saponarIa

[Lat. sapo soap. So named because it has been used as soap.] Bot .: Soapwort, Fuller's Herb; a genus of Silence (Lindley), of Caryophyllese, section Polycarpese ( Sir J. Hooker ). Calyx monophyllous, cylindrical, and one-toothed, without bracteas; petals five clawed; stamens ten; styles two; capsule four toothed; seeds globose or reniform. Known species about thirty. Europe and temperate Asia. The mucilaginous sap of Saponaria vaccaria is used in India in washing clothes, and as a cure for the itch. sa-pon-ar-in, 8. [Mod. Lat. saponar ( ia ); -in (Chem.).] Chem.: A bitter, neutral, crystallizable substance found in the roots of Saponaria officinal is before flowering time, but not after. It is soluble in water, alcohol, and ether; insoluble in oil of turpentine. săp-o-nar-y, a . [Latin sapo (gen it. saponis ) = soap.] Saponaceous. "A soft saponary substance."-Boyle. sa-pon-i-fi-a-ble, a. [Eng. saponify ; -able.] Capable of being saponified or converted into soap. sa-pon-i-fi-er, s. [Eng. saponify ; -er.] That which causes saponification.