LOVAGE LUCERNE. 173 



menstruation. As a gargle it finds use in relaxed 

 throat, &c. 



Distinctive character The herb is 2-3 feet high, 

 bearing opposite leaves, or sometimes three together, 

 elongate-lanceolate, nearly stalkless, 3-6 inches long by 

 ij inch broad, with short, spreading, soft hairs, especially 

 on the stem and veins beneath the leaf. Flowers yellow, 

 about inch in diameter, in axillary and terminal 

 panicles. Taste, astringent, slightly acid. Odour, none. 



LOVAQE. Levistlcum offlcinale, Koch. 



N.O. Umbellifera. 

 Syn. Ligusticum Levisticum, Linn. 



Part used Root. 



Action Diuretic, carminative. Used in febrile 

 affections and in stomach disorders. 



Distinctive character The rootstock or upper por- 

 tion, usually about i inch long and 2f inches thick, 

 sometimes shows leaf-scales at the apex, with annular 

 rings below it, and lateral branches 2-4 inches long and 

 J- inch in diameter. The external surface is greyish 

 brown and in the rootlets is furrowed longitudinally. 

 The bark of the root is thick, spongy, and whitish, 

 occupying nearly half the diameter, and is separated by 

 a darker line from the woody centre, which is radiate 

 and yellowish, and glistening oil cells are visible in the 

 transverse section. In the outer part of the root bark 

 there are often small cavities. It has a sweet, slightly 

 bitter taste, and a flavour like that of fenugreek. 



LUCERNE. 



Part used Whole Herb. 



Action Lucerne is given to cattle for fattening pur- 

 poses. In medicine the infusion of i ounce to the pint 



