Page 95

JULY 30, 1881.] THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 145

— PODOPHYLLUM EMODI. — At the present
time the scarlet fruits of this Himalayan herbaceous
plant are very ornamental; they are said to be much
better than the sweet, slightly acid ones of teh only
other species of the genus, the United States May

[black and white illustrations]
EWS Sc
FIG. 32. — PHALÆNOPSIS VIOLACEA (SEE P. 144.)

Apple, P. peltatum. Though the fruits are edible,
the leaves and roots of both are probably poisonous;
indeed, the leaves and roots, drastic and poisonous, is
distinctly stated of P. peltatum by Dr. ASA GRAY.
The resin—podophyllin—which has obtained a footing
in this country, and is used in medicine as a substitute
for mercurials, is derived from the last-named plant.

— ADENOCALYMNA NITIDUM.—This is a Brazilian
climber, belonging to the natural order Bignoniaceæ.
It has large Allamanda-like golden-yellow
blossoms, which are freely produced by the plant on
the roof of the Victoria-house at Kew. A. comosum,

a species with rather smaller flowers, is in bloom in
the Palm-house.

— THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF MATÉ.
— Maté, or Paraguayan tea, is known to be extensively
used in South America, and almost universally
in Brazil, the common practice being to pour boiling

water on some of the powder (consisting of ground
leaves and twigs of certain species), the to suck the
infusion through tubes provided with strainers. MM.
D'ARSONVAL and CONTY (says the Times) have
recently inquired into the action of this substance,

administering it to dogs, either by injecting into the
veins or by introduction into the stomach, and they
have observed a remarkable effect of it on the gases
of the blood. It diminishes the carbonic acid and
oxygen both of the arterial and of the venous blood
to a large extent, sometimes a third or even half of
the normal quantity. This action, which is less