J- 



%\% FAMILY HERBAL. 



the top of these rise tlie pedicles^ supporiing tlip 

 heads; tbej are naked three or four inches high, 

 slender, and of a brownish, reddish^'or blackish 

 colour : the head upon the summit of these is singlcj, 

 square, and is covered with a woolly cap, of the 

 figure of an extinguisher, which falls off when the 

 head is intirelj ripe ; this head is full of a fine 

 dust 



The plant is frequent in boggy pbices^ and is to 

 be used intire. Some talk of its hems: cood irj 



o & 



coughs, but the more frequent use of it is externally, 

 they boil it in water, and wash the h^ad with it, \^ 

 make the hair grow thick. . 



The Common Mallow. Malva, 



A WILD plant, every where about our hedgcSj^ 



fields^ and gardens. It is one among many in- 

 istances, that God has made the most useful plants, 

 the most common. The mallow grows three or 

 four feet hi^h. The stalk is round, thick and 



v_^ ^ 



stroiip-. The leaves are roundish, but indented 

 and divided at the edges. The flowers are nu- 

 merous^ Jargc, and red. The root is long and 

 "white, of a firm, tough substance, and not dis- 



agreeable taste. 



^^^^ r 



The whole plant is used;, but the root has most 

 virtue. The leaves dried, or fresh, are put in de- 

 coctions for glisters; and the root may be dried, 

 for it retains a great deal of virtue, but it is best 

 fresh, and should be chosen when there are only 

 leaves growmg from it^ not a stalk. It is to be 

 boiled iii water, and the decoction may be made 

 very strong, for there is nothing disagreeable in the 

 ta^te: it is to be drank in quantities, and is ex- 

 cellent to promote urine, and to take off the 

 strangury, Xt is good also in the same majmer 



