12 FAMILY HERBAL. 



the top of these rise the pedicles, supporting- the 

 heads ; they are naked three or four inches high, 

 slender, and of a brownish, reddish, or blackish 

 colour : the head of the summit of these is single, 

 .square, and is covered with a woolly cap, of the 

 figure of an extinguisher, which falL oft" when the 

 head is jntirely ripe : this head is full of a tine 

 du,st. 



The plant is frequent in boggy places, and is to 

 be used intire. Some talk of its being good in coughs, 

 but the more frequent use of it is externally, they boil 

 it in water, and wash the head with it, to make the 

 hair grow thick. 



Common Mallow. Malva. 



A wild plant, every where about our hedges, 

 fields, and gardens. It is one among many in- 

 stances, that God has made the most useful plants, 

 the most common. The mallow grows three or 

 four feet high. The stalk is round, thick and 

 strong. The leaves are roundish, but indented 

 and divided at the edges. The flowers are nu- 

 merous, large, and red. The root is long and white, 

 of a firm, tough substance, and not disagreeable 

 taste. 



The whole plant is used, but the root has most 

 virtue. The leaves dried, or fresh, are put in de- 

 coctions for glisters ; and the root may be dried, 

 for it retains a great deal of virtue, but it is best 

 fresh, and should be chosen when there are only 

 leaves growing from it, not a stalk. It is to be 

 boiled in water, and the decoction may be made 

 very strong, for there is nothing disagreeable in the. 

 taste : it is to be drank in quantities, and is ex 

 celleut to promote urine, and to take olV the 

 strangury. It is good also in the same manner. 



