F A B A C E M. 



237 



lifera, both of which possess sweet roots, though not as pleasant or succulent 

 as the G. glabra. 



The only part used is the root ; this is in long, cylindrical pieces, about as 

 thick as the finger, of a grayish-brown colour externally, and yellowish 

 within. The odour is faint, but earthy and peculiar ; the taste is very sweet 

 and mucilaginous. Unlike other sweets, it has long had the reputation of not 

 causing thirst ; this is attributed by Cullen to an acrid and bitter principle 

 which follows the extraction of the sweetness when chewed. It contains, ac- 

 cording to an analysis by Robiquet, glycyrrhizin, asparagin, starch, oil, 

 albumen, some salts, &c. Glycyrrhizin belongs to the uncrystallizable 

 sugars, and is not susceptible of vinous fermentation, and is the sweet princi- 

 ple in the root ; the bitterness is owing to the resinous oil. 



A large quantity of liquorice is imported in the form of an extract, from 

 Spain and the Mediterranean ports. That from Spain, which is the best, is 

 obtained from the G. glabra, whilst that from Sicily and Calabria is princi- 

 pally made from the G. echinata. 



The extract is manufactured on a large scale in Spain, the exports of it 

 from that country being upwards of two hundred tons annually ; a large pro- 

 portion of this is sent to London, where it is used in the brewing of porter. 

 This extract, from the manner in which it is made, is very impure, and much 

 of the saccharine principle in it, is charred by the heat used in evaporation, and 

 requires to be refined or purified for pharmaceutical purposes. 



Medical Properties, tyc. — Both the root and the extract are demulcent, 

 emollient, and nutritive, and are much employed in inflammatory affections 

 of the mucous membranes, especially of the respiratory organs, either alone 

 or combined with mucilaginous substances. They are also used to cover 

 the unpleasant taste of several bitter and nauseous drugs, and the powder 

 of the root, to give the proper consistence to pills, and to prevent their adhe- 

 sion to each other. 



Tephrosia. — Persoon. 



Calyx ebracteolate, 5-toothed or 5-cleft. Vexillum large, roundish, spreading or re- 

 flexed ; keel obtuse, cohering to the wings. Stamens monadelphous or occasionally 

 diadelphous ; the tenth filament sometimes half united with the others. Style filiform, 

 bearded longitudinally, or glabrous ; stigma terminal. Legume usually sessile, and much 

 compressed ; linear, many-seeded. Seeds compressed. 



The plants of this genus are shrubby or herbaceous, with erect or procum- 

 bent, silky-villous stems. The leaves are unequally pinnate, 

 with the stipules free from the petiole, lanceolate or subulate. 

 The flowers are in terminal or axillary racemes, and white 

 or purplish. They occur principally in tropical Asia or Ame- 

 ricana bout five species being natives ofthe United States. Their 

 properties are very, various. The bitter root of T. purpurea 

 is prescribed by Hindoo practitioners in dyspepsia, lientery, 

 and tympanitis (Ainslie, ii. 49.) T. senna is used in Po- 

 payan as a substitute for senna (Humb. & Bon. Nov. Gen. 

 vi. 459). T. leptostachya has some reputation in Senegal 

 as a purgative (Merat & De Lens, Diet, vi.) T. tozicaria 

 is employed in Jamaica for intoxicating fish (Lunan, Hort. 

 Jam. ii. 217), and T. apollinea is used to adulterate the 

 Alexandria Senna, and according to Mr. Hoskins, is culti- 

 vated in Nubia, for its indigo. It is a small plant, covered 

 with closely-pressed down. 



T. virginiana, Persoon. — Stem erect, villous-pubescent ; leaves subsessile, leaflets 8 — 14 



Fig. 122. 



T. apollinea. 



Legume and 



Leaflet. 



