133 FAMILY HERBAL. 



moderately, and gives no offence to the stomach, 

 The dried root is cordial and sudorific, it warms 

 the stomach, and is good against indigestions and 

 fevers. 



Common Acoitus, or Yellow Flags. Acorus 

 adulterinus. 



A common plant in our ditches, and by river 

 sides, distinguished by its blue-green flag like 

 leaves, and its large yellow flower?, which in shape 

 resemble thoe of the iris, or flower de luce. It 

 grows four feet high : 'the stalk is roundish, but 

 a little flatted, of a pale green, very erect, firm, and 

 not branched. It only sends out two or three shoots 

 upwards from the bosom of the leaves. The leaves 

 are a foot and a half long, narrow, flat, and sharp 

 at the edges ; the flowers stand at the tops of the 

 stalks, and are large and beautiful. The seeds are 

 numerous, and nre contained in large triangular 

 Vessels. The root creeps. 



The root of this is the only part used ; some have 

 confounded them with the true acorus root, but 

 they are called, by way of distinction, false or 

 bastard acorus ; they are not at all like them in 

 shape, colour, or qualities ; they are of a reddish 

 brown, have no smell, ami are of an austere taste ; 

 they are an excellent astringent. They should be 

 taken up in spring and dried, and afterwards given 

 in powder. They stop fluxes and overflowings of 

 the mense*. 



Flax, l.inum. 



v "' p., a \or\- useful pJnnt, 



[s *-ee*!: ; , as well a.- its 



...h ; the <Uuk is round, 



