BENE-PLANT. 519 



amount of herbage if the top is broken or cut off when it 

 is about half grown. 



Use. " The seeds were at one time used for food ; being 

 first parched, then mixed with water, and afterwards stewed 

 with other ingredients. A sort of pudding is made of the 

 seeds, in the same manner as rice, and is by some persons 

 much esteemed. From the seeds of the first-named sort an 

 oil is extracted, which will keep many years without having 

 any rancid smell or taste. Ill two years, the warm taste 

 which the new oil possesses wears off, and it becomes quite 

 mild and pleasant, and may be used as a salad-oil, or for all 

 the purposes of olive-oil. Two quarts of oil have been ex- 

 tracted from nine pounds of the seeds." 



The properties of the plant are cooling and healing, with 

 some degree of astringency. A few of the leaves, immersed 

 a short time in a tumbler of water, give it a jelly-like con- 

 sistence, without imparting color or flavor ; and in this form 

 it is generally used. 



There are three varieties : 



Plant larger than that of the Oval-leaved ; Biformed- 



leaved. Mill. 

 the lower leaves are three-parted, while those 



of the upper part of the stalk are oval or entire. 



Stem about two feet high, with a few short Oval-leaved, 

 branches ; the leaves are oblong, and entire on the 

 borders. 



Taller and more vigorous than either of the Trifid-leaved. 

 preceding. The upper as well as the lower 

 leaves are trifid, or three-parted. 



