SWALLOW-WORT; a genus of the digynia order, belonging to the pentandria clasps of plants.

Species. Of this genus there are 19 species enumerated by botanical writers; but the following are the most remarkable.

1. The alba, or common swallow-wort. The root is composed of many strong fibres connected at top like those of asparagus, from whence arise many stalks, in number proportional to the size of the roots, which grow two feet high, and are very slender at the top: the leaves are placed opposite by pairs; the flowers are white, growing in umbels near the top of the stalk, from whence are sent out smaller umbels. After the flower is past, the two germs become long pointed pods, including many compressed seeds lying imbricated, which are crowned with a soft white down. It flowers in June, and the seeds ripen in September. It is a native of the south of France, Spain, and Italy.

2. The Syriaca, or greater Syrian dogbane, is a perennial plant, which sends up several upright stalks in the spring, about two feet high, garnished with oval leaves. leaves growing opposite; at the top of the stalks the umbels of flowers are produced, which are of a bright purple colour, making a pretty appearance, but are not succeeded by pods in England. 3. The curassiflora, or bastard ipecacuanha, is a native of the warm parts of America. It rises to the height of five or six feet, with upright stems, and smooth oblong leaves placed opposite. Toward the top of the branches the umbels of flowers come out, which stand erect: the petals of the flowers are of a scarlet colour, and the horny nec- tariums in the middle are of a bright saffron colour, which make a pretty appearance; and there is a succession of flowers on the same plant from June to October. The flowers are succeeded by long taper pods, filled with seeds crowned with a soft down, which ripen late in autumn. The first two species are hardy; but the last one is tender, and therefore must be preserved in a stove.

Medicinal Uses, &c. The root of the first species is used in medicine. It is reckoned by botanists a species of apocynum, or dogbane; from all the poisonous sorts of which it may be distinguished, by yielding a limpid juice, whilst that of the others is milky. The root has a strong smell, especially when fresh, approaching to that of valerian, or nard; the taste is at first sweetish and aromatic, but soon becomes bitterish, subacid, and nauseous. This root is esteemed sudorific, diuretic, and emmenagogue: it is also frequently employed by the French and German physicians as an alexipharmic, and sometimes as a succedaneum to contrayerva, whence it has received the name of contrayerva Germanorum. Among us it is very rarely made use of: it appears from its sensible qualities to be a medicine of much the same kind with valerian, which is indubitably preferable to it.

The root of the third species has been sometimes sent over from America instead of that of ipecacuanha, and mischievous effects have been produced by it. Those who cultivate this plant ought to be careful that none of its milky juice mix with anything which is taken inwardly.

ASCODRUTÆ, in antiquity, a sect of heretics, in the second century, who rejected all use of symbols and sacraments, on this principle, That incorporeal things cannot be communicated by things corporeal, nor divine mysteries by any thing visible.