84 The BRiTISH'HE RB alt. 
among the branches: thefe flender ftalks grow 1 epurtica, and by:a variety of other names of thé 
quickly where they find themfelves fuppotted; || fame kind. Among thefe none is fo famous as 
and entangle among one another, and among the | epithyman, that is the dedder which grows on gar- 
fhoots of the plant, to which they have faftened | den thyme, from which it has been fuppofed to im- 
themfelves in a ftrange manner. bibe peculiar virtues but the epithymum or dodder 
When they have got well eftablifhed there the | of thyme is no way different from, nor any bet- 
root dies, the ftalks that rofe from the ground | ter than the dodder of the nettle when both grow 
wither, and the plant lives only among the | in England: there is indeed a difference in that 
branches of thé other, taking its nourifhment fold at the druggifts from our conmimmon kind, 
from them. but this is not owing to its having grown on 
In this its full ftate of perfection, the threads || thyme, but to its having grown in Crete, where 
are purple, and as thick as a {mall twine: and-|! the fun being warmer, raifes it to more virtue. 
they foon after flower. C. Bauhine calls it Cufcuta major. Others, 
The flowers are produced in round clufters on |) Cu/cuta. 
one fide of the ftalks; and are of a pale purplifh é 
colour, little and flefhy. The feeds ripen in the Dedder is a brifk purge, and is good in obftruc- 
fame heads, and are large. tions of the vifcera, in the fcurvy, and the {ci- 
It is common in our fields and gardens, grow- | atica. In a fmaller dofe it works by urine. 
ing upon flax, nettles, heath, or any thing in its The beft way of giving it is in infufion, ar 
way, and often plaguing the gardener among his | ounce of the dodder to a’ pint ‘of ‘water. 
pot herbs: fome have fuppofed the fpecies of Outwardly the frefh ‘herb bruifed is excellent 
dodder differed according to the plant on which | againft ftrumous fwellings, 
it grew, and have thence called it épilinum and 
DIVISION H - FOREIGN SPECIES, 
Procumbent Dodder. fpreading fibres, brown, ‘tough, and  ill-tafted. 
Cufcuta bunilis. The ftalks are numerous, and ‘grow to a vatt 
; length: they are purple, round, and very tough. 
The common dodder fpreads itfelf only over They have no leaves, but are ornamented with 
plants, this frequently lies upon the ground; | a vaft quantity of flowers: thefe are of a pale 
though it will alfo run toa vaft height upwards | purple, and ftand on-footftalks. 
when there are trees or bufhes in the way to fup- It is a native of the American iflands. 
port it. Gronovius calls it Cufcuta caule aphyllo volubili. 
- The root is a clufter of thick, very long and | repente. We, American dodder. 
2] os Boats: os ABeoo: KEL, 
MUDWEED. 
PLANTAGINELLA. 
PHE flower confifts of a fingle petal divided deeply into five fegments: the fruit is a capfule of 
an oval figure, half covered with the cup: it has only one‘cell, in which are nume 
feeds : the cup is formed of a fingle leaf, and is divided at the rim into five feements: the k Tous 
grow fingly, one on each footftalk, as do alfo the Howers. = 2 eaves 
Linnzus places this among the didyiamia angiofpermia, becaufe of the four threads that are in 
flower two are longer and:two fhorter,; and the feeds are inclofed in a capfule: -he has he ae, 
known name plantaginella into limofella. We are not fond of thofe.diminutive names deriv: Ei its 
thofe of other plants of different genera; but they are not needful to be changed witho fo, Pay 
ther reafon. ut fome far- 
Of this genus there is but one known {pecies, ,and that is‘a native of Britain; 
very pretty plant. Bee of Britains a very fingular, and 
Mudweed. ; water-plantain leaves, whence it had its name: 
Plantaginella. ‘| they are of a palegréen, broad, fhort, and a : 
Si 3 cba eh bias proaching to oval. ; x 
e root'is a tuft of ‘little, fender ‘fibres. ; The flowers {tand on -fe 
From this rife together ‘a ‘number of trailing || ftalks, not half fo high Prats ne 
| r the 
fhoots for propagation. leaves; thefe are very {mall ant 
3 mall and white. 
Thefe are procumbent: they run‘every way, The! feed-veffel eicee and fullof ‘ed 
‘and take root at little diftances, fending’ up nu- It is common inithe-dry »parts df hallow fith. 
merous tufts of leaves. ‘5:0 || ponds: about Hounflow itgrows in almoft-ey. ’ 
: he tee in clufters of tenioritwelveto- | puddle. Je fowers.in July. aed 
gether: each is fupported on‘a long, 'flender foot- C. Bavhine callsit‘Plantagi 
ay 5 : “Plantaginella: is. -Plu~ 
flalk s'and they are of the fhape of the great | kenet, Aline Palusteaaesen site stich os 
8 
GEN Ws 
