344 BOTANY AND PHARMACOGNOSY. 



of the Mediterranean countries and Linodendron of Cuba. The 

 fibers of Leather wood (Dirca palustris) of the Eastern United 

 States and Canada are said to be used in a similar manner. 



b. FAMILY EL^AGNACE^E.— This is a small family 

 represented in the United States by several genera, among which 

 is the Buffalo berry {Lepargyrcea argentea), a thorny shrub found 

 in the western part of the United States and the Northwest Terri- 

 tory. The fruit is a reddish drvpe-like berry which contains a 

 small amount of citric and malic acids, 5 per cent, of sugar, and 

 in composition is much like the currant. It is eaten by the Indians, 

 and used to a great extent in the Western States in the making of 

 jellies. The leaves and flowers of a number of species of 

 Elaeagnus are used in medicine. 



c. LYTHRACE^ OR LOOSESTRIFE FAMILY.— The 

 members of this family are herbs, shrubs and trees usually with 

 opposite, entire leaves. The flowers are in racemes and the fruit 

 is a capsule. Quite a number of the plants yield valuable woods 

 and a number are cultivated as ornamental plants. 



The flowers of Woodfordia floribunda of India contain a red 

 coloring principle, and the bark and leaves of Lafoensia Pacari of 

 Brazil contain a yellow coloring principle. Considerable tannin 

 is found in the root of the Purple loosestrife {Lythrum Salicaria) 

 of the Northern United States and Canada, and widely distrib- 

 uted in the Old World; and also in the fruit of Woodfordia 

 Horibunda, a plant which is extensively cultivated in greenhouses. 

 A bitter principle, nessin, is found in the leaves of Neseea syphili- 

 tica of Mexico and probably other species of this genus. Cuphea 

 viscosa of Mexico is said to resemble digitalis in its physiological 

 action. A vesicating principle, resembling cantharidin in its 

 action, is obtained from the fresh leaves of Ammanni baccifera of 

 India. A narcotic principle is found in the seeds of Lagerstrcemia 

 Flos regj,n(2 of India. The flowers of Lauisonia inermis, native to 

 and cultivated in the Orient, have an odor resembling that of the 

 Tea rose. The shrub is also cultivated to some extent in the West 

 Indies and is known in the Orient as the Henna plant. The 

 leaves are used in the preparation of the cosmetic Hinna. They 

 contain an orange or brownish-yellow dye which is used in the 

 dyeing of the skin and hair. 



