354 
The BRITISH HERBAL. 
The flowers are numerous, fmal], and of a 
bright red : they are placed at the tops of the 
ftalks in long, {lender fpikes. The taife is very 
pleafant, warm, and aromatick. 
It is a native of Germany, but is for the fer- 
^ice of the table and of medicine kept in every 
garden. 
C. Bauhinc calls it Mimha Ri/maua. Others, 
Mentha angujlifolia fpicata. Our people. Spear- 
mint, and Roman mint, 
2. Danifh curled Mint. 
Mentha crifpa Danica. 
The root creeps under the furface, and has nu- 
merous, thick: fibres. 
The (talk is firm, upright, fquare, of a pale 
green, not much branched, and two feet high. 
The leaves have no footftalks : they are large, 
oblong, broad, and very beautiful : they are in- 
dented, and curled at the edges ; and their colour 
is a freih, fine green. 
The flowers are large and flcfh-colourcd : they 
Hand in thick and Ihort fpikes at the tops of the 
ftalks and branches. 
It is a native of Denmark ; but its beauty has 
obtained it a place in our gardens. It flowers in 
Augufl:. 
Clufius calls it Mentha latifaUa crifpa Danica. 
The tnints in general pofiefs the fame qualities : 
they are ftomachick and deobftrucnt ; but there 
are alfo particular qualities in fume of the fpecies. 
We have mentioned the two horfe-mints as emi- 
nent in nervous cafes ; and ti\£ pepper-mint, by its 
warmth, is of great fcrvice againfl: cholicks. 
The common fpear-mint is fuperior to all the 
other kinds as a ftomachick. Its diftilled water 
poflVffes this quality in a very eminent and ufeful 
degree. The dried leaves alfo are ufed in pow- 
der, and the frefli tops made into tea. 
The juice of the tops of fpear-mint, given half 
a fpoonful at a time, with a little fugar, will ftop 
vomitings. The diftilled water is good againft 
the fickncfles and gripings to which' infants are 
liable. It is alfo cxxellent at table, not only for 
its agreeable flavour, but its virtues. Our an- 
ceftors were wife who mixed it with beans and 
peafe, for it prevents the flatulencies rifing from 
fuch foods. 
GENUS IIL 
PENNYROYAL. 
P U L E G IV M. 
THE flower is formed of a fingle petal, a little longer than the cup ; and is divided into two 
hps ; the upper one is broad, and undivided at the tip ; the under one is divided into three finall 
fcgments, and there is a Ihort tubular bottom. The cup is formed of » fingle piece, divided into five 
fegments at the rim ; and it remains after the flower. The feeds are four, and naked, having no co- 
vering but the cup. The flowers grow in thick clufters fijrrounding the flialk; and the whole plant 
has a piercing fmell. ^ 
Linnajus places this among the didymmia gymmfpermia ; tlie threads in the flower being two lon<»er 
and two fliorier, and the feeds having no capfule, but remaining naked in the cup. Bu" he joins' it 
with mint, denying it to be a feparate genus. The diftinftion is indeed minute ; but it is certain 
and unavoidable : and it is ufeful. Pennyroyal has always been called by a diftinft name : it has 
great virtues, which are recorded of it under its proper and diftinft title in the antient authors, and 
which are not thofe of mint. It is fit therefore that we retain the name, and prefcrve the genus as 
diftindl i there being foundation for it alfo in the charafters of the flower. 
DIVISION I. BR 
1. Common Perlnyroyal. 
Pulegium vulgare< 
The root is fibrous and creeping. 
The ftalks are numerous, weak, and of a pale 
green ; fome lie upon the ground, others rife ir- 
regularly up ; and they are very much branched : 
they are fquare ; but the angles are fo much obli- 
terated in many parts, that they appear round. 
The leaves fl-and two at a joint ; and they 
are fmall, of an oval figure, and of a pleafant 
green : they are rounded at the end, and a little 
indented at the edges. 
The flowers are fmall, and of a pale red ; but 
they grow fo thick together, that they are con- 
fpicuous upon the plant : they furround the ftalk 
at the joints, where the leaves grow in great 
circles. 
The feeds are inconfiderable and brown. 
It is common wild in damp ground, and is 
6 
ITISH SPECIES. 
brought thence into gardens. It flowers in June. 
C. Bauhine calls it Pulegium latifolium. Others, 
Pulegium vulgare, 
It is a plant of a very great and very well 
known virtue. 
It is excellent againft obftructions of the menfes; 
and may be taken for that purpofc in the diftilled 
water, in form of the juice prefled fre.'h from 
the plant, or in infufion. 
It is alfo ufeful in all obftruftions of the vif- 
cera, and againft cholicks and ficknefles of the 
ftomach. A conferve of the tops of pennyroyal 
a£ts as a diuretick, and has done great fervice in 
the gravel. It is alfo good in jaundice. 
Mr. Boyle has left an account of its virtues 
againft the chincough : this is worth trying. 
The method of giving it is in the exprefled 
juice, fivectened with fugar-candy, a fpoonful for 
a dofe. 
D I V I- 
