SISON, EASTARD PARSEY, a genus of the digynia order, belonging to the pentandria class of plants. There are six species, the most remarkable of
Sistrum
Sistrus.
of which is the amomum, or common bastard-parley. This is a biennial plant about three feet high, growing wild in many places of Britain. Its seeds are small, striated, of an oval figure and brown colour. Their taste is warm and aromatic. Their whole flavour is extracted by spirit of wine, which elevates very little of it in distillation; and hence the spirituous extract has the flavour in great perfection, while the watery extract has very little. A tincture drawn with pure spirit is of a green colour. The seeds have been esteemed aperient, diuretic, and carminative; but are little regarded in the present practice.