Asarabacca (Asarum europeaum) is a creeping evergreen perennial of the family Aristolochiaceae found in Europe. It has short stems, usually with just two kidney- shaped, dark glossy green leaves, their stalks much longer than their blades. Solitary, brownish, tubular flowers are borne at the end of branches between April and May. Both the leaves and root were formerly used as an emetic. It entered into the composition of medicated snuffs recommended in cases of headache. Research Asarabacca
Bryony (Bryonia) is a genus of plants of the family Cucurbitaceae (gourds). The only British species, the Common Bryony (Bryonia dioica), is a climbing plant common in hedges, has cordate palmate leaves and axillary bunches of flowers, and red berries which are highly poisonous. The thick long fleshy root has acrid emetic and purgative properties, and has been used medicinally. Other species, one found in North America, are known. The so-called Black Bryony belongs to a different natural order, the Dioscoreaceae or yams. Research Bryony
Chiococca is a genus of tropical plants, of the natural order Rubiaceae, consisting of small, often climbing, shrubs, with funnel-shaped, yellowish flowers and bearing a fruit consisting of a white berry with two seeds. The bark of the root of Chiococca anguifuga is a violent emetic and purgative. Research Chiococca
Common Bryony (Bryonia dioica) is the only native British species of Bryony. It is a climbing plant found in hedges and has cordate palmate leaves and axillary bunches of flowers and red berries which are highly poisonous. The thick long fleshy root has acrid emetic and purgative properties and has been used medicinally. Research Common Bryony
Crinum is a genus of bulbous plants belonging to the family Amaryllidaceae. The crinum have strap-shaped leaves and flowers are borne in umbels, and are mostly fragrant and brightly coloured. There are numerous species found in Asia, Australia, South America, and certain parts of Africa, and interesting hybrids have been produced by European gardeners. The Crinum asiaticum has a bulb above ground, which is a powerful emetic, and is used by the natives to produce vomiting after poison has been taken. Research Crinum
Dog's-fennel (Anthemis Cotula) is a British plant found in cultivated fields, with acrid, emetic properties. It derives its name of dog's-fennel from some resemblance of its leaf to fennel and from its bad smell. Research Dog's-Fennel
Elder, a name given to different species of the genus Sambucus of the natural order Caprifoliaceae, related to the honeysuckle. These are small trees or shrubs, with opposite and pinnated leaves, bearing small white flowers in large and conspicuous corymbs, small berries of a black or red colour, and bitter and nauseous leaves possessing purgative and emetic properties. The wood of the young shoots contains a very large proportion of pith.
The common elder of Britain (Sambucus nigra) is a wild shrub or small tree, distinguishable by its winged leaves; its clusters of small, cream-white flowers, and the small black berries by which these are succeeded, and from which a kind of wine is sometimes made. It is remarkable for the large quantity of pith contained in its young branches and for the elasticity of its wood.
The dwarf elder or dane-wort (Sambucus Ebulus) is also found in many parts of Britain, and was popularly supposed to have sprung from the blood of the Danes. Two species inhabit North America; Sambucus canadensis, a common plant from the 49th to the 30th parallel of latitude, the berries of which are black and have a sweet taste; and Sambucus pubescens, which bears red berries, and inhabits Canada, the northern parts of New England, and the AlleghanyMountains.
Elder wood is yellow, and in old trees becomes so hard that it is often substituted for box-wood. Its toughness also is such that it is made into skewers, tops for fishing-rods, etc. The light pith was formerly utilized for balls for electric experiments, and various ointments, drinks, and medicinal decoctions are made from the bark, leaves, flowers, and berries.
Gratiola is a genus of plants of the family Scrophulariaceae containing about twenty species of herbs, widely distributed through the extra-tropical regions of the world. Gratiola officinalis grows in meadows in Europe. It is extremely bitter, and acts violently both as a purgative and emetic, and in overdoses it is a violent poison. Research Gratiola
Ipecacuanha (Psychotria ipecacuanha) is a small shrubby plant found in Brazil and Columbia. the root is used in medicine as an emetic, digestive aid and as an expectorant. Research Ipecacuanha
Sabadilla (Schoenocaulon officinale) is a Mexican liliaceous plant. It bears linear, grass-like leaves and dense racemes of yellowish flowers. Its seeds, which contain the alkaloidveratrine, were formerly used in medicine as an emetic and purgative. Now the seeds are used to prepare insecticide. Research Sabadilla
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Asarabacca
