WILD, OR XATIVE FL01VERS:\ 89 



A large number of plants of the Composite Order are remarkable 

 for the bitter milky juice contained in the leaves, stalks and roots, the 

 properties of which are narcotic and sedative. This bitter milky juice 

 pervades all parts of the Dandelion, or Taraxacum ; also Wild Endive 

 and other members of the Lettuce tribe. 



The Dandelion is so well known that it is unnecessary to enter into 

 any description of its floral parts. The root of the Dandelion has been 

 utilized as a substitute for Coffee ; in preparing it the root should be 

 washed thoroughly, but the thin brown skin not scraped off, as much of 

 the tonic virtue is contained in this brown covering of the root. This 

 must be cut up into small pieces and dried by degrees in the oven until 

 it becomes dry and crisp enough to grind in the coffee-mill ; it is then ' 

 used in the same way as the Coffee-berry, with the addition of milk and 

 sugar. A small portion of fresh Coffee would, I think, be an improvement 

 to the beverage, but it is not usually added. Many persons have used 

 this preparation of the Dandelion and greatly approved of it. It is a 

 good tonic and very wholesome. The herb itself, if the leaves be 

 blanched, makes a good salad, equal to the garden Endive. 



Purslane — Portulaca oleracea, (L.) 



This is one of the troublesome weeds of our gardens, and one 

 would hardly associate it with the brilliant, showy flower of our borders. 

 We must, however, recognize it as a near relation. The original of 

 the cultivated Portulaca of our gardens is P. graudiflora^ from South 

 America, whence it was introduced some years ago. Even in its 

 wild state, or on its native prairies, it is a strikingly attractive 

 flower claiming the admiration of the beholder, but our humbler 

 species is regarded as a thing of naught. The simple Purslane however, 

 has its virtues, and we will try to rescue it from being utterly despised, by 

 showing how it may be utilized. When the plant first appears it pushes 

 forth small wedge-shaped succulent leaves, of a dull red colour, and 

 soon spreads over the ground, branching at every thickened joint. If 

 the soil be rich it becomes very luxuriant, and being very tenacious of 

 life it is difficult to get rid of it, as it springs again from the joints, 

 flourishing the more vigourously from the persecution it has undergone. 

 The axil of every joint is furnished with a small sharply-pointed red bud. 

 The flowers are small, pale yellow, opening in sunshine ; pod, many 

 seeded, with a little round lid that covers the top of the capsule. 



The soft, oily mildness, of the leaves and stalks of this plant, renders 

 it useful as an application, crushed or steeped in hot water or milk, for 

 inflammatory tumours. I have seen it also recommended as a pot-herb 

 for the table — in fact, it is largely grown in France for that purpose ; I 



