FAMILY HERBAL. 237 



"hairy, they have no leaves, and each bears only one 

 flower, this stands on the top, and is large, somewhat 

 of the form of the dandelion flower, but of a beautiful 

 pale yellow. 



The seeds are winged with down, and the stalks 

 when broken yield a milky juice, but in no great 

 quantity. The plant lias scarce any smell, but an 

 austere bitterish tasle. 



A decoction of the fresh gathered herb is excellent 

 against the bleeding of the piles : and the leaves 

 boiled in milk, may be applied externally, it is good 

 also in the overflowing of the menses, and in all other 

 bleedings, and in the whites. 



]\i i gwort. Artemisia. 



A tall, and not unhandsome plant, frequent 

 on ditch banks, having divided leaves, find flowers 

 like those of wormwood. \t is a yard high or 

 more : the stalk is round, striated, often purplish, 

 firm, upright, and branched. The leaves stand 

 irregularly upon it ; they are large, and composed 

 of a number of small parts, which are sharply in- 

 dented and pointed. They are of a dusky green 

 on the upper side and white underneath. The 

 flowers are little and brownish, they stand in small 

 tufts all along the upper parts of the branches, but 

 they stand upright, whereas those of wormwood hang 

 down. They often have a tinge of purple before 

 they are quite opened, which adds greatly to the 

 beauty of the plant. 



The leaves of mugwort are to be used fresh or 

 dried ; they are best given in infusion, and they are 

 excellent to promote the menses, and against all the 

 common hysteric complaints. 



