MONCECIA POLYANDRIA. 205 



2. U. dioica, leaves opposite, heart-shaped; clusters much 

 branched, in pairs, mostly dioecious; roots creeping. Great 

 Fettle. 



Hal. Waste grounds. Aug. If 



The roots boiled with alum will dye yarn of a yellow colour ; 

 and with the juice of the herb woollen stuffs have been 

 dyed a beautiful and permanent green. The fibres of the 

 stem have been manufactured into cloth ; and it appears, 

 from some experiments made in Ireland, that the thread, 

 in colour, strength, and fineness, is equal to that obtained 

 from flax. In Scotland, the young tops are gathered in Fe- 

 bruary, by the common people, as a pot-herb for soups, and 

 their peculiar flavour is by many much esteemed. Of late 

 it has been recommended for forcing. A strong decoction of 

 nettles, with the addition of salt, will coagulate milk, as, 

 says Mr LIGHTFOOT, we saw and experienced ; but I 

 have tried the experiment with no other result than the 

 loss of my milk. 



,The Nettle is always found near the abodes of man. 

 Wherever he has sojourned, it is said to have accompanied 

 him ; and it remains to take possession of his deserted 

 dwellings, so that its presence has become associated with 

 the ideas of ruin and desolation. " I went b^ the field of 

 the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of 

 understanding ; and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, 

 and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone 

 vail thereof was broken down.*' 



IV. POLYANDRIA. 

 271. MYRIOPHYLLUM. 



1. M. spicatum, stem round, branched, with numerous whorls 

 of finely pectinated leaves, 4 in a whorl ; flowers in whorled in- 

 terrupted leafless spikes. Spiked Water-Milfoil 



Hob. In the Tweed and Whiteadder ; in ponds and slow- 

 streams, common. July, Aug. If 



272. ARUM. 



1. A. maculatum, stem none; leaves halbert-shaped, entire, 

 spotted with black; common stalk of the flowers club-shaped, 

 obtuse ; berries scarlet. Woke Robin. 



