14 TfilANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



16. IRIS. 



1. /. pseudacorus, corolla beardless, inner segments smaller 

 than the stigmas ; seeds angular. Yellow Iris. 



Hob. Sides of ponds and marshes, common. July. If. 



The roots, in Arran, are used to dye black ; in Jura, boiled 

 with copperas to make ink. They are strongly purgative, 

 and said to be particularly useful in dropsical complaints. 

 Formerly recommended as a cure for toothache. " But 

 above all," says ETTMULLER, " which I have hitherto 

 known, the juice of the root of the Iris lutea rubbed upon 

 the tooth that is painful, or the root itself chewed in the 

 mouth, in an instant, as if by a charm, drives away the 

 pain of the teeth arising from what cause soever. He 

 that communicated it to me, affirms that he had tried it 

 forty times at least, with like success: I myself also have 

 various times tried it, and a great many others have done 

 the same by my persuasion, and I hardly ever knew it 

 fail." The seeds roasted make excellent coffee, superior 

 to any other substitute. 



17. SCHCENUS. 



1. S. nigricans, stem a foot high, round, naked; head roundish, 

 abrupt, overtopped by one of the two floral leaves. Black Bog- 

 rush. 



Hal. Moors and boggy places, frequent. Field west of the 

 Steps-of-Grace farm-house, Thomp. Below the Old Lam- 

 berton toll. Lamberton Moor, &c. June. If. 



18. SCIRPUS. 



* Spikes solitary, terminal. 



1. S. c&spitos-us, stems tufted, 6 inches high, round, striated, 

 : heat bed and invested with numerous scales at the base; spike 

 small, brown ; outer glumes as long as the spike, pointed. Scaly- 

 stalked Club-rush. 



Hob. Abundant on all our moors, and in spring a principal 

 food of Highland sheep. July. If. 



2. S. pauciflorus^ stem round, with a tight leafless sheath at 



: spike ovate, naked; glumes obtuse, with membranous 



