. 



membmnes, hh clmdiii^ bronchitis, cystitiH, pyelitiH, <,'()norrlif)nn, and plcct. 

 J'iXtorrmlly, in tin; l'(»nii of jni ointinciit, it lui.s boon oniployod HUccobHfully 

 in bctibioa, buriiM, iroht-bitcs, uikI in<lulent iilcorn. 



ONACRACEyE. 



Chnroi'/cr (if llir Order. — ^■Hcil)s, witli nin^plo leaves ami commonly 4- 

 iiiorouH llowcrH. Culyx tubnliu', cohorinfj^ with tlio 2- to 4-(!olk(l oviiry, the 

 limb nsufiUy 4-cloi't, its loboH valviit*! in the bud. Potjils convoluto in 

 the bud, ()c:c:isionally \viintin<j;. Stiimcns iis many, or t\vi(!o iis many, us 

 the lobos of the calyx, and inserted uj^jon tlio calyx-tube. Style single. 

 Fruit succulent or capsular. 



An or(hr rcjM'csontod in North Aniorica by fifteen j^enera and one hun- 

 dred and forty-five species, mostly unimjiortant plants. 



EPILOBIUM. --Willow Heub. 



Epilobium angustifolium Linnc. — (,'rcat Willoio Herb. 



DeHcrlptioa. — Calyx-tube not prolonged beyond the ovary, the limb 4- 

 cleft, deciduous. Corolla : petals 4, obovate, unj^aiiculate, pink-purple. 

 Stamens H. Capsule linear, 4-sided, 4-celled, 4-valved, many-seeded, the 

 seeds with a tuft of long hairs at the end. 



An herbaceous pcremiial. Stem erect, 4 to 7 feet high, simple, mostly 

 glabrous. Leaves sessile, lanceolate, nearly entire, or with slightly uu(hi- 

 late margins. Flowers large and showy, in a long spicate raceme, ajipear- 

 ing from July till September. 



llubllal. — From the mountains of North Carolina northward and west- 

 ward. Very common from I'ennsylvania and New York northward, 



J 'arts Uncd. — The leaves and root — not oliicial, 



Constiluents. — Unknown. 



I^i'eparatioHH. — There are none. The plant is said to yield its virtues 

 to water or alcohol. 



Medical Propertifs and Vi^ea. — Willow herb is said to be " tonic, astrin- 

 gent, demulcent, and emollient. An infusion of the leaves will be found 

 beneficial in chronic diarrhoea, dysentery, leucorrhooa, menorrhagia, and 

 uterine hemorrhage, and forms an excellent loc:d ajjplication for ophthal- 

 mia, ulcerations of the mcmth aftd throat, and leucorrhcea. The leaves in 

 poultice are a valuable remedy for foul and indolent ulcers " (King). If 

 the plant be really so valuable ns tlie above statement would indicate, it is 

 rather remarkable tliat its virtues are not better known and ajipreciated. 



Several other indigenous species of ejiilobium have been used medic- 

 inally, but without acquiring any reputation. „.,„. .,4 



