SCORZONERA, VIPER-GRASS, in botany: A genus of the polygamia æqualis order, belonging to the syn-genesia class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 49th order, Compositae. The receptacle is naked; the pappus plumy; the calyx imbricated, with scales membranaceous on their margins.
The most remarkable species is the hispanica, or common scorzonera, which is cultivated in the gardens of this country, both for culinary and medicinal purposes. The root is carrot-shaped, about the thickness of a finger, covered with a dark brown skin, is white within, and has a milky juice. The stalk rises three feet high, is smooth, branching at the top, and garnished with a few narrow leaves, whose base half embrace the stalk. The flowers are of a bright yellow colour, and terminate the stalks in scaly empalements composed of many narrow tongue-shaped hermaphrodite florets lying imbricatum over each other like the scales of fish, and are of a bright yellow colour. After these are decayed, the germen, which sits in the common empalements, turns to oblong coned seeds, having a roundish ball of feathered down at the top. This plant is propagated by seeds; and must be carefully thinned and kept free from weeds, otherwise the plants will be weak.
The roots of scorzonera were formerly much celebrated for their alexipharmic virtues, and for throwing out the small-pox; but have now almost entirely lost their character: however, as they abound with an acrid juice, they may sometimes be of use for strengthening the viscera, and promoting the fluid secretions.