SYNGENESIA P. SUPERFLUA. 181 



humours cleaue thereunto, it doth perfectly concoct them, 

 and scowre them downewards. The root, preserued with 

 hony or sugar, is an especial thing against the gout, if 

 euery day, for a certaine space, a reasonable quantitie 

 thereof be eaten fasting." GERARDE. Tansy cakes and 

 pudding, notwithstanding all this, are now much out of 

 fashion. 



24G. ARTEMISIA. 



1. A. maritima, herb hoary ; leaves downy, pinnatifid, upper- 

 most undivided; flowers drooping, oblong, downy, sessile; re- 

 ceptacle naked. Sea Wormwood. 



Hab. Sea-shore in a muddy soil. Coast beyond Goswick ; 

 6 on the Emblestones," Thomp. Aug. I/. 



A decoction of this plant is occasionally used by the people 

 here as an anthelmintic. 



2. A. gallica, leaves downy, pinnatifid, radical ones capillary, 

 uppermost undivided ; flowers erect, oblong, downy, partly 

 stalked, of few florets; receptacle naked. 



Hab. On St Cuthberts, Holy Island, sparingly. August, 

 Sept. 7/ 



3. A. Absinthium, herb hoary ; leaves in many deep segments, 

 clothed with close silky down ; flowers drooping, hemispherical ; 

 receptacle hairy. Common Wormwood. 



Hab. Waste ground about villages. Aug. If. 



This and the following are in much use amongst the poor 

 as bitter stomachic and deobstruent medicines ; and they 

 are frequently very useful. What our publicans sell un- 

 der the name of Purl, is said to be ale seasoned with the 

 tops of Wormwood BRANDE ; and, according to Mr 

 NEILL, the distillers in Scotland sometimes employ it in 

 place of hops. " The plant is thought to drive away in- 

 sects from clothes and furniture, for which purpose it is 

 often laid into drawers and chests in the country." 



' ' While Wormwood hath seed, get a handful or twaine, 

 To save against March, to make flea to refraine. 

 Where chamber is sweeped, and wormwood is strown, 

 No flea for his life dare abide to be knowne." 



