POLYOALAOE^. 83 



The Polygalacece have tolerably diverse properties;^ some are milky, 

 others bitter. Several are rich, ia tannin. A great number are 

 supposed to have a special acrid principle called polygaline or 

 seneffine, of which we shall speak later. The iadigenous species of 

 Polygala were formerly much used in country medicines, but very 

 little at the present day. Their name Milkworts (Fr. Laitiers) 

 comes doubtless from the whitish colour of their juice; and it is 

 probably the presence of this juice which has led the vulgar to 

 believe that the Polygalas promote the secretion of milk in women 

 and cattle. P. vulgaris ^ is considered a tonic stomachic, sudorific, 

 and slightly emetic ; it has a slightly aromatic acrid taste, scarcely 

 bitter, with a faiat not disagreeable odour. It is said to be used 

 in adulterating green tea, and has been recommended in affections of 

 the lungs and kidneys, P. amara ^ has the same properties but 

 stronger. It is especially good in cases of chronic bronchitis, 

 catarrh, and hsemoptysis ; it is very bitter. P. vulgaris is often 

 substituted for it iu commerce. In the Palatinate P. calcarea^ is 

 especially used. In the United States P. ruhella ^ serves the same 

 purpose ; it is decidedly bitter. In small doses an infusion of it 

 is tonic, digestive and stimulant; in large doses it is diaphoretic. The 

 most active of the medicinal species appears to be P. Senega ® or 

 P. of Virginia, a perennial species with large twisted roots, greyish, 

 rough, and hard, terminated above by a deformed tuber covered with 

 little buds longitudinally traversed by a prominent rib. Its taste is 

 at first faint, then acrid, sharp, irritant, and nauseous, provoking 



1 Endl. ^wcAini?. 669. — JjmxfL. Fl. Med. 115 ; 95. — Gken. et Godk. toe. cit. 196. — F. amara 

 Veg. Eingd. Zll. — Guib. Drag. Simpl. ed. 6, iii. Eeichb. (ueo L.)- — P. atnarella Coss. et Germ. 

 655. — EosENTH. Syn. PI. Biaphor. 785. M. Far. 56 (nee Crantz). 



2 L. Spec. 986. — DC. Prodr. i. 324, n. 43. — * Pcrsh. M. Bor, Amer. ii. 464. — W. Spec. 

 GtiiE. op. cit. 658. — Gren. et Godr. Fl. de Fr. iii. 876. — DO. Prodr. n. 108. — Bigel. Med. 

 i. 196.— Eev. in Sot. M4d. du XIX Steele, iii. Sot. iii. t. 54.— Lnroi,. Fl. Med. 126.— P. 

 103, t 9.— Caz. 2V. des PI. Med. Ind. M. 3, polygama Wait. FL Carol. 179.— DO. Prodr. 

 864. — P. puieseens Eohd. — ? P. comosa n. 110. 



ScHKUKB. — ? P. monspeliaca All.— P. serpyl- ^ L. Spec. 990.— Woodv. Med. Sot. iii. t. 93. 



laeea Weihb. — P. oxyptera Eeichb. {PCerbe a — ^DO. Prodr. n. 109.— Bigel. Med. Sot. ii. t. 



lait, Laitier eommun, Flew amlrevale.) 30.— Mer. et Del. Diet. Mat. Med. v. 424. — 



' L. ^ec. 987.— Wahl. Carp. n. 701.— DO. Nees et Eberm. PI. Med. t. 412.— Lindl. Fl. 



Prodr. n. 44.— Gren. et Godr. loc. cit. 196. — Med. 125. — Sot. Mag. t. 1061.— Guib. loc. cit. 



Gdib. op. cit. 668. — P. austriaca Crantz, Fl- 656, fig. 748.— Endl. Enchirid. 669. — A. Eich. 



Amtr. t. 2, flg. 4. — P. decipiens Bess. Cont. ii. Flem. ed. 4, ii. 632. — ^Pereira, Flem. Mat. Med. 



Ti.—P. Vaillantii Bess.- P. amarella Crantz. ed.4, ii. p. ii. 666.— Moa. Sot. Med. 66, fig. 18.— 



— P. myrtifolia Ps. {Laitier amer.) Eev. in Fl. Mid. du XIX Siicle, iii. 319, t. 34. 



* SoH. Exs. cent. ii. n. 15. — GosB. Fl. Lorr. 



