Flora Medica

LISIANTHUS.peduncles. Corolla 1 inch long, of a beautiful pale violet colour, withacute segments. The Brazilians make use of the root, which is extremelybitter, in decoction, as a febrifuge. Martius.CUTUBEA.Calyx campanulate, 4-parted. Corolla hypocrateriform ; tubecylindrical, equal throat naked ; ;limb 4-parted. Stamens projectingfilaments ; bidentate at the base ; anthers sagittate, notchanging when dry. Stigma bilamellate. Capsule^ 2-celled,2-valved, many-seeded. Martius.1103. C. spicata Aubl. guian.i. 72. t. 27. Exacum spicatumVatil. iii.symb. 17. Contoubea alba Lam. diet. ii. 162.Common in Guiana by roadsides and on the banks of riversand water courses.An annual, growing about 3 feet high, with an obtusely quadrangularstem. Leaves somewhat fleshy, sessile, smooth, glaucous, lanceolate,whorled. Flowers spiked, axillary and terminal ; those lowest in thespike opposite each other, the upper ones alternate; all sessile. Corollawhite. The whole plant is very bitter. It is employed successfully inpromoting the menstrual discharge, in various stomach-complaints, invisceral obstructions and as an anthelmintic. Aublet.1104;. Cutubea ramosa Aubl. is used like the last.MENYANTHES.Calyx 5-parted. Corolla funnel-shaped, with an induplicateaestivation ;the limb spreading, 5-lobed, equal, stupose. Stigmacapitate, furrowed. Capsule 1 -celled, 2-valved, with the placentsein the middle of the valves.1105. M. trifoliata Linn, sp.pl. 207. Fl. Lond. t. 17. JF7.Dan. t. 54-1. Wbodv. t. 2. Eng. Bot t. 4-95. Bigel med.dot. iii. t 46. Common in spongy boggy soils in Europe andNorth America. (Buckbean.)Khizoma penetrating horizontally in the bog-earth to a great distance,regularly intersected with joints at the distance of about half an inchfrom each other ;these joints are formed by the breaking off of the oldpetioles and their sheaths. The leaves proceed from the end of therhizoma on long stalks furnished with broad sheathing stipules at base ;they are trifoliate, nearly oval, glabrous, somewhat fleshy, and slightlyrepand, or furnished with many irregularities at the edge, which hardlyprevent them from being entire. Scape round, ascending, smooth,bearing a conical raceme of flowers. Peduncles straight, supported byovate concave bractes.Calyx erect, somewhat campanulate, 5-parted,persistent. Corolla white ; its tube short, border 5-cleft, spreading andat length revolute, clothed on the upper part with a coating of dense,fleshy, obtuse hairs. Stamens 5, shorter than the corolla, and alternatewith its segments; anthers oblong-arrow-shaped. Ovary ovate; stigmabifid, compressed. Capsule ovate, 2-valved, 1-celled. Seeds numerous,minute. All the plant, the root especially, intensely bitter. Reckonedone of the most valuable of tonics. Large doses produce vomiting,523