MEDICINAL PLANTS OF YORKSHIRE. 31 



having now fallen into disuse . The Poisonous plants not used medicinally, are 

 marked thus*. 



Valeriana officinalis ; root. Ditches and banks of rivers, &c. York. Anti- 

 spasmodic tonic. 

 *Anagallis arvensis. Fields at Langwith and Overton, near York. 

 Menyanthes trifoliata ; herb. Meadow between Clifton and the Ouse ; Askham 

 Bogs, near York. The difficulty of its cultivation generally, can be the only 

 reason for this beautiful plant not having a place in every garden ; and few peo- 

 ple there are, who have not at some time seen and admired its elegant thyrsus of 

 white flowers, tinged externally with pink, and fringed with white filaments 

 within. In the North East of Yorkshire it has long been a favorite remedy with 

 the poor, as a tonic. 



Erythroea centaurium ; herb. At Langwith, and other dry pastures about 

 York. It is allied to the Gentians, and possesses properties similar to the 

 last. 

 Hyoscyamus niger ; leaves. Near Clifton, and at Overton, near York. Narcotic. 

 Solanum dulcamara ; twigs. Hedges, &c. York. Diuretic sudorific. 

 Convolvulus sepium ; roots, cathartic. Hedges, &c. 



York has been generally given as a locality for the Sphinx convolvuli, and its 

 appearance may be attributed, perhaps, to the prevalence of this species of Con- 

 volvulus in the neighbourhood. 



Rhamnus catharticus ; berries, cathartic. Askham Bogs, near York. This 

 shrub occurs but sparingly at this locality, although the other British 

 species of Rhamnus ( R. Frangula) is here, as in the other places about 

 York, very abundant. 

 Viola odorata ; flowers, laxative. Hedge banks and pastures. 

 *(Enanthe phellandrium. Langwith ; Overton ; Askham Bogs. The Fine- 

 leaved Water Hemlock is particularly abundant at the above localities, 

 and at Askham Bogs forms a green net-work over the ditches, where it 

 grows along with Ranunculus lingua^ in July. 

 *Mthusa cynapium. Gardens and cornfields, York. 

 F&niculum vulgare ; root diuretic, seed carminative. Under York Bar walls , 



naturalized. 

 Daucus carota ; seed, carminative. Heslington Fields, near York. 

 Conium maculatum ; leaves. Hedge banks, &c. Narcotic. 

 Ulmus campestris ? inner bark. Hedges. Tonic, alterative, diuretic. 

 Sambucus nigra ; flowers, diaphoretic ; berries aperient ; bark purgative. 

 Hedges, &c, York. This tree is common here, as in most localities; 

 the Sambucus ebulus, or Danewort, is not found in the immediate 

 vicinity ; I have gathered it at Thorp Arch. 



