CVLPEFBB'B COMPLBTB HERBAXk 349 



SPURGE (GARDEN. )-riS^pAorWa Hortente.) 



Descrip. — This grows with a thick reddish stalk, beset 

 irith loug aod narrow blueish green leaves, and so contin- 

 ues, without running into branches, till the next year, 

 when it rises three or four feet high, with many branchet 

 toward the top; on which, at every division, grow broad* 

 er and somewhat triangular leaves, set on without foot- 

 stalks ; the flowers are small and yellow, standing In 

 round hollow leaves, which encompass the stalk like a cup, 

 and these are followed by three square seed-vessels, con- 

 taining three oblong seeds. The whole plant is so full of 

 milk, that if you cut off a branch, it will run out by drops 

 in some quantity, which milk is of a hot fiery burning 

 taste, inflaming the mouth and throat for a great while. 



Place, — It grows in gardens, where it springs of its own 

 sowing, dying after it has brought its seed to perfection. 



Virtues, — This is much of the nature of the foregoing 

 plant, but is rather stronger and more violent in its oper- 

 ation. The milk is good to take away warts. 



SPURGE (GREATER)— CJE'ttpAor6ia Major,) 



Ducrip. — This plant grows as tall as a little tree, with 

 a smooth jointed hollow stalk, about a finger thick, cover- 

 ed with a glacuous mealiness. The leaves are lar^ round' 

 ish, but cut into five, seven, or sometimes nine sharp- 

 pointed, and serrated divisions ; the footstalks are long, 

 in the centre of the back part of the leaves. The flowers 

 are small and staminous, growing on the top of the stalks; 

 but lower down, and upon the body of the plant, grow 

 bunches of rough triangular husks, each including three 

 white seeds less than horse-l>eans, which, in their brittle 

 ■hells, contain spotted kernels of a sweetish oily taste* 



place, — It grows in Essex, and other countiea 



7Sme,—li flowers in August 



Virtuet. — The kernels, which are the only parts used, 

 |yarge watery humours both upwards and downwards with 

 great violence. The expressed oil from the seeds, is good 

 to kill lice in children's neads. 



SPURGE (KNOrrY-ROOTED.)-/^i*pAorWa 

 Bi/berna.) 



Descrip, — The stalks are numerous, weak, round, of a 

 pale green, and a foot high ; the leaves are many, thick, 



