FAMILY HERBAL. 165 



seeds on others. The flowers are inconsiderable, 

 and whitish ; the seeds are large, roundish, grey, and 

 have a white pulp within. The root is fibrous. 

 The seeds are used in medicine ; an emulsion made of 

 them cures the jaundice. 



Hemp Agrimony. Eupatorium cannabinum. 



A tall plant growing by waters, with tufts 

 of red flowers and leaves, divided in the man- 

 ner of those of hemp. It grows five feet high ; 

 the stalk is round, thick, reddish, and very up- 

 right. The leaves are large, of a pale green^ 

 and fingered ; they stand two at each joint ; the 

 flowers grow in bunches as big as a man's fist, 

 on the tops of the branches, and are of a bright 

 red. 



The root fresh gathered and boiled in ale is 

 used in some places as a purge ; it operates strong- 

 ly, but without any ill effect, and dropsies are said 

 to have been cured by it singly. 



Black Henbane. Hyoscyamus niger. 



A common wild plant, of a dismal aspect 

 and disagreeable smell. The farm yards and 

 ditch banks in most places are full of it. It 

 grows two feet high. The stalk is thick, round, 

 hairy, and clammy to the touch ; but not very 

 upright. The leaves are large, long, and broad, 

 deeply serrated at the edges, of a bluish green co- 

 lour, hairy, and clammy to the touch, and leav- 

 ing a disagreeable smell upon the hands. The 

 flowers are large, and stand in rows on the tops 

 of the branches, which often bend down ; they 

 are of a strange yellowish brown colour, with 

 purple veins. The seeds are numerous and brown. 



