The Ufeful Family Herbal. 347 
_ the Root, they are folded inward fo that only the 
_ under Part appears, and they have a very pecu- 
_ tiar Afpect, more like fome Infeét, than the Leaf 
| Ofa Plant. It s on old Walls, and is green 
all the Winter, but it has moft Virtue in Spring. . 
The whole Plant is ufed. It is beft given in | 
Infufion, and muft be continued for fome Time, 
_ it opens all Obftructions of the Liver and Spleen, 
and is excellent in Diforders arifing from that ” 
Caufe. They fay the Powder of the dried Leaves © 
cures the Rickets, but this wants Proof. 
INDIAN SPIKENARD. 
NARDUS INDICA. * 
N Eaft-Indian Plant, of the Grafs Kind, with 
** triangular Stalks, and yellowifh Flowers. It 
refembles not a little that common yellow tufted 
Grafs, which is frequent in our Meadows in. 
Spring. It is fix or eight Inches high. The 
Leaves are long, narrow, and of a pale Green, 
they are very numerous, and ftand in a thick 
‘uft almoft growing together at the Bafes. The 
talks rife among thele,, they are_ naked, triangu=, 
and of a pale green Colour; the Flowers ftand: 
Tufts, of the Bignefs of an Horfe-bean; on the 
Tops of the Stalks, they are blackifh, but orna- 
mented with yellow Threads, which give the whole 
Wi earance, ‘This is the Plant, fome 
ich have been of late brought over, 
Spikenard, and there is Reafon and - 
ity for yan they are fo. The Tops 
= Roots have that Sort of Tuft of hairy Mat- 
which we call Jndien Spikenard growing ta 
, and it is of the Nature of the hairy Top. 
: Spignel Root, owing to the Fibres of de- 
| Leaves. Breynius alfo calls the Plant — 
:: : allo 
