HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



125 



plant, but especially the rhizomes, have a strong 

 aromatic and slightly acrid taste ; hence it has been 

 used as a stimulant and mild tonic ; by confectioners 

 as a candy, and by perfumers in the preparation of 

 aromatic vinegar, and other perfumed articles. The 

 flowers are rare. Withering speaks of the Acorns 

 Calamus as the "myrtle flag, sweet-smelling flag, or 

 Calamus, sweet myrtle grass." He also remarks, 

 "The roots powdered might supply the place of our 

 foreign spices." It is our only native truly aromatic 

 plant, according to Linnaeus. The Turks candy the 

 roots, and think they are a preservative against con- 



this plant instead of hops." The catkins boiled in 

 water throw up a waxy scum, which gathered in 

 sufficient quantities would make tolerable candles, 

 like those of Myrica cerifo-a, or candle-berry myrtle. 

 Gathered in autumn it dyes wool yellow ; it is used 

 both in England and Wales for that purpose. 



There are plants often found on the sites of ancient 

 homesteads and such places, no doubt cultivated by 

 our rude forefathers for their real or supposed 

 virtues, or various other good qualities. Among these 

 we meet with many of the Umbelliferse. Sweet cicely 

 {Myrrhis odorata) is one of the earliest flowering, 





Fig. 71. — Angelica sylvestris. 



tagion. Neither horses, cows, goats, sheep, nor 

 swine will eat it. 



In the Sedge family, we have the English galingale 

 (Cy per ns longus). This plant is not found out of 

 England ; the root is very aromatic and astringent. 

 As it is rare, we will say no more about it. 



Sweet gale, or bog-myrtle {Myrica Gale) is the 

 favourite of the Gaelic maidens, who like to wear it 

 as a button-hole bouquet for its sweet smell. The 

 berries of this plant are very small, covered with 

 resinous dots, exhaling a delightful fragrance when 

 rubbed between the fingers : the leaves are fragrant 

 from the same cause. 



Linnreus tells us that " The northern nations used 



Fig. 72. — Elecampane (Imda Helcniutn). 



sweetest, and handsomest of the umbelliferous tribes. 

 It is found near houses, in orchards and waste places : 

 it is called by the local names of sweet cicely, great 

 sweet chervil, and sweet fern. The whole of the 

 plant has a strong aromatic scent. The seeds are of 

 an agreeable taste, having the flavour of anise. Mr. 

 Woodward states, that "the seeds are used in the 

 North of England, for polishing, and perfuming oak 

 floors, and furniture." The root is fleshy, sweet, and 

 aromatic. 



We would next mention the great Master-wort 

 [Peucedanum Ostruthium). This fine rare plant often 

 occurs with the Myrrhis on moorland sites. It is also 

 a genus of the Umbelliferoe family. The root is fleshy, 



