214 
MELALEUCA CAJUPUTi. 
vessel is a flatteired cloven capsule, of two cavities and four valves, 
containing several oval brown seeds ; the stjle is thickest at the top, 
and crowned with a stigma, forming a little head. 
Sensible Properties. Brook-lime is without sraell, its taste 
is herbaceous, and when chewed, slightly bitter and astringent j the 
leaves contain a volatile acrid principle, vegetable albumen, and 
sulphate of 1 ime ; the expressed Juice reddens the infusion of turn sol 
and other vegetable blues in a slight degree. 
Medtcal Properties and Uses. The virtues of brook-lirae 
are very inconsiderable, formerly it was in great repute as an anti- 
scorbutic, and with the uninformed it is still held in much estimation ; 
in modern practice however, as a remedial agent, it is almost totally 
disregarded : it is justly observed by a writer in the Materia Medica,* 
that to produce any good eftecls it must be eaten as food 3 and we 
presume it may be taken ad libitum. Although it continues green 
throughout the year, it is supposed to be most active in the spring. 
Off. The Herb. 
MELALEUCA CAJUPUTL 
Lesser Cajeput Tree.-\ 
Class PoLYADELPHlA. — Order Icosandria. 
Nat. Ord. HESPERiDEiE, Linn. Myrti, Juss. 
Gen. Char. Calyx 5-parted, semi-superior. Corolla 5- 
petaled. Stamens (about 45) very long- conjoined in five 
bodies. Style single. Capsule 3-celled. Seeds nu- 
merous. 
Spec. Char. Branchlets pendulous. Leaves alternate, short 
petioled, narrow-lanceolate, three and five-ribbed. Spikes 
terminal and axillary, comose, villous. Bracteas lanceolate, 
three- flowered. 
* Lewis. 
+ We have (by permission) copied our drawing from the one published by the Medico 
Botanical Society of London, the only one we believe in print. The Editors oFthe Flora 
Medica take this opportunity of returning their thanks to the Directors and Secretary of 
the Botanical Society for their liberal assistance in supplying them with the ineaus of 
making drawings from rare and beautiful specimens of exotic plants. 
Fig. a. a flower magnified, b. and c. Capsule and seed. d. The pistillum. 
