2 Spec. Plant. Willd. iii. 1630. Cl. 19. Ord. 1. Syngenesia Aequalis. Nat. ord. Compositae. G. 1429. Receptacle chaffy. Calyx globular; the scales at the apex with inverted hooks. Seed-down bristly, chaffy. Species 1. Arctium Lappa.3 Common Burdock. Med. Bot. 3d edit. 32. t.13. Eng. Bot. 1228. Smith's Flora Britan. ii. 884. Officinal. Arctii Lappae semina et radix, Edin. Arctium

Lappa, semixa, radix, Dub. The root and seeds of Burdock.

Syn. Bardane (F.), Bardana (I.), Bardana (S).

This is an indigenous biennial plant, common on the sides of roads and in waste places; flowering in July and August. It is so well known as scarcely to require a description. The root is spindle-shaped, simple, externally of a brown colour, and internally white; the stem succulent, rising three or four feet in height, with spreading branches, and very large, undulated, cordate leaves, of a dark green colour above, and whitish underneath, supported on long foot-stalks. The flowers are in terminal panicles: the calyx is common, globular, composed of imbricated scales with hooked extremities, by which they adhere to clothes and the fur of animals: the corolla is compound, with purple uniform florets, tubular, five-cleft, and all fertile. The receptacle is punctured; the seed-downs are rough and prickly, and the seeds quadrangular.

1 It is used in Russia for tanning leather.

Dioscondis.

Dioscondis.

3 A.Bardana is as frequently used as A. Lappa.

Qualities.-The roots of Burdock are nearly inodorous, the taste sweetish, with a slight degree of bitterness and astrin-gency: they are deep brown externally, and white within. The seeds, which are sometimes used, are aromatic bitterish, and subacrid. According to Guibourt, the roots contain inuline; and the leaves and stalks, nitrate of potassa.

Medical properties and uses.-The seeds and roots of this plant possess some diuretic powers, and are said to determine also to the surface, without exciting nausea, or increasing irritation. They have been employed, and, as far as report can be credited, with advantage, in scurvy, arthritic affections, lues venerea, phthisis, and nephritic complaints. We have had no experience of their efficacy; but we are ready to believe that the remedy is at least a safe one.