302 
OBSERVATIONS  ON  ANAGALLIS  ARVENSIS. 
nent.  Stamina ;  proceeding  from  the  reed.  Corolla ;  funnel- 
shaped  and  slit.  Seeds ;  numerous  and  scutiform.  Petals ; 
opposite  and  scattered. 
Anagallis  arvensis — The  Chickweed  is  an  annual  herbaceous 
plant,  growing  throughout  Europe,  Middle  Asia  and  North 
America ;  it  also  grows  abundantly  near  our  own  city,  Philadel- 
phia, at  the  fields  and  grave-yards,  and  is  gathered  during  the 
time  of  flowering.  It  affords  a  remarkable  instance  of  the  sleep 
of  plants,  for  at  night  the  leaves  approach  in  pairs  and  enclose 
the  tender  rudiments  of  the  young  shoots.  The  stem  is  first 
erect,  but  afterwards  bent  downwards,  with  branches  attached 
from  below,  possessing  an  alternate  line  of  hairs  between  each 
pair  of  leaves  ;  the  leaves  are  opposite,  short,  cuspidate,  three- 
nerved  and  pale  green,  when  dry.  The  flowers  are  axillary  and 
on  long  erect  stems.  The  odor  of  Chickweed  is  grass-like,  the 
taste  first  flat  and  herbaceous,  but  afterwards  bitter  and  slightly 
acrid ;  it  yields  its  virtue  to  boiling  water  and  diluted  alcohol. 
Chemical  Constituents. 
Gum,  Albumen,  Sugar,  Chlorophylle,  a  crystalline  matter, 
fixed  Oil,  pure  Resin,  and  volatile  Oil. 
1.  An  infusion  of  Chickweed  was  treated  with  a  solution  of 
subacetate  of  lead,  which  caused  a  precipitate,  indicating  the 
presence  of  gum. 
2.  A  portion  of  the  fresh  herb  was  beaten  into  a  pulp  and  the 
fluid  separated  by  filtering.  This  liquid  was  precipitated  with 
bichloride  of  mercury  and  ferrocyanide  of  potassium;  when 
heated,  a  coagulum  was  produced,  showing  the  presence  of  albu- 
men. 
3.  No  indication  of  starch  by  the  addition  of  iodine  to  a 
filtered  decoction. 
4.  An  infusion,  exposed  to  air,  readily  underwent  the  vinous 
fermentation,  which  indicates  the  presence  of  sugar. 
5.  No  tannic  or  gallic  acid  detected,  having  carefully  added 
the  tests  of  the  salts  of  iron. 
6.  Muriatic  acid  was  added  to  a  strong  alcoholic  and  ethereal 
extract,  from  which,  when  treated  with  water,  a  greenish  pre- 
cipitate was  thrown  down. 
7.  I  tried  various  ways  to  ascertain  the  presence  of  an  alka- 
