524 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



Group XXXIII. — Oortusales. 



Order 82.— PLUMBAGINACEiE.—im^. 



Calyx tubular, 5-toothed, plaited, persistent. Corolla hypocrateriform, limb 5-parted, 

 (sometimes with 5 almost distinct petals). Stamens 5. Styles 5, either partially united 

 or distinct. Ovary superior, 1-celled, 1-seeded; ovule pendulous, attached to the apex of 

 a filiform podosperm which rises from the bottom of the cell, Pericarp a capsule covered 

 by the calyx, sometimes indehiscent, or opening by 5 valves. 



This order is composed of herbaceous or suffruticose plants with entire, 

 alternate or clustered leaves, usually crowded at base, and often sheathing or 

 clasping, without stipules, but sometimes marked with pellucid dots. Most of 

 the species are sea-side plants and natives of the temperate regions. Some 

 are tropical, more especially those belonging to Plumbago. The properties of 

 the order are very various, as some of the species are tonic and astringent, 

 and others are extremely acrid and even caustic; these latter characters are 

 powerfully developed in Plumbago, almost all of which are so active as to 

 operate as vesicatories when applied to the skin. The bark of the root of P. 

 zeylanica, bruised into a paste, is used by the native practitioners in India as 

 an application to incipient buboes. (Ainslie, Mat. Ind. ii. 77.) The contused 

 root of P. rosea, is employed in many parts of the East Indies as a vesicant; 

 it excites more inflammation than cantharides, but much less serous dis- 

 charge. It is also prescribed internally, in small doses, in rheumatic and 

 paralytic affections. (Ibid. 379.) The P. scandens, a native of South Ame- 

 rica and the West Indies, is extremely active, and is known in the French 

 islands under the name " Herbe du diable." Pison speaks of it (Bras. 105), as 

 a good emetic in cases of the ingestion of poisons ; but, according to Descour- 

 tilz (Flor. Med. Antill. iii. 94), it is too energetic to be given with impunity ; 

 Brown, (Hort. Jam. ii. 235,) also speaks of it as extremely corrosive. The 

 European species, P. europcea, has long been employed as a .medicinal agent, 

 and appears to be the tripolion of Dioscorides. Bauhin speaks of it as a valu- 

 able odontalgic, when used as a masticatory, and other writers notice it as a 

 good application to old and malignant ulcers and even cancers. It has also 

 been found useful in itch, and was at one time much employed in the South 

 of Europe in the treatment of that disease. Taken internally it causes 

 nausea and vomiting, with much irritation of the stomach and bowels. Ac- 

 cording to Dulong d'Astafort, the root contains a peculiar principle, which he 

 calls Plumbagin (Journ. Pharm. xiv. 441). 



The other species of the order are principally tonic and astringent ; these 

 properties are remarkably developed in Statice. Armeria vulgaris is re- 

 garded in Germany as a powerful diuretic. The flowers are given in decoc- 

 tion, which is aromatised with cinnamon or anise ; when freely taken, this is 

 said to excite a copious excretion of urine. (Med. Gaz. xx. 144.) 



Statice. — Linn. 



Calyx tubular, scarious, plaited. Corolla with limb of 5 almost distinct petals. Sta- 

 mens 5. Styles 5, germen superior. Seed one, invested by the calyx. 



A numerous genus, principally native in the southern part of Europe, 

 though some of the species are found in most parts of the world. The roots 

 of many of them are very astringent, but only one is officinal in our Phar- 

 macopoeia. 



