FAMILY HEItBAL. 105 



h 



Ibut a native of the warmer countries. It grow* 

 two feet high. The leaves are very numerous^ 

 a foot and a hajf long, narrow, of a pale green 

 colour sharp at the point, and ribbed all along 

 like those of grass. The stalk is triangular, and the 

 edges are sharp ; it is firm, upright, and often 

 purplish, especiallj towards the bottom. The 

 flowers are chaffy, and they grow from the top of 

 the stalk, with several small and short leaves set 

 under them ; they are brown and light. The root 

 is composed of a great quantity of black fibres, to 

 which there grows at certain distances roundish 

 lumps. These are the only parts used in meclicine. 

 Our dru^ists keep them. They are light , and of 

 a pleasant smellj and warm spicy taste. 

 M They are good in all nervous disorders. They 

 are best taken in infusion, but as the virtues are 

 much the same with the otherj that i% best, because 

 it may be had fresher. 



The Cypress Tree. Cupressiis, 



A TREE kept in our gardens, an evergreen^ 

 and singular in the manner of its growth. It 

 rises to twenty or thirty foot high, and is dll the 

 way thick b«set with branches. These are largest 

 towards the bottom^ and smaller all the way up ; 

 so that the tree appears naturally of a conic fi- 

 gure. The bark is of a reddiih brown. The 

 leaves are small and short, they cover all the 

 twigs like scales, and are of a beautiful deep 

 green. The flowers are small and inconsiderable. 

 The fruit is a kind of nut, of the bigness of a 

 small walnut, and of a brown colour and firm sub- 

 stance. When ripe, it divides into several parts^ 

 and the seeds fall out. 



The fruit is the only part iMcd, It is i^ be 



