FAMILV HERBAL. ^97 



and covered with a brown rough bark ; the smallet 

 branches ^re reddish^ the leaves are oblong and 

 broad ; thej stand on long foot stalks^ and are of 

 a singular rough surface^ and of a reddish colour^ 

 The flowers grow on stalks that rise only at that 

 season of the year, and stand up a great deal above 

 the rest of the surface of the plant ; they are large 

 and bluCj and are of the figure of the dead nettl^ 

 flowers, only they gape vastly more. The whole 

 plant has a pleasant smelL The leaves and topg 

 are used, and they are best fresh ; the comrnoa 

 way of taking them in infusion, or in form of 

 what is called sage tea, is better than any other : 

 they are cordial, and good against all diseases of 

 the nerves : they promote perspiration, and throw 

 any thing out which ought'to appear upon the skin, 

 Thejuice of sage works by urine^ and promote! 

 the menses. 



Sage of Vitue. Salvia minor. 



I : ■ 



ANOTHER shrubby plant, very like the former 



in its manner of growth, but wanting its red colour. 

 it is a foot or two in height, and very bushy. The 

 stem is woody. , The branches are numerous. The 

 leaves are oblong, narrower than in common sage, 

 and of a whitish green colour : there is often a 

 pair of small leaves at the base of each larger. 

 The flowers grow in the same manner ag in the 

 red sage, but they are smaller* The whole plant 

 has a pleasant smell. 



The green tops are used J and their virtues are 

 much the same with those of the former, but they 

 are less. It got into use from an opinion that the 



other waa too hot^ but this was idle. 



