618 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



Fi?. 278. 



Aquatic or semi-aquatic plants, with creeping, fleshy, perennial rhizomes, 

 and either narrow and ligulate leaves, or expanded into a broad lamina, with 

 parallel veins. They chiefly occur in the northern hemisphere ; some few, 

 however, are found in the tropics. Most of them have fleshy rhizomes, 

 which are wholesome and nutritious, especially those of several species of 

 Sagittaria. In China the S. sinensis is much cultivated for its farinaceous 

 tubers, which are found in the soil beneath the mud by which the plant is 

 surrounded. They are sometimes several inches in diameter, and furnish no 

 inconsiderable part of the food of the inhabitants. Even in a raw state they 

 are a wholesome article of diet, and when properly prepared afford a white 

 and light fecula, resembling arrow-root. Those of S. sagittifolia are much 

 employed as food among our aboriginal tribes ; and it is said that the leaves 



applied to the breasts of nursing females 

 will tend to dispel the milk. Various of 

 the Brazilian species are stated by Mar- 

 tius to be astringent, and their expressed 

 juice to be used in the preparation of ink 

 (Mat. Med. Bras. 47). 



The Alti ma plantago, or Water Plan- 

 tain, a native both of Europe and the 

 United States, was known to the an- 

 cients, being spoken of by -Dioscorides 

 as a remedy in poisoning from Opium. 

 It is somewhat allied to the Ranuncu- 

 lacece in its properties, as it is so acrid 

 that it will vesicate, when it is applied in 

 a bruised state to the skin ; yet Haller 

 recommends it in hemorrhoids, and the 

 Kalmucks use the roots as food. It is 

 considered in Russia to be an antidotejn 

 hydrophobia. Martius states that the 

 powdered state is administered in large 

 doses, and that he has seen its good ef- 

 fects in upwards of a hundred cases 

 (Bull. Sci. Nat., 1828). This anti- 

 lyssic property of the plant is also no- 

 ticed by Leroshin, Burdach, and others 

 (Fee, Hist. Nat. Bharm. i. 311). But trials made with it, in France and 

 elsewhere, have proved its complete inefficiency in this disease, as might 

 have been reasonably expected. De Haen is of opinion that the leaves are 

 as beneficial as the Uva TJrsi in complaints of the urinary organs, and they 

 have been given by other practitioners with some success in these diseases. 



A. plantago. 



Group XLV. — Juncales. 



Order 107.— ORONTIACE^.— Brawn. 



Flowers bisexual on a simple spadix, having a white or coloured spathe. Calyx and 

 corolla wanting, or consisting of 4 — 8 scales. Stamens as many as scales, hypogynous 

 or perigynous ; anthers 2-celled, with a longitudinal or transverse dehiscence. Ovary 

 few, with 1 or more cells ; ovules erect, anatropal or campylotropal, or pendulous and 

 orthotropal ; stigma capitate, sessile, or furnished with a subulate style. Fruit a berry. 

 Embryo slit on one side, in the axis of fleshy, or horny or mealy albumen. Albumen 

 sometimes wanting. 



