The dried leaves of (1) Barosma betulina, (2) Barosma crenulata, (3) Barosma serratifolia. Cape of Good Hope.

fig. 183. - Barosma betulina.

Fig. 184. - Barosma crenulata.

Fig. 185. Barosma serratifolia.

Characters. - Smooth, marked with pellucid dots at the indentations and apex; having a powerful, somewhat mint-like odour, and a warm cam-phoraceous taste. B. betulina. - Obovate, with a recurved, truncated apex and sharp cartilaginous spreading teeth. B. crenulata. - Oval-lanceolate, obtuse, minutely crenated. B. serratifolia. - Narrow linear-lanceolate, tapering at each end, sharply and finely serrated.

Composition. - The leaves contain a volatile oil in the vittae which appear as dots on the leaves, and a bitter substance.

Preparations

Action and Use. - Buchu is slightly tonic. It is also diuretic and diaphoretic. Its chief use is as a stimulant to the mucous membrane of the bladder in cases of vesical catarrh and irritation. It is also used with other drugs as an expectorant in chronic bronchitis. It is used in South Africa, in doses of 20 grains of the powdered leaves, in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery.