i88 
The BRITISH HERBAL. 
The leaves rife in a large tuft twenty or more 
together : they arc of an oblong figure, fmallefl 
ac the bafe, and thence gradually widening to the 
extremity, where they are rounded and obcufe ; 
and they are placed on long, flender foocftalks. 
They arc covered with ftiff, long, yellow hairs, 
and rife up more ereft than the leaves of any 
other fpecies. 
The flallv is fingle, naked, purplifh, and not 
above three inches high : it rarely divides, but 
ufually has a long feries of flowers ftanding all 
on one fide : thefc are white and fmall. 
The feed-veflel is large and oval ; and the 
feeds are fmall, numerous, redifli, and nearly 
round. 
It is found on wet parts of haaths, and Bowers 
in May. 
Ray calls it Rorella longifoUa perennis. 
This author, in compliance with the cuftom of 
others, has fee down the variety of the comma?! 
fundew with longiOi leaves ; but declares his 
doubts .IS to its being a diftindt fpecies : this, on 
the contrary, he marks as a certainly diftindt 
Ipecies, and difirrent abfolutely from that. 
4. Great long-leaved Sundew. 
Rorella major longifolia. 
This, like the two former, is a perennial 
fpecies. 
The root is compofcd of innumerable, flender, 
crooked fibres, and fpreads a great way under 
the furface. 
The leaves rife in a clufler, and are long and 
narrow : they are placed on very long, flender 
footflalks, and naturally (land very upright ; but 
the weight of the leaf, when charged with its 
moifture, and the extream weaknefs of the ftalk, 
occafions its frequent drooping. 
The ftalk rifes in the centre of this tuft ; and 
is naked, (lender, and eight or ten inches high : 
it is of a purplifli colour, as are alfo the leaves, 
and it rarely divides even at the top. 
The flowers fland in a fliort fpike at the fum- 
mit: they are larger than in the preceding fpecies, 
and are white but tiicy rarely open widely. 
The feed-veflel is oval and targe ; and the feeds 
are numerous, and very fmall. 
It is found on wet heaths in our northern 
counties ; and flowers in June. 
Ray calls it Rorella lungifolia maxima. 
All thefe fpecies have the fame medicinal qua- 
lities. 
What we know with certainty of them is, that 
m external ufe they are very dangerous ; and, as 
it isfaid, that taken internally they are very hurt- 
ful to cattle, we are told that, in the form of a 
dirtilled water, they are highly cordial and refto- 
rativei but at prcfent they are difufed in regular 
practice; nor is it likely that ever they deferved 
the charadtcr that has been given of chem in that 
refpe(fl. 
The leaves, bruifed and applied to the fkin 
aft as an efcharotick : they are more violent than 
the leaves of the Iharpeft crowfoots, and bring 
on fuch inflammations as are not eafily removed ; 
and our people in the country are fo convinced 
of their deftruftive qualities, when eaten by Iheep, 
that it is vulgarly known among them by the 
name of red rol. 
The Italians ufe it to this day, among many 
other ingredients, in their liqueurs, or fine cor- 
dials ; and the ladies in the country, with us, yet 
admit it among other ingredients, in the fame 
manner, into their family waters. 
It is probable that the virtues afcribed to it 
in thefe are owing to the other ingredients ; and 
that its own pernicious qualities do not rife in 
diftillation. 
DIVISION II. FOREIGN SPECIES. 
Grafly-leaved Sundew. 
Rorella foUis grnmineis. 
The root is fmall, long, and furnilhed with 
a few fibres. 
The leaves are very numerous, and rife in thick 
tufts : they grow upright ; they have no foot- 
ftalks ; and, when young, they frequently curl 
fpirally at the ends : they are very long, and ex- 
tremely narrow, round on the back, hollow in 
front, and covered with long hairs. 
The ftalk rifes in the midft of this tuft, and is 
(lender, and tolerably upright. 
It is not fo tall as the leaves ; and is not naked, 
as in the feveral kinds that are natives of our 
country, but has two or three leaves upon it, 
placed at diftances alternately, and of the fame 
fliape with thofe from the root. 
The flowers are fmall and white ; and the feed- 
velfel is large and oval. 
The feeds are fmall and brown. 
It IS found on damp grounds in Portugal, and 
flowers in July. 
Plukenet calls kRos foils luitmicus foliis affbc- 
deli miiioris. 
Its qualities are not certainly known. 
GENUS II. 
SAXIFRAGE. 
S^XIFRAGJ. 
T™ '"'°"'^f'^ of 'j;^ P^'^'^. «hich are narrow at the bafe, and broader to the end - 
the feed-veflel .s of an oval figure, but has a double beak : the cup is fmall, it is formed of ; 
fmgle piece, divided into five fegments, and it remains with the feed-veflel, 
Linnreus 
