198 cttlpbpeb's ooxplsti hbbbal. 



HOUSELEEK (WATER>—(*S'em;xjr vimrn Aquatica.) 



Callbd also Water Parsnep, and Crab's Claws. 



Descrip, — It has sundry long narrow leaves, with sharp 

 prickles on the edges, very sharp-pointed ; the stalks on 

 which the flowers grow do not rise as high as the leaves, 

 but bear a forked head like crab's claws, out of which a 

 white flower comes, consisting of three leaves, with yel- 

 lowish threads in the middle ; it takes root in the mud at 

 the bottom of the water. 



Place. — It grows in the fens In Lincolnshire. 



Time, — It flowers from June until August. 



Oovemment and Virtues,— li is under the dominion of 

 Venus, and is a great strengthener of the reins ; it is good 

 against St. Anthony's fire, and assuages swellings and in- 

 flammations in wounds; an ointment made of it is good to 

 heal bruised kidneys. A dram of the powdered herb if 

 taken every morning, stops the terras. 



HYACINTH.— (5ya<nn/At«.) 



Called Harebell, {Campanula RotundifoHoy) and Blue- 

 bell, (Bi/acinthtu non Scriptus.) 



Descrip. — There are many species of Hyacinths. The 

 following are reckoned the most beautiful : 1. The Hya- 

 cinth with the flowers alternate, and a little drooping ; 2. 

 The Hyacinth with irregular flowers, divided into six 

 parts ; 3. The campanulated Hyacinth, with the flowers 

 cylindric at the base, and lightly divided at the edge into 

 six segments; 4. The Hyacinth with a clustered conic tuft 

 of flowers, or Peruvian Hyacinth ; 5. The Hyacinth with 

 funnel-shaped flowers, lightly divided into six parts at the 

 rim, and swollen at the base; 6. The funnel-flowered Hya- 

 cinth, with the flowers swollen at the base, and lightly cut 

 at the edge into six segments ; 7. The Hyacinth with a 

 clustered and rounded head of flowers, or grey starry Hy- 

 acinth ; and 8. The scaly-rooted Hyacinth, or autumnal 

 starry Hyacinth. 



Place. — It is common under hedges, and in gardens. 



Time. — It flowers in the beginning of May. 



Oovemment and Virtues. — The root is full of a slimy 

 ]aice, a decoction of which operates by urine. Dried and 

 reduced to powder, it is of a balsamic and styptic nature. 

 Its virtues are little known, it will cure the wnites. The 

 fresh root is poisonous, and may be made into starch. 



