i 



FAMILY HERBAt. 173 



Great Houseleek. Sedum majus, 



w 



A PLANT sufficiently known as well by its 



particular manner of growing, as for its place of 

 growth. It forms itself into clusters of a round- 

 ish figure^ these are composed of leaves^ which 

 are largest toward the hoiiomy and smallest at 

 the end ; they are Yery thick and juicy^ broad 

 at the base^ sharp at the pointy flat on the upper 

 side^ a little rounded on the under^ and some- 

 what hairy at their edges. The stalk grows to 

 ten inches high ; it is very thick, rounds and juicy, 

 upright, of a reddish colour, and divided at the 

 top into a few branches. The leaves on it are 

 thin and narrow. The flowers are numerous; 

 they are red and have a green head in their middle, 

 which afterwards becomes a cluster of seed vessels. 



w 



The leaves are the part used ; they are applied 

 externally in inflammations^ and are \ery useful, 

 when cooling thing's may be employed. The juice 

 is also cooling and astringent taken inwardly, but 

 it is rarely used. Some praise it greatly for the in- 

 flammations of the eyes. 



There is another kind of houseleek, very unlike 

 this in form, but of the same virtues, this is called 

 the lesser houseleek ; the stalks are round, small, and 

 reddish, and grow six inches high; the leaves are 

 long and rounded, not flat as the others leaves ; and 

 the flowers are white, and stand in a kind of tufts, 

 like umbels at the tops of the stalks. This growson 

 pld walls, and the tops of houses like the other. 



The Least Houseleek, or Wall Pepper. Sedum 



mimmum acre. 



A COMMON plant on old waKs^ of kin tQ 



