236 FAMILY HERBAL, 



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some disease^ and often puzzles the pTiysician, but 

 it will be perfectly cured by a tea made of this 

 plant. 



Motherwort. Cardiaca, 



' A TALL^ and not unhandsome wild plant. It 

 ^rows wild about farm-jards and in dry places, 

 it is a jard high ; the staik is square^ thick^ up- 

 rightj and firm. The leaves stand oh long foot 

 stalks^ two at each joint. They are divided into 

 three parts^ the middle one hcing the longest^ and 

 are deeply indented at the edges ; of a dark green 

 colour, and bad smell. The flowers are of a pale 

 red : they grow in a kind of prickly cups^ from 

 the bosoms of the leaves, surrounding the stalks- 



The root creeps^, and is wtiitish. ^ 



The whole plant may be used dried, but the tops 

 fresh cut are best ; they arc to be given in a strong 

 infudon or decoction. It is good against hysteric 

 .complaints, and it promotes the menses It is 

 famous for curing the palpitation of the hearty 

 when that arises from an hysteric cause : for there 

 are palpitations^ which nothing can cure. 



Mouse-ear. Pilosclla. 



AN exceeding pretty little plant, with whitish 

 jeaves^ and large bright yellow flowers, frequent 

 on our ditch banks. The leaves grow in little 

 clusters, and are longish and broad, of a dark 

 green on the upper side, but white underneath ; 

 and so much of the under part is usually, seen, 

 that the whole looks whitish. The stalks trail 

 upon the ground, and take root at erery joint : 

 the leaves have long: hairs upon them. The stalks 

 ,^icU support the flowers rise single. They arp 



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