LYTHRARIACEM. 



447 



may have an agreeable or offensive odour. The common Salicaria l 

 (fig. 38G-392) so common at the waterside and in so many countries, 

 had formerly a certain reputation as an astringent, antidysenteric 

 medicine ; the root -was more especially sought. A neighbouring 

 species, Lythrum hyssopifolium* was formerly considered a vulnerary, 

 anti-scorbutic, and aperitive. L. alatum* of the United States, is 

 employed in the treatment of sores and ulcers. Several American 

 Nesœas are extolled as medicines. N. verticillata,* growing in 

 marshes, is reputed to cure abortion in animals which feed upon it. 

 JV. syphilitica, 5 to which the Mexicans attribute many properties, has 

 a diuretic, sudorific, and laxative juice. There is also in Peru a 

 Cii/ihea antisyphilitiea, 6 and G. microphylla* 1 is reputed to have the 

 same virtues. There are likewise in this genus many plants with a 

 viscous tenaceous juice, secreted by numerous glands on the surface 

 of the stems and leaves. The Ammannia have sometimes insipid, 

 slightly fleshy leaves, used for the same purposes as purslain, but it 

 would be imprudent to eat them raw. Such is A. portula* (fig. 418, 

 419), considered edible in some countries. 9 A. vesicatoria, 10 on the 

 contrary, is an acrid plant, of a strong chloric odour ; its leaves are 

 preferred, in India, to cautharides, as producing a more rapid and less 

 painful vesication. The Lagerstrcemias are magnificent ornamental 



1 Lythrum Salicaria L. Spec. 640. — DC. Prodr. 

 iii. 82, n. 13.— Gren. et Godr. Fl. deFr. i. 593. 

 — Caz. PI. Méd. Indig. ed. 3, 945. — Salicaria 

 spicata Lamk, Fl. Franc, iii. 103. — S. vulgaris 

 Mœnch, Meth. 065. — Lysimachia purpurea qui- 

 busdam spicata J. Bauh. [Red Lysimachia). 



'- L. Spec. 642. — Rosenth. op. cit. 912. — 

 Salicaria hyssopifolia Lamk. 



J l'i itsH, Fl. Bor.-Amer. i. 334 (not Presl). 

 —DC. Prodr. n. 5.— Ell. Bot. May. t. 1812.— 

 L. vulneraria Schr. PL Ear. Sort. Mon. t. 27. — 

 L. acinifolium Sess. et Moç. (ex DC). — L. 

 Kennedyanum H. B. K. Nov. Gen. etSp. vi. 194. 

 — L. virginicum Kenn. — Pythagorea alata Rafin. 

 ( Yerba del cancer) . L. Eunteri DC. mingled with 

 Moi indu, is used in India for dyeing. 



J II. B. K. ex Rosenth. op. cit. 914. — Lyth- 

 rum vctticillatum L. 



■■H. B. K. ex Rosenth. op. cit. 911. — Heimia 

 syphilitica DC. Prodr. iii. 89. — Gynoria syphili- 

 tica Hoc. et Sess. ex DC. loc. cit. (HanchinoT). 

 N. salicifolia H. B. K. Nov. Gen. et Sp. vi. 192 

 ( lb vtrAa salicifolia Link et Ott.), from the same 

 country (tig. 394, 395), has analogous nroper- 

 ties. 



6 II. B. K. Nov. Gen. et Sp. vi. 202.— DC. 

 Prodr. iii. 87, n. 30 {Cliiayari). C. Bakamona 

 Cham, and Schlchtl and ingrata Cham, and 

 Schlchtl, of Brazil (Sete Sangrias), are reputed 

 antisyphilitic and febrifuge. 



1 H. B. K. Nov. Gen. et Sp. vi. 201.— DC. 

 Prodr. n. 28. O. Apanxalon DC is considered 

 astringent in Mexico, and from C. lanceolata Ait. 

 (At/anchan) a tincture is prepared with which 

 the abdomen of women in childbirth is rubbed. 



8 H. Bn. Bull. Soc. Linn. Par. (1876) 88.— 

 Pcplis Portula L. Spec. 474. — Schkuhr, Handb. 

 t. 99.— DC Prodr. iii. 77, n. 1.— Gren. et Godr. 

 Fl. de Ft: i. 597. — Portula diffusa Mœnch. A. 

 verticillaris [Rotala vcrticillaris L. ; — DC Prodr. 

 iii. 76) used in India in the treatment of 

 abscesses. 



9 On the coasts where Pemphis acidula Forst. 

 (fig. 410, 411) grows, its slightly fleshy and 

 salt leaves are eaten as salad. 



1(1 Roxh. Fl. Ind. i. 447.— DC. Prodr. iii. 78, 

 n. 7- — Lindl. Ft. Med. 149. — Rosenth. op. cit. 

 911. — A. baccifera L.r — Hapalocarpum vesiczto- 

 nam Wight and Arn. {Daud-murec of the 

 Bengalese) . 



