CLASS XIV. ORDEK II.J LINARIA. 863 



Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 239. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 

 191 — Antirrhinum Linaria, Linn. — English Botany, t. 658. — English 

 Flora, vol. iii. p. 134. 



Root with somewhat creeping branches. Stem erect, from one to 

 two feet high or more, round, smooth, glaucous. Leaves linear lanceo- 

 late, acute, three ribbed, paler beneath, the lower ones somewhat 

 tapering into a footstalk, numerous, crowded, irregularly arising on the 

 stem. Inflorescence a terminal crowded many flowered raceme, the 

 common stalk and pedicles scattered over with short glandular hairs. 

 Bracteas linear lanceolate. Calyx in five small oblong lanceolate seg- 

 ments. Corolla large, yellow, the tube wide, tapering at the base into 

 an awl-shaped spur, the upper lip of two oblong recurved Icbes, the 

 lower of three unequal ovate reflexed ones, palate large, swollen, pro- 

 minent, deep orange colour, hairy within. Stamens arising from the 

 base of the corolla. Filaments awl- shaped. Capsule ovate, smooth. 

 Seeds flat, orbicular, with a broad winged membranous pale margin, 

 the centre rough and tuberculated. 



Habitat. — Banks of hedges, borders of fields, &c. ; common. 



Perennial ; flowering in June and July. 



This is a variable plant in its size, having the stem simple, wand- 

 like, or more or less branched and bushy. Sometimes a remarkable 

 variety is found having all the flowers in five regular parts, five spurs, 

 a five-cleft limb, and the palate formed into a cup, stamens five, 

 mostly abortive. The whole flowers of a plant thus formed are rare; 

 but plants with one or two flowers this form and others of the usual 

 shape are not rare. Linnaeus called this variety Peloria, (Fig. 999.) 



The leaves have a bitterish taste, and when bruised, a faint smell, 

 resembling elder leaves. They are said to possess diuretic and 

 cathartic properties, and have been used, it is said, with advantage in 

 dropsical aff'ections and jaundice; and as an external application, 

 especially in haemorrhoidal affections, they have had a high reputation, 

 especially in Germany. Both the leaves and flowers are used in the 

 form of poultice, fomentation, and ointment. Dr. Wolph is said to 

 have been the inventor of the ointment, and used it with the greatest 

 success in the cure of ha3morrhoids; and it is related that the Land- 

 grave of Hesse, to whom he was physician, was extremely desirous of 

 knowing its composition, but the Doctor obstinately refused : at length 

 the Prince promised to give him a fat ox annually if he would tell. 

 This liberal offer the worthy Doctor could not refuse, hence to the 

 following words which were composed to distinguish the linear from 

 the escula : — 



" Esula lactescit, sine lacte linaria crescit.'' 



The hereditary Marshal of Hesse added — 



" Esula nil nobis, sed dat linaria taurum." 



A decoction of the flowers has been recommended as useful in some 

 diseases of the skin, and from the acrid properties which they possess 



