358 FAMILY HERBAL. 



vrhich send out other smaller ; and even these last 

 are again divided. On the tops of the last di- 

 visions stand the flowers with their buds, and 

 the seed-vessels ; so that the whole has the ap- 

 pearance of a cone. The flowers are little and 

 white, and consist of three leaves each ; thejr 

 stand but a little time, and only a few are seen 

 together. 



The seed is the part used : the plant is to be 

 suffered to stand, till this is thoroughly ripe, and 

 then cut up gently, and laid to dry two or 

 three days upon a tabic : a smart stroke or two, 

 will dislodge a great quantity of the seeds ; they 

 are very good against the overflowing of the 

 menses, find all other bleedings ; and are giv- 

 en in powder, in electuaries, small doses be- 

 ing to be taken at a time, and often repeated. 



Rue-leaved Whitlow-Grass . Paronychia 

 rutacco folio. 



A COMMON little plant, early in spring, on 

 our walls and houses, and of a very singular as- 

 pect ; it is red, and has pretty white flowers. 

 It is not more than four inches high ; the stalks 

 are round, upright, and a little hairy ; and they 

 are covered with an unctuous clamminess, which 

 makes them stick to the fingers in handling. The 

 leaves are little, and also red ; they arc each 

 divided into three parts at the extremity, in the 

 way of ringers : they stand irregularly on the 

 stalks, and they are thick, fleshy, and clammy 

 in handling. The flowers stand at the tops of 

 the branches ; they arc lit tie, but of a very bright 

 white, and look very conspicuous. The whole 

 plant dies away as soon as it' has ripened the seed, 

 and is not to be seen again till the next spring. 



