GEBANIAOE'^. 83 



In Abyssinia, Tschokko or Mitchamiteho is considered a tolerably 

 good tenifage, wbence its name 0. anthelminthica} Tbe Carambolas ^ 

 bave generally tbe same properties as tbe 0. acetosella (Fr. Siirelle), 

 to wbich tbey are nearly allied in organisation, but tbeir fleshy 

 fruits rieb in acid juice are especially useful. They are used to remove 

 spots of ink and mildew from linen, and to clean metals. Tbey 

 are eaten raw or preserved with sugar or with vinegar ; as 

 condiments, they enter into the preparation of dishes called achars, 

 are prescribed as refreshing drinks in fevers, and as anti- 

 scorbutics. These last properties are found in the Nasturtiums, 

 principally in IVojuflsofem mqfus^ (&g. 31-37), minus, ^ pentaphi/Uum,^ 

 (fig. 38, 39), etc., tbe sharp taste and chemical composition render- 

 ing these plants antiscorbutic like the Crucifers, ^ whence the name 

 of Indian and Mexican cress (Fr. Gresson d'Inde, de Mextque), etc., 

 given to these plants. With us the flowers of Nasturtiums are 

 eaten as salad, and the buds and green fruit pickled with vinegar.' 

 The Floerlceas have the same properties and savour, but in a less 

 .degree. It is nearly the same with tbe Balsams. Their organs, 

 fleshy and rich in water, contain traces of acrid bitter qualities. 

 Impatiens NoK-tangere^ (fig. 49) was formerly much valued as 

 diuretic and antihemorrhoidal. It was topically used for pains in 

 the joints, and was said to cure diabetes, but is not much thought 

 of at present. Several Balsams are tinctorial plants.^ In Japan, 

 one of them /. cornuta^^ is said to make the hair grow. The best 



1 A. EicH. Fl. Abyss. Tent. i. 124. — ^Eosenth. (Cloez) whose properties are the same ; the pre- 

 op. cit. 897. sence of a free phosphoric acid has been main- 



2 Namely AverrJioa Carambola et Bilimbi (see tained (Bbaconnot). To this is attributed the 

 p. 26, notes 6, 7). emission of light from the flowers during warm 



^ L. Sj>ee. 490. — Curt, in Bot. Mag. t. 23. — nights, noticed by the daughter of Linn^cs. 



TuBP. in Diet. Sc. Nat. Atl. t. 133. — DO. Prodi: 7 The juice of these plants stains yellow. The 



i. 683, n. 2. — Gum. op. cit. iii. 671. — Eev. va.Bot. tubercnles or subterranean stems are edible like 



Med. du xix. SiecU, i. 257. — Gardamindum am- those of Oca. 



pliori folio et majori flore T. Imt. iSO.— Viola ^ L. gpee. 1328. — Schkuhr. Sandb. t. 270.— 



indiea scandem Nasttirtii sapore Hort. Lugd.- G-ben. et Godb. -F?. de Fr. i. 325.— Gpib. op. 



Bat. ex T. (Blood flower, great Indian Cress, cit. iii. 571.— Kosenth. op. cit. 897 {Serbe de 



American Cress). . Sainte-Catherine). ^,^. 



* L. Spec. 490.— SoHKUHE. Sandb. t. 105.— ' Especially /. fulva Nutt. et tinctoria A. 



CuKT. in Bot. Mag. t. 98. - Cardamiiidum minus et EioH. Fl. Ahjss. Tent. i. 120 {Ensessella, Goure- 



wdgare T. Uc. eit. {Petit Oressou d'lnde). Hie of Abyss.). The Tartars are said to colour 



« Lamk. Diet. i. 605 ; III. t. 277.— DC. Prodr. their eyes and nails with the juice of several 



n. \l.—C)iymocarpmpentaphyUus, Don, in Trans. Balsams and with alum. 



Lmn. 8oe. xvii. 13, 145.— A. S. H. PI. us. Bras. '" L. Spec. 1528.— Balsamina cornuta DC. 



t. il.—? Magallana porrifolia Cav. Icon. iv. 51, Prodr. i. 686, n. 3.— Bubm. Zeyl. 41, t. 16, flg. 



t. 374.— DC. Prodr. i. 684. 1.— LouB. Fl. Coehinch. ed. ulyssip. (1790), 626. 



' They produce also a sulphurate essential oil 



VOL. V. ^ 



