348 CULTIVATED VEGETABLE^ 



PENNYROYAL.— PULEGIUM. 



This favourite mint of the ancients was 

 called by the Greeks rxv%pr 9 and BAw^wr, 

 from jSArf^w, balatus, either because the heat 

 of the plant caused sheep and goats to bleat 

 when they ate of it, or, according to Pena, 

 from its virtue in expelling thick phlegm 

 from the lungs. 



This plant was formerly called Pudding- 

 grass, from the old custom of using it in 

 hogs puddings ; it was also named Run by the 

 ground, and Lurk in ditch, from its creeping 

 nature, and loving a damp soil : it is gene- 

 rally found in the neighbourhood of holes 

 and ponds, on damp or swampy commons, 

 where the soil is more inclined to clay than 

 peat. 



Gerard says, it grew in great abundance on 

 a common near London, called Miles-end, 

 from whence it was brought to market in 

 great abundance, in the time of Queen Eliza- 

 beth. We have not been able to discover 

 by what accident this native mint or aquatic 

 thyme was called Pennyroyal ; it was pre- 

 viously called Puliall royall. 



