POLYGONACE^E. 



547 



Fig. 235. 



have considered it to be an admirable astringent, 

 vulnerary, febrifuge, &c, and Baglivi states 

 that it is a specific in diseases of the kidneys 

 and bladder; notwithstanding which, it is now 

 seldom prescribed in regular practice. P. hy- 

 dropiperoides of this country, which is closely 

 allied, if not identical, with the former of these, 

 has been highly spoken of by Dr. Eberle ( The- 

 rapeut.) in obstinate cases of amenorrhea, and 

 has also proved beneficial in the hands of other 

 practitioners in similar cases. It is given in the 

 form of a saturated tincture. 



The roots of some of these plants have been 

 thought to possess the qualities of Sarsaparilla, 

 and have been used as a substitute for it ; thus 

 P. amphibium is said by Coste and Willemet 

 (Mat. Med. Indig. 116) to be much esteemed in 

 Lorraine as a depurative, and even to be pre- 

 ferred to the foreign article. In Brazil, accord- 

 ing to Martius, P. anli-hcemorrhoidale is in high 

 repute.in the treatment of gout, haemorrhoids, &c. 

 It is used in baths, fomentations, and cataplasms 

 (Jour. Chim. Med. iii. 545). Thunberg ( Voyage, 

 i. 338) states that P. barbatum is considered at 

 the Cape of Good Hope to be beneficial in dropsy, 

 on account of its diuretic properties^; and an in- 

 fusion of its leaves is prescribed in India to-re- 

 lieve the pain in colic (Ainslie, ii. 2). 



Those furnishing nutritive seeds are principally P. fagopyrum and P. ta- 

 taricum, both well known under the name of Buckwheat. These plants, 

 with some others, have been erected into a separate 

 genus, under the name of Fagopyrum. They are 

 principally natives of the central and northern parts of 

 Asia. Buckwheat was introduced into Europe about 

 four centuries since, and, according to Gerarde, was 

 cultivated in England in 1597. In some parts of Eu- 

 rope Buckwheat is much used as food; this is the 

 case more particularly in some of the departments of 

 France. In this country, although much esteemed 

 for breakfast-cakes, it is never made into bread. It is 

 likewise employed in some parts of Germany for the 

 making of beer. It is not as nutritive as the cereal 

 grains, containing only one-half its weight of fecula. 

 P. convolvulus, P. scandens, &c, which are climbing 

 species, bear seeds closely resembling those of Buck- 

 wheat, and which might be substituted for them. The 

 seeds of P. emarginatum are eaten in China. 



The roots of a few of the species are likewise ali- 

 mentary ; thus in Japan those of P. multiflarum are 



eaten in a raw state, and are considered cordial and strengthening. When 

 cooked they become bitter (Thunberg, iv. 83). According to Pallas, the 

 tubercles of P. sibiricum also form an article of diet. 



The leaves of almost all these plants furnish a kind of indigo, and some of 

 them have been extensively employed. P. tinctorium is largely cultivated 



P. persicaria. 



Fig. 236. 



P. fagopyrum. 



