CINCHONACE^E. 



357 



pearance and qualities. It has never been analyzed, but contains some vola- 

 tile oil, and much bitter extractive. 



Medical Properties. — These have not been well ascertained, though enough 

 is known to say that the bark is tonic, with some aperient qualities. It was 

 in use by the southern aborigines ; and is a domestic remedy in Louisiana, 

 where it is considered useful in intermittents. Dr. Elliott says " the inner 

 bark of the root is an agreeable bitter, and frequently used as a remedy in 

 obstinate coughs." It has attracted but little attention from the profession, but 

 deserves a trial as to its real powers. 



Cephaelis. — Swartz. 



Calyx tube obovate, limb very short, 5-toothed. Corolla somewhat infundibuliform, 

 five-parted, segments obtuse, anthers included. Stigma bifid, often exserted. Fruit an 

 ovate-oblong berry, crowned with the remains of the calyx, 2-celled, 2-seeded. 



An extensive genus of American plants, composed of shrubs and herbs 

 with ovate, acute, petiolate leaves, furnished with stipules which are free, or 

 connected, or bi-dentate. The flowers are in terminal or axillary capituli, 

 either pedunculated or sessile, furnished with 2 — 8 involucrate bracts, and 

 with bracteoles between the flowers. Many of the species are imperfectly 

 known, and it is possible that several of them do not properly belong to this 

 genus. One only of them has been used in medicine, though from the uni- 

 formity of character among the herbaceous species it is very likely that they 

 may all possess similar properties. 



C. ipecacuanha, Richard. — Stem ascending, at last erect, somewhat pubescent to- 

 wards the top. Leaves oblong-ovate, rough above, finely pubescent beneath. Stipules 

 divided into setaceous segments. Heads terminal, erect, at length pendulous. Bracts 

 four, somewhat cordate. 



Richard, Bull. Med. iv. 92 ; Martius, Mat. Med. Bras. v. t. 1 ; Stephen- 

 son and Churchill, i. 62 ; Lindley, Fl. Med. 442 ; Callicocca ipecacuanha^ 

 Brotero, Trans. Linn. Soc. vi. 137. 



Common Names. — Ipecacuanha ; Ipecacuan. 



Foreign Names. — Ipecacuanna, Fr. ; Ipecacuana, It.; Brechwurzel, Ger. 



Description. — Root perennial, simple, and divided into a few divergent branches; 

 flexuose, contorted, entering the 



earth obliquely, from four to six 

 inches long, about the thickness 

 of a quill, much thinner towards 

 the base and apex, annulated ; 

 epidermous, glabrous, of a pale 

 fuscous in the recent root, and 

 umber or blackish-brown in the 

 dry ; the cortex is soft, white, 

 and sub-amylaceous in the fresh 

 root, and pale reddish or rose- 

 coloured in the dried state, of a 

 shining and resinous fracture, 

 and readily separable from the 

 thin, central, ligneous fibre-stem, 

 sufFruticose, from two to three 

 feet long, every where nodose, 

 sending off roots at the knots. 

 Leaves four to six, rarely more, 

 oblong-ovate, petiolate ; leaves at 

 the top of the stem opposite, 

 those towards the base alternate. 

 Stipules erect four to six-cleft, 

 deciduous. Flowers in semi- 



Fig. 170. 



C. ipecacuanha. 



