LILIACE^E. (J53 



of the same qualities. (Fl. Ind. i. 47.) S. lilio-hyacinthus is stated by De 

 Candolle to have purgative bulbs. 



Allium. — Linn. 



Flowers umbellate, with a membranous spathe. Perianth 6-parted, permanent, equal. 

 Stamens inserted on the base of the perianth; filaments either all similar, or the alternate 

 ones tricuspidate ; anthers incumbent. Ovary 3-celled ; style subulate ; stigma simple. 

 Capsule usually obtusely 3-angled, or 3-lobed, depressed, 3-celled, bursting into 3 valves 

 through the dissepiments, and containing 1 — 2 black seeds in each cell, affixed to the 

 base. Embryo falcate, not in the axis. 



An extensive genus of mostly European plants, but also found in Siberia, 

 Northern Africa, and the United States. Several of them are alpine or 

 sub-alpine. Many of them are imbued with a peculiar volatile principle, of 

 a strong odour and somewhat acrid taste. 



1. A. sativum, Linn. — Bulbs clustered, proliferous. Stem leafy below the middle. 

 Leaves acute, distichous, glaucous, channelled above. Spathe calyptriform, connected. 

 Umbels bulbiferous. Flowers, when present, of a pink, red, or whitish colour, with the 

 perianth rather longer than the stamens. 



Linn., Sp. PI. 425; De Candolle, Fl. Fr. iii. 219; Stephenson and 

 Churchill, ii. Ill ; Lindley, Fl. Med. 593. 

 Commion iVarae.— Garlic. 

 Foreign Names. — Ail, Fr.; Gartenlauch, Ger.; Allio domestico, It. 



It is not certain where the Garlic is native, but it is extensively naturalized 

 in the South of Europe, Egypt, &c. From its having been known at a very 

 early period, it is probable that it is originally from some part of Asia. It 

 was one of the plants worshipped by the Egyptians, but was held in abhor- 

 rence by the Greeks, though it was employed medicinally by them. 



Every part of it has a strong and unpleasant odour, and a pungent acrid 

 taste, owing to the presence of a Volatile oil. The crushed bulbs applied to 

 the skin, produce irritation and rubefaction. Internally, this article somewhat 

 resembles Squill in its action, being diuretic, diaphoretic, and expectorant. 

 It is occasionally employed in regular practice, as an expectorant in the form 

 of the syrup, or externally as a counter-irritant. In domestic medicine it is 

 resorted to to fulfil a variety of indications. It is, however, more employed as 

 a condiment than as a remedial agent. 



The A. cepa, or Onion, has analogous properties, but is milder. Roasted 

 and divided it is sometimes applied as an emollient poultice to suppurating 

 tumours. The other species in common use are A. porrum or Leek, A. 

 schcenoprasum or Chives, A. ascalonicum or Shallot; A. scodoprasum or 

 Rocambole. It may be noticed that Dr. Paris asserts, that the best corrective 

 of the unpleasant flavour of this tribe of vegetables, is found in the aromatic 

 species of the Apiaceae, but that any of the aromatics mitigates and corrects 

 their acrimony; this was known to Virgil, " Allia, Serpyllumque, herbas 

 contundit olentes." (Fclog. ii. 11.) Menander also says that the beet root 

 when baked wholly removes the odour of Garlic. 



The acrid bulbs of our native A. canadense have been employed as a sub- 

 stitute for the cultivated garlic, and appear to be fully as efficient. 



Tribe 5, Conanthere^e. — Little is known of the properties of the plants 

 of this tribe, but it is probable that they are not of a marked character. Ruiz 

 and Pavon state that in Chili the natives use the bulbs of Conanthera bifolia 

 as food, both in a raw and cooked state (Flor. Peruv. iii. 8). 



Tribe 6, Anthericeje. — The species of this group are of more medicinal 



