2 Spec. Plant Willd.i.756. CI. 5. Ord.1. Pentandria Monogynia. Nat. ord. Boraginaceae. G.227. Corolla funnel-shaped: the throat closed with arches.

Seed engraved at the base.

1 Willdenow has a distinct species under the name Amyris eopobalsamum; but, in a note, says,--" Sunt forte non distinctae species, sed varietates ab aetate vel solo ortae." Svec. Plant, vol. ii. o. 334.

strangulo, svffoco; the ancients believing that this species of plants choked and destroyed serpents. Vide Bod. in Thenphrast. p. 835.

Species 7. Anchusa tinctoria. Dyer's Alcanet. Lobel, Icon. 578. Officinal. ------, Radix, Edin. Alkanet root.

Syn, Orcanette (F.)> Alcanna (I.).

This species of anchusa is perennial, a native of the south of Europe, where it is cultivated in great abundance, particularly near Montpellier. It is found in our gardens as an ornamental plant; but its roots do not acquire in Britain the beautiful colour for which the foreign are prized. It flowers from June until October. The root is long, round, fibrous, white within, and covered with a purplish red bark. The stem rises eighteen inches in height; is round, rough, hairy, and branched; with long, alternate, sessile, lanceolate, obtuse, hairy leaves. The flowers are of a reddish purple colour, and terminate the branches in close clusters. The calyx is persistent, divided into five oblong erect segments; the corolla funnel-shaped, consisting of a cylindrical tube the length of the calyx, and a five-tooth expansion, closed by five scaly leaflets. The filaments are shorter than the corolla, bearing simple anthers; the germens four, with filiform styles the length of the filaments, each crowned with an obtuse notched stigma.

Alkanet root is brought to this country chiefly from France. It is in twisted pieces, with a withered, dusky red bark, easily separated. The smaller roots are the best, as they have proportionally more bark than the larger.

Qualities.-It has a very faint odour, and a bitterish astringent taste when fresh; but the dry root is inodorous and insipid. It imparts a fine deep-red colour to alcohol, ethers, oils, fats, and wax; but to water, even when hot, it yields only a brown colour. Sulphate of iron strikes a black with the watery infusion; and sulphate of zinc throws down a copious, dark-coloured precipitate.

Medical properties and uses.-Alkanet root was formerly prescribed as an astringent in several diseases; but it is properly rejected from modern practice, and is used as a colouring matter only for oils, ointments, and plasters.