FAMILY HERBAL. 47 



together in a kind of thick short spike, so that in 

 ihe cluster they make a conspicuous appearance; 

 they are white with a very taint tinge of purple, 

 and are hairy within ; the root is whitish,, long", 

 and thick. 



The leaves of buck-bean arc to he gathered 

 before the stalks appear for (lowering-, and are 

 to he dried ; the powder of them will cure agues, 

 hut their great use is against the rheumatism: 

 for this purpose they are to be given for a con- 

 tinuance of time in infusion, or iu the manner of 

 tea. 



Buckthorn. Spina ccrzinz. 



A PRICKLY shrub, common in our hedges,' 

 with pale green leaves, and black berries. It 

 grows to eight or ten feet high. The bark is 

 dark coloured and glossy, and the twigs are tough. 

 The leaves are oval, of a very regular and pretty 

 figure, and elegantly dented round the edges. 

 The ilowers are little, and inconsiderable ; they 

 are of a greenish yellow, and grow in little clus- 

 ters. The berries, which are ripe in September, 

 are round, glossy, black, as big as the largest 

 pepper-corns, and contain each three or four 

 seeds. 



The juice of the berries, boiled up with sugar, 

 makes a good purge ; but it is apt to gripe, un- 

 less some spice be added in the making : It is a 

 rough purge, but a very good one. 



Buckshoun Plantain. Corcrwpiis,' 



A VERY pretty little plant, which grows irs 

 our sandy and barren places, with the leave.'? 

 spread ont in scanner of a star, all the way rom:d 



