BORAGINACEjE. 499 



as the C. tozicaria, are stated to be endowed with narcotic properties, but 

 this needs confirmation. (Lindley, Veg. King, 621.) 



Group XXXI— E chi ale s. 



Order 77 — BORAGINACE^E.— Lindley. 



Calyx 4 — 5-cleft, persistent. Corolla hypogynous, monopetalous, usually regular, 

 5-cleft, (sometimes 4-) ; sestivation imbricate. Stamens inserted on the corolla, equal to 

 the lobes and alternate with them. Ovary 4-parted, 4-seeded, or 2-parted, 4-celled ; 

 ovules attached to lowest part of the cavity ; style simple, arising from base of ovary ; 

 stigma simple or bifid. Nuts 2 — 4, distinct. Seed separable from pericarp, exalbumi- 

 nous. Embryo with a superior radicle. 



A tolerably extensive order of herbaceous plants or shrubs, with round 

 stems and alternate leaves, which are often covered with hairs arising from a 

 hard base. They are principally natives of temperate regions, especially of 

 the northern hemisphere, almost wanting in the tropics. They are much less 

 abundant in North America than Europe. 



Most of the species are possessed of mucilaginous and emollient properties, 

 and contain nitrate of potash, as is shown by their decrepitation when thrown 

 into the fire. They are principally used as demulcents, but some of them 

 afford tinctorial roots. Cerinthe major was formerly considered as an 

 astringent, and was used in inflammations of the eyes. (Lemery, Diet.) 

 Onosma eckioides,& native of Europe, affords a red dye from its roots, which 

 is sometimes used as a substitute for Alkanet, especially in the south of 

 France. Echium vulgare, indigenous to Europe, and now naturalized in 

 many parts of this country, was formerly considered as an alexipharmic, but 

 has only demulcent qualities ; the roots of E. rubrum of Asia afford a red 

 dye. Several species of Pulmonaria have enjoyed a high reputation in dis- 

 eases of the pulmonary organs; they are all emollient and demulcent, but 

 not more so than numerous other plants, which have no peculiar virtues 

 attributed to them, and it is most probable, that they owe much of their re- 

 nown to a lingering reliance on the doctrine of signatures ; for as the leaves 

 are spotted somewhat like the lungs, it was supposed that they must of neces- 

 sity be useful in diseases of those organs ; the species most in repute is the 

 P. officinalis and its variety angustifolia, the former growing upon high 

 mountains, and the latter generally found through Europe, and most fre- 

 quently used. Our native species, P. virginica, is stated to be astringent 

 and demulcent (Riddell, 83), and is much used in some parts of the country 

 in catarrhs and other diseases of the respiratory organs. In Litkospermum, 

 where the seeds are hard and stonelike, another instance of the influence of 

 the doctrine of signatures is met with, for the species were, at one time, held 

 in great esteem as lithontriptics, and were also considered efficacious in all 

 diseases of the kidneys and bladder. Haller was of opinion, that these 

 plants had some narcotic properties, but this does not seem to be the case. 



The species of Anchusa are principally valued for their tinctorial powers, 

 but the A. italica and A. officinalis are also employed as mild sudorifics and 

 demulcents ; Ehrenberg, however, says, that in Egypt the first is considered 

 as a specific in jaundice (Bull. Sci. Med. xiii. 230), and Meyer reports, that 

 in Siberia the second is regarded as infallible in hydrophobia (ISouv. Bib. Med. 

 iii. 443). It may be remarked as a curious fact, that almost all the vaunted 

 specifics in this terrible malady, are plants of the most inefficient character 

 as the Skullcap, Water-plantain, Pimpernel, and many others. The A. tine 



