1250

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

Dian'thus Caryophyl'lus, Linn. D.— Clove Pink; Carnation, or

Gilhyflower.

Sex . Syst. Decandria, Digynia.

(Flores, D.)

History. —First noticed by Manfredus de Monte Imperiali (Sp 1 ' 6 ' 1 ^Hist. Rei Herb. i. 298).

Botany. Gen. Char. — Calyx tubular, five-toothed, imbricated a ^base with two to four opposite scales. Petals five, with long c * cofl -Stamens ten. Styles two. Capsule one-celled. Seeds compressed) ,

scarce i

Embryo

Styles two. Capsule one-celled.vex on one side, concave on the other; peltate,curved (D. C.) , v *

Sp. Char. — Stem branched. Flowers solitary. Scales of the c ■ j,four, very short, ovate, somewhat mucronate. Petals very broad, b eless. Leaves linear-awl-shaped, channelled, glaucous (D. C.) ,

A perennial plant; the origin of the fine carnations of the g aI ’ 0 (Flowers pink, purple, white, or variegated; double, semi-doubF’ ^single.—(For horticultural information respecting them, consult Lou 0Encycl. of Gard.)

Hab. —Indigenous. Cultivated in gardens. .

Description. —The red or deep crimson gilliflowers ( fores d iacaryophylli; fores caryophylli rubri; fores tunica) w'ere formerly tployed in medicine on account of their colour. They have a pl e . $aromatic smell, and a bitterish sub-astringent taste. They commt lIllCto water their smell and colour (Lewis, Mat. Med.)

Composition.— 1 am unacquainted with any analysis of them-obviously contain a volatile oil, colouring matter, and an astringent Pciple.

Physiological Effects and Uses. —Formerly supposed toinfluence over the nervous system, to raise the spirits, &c. Simon f( Quadrip. Bot. p. 241) recommended them in various nervous and sp a ^ ^die affections, and in malignant fever. They have also been use c0 irflavouring and colouring agents; and a syrup of them was formerly ^tained in the British pharmacopoeias. Though still retained i 11Dublin pharmacopoeia, their medical use is obsolete.

Order 74. Polyg'ale-e, Decandolle. — The Milkwort Tri bE '

Polygalace^ and Kram kriack.k, Lindley .

irerf'

Essential Character.— Sepals five, imbricate in aestivation, the two interiorrally petaliform, the three exterior smaller; two of them are interior and l soB1 |11) it^

united, the third is posterior. Petals three to five, hypogynous, more orby means of the tube of the stamens (rarely distinct). Filaments of stamens adto the petals, monadelphous, divided at the apex into two opposite equal pl )a)

Ovary

,b f

Pericarp ca f'' tt etrthe middle. Seeds)f.

Anthers eight, one-celled, innate, dehiscing by pores at the apex,two-celled, rarely one- or three-celled. Style one. Stigma one.

or drupaceous, two-or one-celled. Valves septigerous iii the t_ rr „

dulous, solitary, often with a carunculate arillus at the base; embryo straight ^ [|ifrally in the axis of a fleshy albumen, (or rarely) exalbuminous, in which ca - c \>'eudoplcura is tumid.— Herbs or shrubs. Leaves entire, generally alternate, alated on the stem ( D. C■)

Properties.— Leaves and roots for the most part bitter and astringent.