The Northern Flora (Volume 1); Or a Description of the Wild Plants Belonging to the North and East of Scotland with an Account of Their Places of Grow

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1836. Excerpt: ... 96 SHKRARDIA.--PLANTAGO. TETRANDRIA. that there may be a minute formation of Prussic acid both in this plant and Anthoxanthum odoratum, when in a drying state. The smell countenances this opinion; and I have often felt headach and giddiness from being in a hay-field upon a hot day. Asperula odorata has been used for giving a flavour to wine, though, considering the above conjecture, the practice may not be entirely without risk. It is reported to be put into wine to make a man merry. So it is said in an old Herbal; and if the combination be liberally enough made use of, it will doubtless lead to the specified effect! GENUS IV. SHERARDIA. Calyx permanent, of one leaf with six teeth. Corolla of one funnel-shaped petal. Fruit of two, united, naked seeds, each crowned with three teeth from the calyx. SPECIES. 1. Sherardia arvensis. Blue Sherardia. Stems several, not erect, a few inches long. Leaves about six in a whorl, entire, oval, pointed, tapering at the base. Flowers small, pale-blue, in a kind of sessile umbel at the extremity of the plant. Fruit of two oblong, united seeds, each marked with three green lines, corresponding to the teeth of the calyx, by which the summit is crowned. Not uncomrnom in dry fields; but probably never remote from cultivation. In the neighbourhood of Aberdeen and Stonehaven. Rather rare in the district of Alford. Annual--flowering in the summer months. Obs.--I shall only refer to the small, pale-blue flowers, placed at the end of the plant, with the nearly prostrate stem and the leaves in whorls, whereof the upper form a kind of collar to the heads of flowers. The genus is named in honour of James Sherard, an English Botanist, and Patron of Botany. GENUS V. PLANTAGO. Calyx of one leaf, in four permanent segments. Corolla t...