FAMILY HERBAL. 353 



p;tlc green, sharp pointed, and not dentatcd at the 

 edges. Those from the root are long and narrow 

 also, but they are considerably larger. The flow^ 

 ers grow at the top of the branches ; they are 

 large like dandelion flowers in shape, and of a 

 most beautiful pale yellow ; the seed has a white 

 down annexed to it. The root is long, thick, 

 and brown. 



The root is the part used, and it is best fresh 

 taken up. It is given in infusion, and it is cor- 

 dial, and operates by sweat ; it is good in fevers, 

 but little used. 



Viper's Busloss. Ecliium. 



A COMMON wild plant, about our path ways, 

 and on ditch-banks, known by its spotted stalks* 

 and fine blue flowers. It is a foot and half high; 

 the stalk is round, thick, firm, hairy, and upright; 

 it is of a whitish, colour stained with spots and 

 lines of blue, red, and purple. The leaves are 

 longish and narrow ; they arc rough, and of a 

 deep dusky green, broad and blunt at the point, 

 and have no foot stalks. The flowers arc large, 

 and of a beautiful blue, with a red stamina in 

 the middle. 



The leaves are used ; those growing from the 

 root are best ; an infusion of them is cordial, 

 and operates by sweat ; it is good in fevers, and 

 against head-achs, and all nervous complaints 



The Virginia?! Snakeroot Plant. Serpenta- 

 ria Virginiana. 



A LITTLE plant of the birthwort kind, but 

 different from the several sorts of that plant, des- 

 cribed already in their places, in its roots, and 



i z 



