\ 



506 llde Ufeful Family HerhaL 



merous : They ftand three on every Foot-Staik, 

 and grow pretty clofe to the Stalk. There are 

 fcveral Hiort and fliarp Prickles about the Stalks, 

 principally at the Infertions of the Leaves. The 

 Leaves are of a diilky Green, and ferrated about 

 the Edges. The Flowers are fmall and purple : 

 Hiey Hand among the Leaves, tov/ards the Tops 

 of the Stalks, and are in Shape like Pea BloiToms, 

 but flatted ; Each Is followed by a fmall Pod. 

 The Ro^ is white, very long, tough, and 

 woody. 



The Root is to be taken up freili for Ufe, and 

 the Barli fcparated for that Purpofe. It is to be 



\ 



boiled 



a 



Qiiantities. It is good againft the Gravel, and in 

 all Obftruflions by Urine ; and it Is alfo good iri 



►ply and J 



-:> 



A 



Rhapontic. 



RHAFONTICUM, SIVE RHA. 



Tall- robufl Plant, Native of Scythia^ bur 

 kept in many of our Gardens. It grows four- 

 Feet high, lire Stalk is round, flriated, an Inch 

 thick, fbmetimcs hollow, and very upright. The 

 Leaves are large and broad: Thofe from the 

 Root arc about a Foot and a half Ions, and a 

 Foot broad, of a deep green Colour, with large 

 Ribs, and blunt at the Ends. The Flowers are 

 fmall and white : They ftand in Cluilers at the 

 Tops of the Stalks, and are fucceeded by trian- 

 gular Seeds. 



The Root is the Part ufed, and this is v/hat the 

 Antients ufed, under the Name of Rka. It is 



of the Nature of Rhubarb, but different in this, 

 that it is lefs purgative, and more ailringent ; 

 for this Reafon, there are many Purpofes, which 



it would anfwer much better/ We have it at 



the 



