The Herb Robert 



again assert that it was not to St. Robert, but to 

 Robert Duke of Normandy, for whom a wonderful 

 medical work was prepared, the " Hortus Saniiatis," 

 that the plant stands as memorial. 



The plant may be a foot or rather more in height 

 with stems that are much branched, thin, and rather 

 weak, but thickened for strength where the branch- 

 ing occurs. They carry a few soft hairs, the upper 

 ones being glandular. The foliage is a great feature, 

 the leaves are charmingly fashioned into three main 

 divisions, and these again have their margins gashed 

 so that the whole appearance is one of lightness 

 and grace. Always beautiful, as our picture taken 

 in May days shows, their charm is doubled when 

 the green of early spring passes into the warmer 



reds of later days. 



" Down in the grass 

 And blushing through green blades, Herb Robert fain 

 Would catch the eye of pilgrims as they pass, 

 Who seek for rarer plants." 



Because of its glow of colour the plant had a 



great reputation as an astringent ; " scarcely any 



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