NAT. ORDER. ROTACE^. 
173 
a remarkable instance of quickly-fading beauty, opening and ex- 
panding to the morning sun, and before night strewing the ground 
with their elegant remains ; as each succeeding day produces new 
blossoms, this deciduous disposition of the petals, common to the 
genus, is the less to be regretted. It is a native of Spain and Por- 
tugal, and prefers a dry soil and warm situation, and in very severe 
seasons requires some kind of covering. It is readily increased by 
cuttings ; but Miller remarks that the best plants are raised from 
the seeds. 
One or two varieties have been found with varied leaves, and 
having petals without a dark spot at the base. This is not the plant 
from whence the officinal Ladanum of the shops is procured, though 
affording in warmer countries than this a similar gum, hence its 
name, ladanifera. This plant grows most plentifully on or near the 
sea shore, and consequently sand is occasionally mixed with the 
gum. The best sort is in dark colored black masses, of the consis- 
tence of a plaster, which grows still softer when handled : the other 
is in long rolls curled up, harder than the former, but of a paler 
color and of less value. 
Medical Properties and Uses. — In general this gum agrees in 
virtue with the balsam of Peru ; but it is rarely used except in 
external applications. It has an agreeable smell, and a light, pun- 
gent, bitterish taste. Rectified spirit of wine dissolves nearly the 
whole of the gum ; and water takes up the most of its smell and 
taste. By distillation with water an essential oil arises, leaving 
behind a brittle resin. 
Heat quickly destroys the specific flavor of this gum, which was 
formerly given as a pectoral and astringent in catarrhal affections 
and dysenteries ; but it is now confined to external use, in the form 
of a plaster. The plaster is made by taking, Pinus abies resina, 
Burgundy pitch, one pound ; Cistus ladaniferus resina^ gum of the 
Cistus, one pound ; beeswax half a pound ; melt these together. 
This is an excellent compound for a plaster, and wiU be found valu- 
able where plasters are necessary. 
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