1162 Salmon j- Herbal. Lib. L 
CHAP. DCCI. 
0/ TORMENTIL 
O R, 
S E T F O I L. 
I. 'T' H E Names. It has not been writ of by 
A any of the Antient Greek or Lntinc Au- 
thors, yet fome of our Moderns have given it a 
Greek Name from its iorm, or number of Leaves, 
viz. 'ErnlafvrMv, Utpuipbyllum, from whence it has 
been called in Latine Septifolium , in Englilh Set- 
foil, or Seven-Leav'd Grafs ; which is not proper- 
ly fo, for it has not feven Leaves, but each Leaf 
for the moll part is divided into feven parts, or ve- 
ry eminent divifions, fo that each part looks as if 
it were a particular Leaf. It is alfo called in La- 
tine Tormentilla , and by fome Stelhria , Irom the 
Form of the Leaves ; and by others Confoitia ru- 
bra. , from the eflefls and color of the Roots, and 
in Englilh Tormentil. 
11. The Kinds. There are feveral Species of it, 
but we (hall only treat of two, which are moil 
common with us, viz. 1 . Tormentilla vulgaris , 
VentaphyHum commune Tormentilla minor, Our 
Common Tormentil or Setfoil. 2 . Tormentilla 
major, Tcntaphyllum mojus, Tormentilla vulgaris 
major, Tormentilla Alpine Camerarij, The greater 
Tormentil or Setfoil. 
The Dcfcription.r. 
Ill The firll, or our Common Tormentil or 
Setfoil. Its Root is fmaller than Biftort, but 
blacker without, and fomewhat thick, and not fo 
Tormentil Common. 
red within, and fome times a little crooked , having 
many blackifh Fibres adjoining. This Plant is jo 
like to Cinkfoil, that many mi flake it for the 
fame. It ha s many reddijh fender weak Branches 
riflng up from. the Root , which lye upon the Ground , 
or rather leaning than flanding upright, with many 
Jhort Leaves which fland clofer to the Stalks than 
thofe of Cinkfoil do, with the Pediolus or toot 
flalk encompa fling the Branches at divers places 
but thofe which grow next to the Ground, are fet 
upon long Footflalks , each of whofe Leaves are like 
unto the Leaves of Cinkfoil, but fomething longer 
and lejfer , and dented about the edges , many of 
them divided into but Jive Leaves or parts, but 
moft of them into feven, from whence it took its 
l\ame of Setfoil. And flanding round ( ad it were ) 
in ’ the divifion like a Star, thereby obtain d the 
Name alfo <?/Stellaria ^ yet fome Stalks have fix 
Leaves fornctimes, and jomc eight, ad Nature and 
the Fertility of the Soil are pleas'd to form them. 
At the tops of the Branches , come forth feveral 
fmall yellow Flowers , confifling each of five Leaves , 
exaflly like thofe of Cinkfoil but fmaller. 
IV. The fecond, or greater Tormentil or Setfoil. 
Its Root is black without , reddifh within, and thick , 
tuberous or knobby. As this (with the former) 
may be accounted among the Species of Cinkfoil, 
fo it brings forth many Stalks flender and weak 
Tormentil Greater. 
fcarcely able to lift it felj up, or Hand upright, but 
rather leaning afide j the Leaves tho 5 fomething 
lejfer than Cinkfoil, yet are fomething larger than 
the former jometvvts they may chance to be but 
five in number, but for the mofl part feven (m the 
firft above defer ibed) a little fnipt about the edges' 
and the flowers grow on the tops cf the Stalks , very 
like to thofe cf Cinkfoil. This differs but very 
little 
