23 
sometimes flows a stimulant, tonic, aromatic, gum-resinous concretion, of much 
use in medicine ; as Opoponax, which is procured from Pastinaca opoponax in 
the Levant ; Assafoetida from the Ferula of that name in Persia, and Sagape- 
num from some other species of Ferula. Gum ammoniac is supposed to be 
obtained from Dorema ammoniacum. It is a gum resin of a pale yellow co- 
lour, having a faint but not unpleasant odour, with a bitter nauseous taste. 
Internally apphed, it is a valuable deobstruent and expectorant. It is said by 
Paris to he, in combination with rhubarb, a useful medicine in mesenteric af- 
fections, by correcting viscid secretions. Ainslie, 1. 160. The substance called 
Galbanum is produced by some plant of this order, which Don calls Galbanum 
officinale. It is a stimulant of the intestinal canal and uterus, and is found to 
aUay that nervous irritability which often accompanies hysteria. Ainslie, 1. 
143. Cicuta virosa has its roofs gorged with a gum-resinous juice, which is 
a violent poison for man and animals. CEnanthe crocata, and PheUandrium, 
and CEthusa Cynapium have leaves and stems with a similar character ; the 
latter has been found by Ficinus, of Dresden, to contain a peculiar alkali, 
which he calls Cynopia. Turner, 654. The fruit of Ligusticum ajawain of 
Roxb. is prescribed in India in diseases of horses and cows. Ainslie, 1. 38. 
The roots of Eryngium campestre are slightly aromatic. 
With regard to Conium maculatum, which is also a most dangerous poi- 
son, it is remarkable how its properties are affected by climate ; in Russia and 
the Crimea it is inert and eatable ; in the south of Europe it is extremely dan- 
gerous. Fee, who makes this statement, adds, that for medicinal purposes it 
should be collected in June, shortly after flowering, and asserts that if gathered 
later its energy is much impaired. The same author doubts whether our Co- 
nium was really the plant from which the death-drinks of the Greeks were 
prepared. See some excellent general remarks upon the properties of this or- 
der in Fie’s Cours d'Histoire Naturelle Pharmaceutique, 2. 172. 
GENERA. 
Sub-Order. ORTHOSPERMJE, DC. 
Albumen flat on the inner face ; neither involute nor convolute. 
§ 1. Hydrocotyle^, 
DC. 
Hydrocotyle, Tourn. 
Chondrocarpus, Nut. 
Glyceria, Nutt. 
? Crantzia, Nutt. 
Dimetopia,DC. 
Erigenia, Nutt. 
Micropleura, Lag. 
Didiscus, DC. 
Lampra, Lindl. 
Hugelia, Reichenb. 
Trachymene, Rudg. 
Fischera, Lag. 
Catepha, Leschen. 
Siebera, Reichenb.? 
Xanthosia, Rudg. 
Bowlesia, R. et P. 
Azorella, Gaud. 
Pectophytum.H. B.K. 
§ 2. MULINEiE, DC. 
Bolax, Comm. 
Mulinum, Pers. 
Laretia, Gill. 
Homalocarpus, Hkr. 
Drusa, DC. 
Huanaca, Cav. 
Diposis, DC. 
Spananthe, Jacq. 
Pozoa, Lag. 
Asteriscium, Cham. 
Cassidocarpus, 
Presl. 
? 3. Sanicule^, I 
DC. 
Actinotus, La Bill. 
Eriocalia, Smith. 
Proustia, Lag. 
Petagnia, Guss. 
Heterosciadium , DC. 
Sanicula, Tourn. 
Hacquetia, Neck. 
Dondia, Spreng. 
Dondisia, Reichenb. 
Astrantia, Tourn. 
Alepidea, Laroch. 
Horsfleldia, Blum. 
Schubertia, Blum. 
Eryngium, Tourn. 
Strebanthus, Raf. 
Lessonia, Bertero. 
Actinanthus, Ehrenb. 
Klotzschia, Cham, 
f 4. Ammine^, DC. 
Rumia, HofFm. - 
Cicuta, L. 
Cicutaria, Tourn. 
Zizia, Koch. 
Pentacr>'pta, Lehm. 
Apium, Hoffm. 
Petroselinum, Hoffm 
Wydleria, DC. 
Trinia, Hoffm. 
Apinella, Neck. 
Spielmannia, Cuss. 
Helosciadium, Koch. 
Discopleura, DC. 
Leptocaulis, Nutt. 
Ptychotis, Koch. 
Falcaria, Riv. 
Drepanophyllum, K. 
Critamus, Bess. 
Prionitis, Delarb. 
Sison, Lag. 
Schultzia, Spreng. 
Ammi, Tourn. 
Ptilimnion, Raf. 
.^gopodium, L. 
Podagraria, Riv. 
