CtASS V. ORDER I. | SYMPHYTUM. 227 



than the calyx, the limb swollen, somewhat bell-shaped, terminating in 

 five obtuse short segments, the orifice closed by five subulate valves, 

 with glaudulous margins, which unite together in the form of a cone 

 over the mouth of the tube, and nearly as long as the limb; alternate 

 with these val\ es arise the stamens on broad short filaments, bearing 

 Anthers twice as long, but nearly concealed by the valves. Pistil 

 with a style protruding beyond the corolla, bearing a slightly swollen 

 stigma. Fruit four, ovate tumid. Nuts attached by an excavated 

 base to the enlarged calyx. 



Habitat. — Banks of rivers, and wet places; frequent. 



Perennial ; flowering in May and June. 



Varieties of this species are found with white, rose, and violet or 

 purple coloured flowers, the calyx spreading, and the style of various 

 lengths. The corolla purple and calyx spreading is the S. patens, of 

 Sibthorp. The corolla white and style exerted is the .S". bohemicum.-^ 

 Schm. boh. n. 212. The purple flowered plants are mostly smaller 

 than the others, much more hairy, and of a darker green. 



The roots abound with a viscid juice, and are used when 

 Althea (Marshmallow) roots cannot be obtained, in coughs and colds, 

 and as a demulcent. It forms a part of almost all the collections of 

 medicinal plants, cultivated in the gardens of rural districts ; and the 

 leaves, boiled slowly with lard and a portion of bees wax, compose the 

 famed healing ointment of the village doctress for wounds and 

 ulcers ; the belief is still entertained of its surpassing healing pro- 

 perties; it is needless to say how little of this faith it deserves. 



2. S. tubero'sum, (Fig. 296.) tuberous-rooted Comfrey. Stem simple 

 or bifid at the top, leaves ovate, oblong, the lower on footstalks, the 

 upper sessile, slightly decurrent. 



English Botany, t. 1502.— English Flora, vol. i. p. 264.— Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 100. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 164. 



Root oblique, fleshy, tuberous, and branched, externally white. 

 Stem from one to two feet high, unbranched, except sometimes bifid at 

 the top, simple, not winged, hairy, the hairs pointed downwards or 

 spreading. Leaves very slightly decurrent, the lower on rather long 

 footstalks, ovate, or ovate-lanceolate, the upper ovate, oblong, pointed, 

 sessile, or on short footstalks, alternate, or in pairs, hairy, scarcely 

 waved. Inflorescence similar to the above. The Flowers fewer, on 

 longer pedicles. The calyx of longer lanceolate segments. Corolla 

 yellowish white. Nuts excavated at the base. 



Habitat. — Shady woods, and banks of rivers ; frequent in Scotland, 

 particularly the lowlands ; rare in England, Durham. — Mr. Robson. 

 On the banks of the river Don, below Attercliffe, Yorkshire. — R. D. 



Perennial ; flowering in June and July. 



The habit of this plant is similar to the last, from which it will be 

 VOL. I. 2 H 



