208 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



Several other species of Linum have been used in medicine, especially the 

 L. catharticum, a native of Europe, where it was formerly in some repute as 

 a cathartic and diuretic. It is still employed in Sweden, especially as an an- 

 thelmintic. The dose is 3j. in substance, or 3ij. in infusion. 



Order 36.— OXALIDACE.E.— Lindky. 



Sepals 5, persistent, aestivation imbricated. Petals 5, hypogynoiis, deciduous ; aestiva- 

 tion spirally twisted. Stamens 10, monadelphous. Ovary of 5 united carpels ; styles 

 distinct. Capsule membranaceous, 5-lobed, 5-celled : carpels 1-12-seeded. Seeds anatro- 

 pous. Embryo straight, cotyledons broad and foliaceous. 



This natural order, which was formerly included in the Geraniacese, con- 

 sists of herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees, mostly having alternate, com- 

 pound leaves with petioles articulated at the base, sometimes, but rarely the 

 leaves are opposite and in whorls. They all abound in an acid juice, and 

 hence have been much used as antiscorbutics and refrigerants. 



Oxalis. — Linn. 



Sepals distinct, or only united at base. Capsule 5-celled, membranaceous, angular. Seeds 

 with an elastic testa, many in each carpel. 



Most of the species are perennial, a few only being annual ; they are ex- 

 ceedingly numerous, upwards of a hundred species having been described; 

 these are principally natives of South Africa, a few only being found in other 

 parts of the world ; of these six or eight are indigenous to North America. 

 The leaves are sometimes pinnate, though in general, they are trifoliate, as in 

 all the North American species. In all, these organs are more or-less sensi- 

 tive and nictitant. 



O. acetosella, Linn. — Rhizome creeping. Leaves radical, ternate ; leaflets obcordate, 

 pubescent. Scape 1-flowered, bibracteate. 



Fig. 107. 



Linn., Sp. PL 602 ; Torrey and Gray, 

 FL i. 211 ; Woodville, Med. Bot. t. 20; 

 Stokes, ii. 555 ; Stephenson & Churchill, 

 i. 63; Lindley, FL Med. 222. 



This plant is found in most parts of 

 Europe, and also occurs in the more 

 Northern States in this country. It is pe- 

 rennial and usually grows; in moist shady 

 woods, flowering in May and June. It is 

 very acid to the taste, and was formerly 

 in much repute as a refrigerant. Old 

 Gerarde notices in his Herbal, that among 

 its various names it has received those of 

 Cuckoo-meat and Alleluya, "by reason 

 when it springeth forth and flowereth, 

 the cuckoo singeth most; at which time 

 also Alleluya was wont to be sung in 

 churches;" this latter name is also bestow- 

 ed upon it in Italy, and is perhaps a cor- 

 ruption of its Calabrian appellation, Lajula, though Gerarde may be right in 

 the explanation he has given. It has been satisfactorily shown by Mr. 

 Bicheno (Phil. Mag.) that this plant is the Shamrock of the Irish, which is 

 generally supposed to be the Clover. 



O. acetosella. 



