350 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



L'Heritier, Corn. 9 ; Torrey and Gray, FL i. 650. 



Common Names. — Broad-leaved Dogwood ; Alder-leaved Dogwood. 



Description. — A shrub from four to eight feet high, with straight, slender branches, 

 which are greenish and verrucose. The leaves are large and rounded, and are somewhat 

 rough above, but lanuginous beneath. The flowers are in small, depressed cymes, with- 

 out an involucrum. The berries are a bright-blue, becoming lighter-coloured as they 

 mature, small, and crowded with the persistent style. 



This species occurs in the same situations as the last, but is far from being 

 as abundant; it is more common in the Eastern States than further South. 

 The bark, when dried, is in quills of a whitish or ash colour, and affords a 

 gray powder. Its odour is slight, and its taste bitter, astringent, and somewhat 

 aromatic. It is possessed of the same properties, and probably the same com- 

 position, as the C. florida, and is much employed in some of the New Eng- 

 land States. Drs. E. and A. Ives speak of it in the highest terms as a tonic 

 and astringent, especially in the form of an infusion. The extract also, 150 

 grains of which are afforded by an ounce of the bark, is an eligible prepara- 

 tion ; it is astringent, and intensely bitter. 



Although no trials have been made of the barks of the other native shrubby 

 species, as the C. alternifolia, stricta, &c, it is most probable that they all 

 possess analogous qualities, as do also those of Europe, the C. mas and C. 

 sanguinea; the berries of the latter also furnish an oil resembling that of the 

 olive ; M. Murion (Jour, de Pharm. x.) states that they afford one-third of 

 their weight, of a pure and limpid oil, fit for the table or for burning. As 

 the berries of this species closely resemble those of some of the native spe- 

 cies, it is likely that these might also be used for this purpose. The berries 

 of C. mas are used in Turkey for making a kind of sherbet. 



Order 56.— HAMAMELIDACE.E.-— Zmc%. 



Calyx adherent, in 4 — 5 pieces. Petals when present 4 — 5, with an imbricated aestiva- 

 tion. Stamens 8, of which 4 are alternate with the petals ; anthers introrse, 2-celled ; 

 4 sterile at the base of the petals. Ovary 2-celled, inferior. Ovules single or several, 

 pendulous or suspended. Styles 2. Fruit semi-inferior, capsular, usually opening with 

 2 valves. Seeds pendulous. Embryo in the midst of fleshy or horny albumen. 



A small order of small trees or shrubs, with alternate, dentate leaves with the 

 veins running from the midrib straight to the margin. Flowers small, axil- 

 lary, sometimes unisexual by abortion. The species are found in North 

 America, China, Central Asia, and South Africa ; but one of them has been 

 used medicinally. 



Hamamelis. — Linn. 



Calyx 4-celled, persistent, 2 — 3 bracteolate at base. Petals 4, long, ligulate, with 4 

 sterile stamens at base. Fertile stamens 4, alternate with the petals. Anthers introrse, 

 2-celled ; each cell with an operculate valve. Styles 2, short. Capsule coriaceous, or 

 bony, 2-celled, 2-lobed ; apex 2-valved, valves cleft. Seeds 2, arillate. 



A genus of a few species, found in North America and China ; they are 

 large shrubs and usually flower in the autumn after the leaves have fallen, 

 and perfect their fruit the following year. 



