188 



ROSACES. 



TORMENTILLA OFFiciNALis (Common TormentiT). 



6. TORMENTILLA (Tormentil). 



1. T. officindlis (Conimon Tormentil). Leaves of 

 3 leaflets, ternate, sessile ; root-leaves of 5 leaflets (qui- 

 nate) stalked ; leaflets narrow, acute, cut ; stem ascend- 

 ing. Banks and woods ; common. Closely allied to 

 the preceding genus, from which it is distinguished by 

 its having only 4 petals ; but even this character is not 

 constant. A small plant, with bright yellow flowers, 

 and very woody roots, which latter are astringent, and 

 are employed in medicine. Specimens are not uncom- 

 mon in which the stem is prostrate ; this is by some 

 botanists considered a distinct species, and is called 



