OF NEW-YORK. 21 



Genista* Tinctoria, Linn., (Dyer's Green-weed) An exotic. 

 The plant yields a coloring matter that is used for dying wool yellow. 

 It has also been employed in medicine as a diuretic and mild purga- 

 tive. The seeds are emetic and cathartic, in doses of 3j. to 3 ij. ; also 

 diuretic and useful in dropsy. 



BaptisiaI Tinctoria, R. Brown, (Wild Indigo). An indigenous, 

 perennial plant. Medicinal properties reside chiefly in the cortical por- 

 tion of the root. In large doses emetic and cathartic, in smaller mildly 

 laxative. Said to be useful in scarlet fever, typhus fever, and that 

 state of the system which attends gangrene ; also externally to ulcers. 

 The plant yields a quantity of coarse Indigo, resembling the fig 

 blue. 



Cassia Marilandica, Linn., (American Senna). A well-known 

 cathartic. Taste slightly nauseous, leaves contain resin, extractive, 

 and a volatile oil, equal to foreign, only requiring a larger quantity. 



Cercis Canadensis, Linn., (Red-Bud, or American Judas Tree). 

 Niagara county. The flowers are acid, and used by the French Ca- 

 nadians for salads and pickles. 



Gymnocladus^ Canadensis, Linn., (Coffee Tree). Trunk thirty 

 to fifty feet high, one foot or more in diameter ; branches few and 

 thick ; bark bitter and acrid ; leaves one to three feet long ; legume 

 six-ten inches long, two inches broad; seeds half an inch in diameter. 

 On Seneca and Cayuga lakes. According to Michaux, the wood of 

 this tree is well suited to cabinet making, and ite strength renders it 

 proper for building. Like the locust, it has the power of rapidly con- 

 verting its sap into perfect wood. Much esteemed as an ornamental 

 tree. 



Rosacea, Juss. — (The Rose Tribe.) 



Prunus§ Americana, Marshall, (Red Plum, Yellow Plum.) A tree 

 eight to ten feet high, fruit half an inch in diameter, oval or nearly glo- 

 bose, mostly reddish-orange when ripe, with a juicy yellow pulp, and a 

 thick tough skin. Palatable when cultivated, but rather acerb in a wild 

 state. 



Prunus Maratima, Wang., (Beach Plum, Sand Plum). Two to 

 five feet high ; fruit usually purple, and sometimes crimson : two varie- 



* From the Celtic gen, a small bush. 



t From the Greek bapto, to dye, some of the plants yielding a coloring matter, like 

 indigo. 



\ From gymnos, naked, and klados, branch— its branches are few and large. 

 § The Latin name for plum. 



