ROSACEA. 133 



taken inwardly, as outwardly applied ;" also, "the leaves of Burnet steeped in wine 

 and drunken comfort tlio neart and make it merrie, and are good against the trembling 

 and shaking thereof." We are incredulous enough to believe that without the pre- 

 scribed medication, wine will still, as of old, " gladden the heart of man," and sometiiues 

 cause him to forget that all good gifts may be abused. 



GENUS F.— POTERIUM. Linn. 



Plowers always polygamous or monoecious. Calyx-tube turbi- 

 nate, with an annular contraction at the throat, indurated and 

 tetragonal or 4-winged at maturity ; segments deciduous, 4, in a 

 single row. Stamens absent in the upper flowers of the spike, 

 20 to 80 in the lower ones, inserted in the throat of the calyx, 

 much exserted. Ovaries 2, rarely 8. Styles terminal, exserted 

 Stigma penicilliform. Achenes 1 to 8, enclosed in the calyx-tube. 



Herbs or under-shrubs, more rarely shrubs, with alternate 

 interruptedly-pinnate leaves and adnate foliaceous stipules. 

 Flowers pui'plish-brown or olive, in dense terminal spikes. 



The name of this genus of plants is derived from the use to which one of the 

 species is applied, poteruim meaning a drinkiug-cup, into the contents of which, in 

 ancient times, this plant often entered ; or, according to some writers, the form of the 

 flowers may have suggested the analogy, and the word Troriipwi' (poterion), a cup, may be 

 the origin of the name. 



SPECIES I.— POT ERIUM SANGUISORBA. Zi»m. 



Plate CCCCXIX. 



P. dictyocarpum, Spach, in Ann. So. Nat. Ser. III. Vol. V. p. 34. Gr. & Godr. Fl. da 

 Fr. Vol. I. p. 562. 



Stems herbaceous, erect or ascending, often curved at the 

 base. Leaflets oval or oval-oblong, inciso-serrate. Flower-heads 

 terminal, sub-globular or shortly ovoid, with the male or perfect 

 flowers at the base, and the female towards the apex of the head. 

 Fructiferous calyx with 4 longitudinal entire slightly-elevated thin 

 wings, the intermediate spaces with a network of slightly prominent 

 veins. 



On dry pastures, borders of fields, and in open places in woods, 

 especially on a chalky soil. Not uncommon in England, scarce 

 and possibly not wild in Scotland, although it has been recorded 

 as far North as the neighbourhood of Glasgow and the county of 

 Forfar. In the latter country I have only seen it near Perth. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Summer 

 and Autumn. 



