﻿small resinous dots, which yield an aromatic oil. The bases of the 

 2 opposite leafstalks are connate, and form a membranous, ciliated 

 ring round each joint of the stem. Flowers blue, with a white 

 palate, about 3 together, on short, branching, axillary peduncles. 

 Bracteas very small, awl-shaped, at the base of the flower-stalks. 

 Dr. Stokes observes, in “ Withering’s Botanical Arrangements,” 

 that the stamens are occasionally imperfect, consisting of filaments 

 only half the usual length, terminated by a reddish blunt point ; 

 sometimes they are furnished with anthers, pale brown, containing 

 no pollen, and scarcely broader than the filaments. When the an- 

 thers are perfect they form a cross, or the shape of the letter X. 



The whole plant is more or less downy, with an agreeable fra- 

 grance, and a bitterish taste, somewhat aromatic. It was formerly 

 in considerable estimation, and supposed to possess great medical 

 powers. In obstinate co' ghs it is still a favourite remedy with the 

 common people ; but it is seldom prescribed by medical practi- 

 tioners, and is wholly discarded from the materia medica of the 

 London College. Mr. Ray gives a remarkable instance of its 

 efficacy in removing a violent and inveterate head-ach by drawing 

 the juice of the plant up the nostrils. The leaves were formerly 

 thrown into the vat with ale, to clarify it, and to give it a flavour ; 

 this was called gill-ale ; and thus prepared, was often drank as an 

 anti-scorbutic. Linnaeus informs us, in his Flora Suecica , p. 202, 

 that it gradually expels plants which grow near it, and thus im- 

 poverishes pastures. It is said to be hurtful to horses, if they eat 

 much of it. According to Linnaeus, sheep eat it, horses are not 

 fond of it, and it is refused by cows, goats, and swine. The ex- 

 pressed juice, mixed with a little wine, and applied morning and 

 evening, destroys the white specks upon horses’ eyes. 



Little protuberances, composed of many cells, are sometimes 

 found upon the leaves, and are occasioned by insects, especially 

 gall-gnats, Cecidomyiw, Latra, Tipulce, Linn. Phalcena libatrix 

 and Cynips glechome live upon it. Withering. 



Anthidium manicatum , Curt. Brit. Entom. v. ii. t. 6 1 , (Apis mani- 

 cata of Linn.) may occasionally be detected in the act of collecting 

 the lomentum from this and other plants furnished with short 

 woolly hair or down, for the purposes of nidification. 



A small parasitical fungus, Puccinia Glechomatis of Link, in 

 Willd. Sp. FI. v. vi. pt. ii. p. 71, is not uncommon on the under sur- 

 face of the leaves of this plant in the neighbourhood of Oxford. 



If the Botanical Student will examine the leaves of plants during the Spring 

 and Summer months, he will frequently find, especially on their under surface, 

 many curious and beautiful species of minute fungi, which, if examined with 

 a good microscope, will display more beauty of colour, and elegance of form, 

 than many of the larger and more conspicuous productions of the vegetable 

 kingdom. “ Those,” says the author of The Naturalist's Poetical Com- 

 panion, “ who have once tasted the pleasure, that the examination of these 

 minima of citation afford . will not he deterred from the pursuit by the laugh of 

 ignorance, or the fastidiousness of pretended superiority.” 



How sweet to muse upon the skill display’d 

 (Infinite skill !) in all that I Ik has made: 



To trace in Nature’s most minute design 



The signature and stamp of l’ower Divine. — Cowper. 



