FI. of Northumh and Durham, p. 40. — Walk. FI. of Oxl. p 167 —Bah. FI. Batin 
p. 40. — Mack. Catal. of PI. of Jrel. p. 56. ; FI Hibec.pt i. p.21o. — Betonica 
stricta, Ait. Hurt. Kew. (1st ed.) v.ii. p 299. fide Bentltam. — Betonica hirta, 
Leyss. Reichb. Icon. Bot. F.ur. 8.4. t . 710, fide Bentham. — Betonica. Bay'* 
Syn. p. 238.— Johnson's Gerarde, p. 714. — Stachys Betonica, Pentium's. I.a- 
biataruin, p. 532. 
Locautifs. — I n woods, thickets, and on hedge banks, and heaths, among 
bushes. Not uncommon in England; less common in Scotland. 
Perennial. — Flowers in July and August. 
Root somewhat woody, of a yellowish-brown colour, furnished 
with numerous long, whitish, tough fibres. Stem from 1 to 2 fec-t 
high, upright, mostly simple, jointed, leafy, 4-cornered, rough with 
reversed bristles. Leaves oblong, somewhat heart-shaped at the 
base, crenated or bluntly notched, clothed, more or less, with longish 
hairs, especially on the margin and mid-rib ; lower ones on long, 
hairy petioles ; upper ones opposite, nearly sessile. Flowers reddish- 
purple, or rose-coloured, sometimes white, growing in a terminal, 
oblong spike, composed of several sessile, close whorls, the lowest 
of which is usually rather distant from the others, and furnished 
with a pair of small sessile leaves beneath. Bracteas numerous, 
placed under each whorl, spear-shaped, entire, shorter than the 
calyx (see fig 1.). Calyx hairy within. Corolla with the lower 
lip more or less notched, or slightly cloven. Filaments villose. 
Seeds brown, smooth, 3-cornered, the outermost side convex, the 
innermost gibbous. 
Betony was formerly much used in medicine, and considered an 
universal remedy, but it is discarded from modern practice ; per- 
haps merely from the disappointment of unreasonable expectation. 
It is, however, not destitute of virtues, for when fresh it intoxicates ; 
and the dried leaves excite sneezing, a quality supposed to be owing 
only to file rough hairs with which the leaves are clothed. It is 
often smoaked as tobacco. Both this plant and Eyebright (Euphra- 
sia officinalis , t. 72.) enter into the composition of Rowley’s 
British herb tobacco and snuff. An infusion of the leaves was once 
recommended as a substitute for tea. The root promotes vomiting, 
and is violently purgative. 
Antonius Musa, Physician to the Emperor Augustus, intro- 
duced it into such general repute in Italy, that “ sell your coat and 
buy Betony, became a prevalent proverb ; he states it as a remedy 
for no less than 47 disorders ; and hence the proverbial compliment, 
“ may you have more virtues than Betony.” It is said to dye wool 
of a very fine dark yellow colour. 
Puccinia Betdnicce, Hook. Br. FI. v. ii. pt. ir. p. 362, is parasitic 
on the leaves of this plant in the vicinity of Oxford, especially in 
Bagley Wood. It is a fine species, frequently covering nearly the 
whole of the under surface of the leaves. 
ticularly rich; and Dr. Johnston has arranged and described them in such a 
manner, as to make this volume an excellent, amusing, and easy guide to the 
young student of that difficult branch of Botany. On the whole, it is a delight- 
ful little work, and is, certainly, one of the very best and most intaresting of our 
local Floras. 
