FAMILY HERBAL. 321 



Spin AGE. Spinachia. 



: A COMMON herb in our kitchen gardens. 

 It grows two feet high; the stalk is round, thick, 

 and juicy ; the leaves are broad and cleft at the 

 bases, so that thej resemble a broad arrow head : 

 the flowers are inconsiderable ; the seeds grow oa 

 other plants of the same kindj and are rough and 

 prickly : the root is white and oblong. 



The leaves are eaten at our tables ; but their 

 juice may very well be recommended as a medi- 

 cine. It works by urine, and is good against the 

 gravel. The leaves eaten frequently keep the 

 body open. 



Spleen WORT. Asplenium. 



A SINGULAR plant, of the nature of the ferns, 

 but not like any of them in form. The root is 

 fibrous. From this the leaves rise in great numbers 

 together, each being a distinct and separate plant ; 

 they are narrow, and five inches long, deeply m- 

 dented on each side, but very irregularly, and 

 covered on the under part with small seeds. When 

 Ihey first grow from the root, they are folded in- 

 ward, so that only the under part appears; and 

 they have a very peculiar aspect, more like some 

 insect than the leaf of a plant. It grows on old 

 walls, and is green all the winter, but it has most 

 virtue in spring. 



The whole plant is used. It is best given in in* 

 fusion, and must be continued for some time ; it 

 opens all obstructions of the liver and spleen, and 

 is excellent in disorders ariiing from that cause. 

 They say the powder of the dried leaves cures t\m 

 rickets^ but this wants proof. 



T t 



\ 



