52 LABIATE 



when wounded, av'ailed themselves of its efficady. Even now the proverbs 

 are in common use in Italy which record its worth : " May you have more 

 virtues than Betony," is sometimes the pious wish of a parting friend ; and 

 "Sell your coat, and buy Betony," is an old advice to the sufterer; while, 

 every old English herbal abounds with its praises ; and, in Scott's "Demonology 

 and Witchcraft," the reader is told that "the house where Herha Beionica is 

 sown is free from all mischief." The dried leaves, when powdered, excite 

 sneezing, though this effect is probably only the result of the small hairs 

 found on the leaves. In Bacon's " Natural History " we find that it had its uses 

 on this account. He says : " We see sage and Betony bruised for sneezing- 

 powder, or liquors, which the physitions call errhines." An infusion of the 

 leaves for tea was very generally taken by those who were in delicate health ; 

 and Sir William Hooker says that the plant is cephalic. The roots are very 

 bitter, and sheep are probably the only animals that will eat the plant, even 

 the goat refusing it. The French call this herb Betoine ; the Germans, 

 Bdonika ; the Dutch, Betonie, and the Italians, Betonico. It grows commonly 

 among bushes, and abounds in many of our woodlands. Bacon observes : 

 " The putting forth of certain herbs discovereth of what nature the ground 

 where they put forth is; as wild thyme showeth good feeding ground for 

 cattle ; Bettony and strawberries showeth grounds fit for wood ; camomile 

 showeth mellow grounds fit for wheat ; mustard-seed growing after the 

 plough, showeth a good strong ground, also for wheat ; burnet showeth good 

 meadow, and the like." Also known as Stachys betonica. 



14. Woundwort (Stdchys). 



1. Hedge Wound^A^ort (S. si/lvdtica). — Leaves egg-shaped and heart- 

 shaped, acute, serrated, long-stalked ; upper floral ones linear and entire ; 

 whorls of 6 — 8 flowers distant ; calyx-teeth very acute ; perennial. This 

 branched hairy plant is common in woods and hedges. Its stem is two or 

 three feet in height, and in July and August its whorls of flowers are 

 numerous, though not close together. They are of a reddish-purple colour, 

 often marked with white. This, as well as the other species, is very nearly 

 allied to the plants of the last genus, the chief difterence between the genera 

 being the shorter tube of the corolla in the Woundworts. It has, especially 

 when bruised, a strong and disagreeable scent. When the green portion of 

 its stem is decayed, so strong a fibre has been left, that it has been suggested 

 that the plant might be used for some of the same purposes as hemp or flax. 

 It also furnishes a good yellow dye. Cattle leave it untouched. When in 

 fruit, the calyx-teeth are remarkabl}' rigid. The species were all formerly 

 considered vulnerary plants. The French call the Woundwort Stachyde ; the 

 Germans, Eossnesscl ; the Dutch, Andoorn ; the Italians, Stachi ; the Spaniards, 

 Eataqwis ; and the Portuguese, Ortiga morfa dos hos(2nes. It is commonl}^ called 

 Hedge-nettle in country places. 



2. Marsh Woundwort (»S'. palusiris).^Leeires linear-lanceolate, or 

 egg-shaped and lanceolate, rounded or heart-shaped at the base, sessile or 

 stalked ; whorls of 6 — 10 flowers, bracts minute, calyx-teeth very acute ; 

 stem hollow ; perennial. In one variety of this plant the lower leaves are 

 shortly stalked, the upper sessile and somewhat clasping ; in another, the 



