16 THE NEW ZEALAND FAMILY HERB DOCTOR. 
Tho following description will give the reader an idea of its 
appearance. It shoots forth from one square, slender stalk, 
tae small branches leaning downward; all round on the branch 
are long leaves, finely cut and jagged, of a green, 
sea-blue, pale colour, becoming whiter as the autumn comes 
on; at the end of the branches stand many flowers ina long 
spike, as Dr Robinson remarks, like little birds, of a reddish, 
purple colour with white centres; after the flowers come small 
brown husks having small black seeds. The root is yellow, 
small, and not long. 
The medicinal properties of this plant are not confined to 
its alterative quality, it is recommended as a tonic, The 
expressed juice, a deobstruent, that is, clearing obstructions 
from the internal organs; also as a remedy in inflammation of 
the eye, dropped into it first causing pain, after, taking out 
redness, swelling, and clearing the sight. Mixed with the 
Juice of dock and vinegar, itis good as an outward application 
in pimples, blotches, scabs, &c. The infusion of the dried 
hert is an ounce tc the pint, of which one or two wineglassfuls 
may be taken three to six times a day. 
BITTERSWEET ‘So:ancm DvicaMaRa). 
(Woody Night Shade.) 
Tais is another climbing shrub, with a round, slender- 
branching stem, rising scmetimes six to eight feet high. The 
leaves are soft and smooth, of a dark green colour. The 
flowers are arranged in clusters of a viclet blue and purple 
colour, with a green spot at their base, and a yellow tinge at 
the top. The berries are oval, and of a bright scarlet. They 
continue to hang in beautiful clusters after the leaves are gone. 
The Bittersweet is common in America and Europe. The twigs 
and bark are the parts used in medicine, and should be gathered 
in autumn. The strongest and best is the bark of the root, 
which may be known by the red colour of the middle layer of 
its coating. It possesses but feeble narcotic properties, 
although it belongs to a family of plants some of which, like 
