104 FAMILY HERBAL. 



The Black Currant. Ribcsia nigra. 



THIS is a little shrub, of late brought very 

 universally into our gardens. It grows three or 

 four foot high. The branches are weak, and the 

 bark is smooth. The leaves are large and broad, 

 and divided in the manner of those of the common 

 currants ; but they have a strong smell. The 

 flowers are greenish and hollow. The fruit is 

 a large and round berry, black, and of a some- 

 what disagreeable taste, growing in the manner of 

 the currants. 



The juice of black currants boiled up with su- 

 gar to a jelly, is an excellent remedy against sore 

 throats. 



Long Cyperus. Cyjperus longus. 



A WILD plant in our marshes, fens, and other 

 damp places. It is a foot and half high. The 

 leaves are a foot long or more, narrow, grassy, and 

 of a bright green colour, flat, and sharp at the 

 ends. The stalk is triangular and green ; there 

 are no leaves on it, except two or three small ones 

 at the top, from which there rises a number ojE 

 small tufts or spikes of flowers. These arc brown, 

 light, chaffy, and in all respects like those of the 

 other water grasses. 



The root is used. It is long and brown, and 

 when dried, is of a pleasant smell, and aromatic 

 warm taste. Ji should be taken , p in spring.. It 

 is good against pains in the head, and it promotes 

 urine. 



Round Cyperus. Cupcrus rotundus. 



A PLANT in many respects resembling the other, 



