ROSACEA. 147 



Ids ^ to 1 inch lonp;, with a few large equal teeth ; stem-leaves 

 sessile or very shortly stalked, with the leailets narrower than tliose 

 of the radical leaves. Stipules palmately cut at the apex, those of 

 the upper leaves with a single incision or entire. Flowers j to f 

 inch across, hright yellow. Inner calyx-segments lanceolate-trian- 

 gular, outer ones strapshaped-elliptical. Achencs kidney-shaped, 

 keeled and reticulated when dry, but these markings are not dis- 

 cernible in a fresh state. Plant hright green, slightly shining, 

 sjiaringly clothed with adpresscd hairs on. the leaves, and short 

 curled hairs on the stem ; peduncles and calyces mon' hairy. 

 I have never seen this form with more than 4 ^^ctals. 



Common Tovmentil. 



French, Tonnentille. German, Tormentillwurz. 



The root of the Tormentil is a very old article of the Materia Medica, but it is 

 difficult to assent to the doctrine of Sprengel, that it was the root of the TrtfnKpvWov of 

 the Greeks, the description of which by Dioscorides does not correspond with the 

 modern PotentiUa Twmentilla. It is a very common plant on dry hilly jiastures in 

 this and other Eurojiean countries. It has a tuberous root, about the thickness and 

 length of the ujDper joiut of the fore finger, tough, woody, and pi'ovided with numerous 

 radicles. It is deep brownish-red externally, and flesh-red within. Its taste is strongly 

 astringent, and it contains more tannin than the best oak bark ; indeed, it is said that 

 seven pounds of the latter are equal only to one pound of Tormentil roots — they are 

 sii[)erior to everything but galls and catechu in this respect. Tlie roots are still used 

 in some countries for tanning, and, according to Lightfoot, it was largely used in the 

 Hebrides, in his time, for this purpose. According to the latest analysis, Turmentil 

 roots contain 17 per cent, of tannic acid, a colouring and gummy matter, and a trace 

 of volatile oil ; it is not, however, included in the present British Pharniacoposia. It 

 is, nevertheless, in constant use in veterinary practice. It is said that sheep are never 

 attacked with the rot where the Tormentd grows, and it may possibly have a beneficial 

 effect on them. It has been recommended to plant the Tormentil in damp pastures 

 where the disease is prevalent among flocks. The gummy matter becomes developed by 

 long boiling, and in con.sequence the roots have sometimes been eaten in times of scarcity. 



In the islands of Tiree and Col the people tore up the pastures so in seeking 

 for the roots, that the landowners were compelled to forbid the search for thera. lu 

 Lajilaud they are used for dyeing skins of a red colour. Mr. Young informs «6 that 

 pigs are fed on them at Killarney. 



Sdb-Species II.— PotentiUa procuinbens. Siiih. 



Plate CCCCXXXI. 



Koch, Syo. n. Germ, et Helv. ed. ii. p. 239. Fries, Sum. Veg. Scand. p. 45. Gr. & Godr. 



Fl. de Fr. Vol. I. p. 531. 

 P. Tormentilla, var. ft, Bah. Man. Brit. Bot. ed. v. p. 95. Benlk. Handbook Brit. Fl. 



p. 193. Hook, k Am. Brit. Fl. ed. viii. p. 131. 

 Tormentilla reptans, Linn. Sp. PI. p. 716. Sm. Bug. Bot. No. 864. 



Stems procumbent, generally rooting at the nodes in the latter 

 part of the season. iStem-leaves ternatc or quinatc, most of them 



