306 The Ufeful Family Herbal. 
merous: They ftand three on every Foot-Stalk,, 
and grow pretty clofe to the Stalk. There are 
‘feveral fhort and fharp Prickles about the Stalks,, 
principally at the Infertions of the Leaves. The 
Leaves are of a dufky Green, and ferrated about 
the Edges. The Flowers are {mall and purple: 
They ftand among the Leaves, towards the Tops: 
of the Stalks, and are in Shape like Pea Bloffoms, 
but flatted: Each is followed by a {mall Pod. 
The Root is white, very long, tough, and 
woody... : : 
The Root is to be taken up frefh for Ufe, and 
the Bark feparated for that Purpofe. It is to be 
. - boiled in Water, and the Decoétion given in large 
Quantities. It is good againft the Gravel, and in. 
all Obftructions by Urine ; and it is.alfo good in 
the Dropfy and Jaundice. a. 
RHAPONTIC. : 
RHAPONTICUM, SIVE RHA. 
: A Tall robuft Plant, Native of Scythia, but 
_ =* Kept in many of our Gardens. It grows four’ 
Feet hig h. The Stalk is round, ftriated, an Inch 
thick, fometimes hellow, and very upright. The 
Leaves are large and broad: Thofe from the 
Root are about a Foot and a half long, and a 
Foot broad, of a deep green Colour, with large 
Ribs, and blunt at the Ends. The Flowers are 
fmall and white: They ftand in Clufters at the 
Tops of the Stalks, and are fucceeded by trian- 
gular Seeds. aS ewes 
__. The Root is the Part ufed, and this is what the - 
Antients ufed, under the Name of Réa. It is 
_ of the Nature of Rhubarb, but different in this, 
that it is lefs purgative, and more aftringent ; 
for this Reafon, there are many Purpofes, which: 
it would anfwer much better. We have it ae 
