the Genera Plantarum, and Flora Lapponica, and 
also mentioned in his Critica Botanica, as ‘ a 
humble, despised, and neglected Lapland plant, 
flowering at an early age ’ like the person whose 
name it bears. 
The Linnsea borealis is not without its due 
share of reputation as a medicinal plant. ‘An 
infusion of the leaves, with milk, is esteemed a 
specific among the Swedes, in rheumatic and 
sciatic disorders.’ The inhabitants of West Both- 
nia cure painful complaints in the feet of their 
sheep with a cataplasm or fomentation of this 
herb. The smoke of it, when burnt, is thought by 
the Norwegians beneficial in the cure of the 
scarlet fever, and its decoction in the itch. 
It is a native of dry, stony, mossy ancient, fir 
woods, in Sweden, Siberia, Russia, Switzerland, 
and North America. Scotland also claims it as 
one of her offspring. 
From its associations this plant has always been 
regarded with more than common interest ; and 
the more so from its rarity, which has arisen 
merely from the proper method of cultivating it 
not having been understood. This induced us to 
publish in the Auctarium, section 193, directions 
by which it may be grown in luxuriance ; the 
chief points of which are, to obtain good peat, and 
as the plant extends itself, to peg down and par- 
tially cover its creeping shoots. Although the 
flowers are small, a healthy patch of the plant, in 
a cool corner of the garden, is quite a desideratum, 
and the perfume of the flowers in the evening, is 
not one of its least important recommendations. 
Don’s Syst. Bot. 3, 452. 
