32 PLANTS: THEIR NATURAL GROWTH 



man may read even in legible characters the Use of them." As examples of this we may mention 

 the Herb Robert (Geranium Roberiianum),, and the Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea). ^ The first was 

 held, from the brilliant crimson of its leaves during the Autumn, to be in an especial degree ser- 

 viceable as a vulnerary to arrest the flow of blood ; the second, from the form and colour of the 

 interior of the flower, was termed Throat-wort, and was held in great repute for its remedial 

 efficacy in all relaxation or soreness of the throat. 



In medieval times there were few plants that were hot held to possess healing powers — 

 some, no doubt, justly ; though foreign drugs of greater potency, as Quinine or Ipecacuanha have 

 in these later days supplanted them ; while others— we may, with little lack of charity say — were 

 of no more value than the faith or imagination of the patient were able to impart. Amongst the 

 manifold uses of plants, as detected by Gerarde, the following are but a few : — ■' To comfort the 

 cold, weake, and feeble brains — to keep dogs from growing greate — to refresh a wearied horse, and 

 make him travell the better — to waken one out of a deep sleepe — to cause a traveller to feel no 

 wearisomnesse." Every old herbal abounds with recipes — the same plant having often the 

 most contradictory appplications. 



PLATE 18. 



" Our artists are so generally convinced of the truth of the Darwinian theory, that they do not always think it necessary to 

 show any difference between the foliage of an Elm or an Oak ; and the gift books of Christmas have every page surrounded vrith 

 laboriously engraved garlands of Rose, Shamrock, Thistle, and Forget-me-not, without its being thought proper by the draughts- 

 men, or desirable by the public, even in the case of these uncommon flowers, to observe the real shape of the petals of any one of 

 them." — RUSKIN. 



Amongst the less conspicuous flowers of the hedge-side, few are more worthy of the 

 ornamentist's regard than the Ground Ivy (Nepeta Glachoma), the subject of our plate. It is so 

 commonly to be found that any lengthened description of it seems useless. The leaves, it will be 

 noticed, grow in pairs, each succeeding pair being at right angles with the last, so that, on looking 

 down on the plant, as in fig. 155, a cross-like form is observed. This is very well shown in the 

 ornamental adaptation (fig. 157) taken from one of the tiles from Chertsey Abbey. The excel' 

 lence of the design shown in these tiles, we have already had opportunity of dwelling upon in 

 our remarks on the Musk Mallow. When the plant is trailing on the ground, the leaves, in their 

 desire to come towards the light, do not adhere to this cruciform arrangement, but are all in one 

 direction ; though, on tracing them down to the stem, it will be found that the successive pairs are 

 given off" at right angles to each other, as in the upright shoots. We have endeavoured in our 

 design (fig. 162) to give a conventional treatment of this turning upwards of the leaves to the 

 light; while in our sketch (fig. 161) we have selected as the basis of our design the upright growth. 

 The flowers, it will be observed, grow in whorls from the axils of the leaves. These whorls, it 

 will be noticed too, are unilateral (fig. 158, 159) ; they grow on one or other side of the stem, but 

 do not, as in the White Dead Nettle (Lamium Album), surround it by a ring of blossoms. The 

 central stem is square — a feature delicately suggested in fig. 157 : while fig. 160 gives the true, 

 natural form. The Ground Ivy is so called from its trailing habit : it has no botanical relationship 

 whatever to the true Ivy, and we cannot but think that the name, though sanctioned by long 

 usage, is an unfortunate one. The plant was held in high favour as a medicinal herb, and is still 

 employed in country districts, being slightly tonic and stimulating. During the Middle Ages, its 

 virtues were considered far greater than later investigations have appeared to justify, and one 

 fanciful belief — its supposed power to heal the sting made by a scorpion — ogives it its generic name, 

 Nepeta, that being derived from Nepa, a scorpion. Besides the name given, it has many others, 

 though they are generally of more local application ; while Ground Ivy is the name by which it 

 may be found, by all who desire to learn more regarding it, in all botanical works. Other names 

 are Cat's-foot — a not inappropriate name, its soft leaves, clothed with silk-like hairs, being in tex- 

 ture and shape not unlike the foot of the cat — Gill-go-by-ground, Turn-hoof, Hay-maids, and Ale- 

 hoof The name Gill-go-by-ground is obscure, owing to change both of language and custom. 

 It arose from the old practice of gilling, or, as we now term it, fermenting during brewing, by the 

 addition of a few of these leaves. It was supposed to improve the flavour too," and to render the 

 liquor clearer ; for we read in an old herbal that — " It is good to turn up with new drink, for it 

 will clarify it in a night ; or, if any be thick with removing, or any other accident, it will do the 

 like in a few hours." The country name, Ale-hoof, is, no doubt, also derived from this old 

 economic use of the plant. The Ground Ivy has not been so freely used in decorative art as its 

 abundance would lead one to suppose probable. The only other good example with which we 

 are familiar, in addition to the one given on the Chertsey tile, is in a small spandril in one of the 

 doorways of the Cathedral at Rheims. 



