50  Lasiosiphon  Meissncrianus.  {^FehnZ'y^mT' 
1028;  var.,  Gcrrard  and  McKoi,  807;  near  Durban,  Wood,  104, 
529;  without  precise  locality,  Krauss,  237.  Compare  also  De  Can- 
dolle's  Prodromus,  vol.  xiv,  p.  594,  where  the  specific  name  of  the 
plant  is  evidently  more  correctly  written  Meissneriamis. 
In  a  work  by  Andrew  Smith,  entitled  "  A  Contribution  to  South 
African  Materia  Medica,"  third  edition,  1905,  there  are  several  refer- 
ences (pp.  35,  77,  125)  to  the  plant  designated  by  him  as  Lasiosiphon 
Meisneri — Kaffir,  isi-Dikili,  from  which  the  following  items  of  in- 
formation respecting  its  characters  and  uses  may  be  noted. 
"  The  Lasiosiphons  form  a  rather  notable  group.  They  have  a 
heath-like  appearance,  with  a  tubular  corolloid  calyx,  limb  5-parted. 
The  flowers  form  a  head  with  an  involucre.  The  roots  are  very 
stringy  and  are  used  as  sinnet.  They  are  very  scorching-,  if  chewed, 
and  will  burn  the  tonsils  and  throat  for  twenty-four  hours.  Three 
species  are  used  medicinally — L.  Meisneri;  L.  anthylloides ;  and  L. 
linifolius.  The  first  of  these  is  distinguished  by  its  safifron  or  dark- 
orange  flowers.  Its  leaves  are  three-quarters  of  an  inch  long, 
and  less  than  one-eighth  inch  wide,  hairy  at  the  back.  The  in- 
volucral  leaves  are  one-half  inch  long. 
Lasiosiphon  Meisneri  is  a  considerable  bush.  It  is  tound  in  the 
lower  basin  of  the  Kat  River,  near  its  entrance  into  the  Fish  River, 
and  is  also  found  in  various  parts  of  Tembuland,  being  there  used  as 
a  cure  for  snake-bite.  The  dose  is  from  one-half  to  three-quarters 
of  an  ounce  of  the  dried  root,  but  some  employ  both  leaves  and 
root.    The  preparation  is  by  infusion. 
It  is  somewhat  difficult  to  say  what  its  action  in  snake-bite 
precisely  is,  whether  it  is  simply  a  powerful  stimulant,  almost  blister- 
ing in  its  action,  and  long  continued,  and  whether  the  same  property 
does  not  explain  the  other  uses  of  the  plant.  If  a  small  fragment  is 
chewed,  it  is  nearly  tasteless  at  first,  but  its  burning  quality  is  pres- 
ently developed.  Great  caution  must  be  used  as  to  the  quantity 
administered. 
"  L.  Meisneri  is  also  employed  in  cases  of  karroo  fever,  and  a 
paste  of  the  leaves  for  sores." 
It  has,  furthermore,  been  noted  by  Smith  {loc.  cit.,  p.  78)  that 
"  the  root  should  always  be  used  tolerably  fresh,  as  it  loses  its  virtue 
by  long  keeping." 
One  species  of  Lasiosiphon,  namely,  L.  eriocephahis,  Dene.,  has 
been  described  in  the  "  Pharmacographia  Indica,"  vol.  iii,  p.  225. 
This  is  a  native  of  the  Deccan  Peninsula  and  Cevlon,  and  is  common 
