VEGETABLES 



279 



^jure and powerful emetic, but perhaps too drastic, 

 and ought to be administered with caution, and by- 

 such as have investigated its properties. It is an In- 

 dian medicine, yet commonly used by country people. 



We have several other species of this genus, two of 

 which are very handsome plants, viz. E. corollata^ 

 E. pieta, 



Chelidonium^ celandine, or horned poppy. There 

 are two species of this genus indigenous to the United 

 States. 1, C. majus, greater or common celandine. 

 The juice of this plant is extremely acrid. It is a 

 common remedy for warts, and it is said will cure 

 the itch, tetters, and ring worms. 



2, C. glaucum, sea celandine, yellow horned 

 poppy. This plant is very ornamental to sandy 

 shores, but poisonous. 



Collinsonia^ Canadensis^ nettle-leaved collinso^ 

 nia^ horse weed, knott root, knott wood. 



This plant has a perennial root, and usually rises 

 four feet ; the stalks decay in the Autumn ; they are 

 square, leaves heart-shaped, opposite and serrate. 

 The flowers are produced at the extremity of the 

 stalks in loose spikes, are of a purplish yellow, - and 

 appear eai'ly in July. The root is composed of 

 "woody knots, which are extremely hard ; and when 

 broken and infused in cyder, have cured several 

 alarming cases of dropsy, an account of which has 

 been communicated to the author. The remedy 

 ought to be tried infused in warm water. 



Xanthof^isa, This shrub is so called from the Greek 

 words signifying yellow** and " root.** It is der\o» 

 mm^tcd sim/iiicissima by Marshall, from the sup- 

 posed simplicity of its stem. L*Heretier has given 



