Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Lily, the Common

LILY, or Lilium, L. a genus of exotic plants, consisting of ten species, all of which are remarkable for the beauty of their flowers; but the two following deserve a distinguished place:

1. The candidum, or White Lily, which produces a beautiful flower, the fragrant odour of which is so powerful as to induce fainting, if numbers of it be kept over night in a close apartment:—an essential oil may be obtained from them, in a manner similar to that described under the article Jasmine.

2. The bulbiferum, or Fire Lily, which also bears fine flowers of a flaming red colour, and which, by culture, sometimes become double.—The Russians and Tungusians eat the roots of this species, either roasted, or boiled in milk; and Dr. Franke informs us (in his System of Medical Police, printed a few years since, in German), that these mealy roots might, in times of scarcity, be prepared into wholesome bread.—On account of their emollient and maturating properties, they have been greatly recommended in the dropsy; but are chiefly employed in cataplasms, when boiled, and bruised into a pulp, with oil: in this manner, they are said to form an efficacious application to recent burns.