IIYPERICACEJS. 391 



its buds. An odorous oil distilled from its leaves was formerly em- 

 ployed in medicine. 1 H. Androscemum* was in equal repute under 

 the name of Heal-all. 3 It was prescribed for insanity, burns, hae- 

 morrhage, wounds. H. h ircin u m 4 (fig. 346-349), the odour of which 

 is so strong, was used in the treatment of dysmenorrhea and 

 strangury; II. Coris, montanum, ciliatum, etc., as astringents and 

 balsamics. Many other European species 5 have analogous properties. 

 In the United States, a stomachic tincture is prepared from H. vir- 

 ginicum, 6 the flowers chiefly being employed. In Brazil H. laxius- 

 culum 7 is extolled as alexipharmic and II. connatwm* as useful in 

 cases of angina and stomatite. H. Sarothra 9 of North America, is 

 said to be vulnerary. At Quito H. laricifolium ,0 is considered 

 astringeut ; its flowers are used for dyeing a saffron yellow. At 

 Bourbon an odorous balsam is extracted from II. lanceolatum," pre- 

 scribed in gouty and syphilitic affections. In the North of Europe 

 H. Modes l " is used to dye red and yellow. Species of Hypericum 

 of the section Ascyrum l3 have been employed as astringents and 

 resolutives ; the seeds are considered purgative. Some evergreen 

 and subshrubby species of this genus are cultivated in our gardens 

 as ornamental. 14 



1 It forms an ingredient of several balsams. ' A. S.-H. PI. Us. Bras, t. 62 (Alecriui bravo). 



The petals contain a yellow principle, soluble " Lamk. Diet. iv. 168, n. 55. — A. S.-H. op. 



in water; the pistil and fruit, a reddish resinous cit. t. 61. — Rosenth. op. cit. 750. — Brathys con- 



substance, soluble in oil, alcohol, etc. nota Spach (Orelha de goto). 



-li.Spec.lUrl.—dvi-B.loc.cit.&n. — H.bacci- 9 MicHX. PL Bor.-Amer. ii. 81. — Sarothra 



ferum Lamk. PI. Pr. iii. 151. — H. Bn. Diet. En- gentianoidea L. — 6'. hypericoides Nutt. — Ro- 



cycl. Se. Med. iv. 322. — Aiulrustcntuin officinale senth. op. cit. 751. 



All. PI. Pedem. ii. 47.— Lini>l. Fl. Med. 117.— 10 J. Ann. Mm. iii. 160, t. 16, fig-. I.— Brathys 



Rosenth. op. cit. 750. — A. vulgare G/krtn. laricifolia Spach. 



Pruct. i. 282, t. 59, fig. 2. » Lamk. Diet. iv. 145, n. Z.—,Campylospdrus 



3 Parcteur, Herbe des grands bois. reticulatus Spach (Ambaville, Pleur jauni). 



« L. Spec. 1103.- Gren. et Gornt. Fl. de Fr. '- L. Spec. 1106.— DC. Fl. Fr. iv. 866.— Elo- 



i. 320. — Androsœmum fœtidum Spach. des palustris Spach, Ann. Sc.Nat. sér. 2, v. 171. 



5 H. quadrangulum L. tetrapterum Fries, era- — GREN.etGoDK. Fl. deFr. i. 320. — H.pulchrum 

 pum L. olympicum L. origanifulium W. humifu- L. elegans Steph. Sieheri Vill. (barbet turn All.) 

 sum L. empetrifolium W. etc. (Rosenth. op. cit. have also been used in dyeing. 



749). u Especially A. hypericoides L. and stans 



6 L. Spec. 1104. — Andr. Bot. Repos, t. 552. — Michx. 



DC. Prodr. iii. 546, n. 30.— Plodea virgiuica 14 Bot. Mag. t. 137, 146, 178, 3277, 4949, 5693. 



Kuit. — E. ctimpanulata Pursh. Carr. Rev. Hurt. (1875) 170, c. ic. 



