Glechoma hederacea. Ground-ivy. 
GLECHOMA Linnai. Gen. PI. Didynamia Gymnospermia. 
Antherarum fingulum par in formam crucis connivens. Calyx 5-fidus. 
Rati Syn. Gen. 14. Suffrutices et Herbie verticillate. 
GLECHOMA hederacea. Lin. Syjl. Vegetab. p. 445. foliis reniformibus crenatis. Spec. PI. p. 807. 
FI. Suecic. p. 202. 
CHAMiECLEMA caule procumbente radicato, foliis reniformibus rotunde crenatis. Haller hi/i. n. 245. 
CALAMINTHA hederacea. Scopoli. FI. Carniol. p. 423. 
CALAMINTHA humilior, folio rotundiore. Fourn. Injl. R. H. 194. 
HEDERA terreftris. Banhin. Pin. 306. 
HEDERA terreftris. Gerard, emac. 856. 
HEDERA terreftris vulgaris. Parkinfon. 676. Raii Syn. p. 296, Ground-ivy, Gill-go-by-ground, 
Alehoof, or Tunhoof. Hudfon. FI. Angi. p. 224. 
RADIX perennis, fibrofa. 
CAULES feu potius Flagellae plures, tetragoni, humi 
repentes et late fe diffundentes, unde exfur- 
gunt caules floriferi palmares aut femipedales, 
quadrati, hirfuti, (pilis deorfum verfis,) e- 
re£ti, infirmi, geniculati, geniculis pilofis. 
FOLIA oppofita, longe petiolata, fubreniformia, cre- 
nata, venofa, petiolis fuperne fulcatis. 
FLORES purpurei, verticillatim circa caulem difpofiti. 
PEDUNCULI triflori. 
INVOLUCRUM univerfale et partiale, 7%. 2, 3, di- 
phyllum, fetaceum, fed in flofculo interme- 
dio, Jig. 4, partiale defideratur. 
CALYX: Perianthium monophyllum, tubulofum, 
quinquedentatum, dentibus fubsequalibus, a- 
cuminatis, hirfutum, ftriatum, Jig. 5. 
COROLLA monopetala, tubulofa, ringens, tubus tenu- 
is, fuperne compreflus, labium fuperius erec- 
tum obtufum, femibifidum, inferius patens, 
majus, trifidum, lacinia intermedia majori, 
emargmata, ad bafin hirfuta et maculis fa- 
turatius purpureis notata, jig. ), 8. 
STAMINA : Filamenta quatuor fub labio fuperiore, 
quorum duo breviora : An there conmven- 
tes in formam crucis, albae, Jig. 9. 
PISTILLUM : Germen quadrifidum, Jig. 1 1, glandu- 
la cinftum, Jig. 10. Stylus filiformis, corol- 
la longior : Stigma bifidum, acutum. 
PERICARPIUM nullum, calyx in finu fovens 
SEMINA quatuor, ovata. 
ROOT perennial and fibrous. 
STALKS, or rather Shoots, numerous, fquare, creep- 
ing on the ground, and l'preading wide, from 
whence arife the flowering ftalks, which are 
from four to fix inches high, fquare, hirfute, 
(the hairs turning downward,) upright, weak, 
jointed, the joints hairy. 
LEAVES oppofite. Handing on long foot-ftalks, fome- 
what kidney-fhaped, notched, veiny, the 
Ifeaf-ftalks grooved on the upper fide. 
FLOWERS of a purple colour, difpoled in whirls a- 
round the ftalk. 
FLOWER-STALKS fupporting three flowers. 
INVOLUCRUM both univerfal and partial, Jig. 2, 3, 
each compofed of two fine pointed leaves, 
which however are wanting in the middle 
flower, jig. 4. 
CALYX : a Perianthium of one leaf, tubular, with 
five teeth, (which are nearly equal, and long 
pointed,) hairy, and finely grooved. Jig. 5. 
COROLLA monopetalous, tubular, ringent, the tube 
{lender, and comprefled above ; the upper lip 
upright, obtufe, divided half way through ; 
the lower lip larger, fpreading, divided into 
three fegments, of which the middle one is 
largeft, with a flight notch, hairy at its bafe, 
and marked with purple fpots of a deeper co- 
lour, Jig. 7, 8. 
STAMINA : four Filaments placed under the upper 
lip, two lhort and two long : Anthere 
white, forming a crofs, fig. 9. 
PITSILLUM : Germen divided into four. Jig. 1 1, fur- 
rounded' by a gland, Jig. 80 : Style thread- 
ihaped, larger than the corolla : Stigma 
bifid, and pointed. 
SEED-VESSEL none, the calyx in its cavity contain- 
; ing four 
• SEEDS of an oval fhape. 
GROUND- IVY has an aromatic, though not very agreeable fmell ; and a quick, bitterifh, warm tafte. This 
herb Is an ufeful corroborant, aperient, and detergent ; and hence fends recommended againft laxity, debility, 
and obftru&ions of the vifeera. Somg have had a great opinion of it for cleanfing and healing ulcers of the inter- 
nal parts, even of the lungs ; and for purifying of the blood. It is cuftomary to infufe the dried leaves in malt 
liquors ; a praaice not to be commended, though it readily communicates its virtue, and likewife helps to fine 
them down: fcarce any other herb has this effeft more remarkably than Ground-ivy. Lewis's Dijp. p. 150. 
From the latter ufe, the plant has obtained the names of Alehoof and Funhoof Raii hifi. p. 567. 
The juice of the plant drawn up the noftrils, not only mitigates, but totally removes violent and inveterate 
headachs. Ibid. * . . , ,. . 
Notwithftanding the credit which this plant has obtained with former writers on the Materia Medica, the 
modern pra&ice holds it in little eftimation. 
Red hairy tumours are frequently found on it, which are occafioned by the Cynips Glechoma, Lmnat Faun. 
Suecic. n. 1520. _ . 
It flowly expels thofe plants which grow next it, and hence impoverifhes paftures. Lm. FI. ouecic. p. 202. 
Cattle are not fond of it, and horfes are faid to be hurt by feeding on it : . to make amends for this however, the 
juice of the herb, mixed with a little wine, and applied morning and evening, is faid to take away the film on 
horfes eyes. Linn. FI. Suecic. ex Loes. 123. . 
The plant is well known to grow under hedges, in woods, on banks, and fometimes in dry paftures. It 
varies in fize according to its fituation ; the flowers alfo vary in the degrees of purple; and make their 
appearance in April, May, and June. 
