205 THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



every joint, and (ho branches likewise from both siilcs of 

 the stalk, set with fresh green leaves, soniewhat broad and 

 lontT, about the bigness ol the leaves of Basil, finely dented 

 about tl'e edges: towards the tops of the stalks and 

 branches, come forth at every joint in the male mercury 

 two small rounu green heads, standing together upon a 

 short foot-stalk, wuich growing ripe, are seeds, not having 

 flowers. The female stalk is longer, spike-iashion, set 

 round about with small green husks, which are the llowers, 

 made like small bunches of grapes, wliich give no seed, 

 but abide long upon tlie stalks without shedding. The 

 root is composed of many small fibres, which perisheth 

 every year at the approach of Winter, and riscth again of 

 its own sowing ; and if once it is suffered to sow itself, 

 the ground will never want afterwards^ even both sorts 

 of it. 



Dog Mercury. ?. (h. cL \.) 



Having described unto you that which is called French 

 Mercury, I come now to shew you a description of this 

 kind also. 



Descript.1 This is likewise of two kinds, male and fe- 

 male, having many stalks slender and lower than Mer- 

 cury, without any branches at all upon them ; the root 

 is set with two leaves at every joint, somewhat greater 

 than the female, but more pointed and lull of veins, and 

 somewhat harder in handling ; of a dark green colour, 

 and less dented or snipped about the edges. At the 

 joints with the leaves come forth longer stalks than the 

 former, with two hairy round seeds upon them, twice 

 as big as those of the former Mercury ; the taste hereof 

 is herby, and the smell somewhat strong and virulent. 

 The female has much harder leaves standing upon longer 

 foot-stalks, and the stalks are also longer ; from the joints 

 come forth spikes of flowers like the French Female 

 Mercury. The roots of them both are many, and full 

 of small fibres, which run under ground, and mat them- 

 selves very much, not perishing as the former Mercuries 

 do, but abiding the Winter, and shoot forth now 

 branches every year; iQj: the old lie dowa to the 

 grouud. 



