The 
BRITISH HE R B A L. 
375 
, , r J n- j-nr, mlfpd in the cup. He ioins the Jtmbas and this under one 
and two Ihorter, and the f-ds ftand.ng ^ f ' ' J^;^ Sufficiently diMnguimed fton, the others 
common genus . but the fp.ked Ao-- ^ ^ , leaf the Mhas has at 
by their plain, fimple llruaure, and by tne waui 
the top. 
r. Common Lavender. 
havenida •oulgaru. 
The root is woody, long, thick, and furnllhed 
with numerous fibres. 
The plant rifes in form of a low, bulhy 
flirub The main ftem is covered with a rough, 
erey bark ; and the long young (hoots are green. 
The leaves are long, narrow, and undivided 
at the edges, of a pale green colour, and of a 
very ftrong and aromatick fmell. 
The flowers grow at the tops of all the Ilioots 
in fpikes: they are fmall, and of a beautiful 
blue: thefetops, with the flowers, have an ex- 
tremely fragrant fcent. 
The feeds are fmall and brown. 
It is a native of the warmer parts of Europe. 
We keep it in gardens for its fragrance and its 
virtues. 
C. Bauhinc calls it Laveniula latifolia. Others, 
Lavendula vulgaris. 
The tops of the plant, gathered juft as the 
flowers are opening, poffefs its full virtues ; they 
are excellent in nervous difordcrs, good againft 
headachs and paralytick complaints, and ex- 
tremely cordial and Ilrengthening. 
In vertigoes it is of great fervice, and againft 
tremblings of the limbs. It alfo operates by 
urine, and promotes the menfcs. 
A conferve of thefe tops is a very good me- 
thod of ufing them. The fpirit called fpirit of la- 
mnier alio poffeflis their virtues very fully ; and 
has the advantage of many other good ingre- 
dients of the fame intention. This is beft taken 
on fugar. 
2. Small Lavender. 
Lavendula anguftifolia miliar. 
The root is long, firm, woody, and hunt 
about with innumerable fibres. 
The plant rifes like the common lavender in : 
(hrubby tbrm. 
The leaves are numerous ; and they are ob- 
long, very narrow, and of a frefh and lively 
irreen : they have the fmell of lavender leaves, but 
Icfs ftrong. 
The flowers ftand in ftiort fpikes at the tops of 
the branches ; and they are larger than in the 
common lavender, and of a pale blue. 
The feeds are fmall and dark. 
It is common in the fouth of France, and in 
all the warmer parts of Europe. It flowers in 
Auguft. 
C. Bauhine calls it Lavendula angufiifolia. 
Others, Lavendula minor, and Spiea. 
An oil made from this ufed to be brought over 
from Italy, and here called oil of fpike. 
It has the fame virtues with the former, but in 
an inferior degree. 
3. Jaj!ged-Ieaved Lavender. 
Lavendula foliis difjetlis. 
The root is woody, irregular, and coveretJ 
over with fibres. 
The plant is ftirubby, and a foot and half high. 
The ftalks are fquare, and of a pale green, 
often toward the bottom redilh. 
The leaves arc very beautifully divided in the 
pinnated manner -, and the fmall parts relembling 
pinna are again divided or nicked at the edges : 
they are of a whitilh colour, and of an extremely 
fragrant fmell. 
The flowers are blue, and very fragrant : they 
ftand in ftiort fpikes upon the tops of long, naked 
ftioots in the manner of thofe of the common laven- 
der ; and they have the fame fragrant fmell. 
The feeds are fmall and.brown. 
It is a native of Spain, and flowers early in the 
fummer. 
C. Bauhine calls it Lavendula folio dijfeSlo. 
Others, Lavendula mullif do folio. 
Its virtues are the fame with thofe of common 
lavender, but in an inferior degree. 
GENUS III. 
s r CE C H J s. 
mHE flower is labiated, and formed of a fingle petal. The tubular part is cyllndrick and 
1 longer than the cup. The upper lip is fplit into two parts, and is larger than the ""d" Th.s 
laft is divrded into three roundiftr equal fegments. The cup is fmall, of an oval figur ^"^ ve^ ob- 
frurelv dented at the edges. The feeds are four after every flower ; and they are fmall and oblong, 
m flowers are coUeaed into a fpike, formed of feveral regular ferles, and terminated at its top by 
Linllm pTacTs'this'among the didynamia gymnoffermia ; the flower having t*o longer and two 
ftiorter threads, and the feeds ftanding naked in the cup. 
TOs author joins it in the fame genus with Wfr ; but it has its antient feparate name ; and 
there is enough in Nature to fupport the diftinftion. 
I. Common 
