X 



FAMILY HERBAL. 295 



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These flowers are used bj the djers in some 

 parts of Europe. The seed is the part taken iiHo 

 the shops : it is longish, covered, and white with 

 a hard covering* ; it is to be given in infusion, 

 which works both by vomit and stool^ but not 

 violently. It is good against rheumatisms and the 

 jaundice. 



Sagapenum Plant. Sagapcnum. 



A LARGE plants native of Persia and the East 

 Indies, and described but imperfectly to us; how- 

 everj so that we have confirmation that the descrip- 

 tion is authentic, if not so finished iw all its parts 

 as we could wish. It grows upon the mountains, 

 and is eight feet high ; the leaves are very larc^e. 



d are composed of a great multitude of little 

 parts, which are fixed to a divided rib, and are 

 of a bluish green colour^ and when bruised^ of a 

 itrong smelL The stalk is thick, striated, round, 

 ?iolIoWj and upright, purplish' toward the bottom, 

 but green upwards. The leaves which stand on 

 it are like those which rise from the root^ only 

 smaller. The flowers are little and yellowish ; 



they 



the tops of the 



stalks^ and each of them is succeeded by two 

 s^eds ; these are flat, large, brown, and striated. 

 The root is long, thick, of a yellowish colour, and 

 of a disagreeable smell. This is the account we 

 have from those who have been of late in the 

 East : and there is a great deal to confirm it. We 

 find among resin which is brought over io us, 

 pieces of the stalk and many seeds of the plant : 

 these agree with the description. I procured some 

 of the seeds picked out of some sagapennm, by 

 yourg Mr. Sisson, to be sowed with all proper 

 care at the lord Petre% wbo;:e princij)al gardener 



