WOAD 171 



allusion to the shape of the leaves, and officinalis means " used in 

 medicine ". 



The English names are Bad Man's Oatmeal, Scrooby Grass, 

 Scurvy Grass, Scurvy Cress, Scurvy Weed, Spoonwort, the latter 

 alluding to the shape of the leaves. 



The plant is endowed with antiscorbutic properties by the older 

 writers, hence some of the names. It certainly contains much oil, and 

 might be used more largely as a salad. It was used for ague in 

 Gerard's day. It is a stimulant to the digestive organs. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



29. Cochlearia officinalis, L. Stems fleshy, numerous, rooting, 

 radical leaves reniform, cordate, stem-leaves sessile, oblong, toothed, 

 flowers small, white, capsule a subglobose pouch, style short. 



Woad (I satis tinctoria, L.) 



In spite of its reputed use by the early Britons no trace of this 

 plant has been found even in Neolithic or Roman deposits. It is found 

 throughout Europe and in N. Asia. The ancient Britons are usually 

 said to have used it to stain their bodies with a blue dye they pre- 

 pared from it, and the Saxons imported it. Watson regards it as 

 an alien and sporadic, except in the two localities where it is said to 

 be wild. 



Woad is regarded as wild on the cliffs at Tewkesbury on the banks 

 of the Severn. It has become naturalized at Guildforcl, and is culti- 

 vated at Wisbech, where it is used to fix indigo. Its more or less 

 restricted range in Britain does not give one an adequate idea of its 

 former occurrence. If the Britons used it there should be some traces 

 of it in Roman deposits, but, as we have seen, there are none. 



Woad is a tall, erect plant, with a single main stem, dividing at the 

 top into numerous branches devoid of leaves. The radical leaves are 

 stalked, and oblong or tongue-shaped, those on the stem are arrow- 

 shaped, with long, pointed ear-like lobes. The stem is stout and 

 strong, and the plant is a vigorous grower, bluish-green and smooth. 



There are numerous, crowded yellow flowers in close panicles, with 

 equal sepals and petals, the flower-stalks being slender and bent back 

 in fruit. The pods are three times as long as broad, wedge-like, 

 narrow below, broad in the middle or spoon-shaped, and blunt in front, 

 with a narrow margin, and hang clown when ripe, giving the plant a 

 drooping appearance. When ripe they turn brown. 



The stem grows to a height of 4 ft. when well developed. July 



