1. Fi'Cus Car'Ica, Fig

Fi'Cus Car'Ica, Fig. The partially dried fruit, official 1820-1910; W. Asia, cult. in S. Europe, California. Tree, 4.5-7.5 M. (15-25°) high, 10-20 Cm. (4-8') thick, many spreading branches; bark

Fig. 91. - Ficus Carica: a, vertical section of fruit; b, staminate flower; c, pistillate flower.

reddish, gray; leaves 10-12.5 Cm. (4-50 long, 3-5-palmately bluntly lobed, dentate, pubescent beneath; flowers monoecious, borne on the inside of the thick, fleshy-walled receptacle, which becomes the fruit. Fruit irregular shape, compressed, fleshy, brownish-yellow, frequently with an efflorescence of sugar, apex with small scaly orifice, base with

Fig. 92. - Ficus Carica: a, vertical section of common receptacle; b, ripened fruit; c, staminate flower; d, pistillate flower.

scar or short stalk; internally hollow, with many small brownish-yellow, glossy, hard achenes; odor distinct, fruity; taste sweet, pleasant; pear-shape when softened in water 5-7.5 Cm. (2-3') long. They occur as natural and pulled, the largest and best being - Smyrna (Turkey

Elemi), the smaller and less pulpy - the Greek; contain grape-sugar 62 p. c., gum, fat, phosphates, chlorides, achenes and cellular tissue 15 p. c., water 16 p. c. Nutritive, demulcent, dietetic; habitual constipation - fresh juice, indigestible skin and seeds causing intestinal irritation, the latter acting mechanically; roasted and split open as a poultice. Dose, ad libitum.

2. Mo'Rus Ru'Bra, Red Mulberry

Mo'Rus Ru'Bra, Red Mulberry. N. America. Fruit in dense spikes with coalesced perianths, 2.5 Cm. (1') long, dark purple, fleshy; contains sugar 10 p. c, pectin, citrates, malates; refrigerant, flavoring.

3. Dorste'Nia Contrayer'Va, Contrayerva

Dorste'Nia Contrayer'Va, Contrayerva. The root, official 1820-1860; W. Indies, C. and S. America. Acaulescent perennial; leaves lobed, radical, 10 Cm. (4') long; flowers staminate and pistillate, fruit capsule, disperses seeds by hygroscopism; root (rhizome) fusiform, 1-2-headed, 5-7.5 Cm. (2-3') long, 12 Mm. (1/2') thick, reddish; taste acrid, bitter; contains volatile oil, resin, bitter principle, starch. Used as stimulant, tonic, diaphoretic, for low fevers, typhoid, diarrhoea, dysentery, serpent bites; in decoction, tincture. Dose, gr. 30 (2 Gm.).

4. Urti'Ca Dioi'Ca, Nettle (Stinging Nettle), Irticaceae

Urti'Ca Dioi'Ca, Nettle (Stinging Nettle), Irticaceae. N. America, Europe. Plant .6-1 M. (2-3°) high, very bristly, stinging, leaves ovate, heart-shaped, pointed, serrate, downy beneath, upper stem downy, spike much branched. Tonic, astringent, uterine hemorrhage. Dose, gr. 15-30 (1-2 Gm.).