POLYADELPHIA POLYANDRIA. 417 



pear as if perforated on the furface, being punc- 

 tated with numerous pellucid veficles. The 

 flowers are yellow and grow in clufters terminat- 

 ing the branches, and forming a kind of umbel. 

 The petals are mutilated, or feem to have a 

 fraall piece cut out on one fide, and are denti- 

 culated on the other -, their margins towards the 

 top, and fometimes the whole furface is fprinkled 

 with black dots. The leaves of the calyx are 

 intire, without glands, and about half the length 

 of the petals. Tlie anther £ are marked with 

 a fmooth black fpor, or lateral gland, placed on 

 t\it Jeptum between the two lobes. Thtjiigmata 

 are of a dark red color. 



An oil or tindlure of the flowers is efteemed a 

 good vulnerary. The exprels'd juice or infufion 

 of the fame is reckoned good to deftroy worms, 

 to refolve coagulated blood, and to promote 

 urine. 



The dried plant boiled in water with alum, dyes 

 yarn of a yellow color, and th^ Sivedes give a fine 

 purple tinge to their fpiritous liquors with the 

 flowers 



The fuperftitious in Scotland carry this plant about 

 them as a charm againft the dire ciFefts of witch- 

 craft and enchantment. They alio cure, or fancy 

 they cure their ropy milk, which they fuppofe to 

 be under fomc maHgnant influence, by putting 

 this herb into i':, and milking afrefli upon it. 



E e HYPERICUM. 



