158 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



in syphilis, and the H. connatum is employed in Brazil as an astringent in 

 sore throat, as is also the H. laxiusculum against the bites of venomous 

 snakes ; and finally, several species are considered in Russia as efficacious 

 in hydrophobia. 



G-roup IX.— Silenales. 



Order 22.— CARYOPHYLLACE.E. 



Sepals 4-5, continuous with the peduncle, persistent, distinct, or cohering in a tube. 

 Petals 4-5, hypogynous, unguiculate, inserted on the peduncle of the ovary, sometimes 

 split into 2 parts or even wanting. Stamens generally twice as many as the petals, or 

 equal in number to the sepals and opposite to them, inserted on the peduncle of the ovary ; 

 filaments subulate, sometimes monadelphous; anthers innate, 2-celled, with a longitudinal 

 dehiscence. Ovary stipulate, on the apex of a pedicel (gynophore) composed of 2—5 car- 

 pels, with adherent and valvate edges, or so turned inwards as sometimes to touch the 

 central placenta; stigmas 2-5, sessile, filiform t ; ovules few or indefinite. Capsule 2-5 

 valved, either 1 . or 2-5-celled. Placenta central. Seeds usually indefinite ; albumen 

 mealy ; embryo external, curved round the albumen, or sometimes straight. 



These plants are usually small herbs, occasionally sufFruticose, with oppo- 

 site and entire leaves often connate at base, without stipules. They are princi- 

 pally natives of cold and temperate climates ; those occurring in tropical 

 regions usually growing at high elevations. 



Their general character is that of insipidity. Some, however, are endowed 

 with more active qualities ; thus many of them have saponaceous properties 

 depending on the presence of a peculiar principle called Saponine, and allied 

 to the active constituent of Sarsaparilla. This exists in the roots of Sapona- 

 ria officinalis, Gypsophila struthium, &c. ; it is bitterish, spumescent;with 

 water, and used instead of soap, in Europe, for cleansing clothes. The plants 

 in which it is found, have obtained some notice as substitutes for sarsaparilla 

 in the treatment of syphilis, chronic cutaneous affections, jaundice, &c. 

 Several of the American species of. Silene have been employed with some 

 success as anthelmintics, especially the S. virginica, (Barton, Collec. i. 39.) 

 The flowers of the Pink, (Dianthus,) were at one time esteemed to be tonic, 

 astringent and sudorific, but are at present only used to colour certain prepa- 

 rations. Lemery, (Diet. 264,) says that the petals of the D. plumarius are 

 cephalic, and have been found efficacious in epilepsy. The seeds of Agro- 

 stenima githago, or Corncockle, are reported to render meal unwholesome 

 when ground with the grain ; from the experiments of Cordier, it would appear 

 that this is erroneous, for although somewhat acrid, they are not poisonous. 

 On the other hand, many of the older writers speak of them as active, and 

 recommend them highly in some cutaneous disorders, and also in haemor- 

 rhages, and as an external application to ulcers and fistulas. 



G-roup X. — Malvales. 



Order 23.— STERCULIACE^E.— Venlenat. 



Calyx naked, or surrounded with an involucre of 5 sepals, more or less connected at 

 base, with a valvate aestivation. Petals 5, (or more,) hypogynous, convolute in aestiva- 

 tion. Stamens indefinite, variously monadelphous; anthers 2-celled, extrorse. Pistil 

 consisting f 5, (rarely 3,) carpels, either distinct or cohering. Styles equal in number to 

 carpels, distinct or united ; ovules erect, if definite, sometimes indefinite. Fruit capsular, 

 with 3-5 cells, or drupaceous, or berried, or even composed of distinct follicles. Seeds 



