Flora Medica

MOMADRIA.Hispid, scabrous, glaucous. Stem prostrate, without tendrils. Leavescordate, somewhat lobed, crenate-toothed, very rugose, on long stalks.Fruit oblong, obtuse at each end, hispid, disarticulating from its stalkwith violence and expelling its seeds and mucus with considerableforce in consequence of the sudden contraction of the sides. Elaterium,a substance obtained from the juice surrounding the seeds of thisplant is so powerful a poison that a single grain has been known to actviolently on man ;but its strength and effects are uncertain. It isused in practice in the form of an extract, as a violent cathartic andhydragogue. Dr. Christison quotes a case of a medical man in Paris,who, after carrying a specimen to his lodgings in his hat was seized inhalf an hour with acute pain &c. in his head succeeded by colic pains,fixed pains in the stomach, frequent watery purging, bilious vomiting,and some fever.180. M. Balsamina Linn. sp. 1453 issupposed to be the plantcalled Neurosperma cuspidata by Rafinesque, the fruit of whichis said to be a dangerous poison, but in moderate doses to act asa powerful hydragogue.181. M. operculata Linn. sp. 1433. DC. prodr.iii. 311.Comm. rar. 22. t. 22. South America ;common on the coastof Essequibo.Leaves 5-lobed, toothed. Fruit elliptical, angular, tuberculated, witha deciduous rostrum-like h'd, green, dry internally, and divided into 3cells by a plexus of entangled fibres. Seeds compressed, black.One of the bitterest of all known substances. Hancock in Med. hot.trans. 1829. p.12.MELOTHRIA.Flowers monrecious. $ .Calyx 5-toothed. Corolla campanulate;petals ciliated or toothed, not fringed. Filaments 5,triadelphous. J . Style 1. Stigmas 3, fringed. Fruit 3-celled,many-seeded.182. M. pendulaZm/z. sp.pl. 49. Lam. illustr. t. 28. f. 3.DC. prodr.iii. 313 South America.Leaves cordate, 5-lobed, toothed. Tendrils simple. Female flowerssolitary, on long stalks. Corolla somewhat hairy, toothletted. Fruitssmall, ovate, roundish, pendulous. Extremely drastic. Four ripe fruitswill purge a horse. N. and E.TRICHOSANTHES.Flowers monoecious, white. $ .Calyx somewhat clavate,5-parted lobes setaceous, :appendiculate, with 5 exterior teethalternating with the lobes. Corolla 5-parted, ciliated. Stamens3 ;anthers combined, their cells very wavy. ? . Calyx5-toothed. Corolla 5-parted, with a lacerated fringed margin.Style 3-fid ;stigmas oblong, subulate. Fruit oblong, 3-9-celled.183. T. palmata Jtoxb.fi.ind. iii. 704. Forests of India.87 G 4