DIOSPYUOS — PEKSIMMON. 109 



Preparatloni^. — Alniinistcred in powder or infusion. 



Medical I'roperlii's a)ul Cscs. — Holly 1ms bcoii much more usetl in 

 Europe than in this country. Its bitterness led to its use in intermittent 

 fever, but careful observation has prov d it worthless in this disease. In 

 largo doses the leaves produce nausea and vomiting, while the berries, ad- 

 ministered in like manner, cause both vomiting and purging. Possessing 

 such irritating properties, they may, of course, be used in such manner as 

 to cause diaphoresis, and hence probably their asserted efficacy in rheu- 

 matism. I. opaca is said to be somewhat demulc&nt, and has been used in 

 puhnouary atlections to allay cough ami jwjinote expecttoration. I. cassine 

 is said to be used considerably in the South as a substitute for tea ; as it 

 contains caffeina, its use in this manner is much more rational than that of 

 several other plants which have nothing in their composition analogous to 

 the constituents of tea. 



EBr:NACE/E. 



Character of the Order. — Trees or shrul)s with alternate entire leaves, 

 and dicecious or polygamous, regular Howers. Calyx persistent, foliaceous. 

 Corolla monopetalous, hypogynous. Stamens at least twice or tlirice as 

 many as the lobes of the corolla, and inserted on its tube or base. Ovary 

 several-celled, with one or two ovules in each cell. Fruit a berry, matur- 

 ing in one or more l)ony-coated seeds. 



A small order, comprising 15 genera and 180 species, chielly tropicid. 

 Represented in North America by the genus 



DIOSPYROS. — Pf.usimmon. 



Diospyros Virginiana Limu*. — lermnmon, Dale Plain. 



Det^cription. — Calyx 4:-loI)ed, increasing in size with the development of 

 the fruit. Corolla 4-lobed, between bell-shaped and urn-shaped, greenish- 

 yellow, thickish, glabrous. Stamens 1(1, in pairs, pubescent ; the sterile 

 ones of the fertile flowers 8. Ovary 8-celled ; styles 4, 9-lobed at the 

 apex. Fruit plum-like, 1 inch in diameter, 4- to 8-seeded. Yellow when 

 ripe. 



A tree 20 to 70 feet high. Loaves 2 to 5 inches long, ovate or oblong, 

 more or less pubescent when young, at length nearly or (piite smooth. 

 Fertile llowers commonly solitary in the axils ; sterile ones in threes. 

 Fruit exceedingly astringent while green, but when ripe, after frost, very 

 sweet and luscious. -- r 



Habitat. — Tn woods and old fields from Iihod(^ Island to Iowa, and 

 southward. E:ist of the Alleghanies it is most conunon along the coast. 



Part fWd. — The unripe fruit. It was formerly otficial, but was dropped 

 from the Pharmacopuna in 1880. The bark is also employed. 



Gonstituetits. — Tannic and malic acids, sugar and pectin. 



