132 COLONSAY 



drying it gives off a sweet scent, and was formerly used for 

 imparting an agreeable odour to clean linen. 



Sherardia, L. 



S. arvensis, L. Field Madder. Balla Cnis Chu Chulloin, 

 I. Not rare in well-drained situations, Kiloran. Ann. or 

 BL, May. 



VALERIANACE.E (the Valerian family) 



Annual herbs and herbaceous perennials, often aromatic or 

 strong scented. Spikenard (Spiocnard), long valued in India, 

 as a perfume, is an aromatic oil obtained from the root of a 

 Himalayan species. The roots of the Great Valerian (An 

 Tribhileach) are grown in England for medical use. 



Valeriana, L. 



V. sambucifolia, Mikan. Cat's Valerian ; All-heal. Ard- 

 skenish Glen ; local. Per., July. 



Valerianella, Hill 



V. olitoria, Poll. Cornsalad; Lamb's Lettuce. Leitis 

 Luain, I. A small annual, common on the sand-dunes. 

 May. Cultivated in places as a salad plant. 



DIPSACE^E (the Teasel family) 



Herbs or undershrubs. The dried flower-heads of the 

 Fuller's Teasel (Liodan-an-Fhucadair, C.) is used for raising 

 nap on cloth. 



Scabiosa, L. 



S. Succisa, L. Blue Scabious ; Devil's-bit. Gille- 

 guirmein. Abundant. White forms seen. Per., August. 

 The dried leaves are used to dye wool yellow or green. 

 (Linn.) The plant furnishes a familiar example of the prse- 

 morse or bitten-off root. This gave rise to the superstitious 



