0171 



CAMPHOROSMA 



Family: CHENOPODIACEAE. 



Reproductive system: TETRANDRY, MONOGYNY. 



The camphorosma, Camphorosma monspeliaca, Linn., is a plant about a foot 

 high. The stem is woody, branched, and hairy. The leaves are small, narrow, linear, 

 pointed, and gathered in little bunches on the branches. Tiny whitish flowers are set in the 

 axils of the leaves. The calyx is cup-shaped with four parts, the two larger ones 

 alternating. The filaments of the four stamens are longer than the calyx. The simple style 

 is divided at the top into two stigmata. The fruit is an oval capsule that contains a black, 

 shiny seed. 



FLOWERS: August and September. 



RANGE: sandy regions of Provence, Languedoc, and the Bordeaux area. 



NOMENCLATURE. Camphorosma, from the Latin camphora, or camphor, 

 because the plant emits a strong smell of camphor. German, die kampferpflance. Dutch, 

 kamferkruid. English, the camphorosma. 



USES. This plant is little used in medicine, though sometimes it's given as an 

 aperitive, a diuretic, and a sudorific. It's recommended for obstructions, dropsy, and 

 menstrual deficiency. In the south it appears to be taken as an infusion in doses from a 

 quarter to one ounce in a pint of water. 



CULTIVATION. The camphorosma sometimes grows up to six feet in 

 conservatories in the north of France, where it's kept protected from severe frost. It likes 

 loose, sandy soil and good exposure in summertime. It's easily propagated from layers 



and 



