ABELMOSCHUS MOSCHATUS
Description: The natural order and generic characters the same as those in the preceding species. Mr. Lindley says: “Stem herbaceous, hispid with spreading hairs, not prickly. Leaves (and long petioles) hispid with rigid hairs, unequally and coarsely toothed, deeply five to seven-lobed; lobes all spreading, oblong lanceolate, acuminate. Pedicels harshly pubescent, axillary. Involucral leaves six to ten, linear, hairy. Capsules oblong, acuminate, hairy .” A native of Egypt and the East Indies. Properties
and Uses: The seeds have a
strong aroma of musk, and have been known as grani moschi.
Relaxing and stimulating powers are attributed to them; and some cases,
apparently authentic, have been recorded, in which they seemed to have
a decided influence in casting out the poison of snakes. Possibly a
further and more careful investigation of their properties, would show
them to be an agreeable and useful article in cases where mild nervous
prostration required a diffusible stimulant and relaxant. At present,
they seem to be used for nothing beyond giving flavor to the coffee of
the Arabs.
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