Plumbago europea. Leadwort.

Plumbago Europea L. Leadwort. Dentellaria. (Fam. Plumbaginaceae.) —A perennial, herbaceous plant, growing in the south of Europe. It has an acrid taste, and, when chewed, excites a flow of saliva. This is particularly the case with the root, which has been long used to relieve toothache; hence its French name dentelaire. A decoction of the root in olive oil has been highly recommended for itch. A crystallizable, acrid principle, called plumbagin, has been extracted from the root by Dulong. (J. P. C. (2), xiv, 441.) Plumbago zeylanica is said to be a very powerful diaphoretic.

The Dispensatory of the United States of America, 1918, was edited by Joseph P. Remington, Horatio C. Wood and others.