154 FAMILY HERBAL. 



Goats' Rue. G(Elega. 



+ 



A TALL plant, native of Italy, but kept with 

 us ia j^ardens. ' It grows a jard high. The stalks 

 are rounds striated, hollow, not verj firm or strong, 

 and of a pale green colour : they are very much 

 branched, and not altogether upright. The leaves 

 are long and large, each is composed of several pairs 

 of smaller leaves, with an odd one at the end of the 

 rib ; these are oblong, narrow, aiid of a yellowish 

 green colour, thin, and not at all indented at the 

 edges. The flowers are small, and of a bluish and 

 whitish colour ; they stand a great many upon the 

 same pedicle, in a drooping posture. 



The whole plant is used. It is to be gathered 

 when just come to flower, and dried, and afterwards 

 given in infusion : this gently promotes sweaty 

 atid is good in fevers ; so much is true of the 

 virtues of this plant, but much more has been sg^jd 

 ofit, ' 



Golden Rod. Virga aiirea. 



A VERY pretty wild plant, with tufti of ye!-^ 

 low flowers, frequent on our heaths in autumn. It 

 is two feet high. The stalk is firm, erect, round, 

 , and hairy. The kaves are long, broadest in the 

 middle, indented at the edges, rough on the surface, 

 hairy, and of a strong green colour. The flowers 

 ar^ small, and of a bright yellow, but they grow 

 together in a sort of thick and short spikes, sa 

 that they are very conspicuous. The root is long, 

 brown, and of an austere taste^ as is also the whole 



plant. 



The root taken up in spring and dried, is an e^* 

 cellent medicine given in powder for purgings, and 



for overflowing of the menies^ bloody stools, or any 



H, 



