Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Jan.,  1891. 
Useful  Plants  of  Algeria. 
9 
rich  flora  and  a  climate  which  admits  of  the  culture  of  the  plants  of 
the  temperate,  as  well  as  the  subtropical  regions,  with  the  added 
knowledge  which  the  Arabs  have  derived  of  the  therapeutical 
knowledge  of  the  Greeks  as  to  simples  and  perfumes,  the  industry  of 
medicinal  plants,  and  distilled  perfumes  has  been  largely  developed, 
of  late  years,  in  the  colony  by  the  French. 
The  popular  knowledge  of  the  uses  of  plants  is  extensive  among 
the  native  population,  and  varied  according  to  the  districts,  while 
some  are  not  generally  known  elsewhere.  I  therefore  follow  the 
families  of  plants  in  their  natural  orders. 
Ranunculaceze.  —  Anemone  palmata,  plant  strongly  vesicant, 
according  to  the  experiments  of  Professor  Bomlier.  A.  coronaria, 
and  Clematis  cirrhosa  and  C.  Flammula  have  analogous  properties. 
Delphinium  Staphisagria. — Dr.  Bernon  cites,  in  1880,  a  case  of 
poisoning  with  the  seeds. 
Papaverace^e. — Papaver  somniferum.  In  its  wild  form  this  plant 
is  common.  The  culture  of  the  opium  poppy  succeeds,  but  has  not 
been  found  remunerative. 
Papaver  Rhceas.  The  flowers  of  this  species  are  largely  collected  v 
for  medical  use. 
Argemone  mexicana  and  Eschscholtzia  californica,  plants  said  to 
contain  morphine,  prosper  well  here. 
Many  of  the  cruciferous  plants  have  fallen  out  of  use  in  Algeria. 
Cistace^e. — The  leaves  of  the  Cistus  albidus  are  employed  by 
the  Arabs  for  tea.  C.  ladaniferus  is  very  common,  but  the  resinous 
product  is  not  used. 
Violace^e.. —  V.  odorata  is  gathered  in  small  quantity  for  medical 
use ;  it  used  to  be  grown  at  Bonfante  for  perfume,  but  is  now  chiefly 
used  for  bouquets.  The  woody  violets  are  all  emetic  and  it  would 
be  worth  while  experimenting  with.  V.  arborescens  is  common  in 
the  thickets  of  Tell. 
Carophyllace/e. — Spergidaria  rubra.  Much  used  as  a  diuretic 
under  the  name  of  Arenaria  rubra.  One  house  of  Algiers  exports 
annually  400  to  500  pounds. 
Malvaceae. — The  flowers  and  leaves  of  Malva  sylvestris  are 
gathered  for  medical  use.    The  Arabs  employ  the  leaves  as  a  vege- 
