172 CINQUEFOIL. 



strate, rooting at the joints. The leaves are opposite, quinate, 

 sometimes of seven leaflets, miequal, obovate, serrated, hairy, 

 and sessile, on long axillary hairy petioles, at the base of which 

 the stipulse are inserted. The flowers are placed singly on 

 long slender peduncles. The calyx is divided into ten seg- 

 ments, five of which are alternately smaller and exterior to the 

 rest, and frequently recurved. The corolla consists of five ob- 

 cordate yellow petals inserted into the calyx by short claws. 

 The stamens are about twenty in number, with short tapering 

 filaments, tipped with roundish two-celled anthers. The ger- 

 mens are numerous, superior, globose, and form a conical head ; 

 each is terminated by a filiform ascending style, surmounted by 

 a blunt downy stigma. The fruit consists of numerous minute 

 nuts or grains, placed on a small, elevated, dry receptacle. 

 Plate 10, fig. 1, (a) the calyx ; (/;) a petal detached ; (c) a single 

 stamen. 



The creeping Cinquefoil is a native of Europe, as far north as 

 Sweden. The genus comprehends a large number of pretty 

 vivacious plants, many of them natives of Siberia. It is Com- 

 mon in meadows and pastures, and by road sides, flowering 

 from June to the end of August. 



The name is derived from potens, powerful, in allusion to the 

 medical properties of some of the s,pecies. The origin of the 

 common name is sufficiently obvious. 



Qualities and general Use. — The only known use to 

 which the cinquefoil has been applied, is that of tanning leather, 

 for which purpose it has been used in some parts of the conti- 

 nent. The external or cortical part only is employed, and it is 

 said to impart a fine grain to calf leather. The plant is eaten 

 by horses, cows, goats, and sheep, but is refused by swine. 



The roots have a bitterish styptic taste, and give out their 

 astringent matter both to water and spirit. In these respects it 

 nearly resembles the tormentil, but is less powerful. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — The roots of this plant were 

 much used in intermittent fevers by the ancients, the efficacy of 

 which in those cases is alluded to by Hippocrates*. Rayj- 

 asserts that the peasantry of his time used it for the same 



* De IMorb. 1. 2. p. 473. Foes. 



f Ray, Hist, plant, torn. 1. p. 610. 



