CORNACE^E. 347 



The berries are bitter, purgative, and sometimes emetic, and were at one 

 time in some repute in febrile affections ; Boyle considered them to be sudo- 

 rific, and in the great plague in London they were administered, in combina- 

 tion with vinegar. 



The leaves are bitter, astringent, and nauseous, and have been employed 

 to dress issues and ulcers, and a decoction of them in the treatment of itch, 

 and to destroy vermin in the hair, which latter it is said is stained black by 

 this application ; in cataplasm they are stated to be useful in chronic enlarge- 

 ments of the glands. 



A gum-resin is obtained from the stem of old plants ; this is of a blackish 

 colour, with a somewhat aromatic odour, especially on being burnt. It was 

 prescribed by Stahl and others as a stimulant, emmenagogue, and deobstruent, 

 but does not appear to be possessed of any active properties ; at present it is 

 only used in the manufacture of a varnish. 



Some other species have been employed, as the H. umbettifera, a native of 

 Amboyna ; this yields a wood, having the smell of Lavender and Rosemary. 

 The H. terebintacea of Ceylon affords a resinous product, resembling tur- 

 pentine. 



Order 55.— CORNACEjE.-— Torrey and Gray, 



Calyx adherent to the ovary, 4 — 5-toothed, small or 4 — 5-lobed. Petals equal in num- 

 ber to divisions of the calyx, distinct ; aestivation valvate. Stamens 4 — 5, inserted with 

 the petals, and alternate with them. Anthers introrse, mostly cordate. Ovary 1 — 2- 

 celled. Styles single. Drupes baccate, with a 1 — 2-celIed nucleus, crowned with the re- 

 mains of the calyx. Seeds anatropous. 



A small order formerly included in Capri foliacese, but very distinct from 

 it. It consists of trees or shrubs, and a few herbaceous species, with a bitter 

 bark. The leaves are generally opposite, in a few instances somewhat alter- 

 nate, mostly entire, without stipules. The flowers are cymose, and sometimes 

 involucrate. 



Cornus. — Linn. 



Limb of the calyx 4-toothed, minute. Petals oblong, spreading. Filaments slender. 

 Style subclavate. Stigma obtuse or capitate. Drupes not connate. Flowers white, or 

 rarely yellow. 



A genus of about twenty species, most of which are trees or large shrubs, 

 but two of them are herbaceous. The flowers are capitate or umbellate, and 

 involucrate or corymbose, or paniculate and involucrate. More than half the 

 species occur in North America, some of them common to both continents. 



1. C. Florida, Linn. — Leaves of involucre 4, obcordate, or with a callous notch at apex. 

 Drupes oval. Leaves ovate, acuminate. 



Linn., Sp. PI. 171 ; Bigelow, Med. Bot. ii. 73, t. 28 ; Barton, Veg. Mat. 

 Med. i. 43 ; Rafinesque, Med. Flor. i. 131 ; Torrey and Gray, Fl. i. 652 ; 

 Ellis, Am. Jour. Pharm. i. 265. 



Common Names. — Dogwood ; Box -tree ; Great-flowered Cornel, &c. 



Foreign Nantes. — Cornuillier a grandes fleurs, Fr. ; Corniolo, It. 



