326 FAMILY HERBAL 



quite to the middle rib : there arc some smaller 

 on the stalk, but few. The flowers are numerous : 

 they aie red, and of the form of the flowers of 

 thistles. Thej grow out of a scaly and thorny 

 head. The seeds are winged with down. The 

 root is oblong. 



The root is used ; a strong infusion of it is ex- 

 cellent against the gravel, and is good also in the 

 jaundice. It opens obstructions^ and works by 



urine. 





The Starry Headed Anise Tree. Anisiim 



kit 117)1. 



A TALL and very beautiful trec^ native of the 

 Eastj and much esteemed there. The trunk is 

 covered with a thick bark: the branches are 

 irregular and spreading. The leaves are very 

 large and beautiful ; they are composed each of 

 ten or twelve pair of others set on a common rib, 

 with an odd qne at the end ; they are longish, 

 Lroadj serrated at the cdges^ and pointed at the 

 ends^ and are of a beautiful pale green colour, 

 and of a fragrant smell when bruised, such as that 

 we perceive m the young leaves of the walnut 

 ivee^ but with a mixture of somewhat aromatic. 

 The flowers stand at the tops of the branches, on 

 divided pedicles ; they are white and very fra- 

 grant. The fruit is of a singular figure, of the 

 shape of a star, and of a woody substance ; it \^ 

 composed of five or more rays, and in each is a 

 single, smooth, brown seed. Thev have the smell 

 of aniseed and thence have been called by the 

 name, for there is not the least resemblance be- 

 tween the plants w hich produce the two ; one 



being a small herb, and the other a large and fine 

 tree. 



