LAZAR-WORT: A genus of the dignyga order, belonging to the pentandria clasps of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 45th order, Umbellata. The fruit is oblong, with eight membranaceous angles; the petals inflexed, emarginated, and patent. There are nine species, none of which are at all remarkable for their beauty, so are only preserved in botanic gardens for the sake of variety. They are natives of Germany, Italy, and the south of France. All of them abound with an acrid juice, which turns to an excessively acrimonious resin. This was used by the ancients to take away black and blue spots that came by bruises or blows, as also to take away excrescences; it was also by some of the ancients used internally; but produced such violent effects, that the more prudent refrained from the use of it. It is generally supposed that the filipium of the ancients was procured from one of the species of this genus; but of this we are at present ignorant.