Flora Medica

THYMELACE.E.Nat. syst.ed. 2. p. 194.DAPHNE.Calyx tubular, withering ; tube cylindrical, coriaceous, longerthan the limb, imperforate at the base, containing the stamens ;limb in 4 deep, ovate, spreading, coloured segments.Filamentsshort, in 2 rows, from about the middle of the tube ;anthersroundish-oblong, of 2 cells, simple, enclosed within the tube.Ovary ovate ;style short, terminal ;stigma capitate, depressed,entire. Berry oval, of 1 cell. Seed solitary, suspended, oval,large, with a thin brittle skin.666. D. Mezereum Linn. sp. pi 509. Eng. Bot. t. 1381.Woodv. t. 23. Smith Eng. Fl. ii. 228. Fl. Dan. t. 268.In woods in various parts of Europe, especiallyin the centralcountries. (Mezereum.)Stem bushy, 4 or 6 feet high, with upright, alternate, smooth, toughand pliant branches ; leafy while young. Leaves scattered, stalked,lanceolate, smooth, 2 inches long, appearing after the flowers, andsoon accompanied by flower-buds for the next season. Flowers highly,and to many persons too powerfully, fragrant, seated in little tufts onthe naked branches, with several brown, smooth, ovate bracteas underneath.Calyx like a corolla in texture, crimson all over; the tubeexternally hairy. Berries scarlet. Smith. In Germany the bark ofthe stem and larger branches is removed in spring, folded in smallbundles, and dried for medicinal use. In this country the bark of theroot is employed. Its taste is at first sweetish, but afterwards highlyacrid. All the parts are excessively acrid, and act as a local irritantpoison. Voigt says that it vomits and purges and affects the urinaryorgans, and that death takes place from its local operation. As a localirritant, Mezereum bark is employed in France, under the name ofGarou, to produce vesication. In this country it is frequently employedas a topical remedy for toothach. Dr. Withering cured a case of difficultyof swallowing, by Mezereum, which he directed to be chewedfrequently. It has been recommended internally in venereal complaints,but it appears not to have any influence over such maladies.Dr. Cullen says he has itemployed with success in some cutaneousdiseases. Pereira.667. D. LaureolaZmw sp.pl. 510. Eng. Bot. t. 119. Jacq.Fl. austr. t. 1 83. Smith Eng. FL ii. 229. Woods of all Europe,as far south as Sicily. (Spurge Laurel.)Whole plant very smooth. Stem 2 or 3 feet high, with round, palebrown, upright, tou^h and pliant branches, crowned with tufts ofevergreen leaves, elegantly drooping in all directions, and about 2 or 3inches long, on short footstalks. Flowers deep green, with orange324