\ 



-FAMILV HERBAL. 551 



Water Arrow Head. . SagUta dquafica. 



A VERY pteity plants toccimon in our ditrlief, 

 with leaves like the bearded heads of anows. 

 uiid with prettj white flowersV It is two feet 

 and a half high^ but generally the greatest part 

 of the stalk is buried in w atcr, verj little appear* 

 ing above, except the spike of flowers. The 

 leaves stand each upon a pedicle, which Is round, 

 tbickj and very long ; they are of a beautiful 

 green, and are broad^ and bearded at the base, 

 and sharp at the point ; the flowers are white, to- 

 lerably large, and very bright ; and the stalk 



thick. 



tbey are supported, is also round and 



The common people in many places have a cus- 

 tom of appl^^ing these leaves bruised to inflamma- 

 tions ; they cool and give ease^ but it is not al- 

 ways right. 



Water Plantain. Plantago aquatica. 



A VERY common tall plant in ditches, and 

 having not the least resemblance of any kind of 

 plantain, except in the leaves ; from which, how- 

 ever, it has received its name. The root is com- 

 posed of a great quantity of fibres. From this, 

 there rise in spring a number of leaves, oblong, 

 broad, smooth, and of a beautiful green colour, 

 and having in shape, though not at all in colour 

 or, consistence, same slight resemblance of plan^ 

 taiii : they are perfectly smooth, of a glossy sur- 

 face, and brittle. These stand for many months 

 without the stalk ; and doubtless in this state it 

 got the name. The stalk is two feet or mor« 

 ia height ; round, firm; and upright ; and at 



tJie top it sends out a vast number of branches^ 



