i6i 
> 
V 
times 
feveti, of imeqiial fize, elliptical, obtufe, ferrated, vemecl, fome- 
f ^ 
wliat haiiy, and fitting clofe 
to the common footftalk, which is of 
confxderable length, and rifes from the ftoloniferous joints oFthe ftem: 
the ftipulse ftand in pairs, and are compofed of three ovaliih leaves: 
the f owers are yellow, and placed fmgly upon long fiender peduncles : 
the corolla confiils of five petals, v/hich are inverfely heart-ihapcd",, of 
' a bright yellow colour, and inferted into the calyx by fliort claws 
the calyx is a perianthium of one leaf, divided into ten pointed feg 
fnort, tapering, and inferted at the 
ments, v/hich are alternately fmaller, and frequently turned bacl 
the filaments are about tv/enty 
glandular bafe of the calyx, and crowned by oblong, flattiih, double- 
celled yellow antherse : the germina are numerous, and form a conical 
head, fupporting fliort flyles, terminated by blunt ftigmata : the feeds 
^ 
are numerous 
fmall, and of a brown colour. 
It flowers from July 
till September, and is common on meadow banks, and on the fides 
\ 
of road 
s 
The roots of this plant have a bitteriih flyptic tafte, and give out 
their aftringent matter both to water and fpirit. They v/ere ufed by 
Hippocrates and Diofcorides, and by the former particularly recom- 
mended for the cure of intermittents/ And Ray tells us, that the 
peafantry flill employ them with this intention.'' The medicinal 
quality of Cinquefoil is confined to the external or cortical part of 
: it has 
the root, and depends 
merely 
lipon its ailringent e 
therefore been chiefly prefcribed internally in diarrhoeas and other 
fluxes. 
and externally in 
a 
i* j-v* 
] 
es and ailringent lotions : but as its 
efficacy is much inferior to many other plants of this clafs, the 
Cinquefoil is nov/ rarely ufed. In large dofes, however, it may be 
found no bad fubftitute for fome of the other ailringents. 
h 
^ De Morb. 1. 1. p. 473. Foes. 
Ht/i^ Plant, p^ c. See alfo Senac de reco?7d.febr. inierm. nat.p. i85# 
X 
i- 
N 
/ 
■\ 
NICOTIAN A TABAGUM 
V 
