FAMILY HERBAL.^ 67 



The Cassumunar Plant. Cassumunar. 



' A COMMON plant of the East Indies, but of 

 which we do not seem to have vet so perfect a des- 

 cription "as might be wished. Its leaves are large^ 

 long, and like thoseof our flags, and thej^ involve one 

 another in a sing-ular manner about theix bases. 



The flowers are small, and they arr in shape' some- 

 what like those of certain of our orchises. Thej 

 are mottled with purple and jellow : the seed is 

 little and brown, the root creeps under the surface 

 of the ground, and is of a yellow colour^ and 

 fragrant smell, and of a warm taste. 



The root is used : we have it at the druggists.' 

 It is of the same nature with zedoary, and has 

 by some been called the yellow zedoary. It is a 

 very good medicine in nervous and hysteric com- 

 plaints, *It is warm and strengthening to the sto- 

 mach ; it is remarkably good against the head- 

 ach and in fevers. It operates quick by urine and 

 hy sweat. 



' ^Catmint. Nepcta, 



A COMMON wild plant about our hedges^ 

 biit of very great virtues; it grows a yard high, 

 and has broad whitish leaves, and white flowera 

 like mint. The stp-Iks are square, whitish, hairy^ 

 and erect : the leaves stand two at a joint : they 

 are broadest at the base, and terminate in an ob* 



end 



i^d at the edg 



and of a whitish green ot\ the upper side, and very 

 white underneath. The flowers are small and 

 white ; and they grow ia a kind of spiked dusters, 

 surrounding the stalks at certain distances.. Tbo 

 whole plant has a very strong and not verj' agre© j 



able smell. 



