PISTIA

(Lat.), n. f. Piast'i2-a3. From JTIOTO*, drinking. Fr., p., pistie. A genus of the Aroidece. The Pistiacea; (Fr., pistiacees; Ger., Pistiaceeri) are: Of Humboldt, Bonpland, and Kunth, a section of the Aroidece,; of Lindley, the Lemnacece (in part). The Pistie.ce are: Of Reichenbach, a division of the Aracece; of Bentham and Hooker, a subtribe of the Arinece. [B, 19, 42, 121, 170 (a, 35).] P. stratiotes. Ger., schwimmende Muschelblume. Mai., coda-pail. Tarn., a gas at am a ray. Tropical duckweed, water lettuce; a stemle floa'ting herb common in warm countries, and, according to Browne, affecting drinking-water in Jamaica so as to cause dysentery. It is the o-rpaTtoiiTjs of the ancients, who used it as a vulnerary and in hoematuria. The leaves are demulcent and refrigerant, and in the East Indies are used as a pectoral, in dysuria, dysentery etc., and externally in haemorrhoids. The root is emollient and laxative. [B, 19, 34, 42, 172, 173, 180, 275 (a, 35).] [s. 278]