Ohdea IV. 
DECANDRIA PENTAGYNIA. 
391 
6567 Leaves wliorled, Pedunc. in fruit reflexed, Seeds reniform angular rough 
6568 Leaves whorled, Flowers pentandrous, Seeds depressed winged smooth 
6569 Leaves opposite subulate smooth : upper fascicled, Cal. not nerved 
657() Leaves opposite subulate blunt naked, Pedunc. solitary very long smooth 
6571 Leaves opposite subulate awned ciliated, Pedunc. very loHg solitary hairy 
DECAGYNIA, 
6572 Flowers octandrous octogynous 
6573 Flowers decandrous pentagynous 
6;)74 Flowers dodecandrous octogynous. Leaves ovate obi. with a recurved point 
6575 Flowers decandrous decagynous 
6576 Flowers icosandrous decagynous 
6577 Flowers dioecious 
and Miscellaneous Particulars. 
An ounce of the dried root, infused in a pint of wine, and given to the quantity of two spoonfuls, operates 
kindly as an emetic, and is preferable to most others, as it hardly alters the taste of the wine. In its medicinal 
properties, the Phytolacca approaches nearer to Ipecacuanha than to any other vegetable ; but it is slower in 
its effects, and it remains longer in action, although it may be checked by an opiate. Sometimes its 
operation produces vertigo and stupor. The powder of the leaves possesses the same virtues as the root, but 
in a weaker degree. It is one of the plants which have had a temporary reputation for the cure of cancer, 
and some sensible men have been converts to its efficacy. The fermented berries give out a liquor which 
yields alcohol by distillation. From half a bushel of the berries, six pints of spirits were obtained, sufficiently 
strong to take fire and burn with readiness. Two ounces of this given to a dog occasioned nausea and drow- 
siness, with slight spasmodic motions, but no vomiting. Poultry are fond of the berries, but if eaten in large 
__quantities, they give the flesh a disagreeable flavor. The juice stains paper and linen of a beautiful purple 
'color, but it will not last long ; if a method could be found of fixing the dye, it might be very useful. The 
vignerons in Portugal for many years used the juice of the berries of the elder-bush to give a deep color to 
the Port wines, to which it was thought to communicate a disagreeable taste when mixed in too great 
a quantity. Complaint of this practice having been made to government, orders were given that the stems of 
that plant should be cut down and destroyed before they produced berries : but they forgot to include the 
Phytolacca in the proscription, so that the berries of that plant supply the same purpose in a much worse 
manner. 
Cc 4 
