{ 18») 
fmall, tubular, five-toothed, angular, permanent. Corolla thonope- 
talous, unequal: tube cylindrical, towards the top bent inward; limb 
expanding, divided into five fegments, which are rounded, and nearly 
equal. Filaments extremely fhort: anthere commonly four, two. 
of which are placed above the others. Germen fquare: ftyle thread- 
fhaped, terminated by an obtufe ftigma. Seeds ufually four, oblong, — 
obtufe, on the infide flattifh, and white, and on the outfide brown, 
convex, grooved, and reticulated. ; 
Mr. Curtis obferves that “ the Vervain may be confidered as a kind 
of domeftic plant, not confined to any particular foil, but growing 
by the road fides, pretty univerfally aw the entrance into towns and 
villages”; and Miller declares that it is never found more. than a 
quarter of a mile from a houfe: hence it has been alfo called 
Simpler’s Joy. 7 : : : 
Ancient writers have diftinguifhed this plant by the names Verbena, 
Verbenaca, and Perifterium.* It is deftitute of odour, and to the 
tafte manifefts but a flight degree of bitternefs and attringency. % 
In former ,times the Verbena feems to have been held facred, and was 
employed in gelebrating the facrificial rites ;” and with a view to this 
more than the natural power of the plant, it was worn fufpended about 
the neck as an amulet. This practice, thus founded in fuperftition, 
was, however, in procefs of time, adopted in medicine; and there- 
fore to obtain its virtues more effectually, the Vervain was directed 
to be bruifed before it was appended to the neck; and of its good 
effects thus ufed for inveterate headaches, Foreftus relates a remarkable 
inftance.* In ftill later times it has been employed in the way of 
cataplafm, by which we are told the moft fevere and obftinate cafes 
‘ 
* Vide Plin. 1.25. c. 9s 
b It appears to be the Inga foray, or aeeisteewve of Diofcorides. - Alton fays, Verbena | 
* quafi herbena, becaufe all herbs ufed in facred rites were fo called. Hence Virgil, 
Verbenafque adole pingues & mafcula thura. Ecl. viii. v.65. And Terence in Andria, 
Ex ara hac fume Verbenas tibi. But Virgil alfo ufes the word to denote a particular 
plant. Vide Georg. iv. 131. — . : 
© Oper. Omn. L. 9. Obj. 52. | 
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