NAT. ORDER. PORTULACE^. 
39 
are also highly beautiful and ornamental ; yet no one can vie in elegance 
and beauty the one under consideration. English botanists speak of 
this as a rare curiosity, and only introduced into the European gardens 
in the year 1827 ; many of its species are also enumerated, but none 
of them worthy of particular notice at this time, as they will hereafter 
be most accurately described. 
This plant is a native of North America and Canada, and is found 
in greater abundance in the Northern States than any other part of 
the globe ; some of its species are, however, natives of Chili, where 
they are considered as one of the chief ornaments of the garden ; they 
being planted out in the borders, and in small selected patches appro- 
priated for the purpose. In this country I do not recollect of seeing or 
even hearing of any of the species under a state of cultivation, though 
I think it would be well for some of our gardeners to try the experi- 
ment. 
Medical Projjerties and Uses. From an extensive collection of 
books both ancient and modern, treating upon botany and materia 
medica, I can find no author who has ever described the medicinal 
properties of this plant ; under these circumstances I can only relate 
such facts as have been communicated to me by letter from physicians 
of high respectability ; the general opinion of these gentlemen is, that 
the plant in question possesses diuretic, diophoretic, and emmenagogue 
properties ; it is recommended in gravel, kidney complaints, obstructed 
menstruation, &c. The leaves and roots possessing the same virtues. 
For use, it is recommended to add one ounce of the dried leaves to one 
quart of water, steep for a while, and drink from one to three wine- 
glasses full per day. An extract is made by using the whole plant, in 
which case it can be given in the form of pills ; one five grain pill for 
a dose, two or three times a day. 
