320 FLORA HISTORICA. 



stances, as well as to spirits of wine. The spi- 

 rituous tincture, on being inspissated, changes to 

 a dark brown. Its chief use is for colouring 

 plasters, Hp-salves, S^c. This species was cul- 

 tivated in England previous to the year 1596. 



Anchusa and Cinnabar were used by the an- 

 cients to give an agreeable colour to their oint- 

 ments ; and Pliny tells us, that where the Anchusa 

 was used, they added salt to prevent the oil in 

 those compositions from growing rancid. This 

 root was also in request by the Romans for co- 

 louring wood and wax, as well as to stain wool, 

 that was to be afterwards dyed, of their expen- 

 sive purple, and for this purpose they were taken 

 up about the time of wheat harvest when the 

 roots were full of a red juice. This author adds, 

 that if a person who has chewed this plant, 

 should spit in the mouth of a venomous creature, 

 he will kill it. 



Our apothecaries are principally supplied with 

 these roots from Languedoc and Provence. It 

 was formerly used as an astringent, and is pro- 

 per in haemorrhages of all kinds. 



These plants flower from the end of May to 

 the end of September, but they have no great 

 beauty to recommend them to a situation in the 

 parterre. Tliey prosper best in a sandy soil, 

 and in a warm situation. We possess ten dif- 



