FAMILY HERBAL. 67 



The Cassumunar Plant. Cassumunar. 



A COMMON plant of the East Indies, but of 

 which we do not seem to have vet so perfect a des- 

 cription as might be wished. Its leaves are large, 

 long, and like those of our flags, and they involve one 

 another in a singular manner about thefr bases. 

 The flowers are small, and they are in shape some- 

 what like those of certain of our orchises. They 

 are mottled with] purple and yellow : the seed is 

 little and brown, the root creeps under the surface 

 of the ground, and is of a yellow colour, and 

 fragrant smell, and of a warm taste. 



The root is used : we have it at the druggists. 

 It is of the same nature with zcdoary, and has 

 by some been called the yellow zedoary. It is a 

 very good medicine in nervous and hysteric com- 

 plaints. It is warm and strengthening to the sto- 

 mach : it is remarkably good against the head- 

 ach and in fevers. It operates quick by urine and 

 by sweat. 



Cathikt. Nepcta. 



A COMMON wild plant about our hedges, 

 but of very great virtues; it grows a yard high, 

 and has broad whitish leaves, and white flowers 

 like mint. The stalks are square, whitish, hairy, 

 and erect : the leaves stand two at a joint : they 

 are broadest at the base, and terminate in an ob- 

 tuse end ; they are a little indented at the edges, 

 and of a whitish green on the upper side, and very 

 white underneath. The flowers are small and 

 white ; and they grow in a kind of spiked clusters, 

 surrounding the stalks at certain distances. The 

 whole plant has a very strong and not very agree- 

 able smell, 



