Root creeping, long, jointed and fibrous. Stems procumbent, or 
somewhat ascending, nearly cylindrical, leafy, very cellular within. 
Petioles f leaf -stalks ) cylindrical, stout ; nearly concealing the stem 
by their dilated, sheathing base. Leaflets 3, equal, inversely egg- 
shaped, smooth, slightly, waved at the margin, and obscurely toothed, 
each with a thick midrib. Scape ( flower-stalk.) upright, about 
6 or 8 inches high, cylindrical, smooth, arising from within the 
sheaths of the petioles, and terminated by a raceme of forcers, each 
on a short pedicel, with an egg-shaped bractea at its base. Calyx 
wrinkled at the bottom. Corolla flesh-coloured on the outside, 
nearly or quite white within, the disk of its segments beautifully 
fringed with white filaments. Anthers yellow. Fruit an egg- 
shaped capsule about the size of a pea, of 1 cell, and 2 valves. 
Seeds egg-shaped, of a yellowish-brown colour, smooth and shining. 
This is one of the most beautiful of our native plants, and is 
highly deserving the eulogium of the poet: — 
“ Oft where the stream meandering glides, 
Our beauteous Menyanthes hides 
Her clustering, fringed flowers ; 
Nor mid the garden’s sheltering care. 
Of fam’d exotics rich and rare, 
Purple or roseate, brown or fair, 
A plant more lovely towers.” 
In the opinion of Mr. W. Curtis it is equal to the Kalmias, the 
Rhododendrons , and the Ericas of foreign climes, “ which are 
purchased at an extravagant price, and kept up with much pains 
and expence, while this delicate native, which might be procured 
without any expence, and cultivated without any trouble, blossoms 
unseen, and wastes its beauty in the desart air.” To such as wish 
to have this plant flower with them in perfection, Mr. Curtis re- 
commends the following mode of cultivation. “ Collect the roots 
of the plant either in Spring or Autumn, put them in a large pot 
(having a hole at the bottom) filled with bog earth, immerse the pot 
about two-thirds of its depth in water, in which it should continue ; 
the advantage of this method is, that when the plant is coming into 
flower it may be brought into any room and placed in a pan of 
water, where it will continue to blossom for two or three weeks.” 
A single root, which Mr. Curtis treated in this manner, planted 
in the Spring, produced the ensuing May 8 flowering stems, many 
of which had 15 or 16 blossoms on them. 
In the North of Europe, where hops are scarce, this plant has been used as a 
substitute in brewing ale : two ounces being equal to a pound of hops. The 
roots dried and powdered, and mixed with a small quantity of meal, have been 
used in Lapland for making bread, but it is extremely bitter and unpalatable. 
The dried leaves are sometimes smoked. An infusion of the leaves is extremely 
bitter, and is prescribed in rheumatisms and dropsies. A dram of them in 
powder proves drastic and emetic. It is sometimes given to destroy worms ; 
and it has gained reputation in scorbutic disorders, a pint a day of infusion of the 
leaves removing inveterate cutaneous eruptions. 
It has been said that it cures sheep of the rot; but from the Upsal experi- 
ments tt appears that, though goals eat it, sheep seldom do. Cows, horses, and 
swine refuse it. 
In and about Hamburgh, this is called The Flower of Liberty ; and the in- 
habitants pretend that it grows only within the territories of that republic, and 
has never been seen in the South of Denmatk, which adjoins it. 
