[f. VELVET sb. 4 b.]

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  1.  The tropical shrub Cissampelos Pareira, the root and bark of which are employed medicinally.

2

1707.  Sloane, Jamaica, I. 200. Velvet-Leaf. This has a round, whitish, wooddy stalk … having several leaves,… very thick set with a whitish down, or soft hair, feeling to the touch as velvet, whence its name.

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1756.  P. Browne, Jamaica (1789), 397. The Velvet-Leaf is looked upon as an excellent diuretic.

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1866.  Treas. Bot., 288/2. The most important plant of the genus is the Velvet Leaf, C. Pareira, a native of the West Indies, Central America, and India.

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1871.  Garrod, Mat. Med. (ed. 3), 168. Pareira Root. The dried root of Cissampelos Pareira, or Velvet leaf.

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  2.  The tree-mallow, Lavatera arborea, or a leaf of this.

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1728.  E. Smith, Compl. Housew. (1750), 312. Take velvet-leaves, wipe them clean, chop them small,… and boil them gently, till they are crisp.

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1796.  Withering, Brit. Plants (ed. 3), III. 614. Tree Mallow, or Velvet-leaf.

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1863.  Prior, Plant-n., 232.

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  3.  (See quots.)

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  (a)  1856.  A. Gray, Man. Bot. (1860), 68. Abutilon Avicennæ, Velvet-Leaf.

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1866.  Treas. Bot., 1207/2. Velvet-leaf,… Sida Abutilon.

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  (b)  1891.  Cent. Dict., s.v. Tournefortia, T. Argentea is sometimes cultivated under the name of East Indian velvet-leaf.

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