IN THE WOODLANDS. 121 



distinguish it, as it grows some three feet high, with 

 a square succulent stem, from which at distant inter- 

 vals branches shoot out, bearing a scattered panicle of 

 small purplish flowers intermixed with green. The 

 plant has a disagreeable odour, similar to the elder 

 bush. The leaves are somewhat heart-shaped, and are 

 doubly serrated. Its root appears full of knots, and 

 formerly had a good reputation for medicinal virtues. 

 These virtues paled, however, before another wood- 

 land plant, the far-famed Betony (Betonica offtcinalis). 

 When a lad, I have gathered arms-full of betony in 

 distant woods for the " yarb "-lovers, whose faith in 

 its virtues, as duly set forth in Culpepper, never failed. 

 The old herbalist only re-echoed what physicians had 

 said before : Green says the Italians tell one another to 

 " buy betony, even if you sell your jacket to get it ;" 

 and undoubtedly the plant has the virtue of curing 

 headache, but I have never tried its properties in cases 

 of short wind. Its flowers are labiate, of a purplish- 

 red colour, and grow in whorls round the square stem. 

 The root-leaves are oblong, and grow on long stalks, 

 but the stem-leaves are few. These peculiarities dis- 

 tinguish it from a numerous tribe of plants very simi- 

 lar in general appearance, and amongst which it some- 



