botanically arranged.

487

hair. They called it the Moccasin Flower. It is easily propa-gated in gardens by transplanting the roots, which are perennial.

TRIANDRIA.

SISYRINCHIUM. Linn. Gen. Plant. 908.Sisyrinchium caule foliisque ancipitibus. Syst. Nat.BLUE-EYED GRASS. Blossoms blue. In grass land. May—June. It makes very pretty edging for borders in gardens.

POLYANDRIA.ARUM. Linn. Gen. Plant. 915.

Arum acaule, foliis hastato-cordatis acutis: angulis obtusis.Syst. Nat.

CUCKO WPINT. Dragon-root. Wake-robin. Lords & Ladies.Spatha striped with red or black. Berries red.

The fresh root is extremely acrid. The dried root, gratedinto water, is frequently given as a carminative. It is said theIndians boiled both the shreded roots and berries with theirvenison. Dr. Withering says, the root has been employed inmedicine as a stimulant, but when reduced to powder it loosesmuch of its acrimony; and there is reason to suppose, that theCompound powder which takes its name from this plant, owesits virtue chiefly to the other ingredients ;—that there is nodoubt but the acrid quality of the plant may be turned to veryuseful purposes ; but we must first learn how to ascertain itsdose. He says, the root, dried and powdered, is used by theFrench to wash their skin with.—It is sold at a high price, un-der the name of Cypress Powder.—It is undoubtedly a goodand an innocent cosmetic.—When the acrimony of the roots isextracted, by boiling or baking, they afford a very mild andwholesome nourishment.—Many nations prepare the only breadthey have from plants as acrimonious as this ; first dissipating

the