. The vegetable kingdom : or, The structure, classification, and uses of plants, illustrated upon the natural system. s roots. In the Hunalayas, the species which is called Colocasia himalensis forms the principal portion of the food of the hill-people. Boyle. (Medicinally, the root in its recent state is stimulant, diaphoretic, and expectorant.) A similar starchy substance is yielded by Xanthosoma sagittifolia (Chou caraib), Peltandra v\r- gmica, and the huge and hideous Amorphophalii of the Indian Archipelago. The spadixes of some species have a fetid putrid smell ; others, such as Ainim cor
. The vegetable kingdom : or, The structure, classification, and uses of plants, illustrated upon the natural system. s roots. In the Hunalayas, the species which is called Colocasia himalensis forms the principal portion of the food of the hill-people. Boyle. (Medicinally, the root in its recent state is stimulant, diaphoretic, and expectorant.) A similar starchy substance is yielded by Xanthosoma sagittifolia (Chou caraib), Peltandra v\r- gmica, and the huge and hideous Amorphophalii of the Indian Archipelago. The spadixes of some species have a fetid putrid smell ; others, such as Ainim cordi- folium, Itahcum, and maculatum, are found to disengage a sensible quantity of heat at the time when they are about to expand. The emanations from Ainmi Dracun- culus are extremely inconvenient; when in flower they produce dizziness, head-ache, and vomitmg. A wi-iter m the Annals of Chemistry says that he was attacked with \4olent head-ache and sickness after gathering about 40 of the spadixes. Amorphophallus orixensis havmg exceedingly acrid roots, is, Avhen fresh, apphed in India by the natives in cataplasm. Fig. excite, or bring forward tumours. Dr, Fie. LXXXVIIl.—Arum maculatum, A RALES.] ARACEiE. 120 Roxburgh pronounces it to be certainly a most poAverful stimulant ; other species arelikewise erajiloyed, as A. montanum, Roxb., (macrorhizon, Amslie). The plant calledby the latter Dracontium polyphyllum is exhibited internally when its acrimony hasbeen subdued ; it is considered antispasmodic, and is also said to be useful in asthmaticcases. An emmenagogue is said to be prepared from it in the Society Islands. Agardhconsiders that the acrid principle, which, notwithstanding its gieat fugacity, has beenobtained piu*e, is no doubt of great power as a stimulant. Aph. 133. The Colocasiasare remarkable for bemg milky. Various species of Philodendron have a turbid acridjuice, and are found useful in cleansing foul ulcers ; they are also employed for manyother purp
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