The Ufef ul F amily Herbal. 99 
The CoTToNn TaisTiE 
“ACANTHIUM. 
A Tall and ftately wild Plant, common by our 
Way fides, and known by its great white 
prickly Leaves and red Flowers. It is four or 
five Feet high. The Leaves which grow from 
_ the Root are a Foot and a half long, a Foot 
_ broad, deeply indented at the Edges, and befet 
_ with yellowifh Thorns; they are of a whitith 
_ Colour, and feem covered with a downy Matter 
_ ofthe Nature of Cotton. The Stalks are thick, 
_ found, firm, and upright; and winged with a Sort _ 
_ of leafy Subftances which rife from them, and 
_ have the fame Sort of Prickles that are upon the 
_ Leaves. The ordinary Leaves upon the Stalks 
re like thofe which grow from the Root, only 
_ they are more deéply indented, and more prickly; 
__ the Flowers are purple, they ftand in long prick- 
dy Heads, and make a beautiful Appearance. 
he Root is very long, thick, and white. 
en 
3 - _ The Root, is the Part ufed, and that fhould be 
freth gathered. It opens Obftructions, and is good 
-againft the Jaundice, and in Dropfies, and other 
Diforders arifing from Obftructions. It alfo mo= 
Gerately promotes the Menfes. It may be dried 
and given in Powder for the fame Purpofes: — But 
the Virtues are’ much lefs. | 
i Nee Coutn GRAS 8:, ) 
 GRAMEN CANINUM = © 
A Very troublefome Weed in Fields and Gar- 
‘dens, but very ufeful in Medicine. Nature 
made thofe Plants which may be moft ufefu 
us the. moft common, and the moft diffi 
f d. Couch Grafs grows two F 
