Flora Medica

ACANTHACE^:.Nat. syst.ed. 2. p. 284.RHINACANTHUS.Calyx regularly 5- parted, with small subulate bracts andbractlets. Corolla hypocrateriform, 2-lipped, with a long slendertube the ;upper lip narrow, the lower trifid, with equal segments.Stamens 2, inserted in the throat of the corolla ;anthers2-celled, awnless, with 1 cell placed above the other almost in aline. Capsule clavate ;at the base much compressed,with thecommissure of the valves in contact, seedless ;in the upper part4-seeded or by abortion 2-seeded. Dissepiment complete, adnate.Seeds ovate, biconvex, augmented with hooks, which areconcave and obtuse. N. ab. E.1039. R. communis N. ab E. in Wall. pi. as. rar. iii. 109.col. i. Justicia nasuta Linn. sp. pi. 63. Roxb. fl.ind. i. 20.Sot. Mag. t. 325. J. scandens Vahl. symb. ii. p. 7. (Rheede'vx..69.) t. Continent of India.Root woody, branched. Stems many, erect, branched, the old woodyparts round, and covered with pretty smooth ash-coloured bark ;thetender branches and young snoots jointed, smooth and obsoletely6-sided. Leaves opposite, stalked, broad-lanceolate, obtuse, abovesmooth, below a littledowny entire, from 2 to ; 4- inches long, and from1 to 2 broad. Panicles corymbose, axillary, and terminal, always 3-cleftas also the subdivisions. Peduncles and pedicels short, round, a littledowny. Bracts minute. Flowers small, white. Corolla with a longslender compressed tube ;the under lip broad, 3-cleft ; upper lip erect,linear, sides reflected, apex, bifid. A fleshy ring surrounding the baseof the ovary. Anthers projecting beyond the tube, twin. Milk boiledon the roots is reckoned aphrodisiacal by the natives of India. Rubbedwith lime juice and pepper they are often used, with good effect, tocure the ringworm or Herpes miliaris, which in India is a most troublesomedisease, and very common. They are also reckoned alexipharmic.104-0. Justicia Ecbolium Linn, is said to be diuretic.1041. Justicia pectoralis Jacq. is esteemed a stomachic in theWest Indies.1042. Justicia biflora Vahl.; and1043. Acanthus mollis Linn, have emollient leaves, which areused for poultices., GENDARUSSA.Calyx regular, 5-parted, furnished at the base with smallbracts. Corolla bilabiate ; the upper lip arched, the tube short.Stamens 2, inserted below the throat of the corolla ; connective500