174 
GRATIOLA OFFICINALIS. 
compact terminal spikes. The other parts of fructification agree 
with those of the Origanum Vulgare. 
The sensible qualities and virtues of this plant nearly resemble 
those of the common marjoram, and it is therefore unnecessary to 
enumerate tbera : it is more fragrant than the latter, hence it has 
been chosen by the colleges as an ingredient in the Pulvis Asari 
Comp. the only officinal preparation into which it enters. 
Off. The Herb. 
♦ ; 
GRATIOLA OFFICINALIS. 
Hedge Hyssop * 
Class DiANDRiA. — Order MoNOGYNiA. 
iVfl^. Orrf. Personate, Linn. Scrophulari^, Juss. 
Gen. Char. Corolla irregular, reversed. Stamens two, 
sterile. Capsule 2-celled. Calyx 7-leaved, the two exte- 
rior leaves spreading. 
Spec. Char. Leaves lanced, serrated. Flowers peduncled. 
Three species of Gratiola f are cultivated in our botanic gardens, 
of which the Officinalis of the dispensatories forms one. This is a 
perennial plant, a native of tiie South of Europe, and usually found 
in moist pastures, flowering in June and July. It was first intro- 
duced into England about the year 1568. In 1775 Kostryewski J: 
wrote upon the virtues of hedge hyssop, since which time its pro- 
perties have been more duly appreciated. 
The root of this plant is creeping, cylindrical, white, jointed, and 
furnished with many slender fibres; from the root rise many erect, 
round, smooth stems, to about twelve or eighteen inches in height ; 
* Fig. a. represents a plaut of the natural size. b. The pistillum magnified, 
c. The corolla magnified, and cut open to shew the anthers, 
■f The name of Gratiola is derived from gratia deo, an appellation given to this plant 
from its supposed extraordinary virtuesi 
t Dissert, de Gratiola, Viennee, 1T75. 
