The BRITISH HERBAL. 
373 
LinnfFUS places this among the didynaniia gymnofpermia : the flower haviiig two ionger snii two 
fliorter filaments, and the feeds being naked. He does not allow it to be a diftinft genus, but 
makes it one of the fpecies of teucrium. Of the fcordiiim^ properly diftinguifhed by thefe characters, 
there is but one known fpecies, and that is a native of Britain. 
Water-Germander. 
Scordhm. 
The root is compofed of numerous fibres. 
The llalks are fquare, weak, eight or ten 
inches long; and they lie either entirely or in 
part upon the ground : they fend roots from the 
joints, where they reft upon the ground ; and 
thus the plant fpreads over a great deal of fpace 
in a little time. 
The leaves ftand in pairs, and have no font- 
ftalks: they arcoblong, moderately broad, dented 
at the edges, of a pale greyifh green, and foft to 
the touch. 
The flowers grow in the bofoms of the leaves ■, 
and they are fmall and red. 
The feeds are minute and brown. _ 
It is common in the Tflc of Ely, and in fome 
other parts of the kingdom on damp ground. It 
flowers in June. 
C, Bauhine. calls it only Scordhwi. Others, 
Scordhm verum, and Scordium leghimum. 
It is celebrated as a fudonfick, and has a place 
in fome of the principal compofitions of the 
fliops. 
It has the credit of being an excellent medicine 
in malignant and peftilential fevers. To this 
purpofe it is to be given dried and powdered. 
The juice prefl"ed out with white wine is good 
in obftnidions of the vifcera ; and it is laid, 
given alone, to be a remedy againft worms in the 
ioteftines. 
SERIES IL 
Foreign Genera. 
Thore of which there is no fpecies naturally wild ia this country. 
GENUS I. 
SAGE. 
SALVIA. 
THE flower is formed of a fingle petal, and is labiated. The tubular part is fmall at the bafe, 
and thence becomes wider, and compreflcd. The upper lip is hollow, crooked, comprelTed,' 
and nipped at the extremity. The lower lip broad, and divided into three fegments ; the middle one 
of which is large, and nipped at the end. The cup is tubular, fl:riated, and divided alfo into two 
lips at the top : the upper one of thefe has three, and the lower has two points. The feeds are four 
after every flower -, and they are naked in the cup. 
LinnjEUS feparates this from the generality of the vcrticiUate plants, and places it among the dian- 
dria incncgynm ; the filaments in the flower being two, and the fl:yle fingle. There is fomethinc fo 
fingular in the fl:ru6ture of thefe filaments, that the plant, according to this method, appears to be 
very nearly allied to the didynamia ; for thefe two filaments are fplit each into two branches ; one of 
which in each is longer, and fupports a button •, and the other Ihortcr, and has in its place only a ufe- 
lefs appendage. 
I. Common Sage. 
Salvia hortenfis vulgaris. 
The root is long and thick, and is furniflied 
all about with innumerable fibres. 
The firfl; leaves are, very numerous ; they are 
fupported on long footftalks ; and they are ob- 
long, broad, of a rough furfacc, and of a redilli 
colour : they are fomewhat dented at the edges ; 
and they are of a fl:rong, but very agreeable tafte 
and fmell. 
The Italks are fquare, redifh, firm, very much 
branched, and a foot and half high. 
The leaves on thefe refemble thofe from the 
root ■, but they have fhorter footfl;alks. 
The flowers are placed in a kind of fpikes at 
the tops of the ftalks and branches ; and they are 
large and blue, often tinged with purple. 
The feeds are moderately large. 
The tops of the plant have a fragrant refin 
about them, which flicks to the fingers ; and 
thefe have more of the fine tafle and fmell of the 
plant than any other part. 
It is a native of the warmer parts of Europe, 
and flowers in July. 
C. Bauhine calls it Salvia major aut fphncelus^ 
Theophrafii. Others, Salvia lalifolia. Our gar- 
deners, Red fag£. 
Ic is a very good medicine againft diforders of 
5 C the 
