Compound flowers It? 



"It is," says an old herbalist, " a soveraigne wound-herb, inferior to none, 

 both for imvard and outward hurts." It was, during the sixteenth century, 

 procured at great expense from abroad, for medicinal purposes, though it is 

 no longer in use either in this or in continental countries. It doubtless 

 possesses some astringent properties, but these seem to be greater in the 

 S. oddra of North America, the foliage of which is deliciously fragrant, 

 combining the odours of the anise and sassafras. When this plant is subjected 

 to distillation, a volatile oil, having the taste and aroma of the plant in a. 

 high degree, collects in the receiver ; the oil apparently exists in the little 

 dots or glands of the leaves. The effects of the oil are aromatic, pleasant to 

 the taste, and carminative. Gerarde says of our native Golden Eod : " It is 

 extolled above all the herbes for the stopping of blood, and hath in times 

 past been had in greater estimation and regard than in these dales : for 

 within my remembrance I have known the drie herbe Avhich came from 

 beyond the seas, sold in Bucklersburie in London, for half-a-crown an ounce. 

 But since it was found in Hampsteed Woods, even as it were at our towne's 

 end, no man will give half-a-crown for an hundred Aveight of it ; which 

 plainly setteth forth our inconstancie and sudden mutabilitie, esteeriaing 

 no longer of anything, how precious soever it be, the whilst it is not strange 

 and rare." 



Though Ave have but one British species, yet a large number of Golden 

 Rods are cultivated in our gardens and shrubberies, either under this name 

 or that of Aaron's Eod. They are, Avith fcAv exceptions, brought from the 

 woods and fields of North America, where this genus abounds. In some 

 European regions, hoAvever, our native Golden Eod is very abundant, as in. 

 the most southern parts of the Highlands of NorAvay, Avhere this and the 

 Molinia cmrulea are the predominating plants of vast tracts of country, and 

 seem almost to displace all others. The European names of our native plant 

 generally allude to its golden blooms : thus the French term it Verge cVor ; 

 the Germans, Goldridhe ; the Dutch, Goudroede ; the Italians, Ferga d'oro ; and- 

 the Spaniards, Vara de oro. In Eussia it is called Solofoschnik. 



* Florets of the ray rolled back, or wanting. 



39. Groundsel, Eagwort, Fleawort {Senkio). 



L Common Groundsel (*S'. vulgaris). — FloAvers Avithout rays, rxi 

 croAvded clusters ; leaves half-clasping the stem, deeply pinnatifid, and 

 toothed ; involucre conical, smooth ; annual. Those even who are little 

 familiar Avith wild flowers, are acquainted Avith this, for it grows as a Aveed' 

 in every garden, sending its feathered tufts to bear aAvay its seeds far 

 around the spots Avhere it grows. The little singing bird, not alone of gilded 

 cage, but of bush or tree, Avelcomes it as a refreshing food ; and owing to its 

 numerous seeds, it is everywhere abundant. It has been often used for 

 emollient poultices, but its virtues are very questionable. If hot water is 

 poured upon the green leaves it certainly, hoAvever, renders the liquid soft 

 and fitted for soothing the skin irritated by Avinter's cold. The Highland 

 Avomen often Avear a piece of its root as an amulet, regarding it as a protection 

 from the "evil eye." The French call the plant Senecon ; the Germans, 



II.— 23 



