SALAD BJJKNET.—Poteriim Sanguisorha, 



Class MoxGECiA. Order Poltandria. Nat. Ord. Eosace^. 

 Rose Tribe. 



This plant is very abundant on dry pastures, 

 especially on such as have a chalky soil. On 

 chalk cliffs, both those which tower above the 

 shore, and which skirt the green lanes of 

 England, the Salad Burnet is very general, 

 though it is not frequent in Scotland or Ire- 

 land. The sprays of dark green leaflets are 

 almost as ornamental as the blossoms, and 

 they have, when bruised, a slight odour of 

 cucumber. It is on this account that the plant 

 received its English name, for the foliage was 

 formerly used in salads. Its use, like that of 

 other of our wild herbs, is now almost for- 

 gotten, since so many good edible vegetables 

 are reared in our gardens at little cost ; and 

 Lamb's Lettuce, and Old Man's Pepper, and 

 Salad Burnet are left ungathered in the field, 

 save when the rambler there takes them for his 

 nosegay of wild flowers. The plant, Avhile 

 young and green, was also sometimes steeped 

 in wine, which was with this addition con- 

 sidered very exhilarating ; and a kind of 

 medicinal beverage was made by its infusion. 



