ROSE TRIBE 225 



Besides the old names already stated, this plant was called Carj/ophyUata, 

 from the clove-like scent of its root ; and there is no doubt that the root 

 has both mildly astringent and tonic properties, having been compared in 

 this respect to Peruvian bark. It is still used in country places for giving a 

 relish to various articles of food, and yet more often to some wines made 

 from the difterent berries which our native land affords. It is also gathered 

 in the spring and put into ale, and not only improves the flavour of the 

 liquor, but prevents its turning sour. Like many another plant, however, it 

 was more valued in the olden time than now, when spices are cheap, and 

 easily procured. 



Although it has a long-established repute as being, when infused in 

 fermented liquors, a valuable stomachic, yet Baron Haller says of this root, 

 that if mingled with water, and given, as it formerly was, in malignant 

 fevers, it causes delirium. Its use for putting among linen to preserve from 

 moth, and to impart a pleasant odour, however, is much more general in 

 these days, than for any medicinal purposes ; and for this the root should 

 be taken from a dry sunny spot, just at the season when it is coming into 

 flower ; for if these conditions are not observed, it will be found to want the 

 aromatic odour for which it has become so celebrated. 



2. Water Avens (G. rivdk). — Flowers drooping ; awns feathery ; root- 

 leaves pinnate, with the alternate leaflets and those at the base smaller ; 

 stem-leaves ternate. Plant perennial. This species has altogether a very 

 different habit from the preceding. It is a much shorter and stouter plant, 

 with larger flowers, of a dull purplish hue, veined with darker purple, and 

 the calyx is also deeply tinged with this colour. It is sometimes found very 

 high up mountains, so as to be quite an alpine plant, and it is not uncommon 

 in wet mountainous woods, or on marshy and moory grounds, flowering from 

 May to. August. Its root is said to be stomachic, and to be very serviceable 

 as an astringent medicine. Professor Lindley thinks it probable that this is 

 the Indian chocolate, as the plant is much used medicinally in North America. 

 The Canadians administer both species of Geum in agues. 



Some botanists enumerate a third species, called Geum intermedium, which 

 is not an unfrequent plant in damp woods. Its stem is one or two feet in 

 height; its flowers larger than those of Geum whanum, and smaller than 

 those of Geum rivdle. The blossoms are in some cases drooping, and in others 

 erect ; the heads of fruit usually sessile ; but it varies so much between the 

 form of one or the other species, that Sir William Hooker and Dr. Arnott 

 consider it to be a hybrid between the two. 



5. CiNQUEFOlL {PotentiUa). 



* Leaves pinnate. 



1. Silver-weed {P. anserina). — Stem creeping; leaves pinnate, with 

 alternate smaller leaflets ; leaflets numerous, oblong, acutely serrate, silky 

 on both sides ; flower-stalks solitary ; root perennial. This is one of the 

 prettiest plants of this large genus, and one of our most common flowers. 

 It grows in moist meadows, and is very frequent on banks by the road-side, 

 especially such as are kept verdant by some stream which trickles by. Large 



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