cardinal-flower: A genus of the monogamia order, belonging to the syngenesia class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 29th order, Campanaceae. The calyx is quinquefid; the corolla monopetalous, and irregular; the capsule inferior, bilocular, or trilocular. There is a great number of species, but only four of them are cultivated in our gardens; two of which are hardy herbaceous plants for the open ground, and two shrubby plants for the stove. They are all fibrous rooted perennials, rising with erect stalks from two to five or six feet high, ornamented with oblong, oval, spear-shaped, simple leaves; and spikes of beautiful monopetalous, somewhat ringent, five-parted flowers, of scarlet, blue, and violet colours. They are easily propagated by seeds, offsets, and cuttings of their stalks. The tender kinds require the common treatment of other exotics. They are natives of America; from which their seeds must be procured.

The root of a species called the siphilitica is an article of the materia medica. This species grows in moist places in Virginia, and bears our winters. It is perennial, has an erect stalk three or four feet high, blue flowers, a milky juice, and a rank smell. The root consists of white fibres about two inches long, resembles tobacco in taste, which remains on the tongue, and is apt to excite vomiting. It is used by the North American Indians as a specific in the venereal disease. The form is that of decoction; the dose of which is ordered to be gradually increased till it bring on very considerable purging, then to be intermitted for a little, and again used in a more moderate degree till the cure be completed. The ulcers are also washed with the decoction, and the Indians are said to sprinkle them with the powder of the inner bark of the spruce tree. The same strictness of regimen is ordered as during a salivation or mercurial course. The benefit to be derived from this article has not, as far as we know, been confirmed either in Britain or by the practitioners in Virginia: for there, as well as in this country, recourse is almost universally had to the use of mercury; and it is probably from this reason that the London college have not received it into their list. It, however, seems to be an article which, in some cases at least, deserves a trial.