The BRITISH HERBAL. 
35?. 
GENUS VI. 
WILD MARJORAM. 
ORIGANUM. 
THE flower is formed of a fingle petal : it is tubular, and compreffcd at the bottom, and at the 
opening is divided into two lips : the upper lip is undivided, plain, and lightly finuated at the 
end • the lower lip is fplit into three parts, nearly equal in bignefs. Numbers of the flowers are 
placed together in a kind of fcaly head, ferving as a general cup. The feeds are naked, and four 
follow every flower. , . , n u ■ r u j f 
Linnsus places this among the didynmnm gymmfpmma ; the flower having four threads, two of 
which arc longer than the others, and the feeds Handing naked .n the cup. He joins lumc other 
plants with it°which we have treated diftinaiy in their places, rcferving the proper origamms to this. 
DIVISION I. BR 
I. Common Wild Marjoram. 
Origciinm vitlgare. 
The root is compofed of a great many long, 
nender, naked fibres. 
The fl;alk is firm, upright, and of a very re- 
gular growth : it is not branched ; but toward the 
top fends out fome Ihoots in a handfome manner 
to fuftain the flowers : it is ufually of a brownifli 
golour. 
The leaves arc placed in pairs, and have very 
Ihort footftalks : they are fhort, broad, nearly of 
an oval figure, undivided at the edges, and of a 
brownifli green. 
The flowers are fmall, and of a pale red : they 
grow in tufts and clufl:ers from certain leafy heads ; 
and they alfo are purplifli. 
The feeds are fmall and brown. 
It is common in dry, hilly paffures, and by 
road-fides in luch fituations. It flowers in July. 
C. Bauhine calls it Origaumn fyl-vrftre cimila 
iuhiila Plinii. Others, Majaram fyheftris, and 
Origanum vulgare. 
It is an excellent medicine in nervous cafes : it 
is warm, cordial, and aromatick. The leaves 
and tops, dried and powdered, are good againft 
DIVISION II. 
Long-fpikcd Origanum. 
O-ri^iinum capiluUs tongiorihits. 
The root is fibrous, and brown. 
The fl:alk is firm, upright, fquare, and a foot 
and half high. 
The leaves are oblong, and of a dun<y green : 
they Hand in pairs, and they are not at all in- 
dented at the edges, and their points are obtufe. 
The flowers fl;and at the tops of the flalks and 
ITISH SPECIES. 
headachs. The tops of the plant made into a 
conferve are good againft flatulencies and difor- 
dcrs of the (lomach and bowels. The whole 
plant given in infufion is excellent againft ob- 
ftructions of the vifcera, and in the jaundice. 
2. Pot Marjoram. 
Origanum onitcs. 
The root is fibrous ; and its fibres are long, 
flender, very numerous, and brown. 
The ftalks arc numerous and robuft : they are 
fquare, of a brown colour, moderately branched, 
and a foot and half high. 
The leaves arc oblong, broad, and of a brownifli 
green : they have fliort footftalks ; and they 
ftand in pairs. 
The flowers ftand in clufters at the tops of the 
branches, and are of a pale red. 
It is a native of England, and other parts of 
Europe, and flowers in July. 
We take it into gardens for the fervice of the 
kitchen: it is a warm, wholefome plant, good 
againft flatulencies and indigefti ms. 
C. Bauhine calls it Origanum oniles j a n^me 
copied by moft of the other writers. Some call it 
Majorana major Anglica, 
branches in long, flender fpikes : they are fmall, 
and of a very faint redifli colour. 
The feed* arc brown and longifh. 
It is a native of the Eaft, and flowers in July. 
C; Bauhine calls it Origanum Heradecticum 
cunila gallinacsa Plinii. 
Its tafte is extremely hot ; and its virtues are 
the fame with the former. 
FOREIGN SPECIES. 
GENUS VII. 
SEEBRIGHT. 
S C I. A R E A. 
THE flower is formed of a fingle petal : it is tubular, and compreffed in the lower part, and 
gapes at the edge, where it is divided into two lips. The upper lip is long, flatted, and crooked : 
the lower lip is larger, and is divided into three fegments : the middle one of thefe is broader than 
N" XXXVI. 4 Y the 
