LITHOSPERMUM, GROMWELL; a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the pentandria class of plants. There are several species; but the only re-
markable ones are the officinale or common gromwell, and the arvense or bastard alkanet. Both these are natives of Britain; the former growing in dry gravelly soil, the latter in corn-fields.—The seeds of the first are reputed to be of service in calculous cases. Dr Grew says, that they have so much earth in their composition, that they effervesce with acids; but if this is the case, it must be attributed rather to an alkaline than an earthy quality.