Flora Medica

anthers, 4 of which are just visible in the throat of the calyx. Theirscent, resembling saffron, with an overpowering sweetness, is perceptiblein an evening only, and has been observed by very few people.An oval, concave bract accompanies each short partial stalk, at thebase. Berry oval, black. Every part is very acrid, producing likethe Mezereutn, a burning heat in the mouth and throat. Smith.668. D. Gnidium Linn, sp.pl. 511. Fl. grcec. t. 356 Hillsand barren plainsin the southern parts of Europe.A small bush. Leaves linear-lanceolate, clustered, acuminate, cuspidate,quite smooth. Flowers numerous, small, white, with a fragrantsmell, in terminal panicled racemes. Properties like those of Mezereum.LAGETTA.Flowers dioecious. Calyx coloured, tubular, quadrifid. Eightsetaceous linear scales in the bottom of the calyx. Stamens 8,attached in 2 rows to the tube of the calyx; filaments veryshort. Style simple; stigmas 2, capitate. Drupe dry, surroundedby the permanent calyx.669. L. lintearia Lam. enc. iii. 363. t. 289. Daphne LagettoSwartz.fl. ind. occ. ii. 680. t.(Browne jam. 31. f. 5. Sloaneii. 22. 1. 168. f. 1-3. 169. f. 1.) High mountains of Jamaica,St. Domingo, Mexico. (Lace Bark.)A tree 30 feet high. Leaves alternate, stalked, ovate, or somewhatcordate, acute or acuminate, evergreen, smooth and shining. Calyxwhite, ventricose, coriaceous, filled with white wool, with a small 4-partedlimb. Flowers in smooth, terminal, panicled racemes. The barkpossesses properties similar to that of Mezereum jand is used for thesame medical purposes. It is remarkable for separating readily into agreat number of thin white layers, which being stretched laterallyassume the appearance of the finest lace work. It may even be washedwith soap like linen.DIRCA.Calyx campanulate, with an obsolete unequal limb. Filaments8, capillary, projecting, inserted into the middle of thetube ;alternately longer. Style incurved at the apex.670. D. palustris Linn, amcen. ac. iii. 12. 1. 1. f. 7. Bigelowmed. hot. ii. t. 37- Duham. arb. i. t. 212. A marshyshrub, frequenting low woods in North America, bearing the severestcold and the greatest heat of the different parts of theUnion.An irregular shrub, with a tendency to a horizontal direction in itsbranches. The branches interrupted or jointed. Leaves alternate,with very short petioles, oval, entire, rather acute, downy when young,smooth and membranous when fully grown, and pale on the under side.The flowers appear long before the leaves. When young they areenclosed within a small hairy bud, occupying a sheath or cavity in the325 Y 3