SCROPHULARIACEiE. 



517 



retic; and that of T. speciosa is both diuretic and cathartic. The leaves of 

 Sparattosperma lithontriptica are stated by Martius to be bitter, acrid, and 

 diuretic, and to be useful in calculous affections. Jacaranda procera has 

 been employed in syphilis; and the Rosewood of the cabinet-makers is stated 

 to be the product of a species of this genus, but there is no certainty on the 

 subject. 



Order 81.— SCROPHULARIACEiE.— iiWfey. 



Calyx of 4 — 5, more or less united, persistent sepals. Corolla bilabiate, personate, or 

 more or less irregular, imbricated in aestivation. Stamens 4, and didynamous ; a fifth 

 stamen sometimes present, in the form of a sterile filament, rarely antheriferous ; or some- 

 times only two, one pair being either wanting or reduced to sterile filaments. Ovary 2- 

 celled, with the placentas united in the axis. Capsule 2-valved. Seeds indefinite, albu- 

 minous. 



This extensive order is most abundant in the warmer temperate or sub-tro- 

 pical regions, but has representatives in all latitudes. They are generally 

 herbaceous, but sometimes shrubby plants, with opposite, verticillate, or alter- 

 nate leaves. Their properties are by no means uniform, but are usually bit- 

 terish and acrid, and often endowed with deleterious qualities. 



The species of Verbascum are mostly narcotic ; the seeds of V. thapsus and 

 nigrum are used to poison fish, and the flowers of V. lychnitis will, it is 

 said, destroy mice. The juice of the leaves of Torenia asiatica is used on 

 the Malabar coast in gonorrhoea, and an infusion of Scoparia dulcis in South 

 America as a febrifuge, and in hsemorrhoidal affections. The juice of Her- 

 pestis monniera is considered as a good embroca- 

 tion, when mixed with Petroleum, in rheumatic Fig. 223. 

 complaints ; and the leaves of H. amara are 

 extremely bitter and tonic. In Calceolaria trijida 

 the leaves are said to be tonic and febrifugal, and 

 in C. pinnata to be purgative and emetic, whilst 

 the roots of C. arachnoides are much used in 

 Chili as a crimson dye. 



Dr. Hancock (Trans. Med. Bot. Soc. 1829) 

 says that Vandellia diffusa is a most valuable 

 remedy in Guiana as an emetic and febrifuge 

 in malignant fevers and dysentery, especially 

 where the liver is disordered. Euphrasia offici- 

 nalis is somewhat bitter and astringent ; at one 

 time it had a great reputation in diseases of the 

 eye, but is not now employed. Dr. Kra- 

 nichfeld (Med. Gaz. xx. 528) says, however, 

 that he has found it beneficial in catarrhal oph- 

 thalmia, as well as in other affections dependent 

 on catarrh. Several species of Veronica have 

 enjoyed considerable reputation as medicinal 

 agents. V. beccabunga was much praised by the 

 earlier writers as a depurative and antiscorbutic, 

 and is still employed in Europe. V. offici- 

 nalis also attained much celebrity in pulmonary 

 affections, but does not appear to have any other 

 properties than those of a mild astringent. V.pe- 

 regrina is supposed in some parts of the United 

 States to be very efficacious in scrofulous tumours 



V. beccabunga. 



