AGRIMONIA EUPATORIA. 
€17 
Spec. Char. Leaves interruptedly pinnated, with an odd 
one. PinncB sessile, the terminal one petiolate. Frmt 
hispid. 
This species* of Agrimony, the EvTurcopia of Dioscorides, is an 
indigenous perennial plant, common about the borders of fields and 
hedges in most parts of this country ; it is also found not only in 
many parts of Europe, but also in Asia and America. Agrimony 
flowers in June and July, and when gathered for medicinal use 
should be cut in full flower. 
The root is scaly, and of a reddish brown colour ; the stalk is 
erect, round or somewhat angular, hairy, of a reddish hue, and rises 
from one to three feet in height; the leaves are alternate, inter- 
ruptedly pinnated, composed of from three to five or six pair of 
pinnse, and a terminal one ; the leaflets are opposite, sessile, ovate, 
deeply serrated, rough; the small intermediate ones are entire or 
trifid ; the stipulae are two, opposite, serrated and spreading ; the 
flowers are in long terminal spikes, supported on short peduncles, 
with trifid bracteas ; the calyx is permanent, and divided into five 
ovate pointed segments, and surrounded with rigid hairs ; the involu- 
crum is composed of two indented leaves, situated at the base of the 
germ ; the corolla consists of five petals, ovate, spreading, of a 
golden yellow colour, and inserted into a glandular substance at the 
base of the germ ; the filaments are from five to twelve, supporting 
two-lobed anthers ; the germen is inferior ; the styles crowned with 
blunt stigmas ; the capsule is formed of the calyx, and contains two 
roundish, smooth seeds, one of which is often abortive. 
Sensible Qualities, &c. Both the leaves and flowers of 
agrimony, when recent, have an agreeable aromatic odour, the latter 
somewhat more powerful than the former ; the smell, which depends 
upon a volatile oil, is entirely dissipated by exsiccation. The 
leaves have a slightly bitter and subastringent taste ; they readily 
give out their virtues both to water and spirit. In distillation with 
water, a small quantity of oil is obtained, of a golden yellow colour, 
which smells agreeably and strongly of the herb. The watery 
infusion reddens the infusion of turnsol. Potass and its carbonates 
* The genus Agrimonia comprises but few species, six onlj being known 
(juUivated in our gardens. — Ed. 
