The BR IT SH THEIR BOA, 
373 
Linnzus places this among the didynamia gymnofpermia: the flower having two jonger and two 
fhorter filaments, and the feeds being naked. He does not allow it to be 
a diftinét genus, but 
makes it one of the fpecies of teucrium. Of the fcordium, Properly diftinguifhed by thefe characters, 
there is but one Known fpecies, and that is a native of Britain. : 
Water-Germander. 
Scordium. 
The root is compofed of numerous fibres. 
The ftalks are fquare, weak, eight or ten 
inches long; and they lie either entirely or in 
part upon the ground: they fend roots from the 
joints, where they reft upon the ground; and 
thus the plant fpreads over a great deal of {pace 
in a little time. 
The leaves ftand in pairs, and have no foot- 
flalks: they are oblong, moderately broad, dented 
at the edges, of a pale greyifh green, and foft to 
the touch. 
The flowers grow in the bofoms of the leaves ; 
and they are fmall and red. 
The feeds are minute and brown. 
It is common in the Ifle of Ely, and in fome 
other parts of the kingdom on damp ground. It 
flowers in June. 
C. Bauhine calls it only Scordium. Others, 
Scordium verum, and Scordium legitimum. 
It is celebrated asa fudorifick, and hasa place 
in fome of the principal compofitions of the 
fhops. 
It has the credit of being an excellent medicine 
in malignant and peftilential fevers. To this 
purpofe it is to be given dried and powdered. 
The juice prefled out with white wine is good 
in obftructions of the vifcera; and it is faid, 
given alone, to be a remedy againft worms in the 
inteftines. 
as 
SEO Se SD i a De ese Bos eDiets te a Sh a oe cS Me cae 
CE SRe 4 
Heiss ce 
ForEIGN GENERA, 
Thofe of which there is no fpecies naturally wild in this country. 
Gero Ns eis I. 
S@AGG oF, 
Mat APL ee TA, 
HE flower is formed of a fingle petal, and is labiated. The tubular part is {mall at the bafe, 
aE and thence. becomes wider, and compreffed. The upper lip is hollow, crooked, compreffed,. 
and nipped at the extremity. The lower lip broad, and divided into three fegments ; the middle one 
of which is large, and nipped at the end. The cup is tubular, ftriated, and divided alfo into two 
lips at the top: the upper one of thefe has three, and the lower has two points. The feeds are four 
after every flower ; and they are naked in the cup. ; i 
Linneeus feparates this from the generality of the verticillate plants, and places it among the dian. 
dria monogynia; the filaments in the flower being two, and the ftyle fingle. There is fomething fo 
fingular in the ftruéture of thefe filaments, that the plant, according to this method, appears to be 
very nearly allied to the didynamia ; for thefe two filaments are fplit each into two branches ; one of 
which in each is longer, and fupports a button ; and the other fhorter,.and has in its place only a ufe. 
lefs appendage. 
1, Common Sage. 
Salvia bortenfis vulgaris. 
The root is long and thick, and is furnifhed 
all about with innumerable fibres. 
The firft leaves are very numerous: they are 
fupported on long footftalks ; and they are ob- 
long, broad, of a rough furface, and of a redith 
colour: they are fomewhat dented at the edges ; 
and they are of a ftrong, but very agreeable tafte 
and fmell. 
The ftalks are fquare, redifh, firm, very much 
branched, and a foot and half high. 
The leaves on thefe refemble thofe from the 
root ; but:they have fhorter footftalks. 
N° 37. 
The flowers are placed in a kind of fpikes at 
the tops of the ftalks and branches ; and they are 
large and blue, often tinged with purple. 
The feeds are moderately large. 
The tops of the plant have a fragrant refin 
about them, which fticks to the fingers; and 
thefe have more of the fine tafte and fmell of the 
plant than any other part. toa 
It is a native of the warmer parts of Europe, 
and flowers in July. 
C. Bauhine calls it Salvia major aut {phacelus 
Theophrafti. Others, Salvia latifolia. Our gar- 
deners, Red fage. 
It is a very good medicine againft diforders of 
5C the 
