168 COMPOSIT^E 



down which surmount the seeds. The stems are three or four feet high, 

 much branched, and the plant often grows in great numbers among reeds 

 and sedges. It has a slightly aromatic odour, like that of resin, and it is 

 bitter to the taste. It was formerly much used as a medicine, and an old 

 herbalist says it was called Eiipatorium or Hepatoiium, because it strengthens 

 the liver ; but Pliny deduces its name from Eupator, the King of Pontus. 

 It was also termed Water Hemp. An infusion of this plant is a common 

 medicine among the turf-diggers in Holland in some of those disorders to 

 which their occupation renders them liable ; but the plant should not be taken 

 in any form by persons ignorant of disease, as it has very powerful properties. 

 It makes, when infused in wine, a very aromatic medicine, which, mingled 

 with honey, is often prescribed by French physicians for coughs. Some of 

 the species are in other countries very extensively used as remedial agents. 

 Nya-pana is the vernacular name of a kind which grows on the banks of the 

 river Amazon, and is much used medicinally by the natives ; and the Per- 

 foliate Hemp Agrimony has long had a high reputation in pulmonary 

 affections, A dissertation on the subject was published by an American 

 physician some years since, by which it appeared that the medical properties 

 of the plant reside chiefly in the foliage Another species, called now 

 Mikania guaco, was so much praised in South America as an antidote to the bite 

 of poisonous serpents, that it was hoped it Avould prove useful in cases of 

 hydrophobia, but it does not seem to have realized the expectation. 



Our common Hemp Agrimony was formerly said to prevent, and even to 

 cure, the mouldiness of bread, if laid near the loaves. The Agrimony is 

 called in France L'Eupatorie ; in Germany, Ahkraut ; in Holland, Boelkenskruid. 

 It is the Eupatmie of the Spaniards and Italians, and the Russians term it 

 Griwa Kouskaja. 



30. GoLDY-LOCKS {Linosyvis). 



Flax-leaved Goldy-locks {L. vulgaris). — Leaves narrow, undivided, 

 and smooth ; scales of the involucre loosely spreading ; perennial. This 

 very rare plant, a native of limestone cliffs, is about a foot or a foot and 

 a half high, with erect unbranched stems, bearing at their summits, from 

 August to September, a few yellow flowers. The leaves are narrow, much 

 like those of the flax, crowded on the stems, and, when handled, emitting 

 a veiy pleasant aromatic odour. It was formerly called Chrysdcoma, which 

 name was taken from the Greek, and signifies gold-hair, in allusion to its 

 tufts of yellow flowers. Several of the Continental names, like our English 

 one, have the same meaning. The Germans call it Das Goldhaar ; the Danes, 

 Giddhaar ; the Dutch term it Froukbloem ; the Italians and Spaniards, Criso- 

 coma; and the French, Crisocome. It is also known to botanists as Aster 

 Unosyris. 



31. Everlasting (Antenndria). 



1. Mountain Everlasting-, or Cat's-foot (A. dioica). — Stamens and 

 pistils on separate plants; barren stems prostrate, flowering stems erect, 

 without branches ; root-leaves oblong, gradually tapering at the base, woolly 

 beneath, stem-leaves closely pressed, and very narrow ; perennial. One 



