374 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



black stain for the hair. The root has purgative and 

 emetic properties assigned to it, and has been used in 

 affections of the liver and spleen, and in dropsy. The 

 expressed juice appears to be the best form of 

 administration. — 'Pharmacopoeia of India,' Waring, 

 p. 128 ; Kew Museum. 



Distribution : Widely spread in Tropical Africa. 



Haemorrhage Plant (Aspilia latifolia, O. & H.). — 

 Herb, one and a half to four feet high. In Liberia 

 this plant is used in haemorrhage by the natives, and 

 is preferred by them to any European treatment. 

 The pounded leaves and flowers applied to a wound 

 are said to stop haemorrhage in a few minutes and to 

 heal the wound rapidly. — 'Pharmaceutical Journal,' 

 vol. viii., 1878, p. 563. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea, Nile Land. 



Spilanthes Acmella, L* — Annual. This plant has 

 similar properties to the Para cress of Brazil (S. ole- 

 racea, L.), the flower-heads of which have a hot 

 burning taste, and cause profuse salivation : they are 

 sometimes chewed to relieve toothache. — ' Vegetable 

 Materia Medica of Western India,' Dymock, p. 360. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea, Nile Land, Lower 

 Guinea, Mozambique District. 



African Marigold {Tagetes erecta, L.). — Small plant 

 used in India in diseases of the eye and to purify the 



