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Show 618 WATER-CRESSES. dressed to a young Lady, which never can be too muchpraised, says, Wehave another instance of fatal confusion, not in two plants of this tribe, but in one of this with anotherof a different class ; namely, of the creeping water-parsnep* with water-cress Bs which belongs to the cruciform flowers. You are so well mis. tress of both tribes, that it is impossible you should mistake them when in flower; but this is not the time when water-cresses are eaten, and this plant is so different in its flowering state, that I am persuadedan eater of it would think himself imposed upon if he were then shownit for water-cresses. When they are both young theyare really not unlike; andsince theyfrequently grow together, the one may sometimes be gatheredfor the other; though I must confess that I have not met with the mistake more than twice, andthat onlyin a single piece among a considerable quantity : however, the leaves of water-parsnep are of a light green; the small leaves composing the whole winged or pinnateleaf are longer and narrower, serrated on the edges, and pointed at the end; whereas those of water-cresses have a tincture of brown upon them, the leaflets are roundish, and particularly the odd one at the endis very large and blunt, and they are none of them regularly serrated, but have onlya fewindentures on their edges. MEDICAL VIRTUE. The admirable author of the Kdinburgh NewDispensatory says, Watcr-cress acts as a gentle stimulant and diuretic; for these purposes the expressed juice, which contains the peculiar taste and pungency of the herb, may be taken in doses of an ounce or two, and continued for a considerable time. It should be at the same time eaten at breakfast, also at dinner, andfor supper, to experience benefit from the virtues of this herb. Haller says, Wehave seen patients in deep declines cured by almost entirely living on this plant. Itis reported, he adds, that the juice of this plant snuffed up the nostrils has cured @ polypus of the nose. Jt enters into a composition esteemed famous for curing the scurvy. ee Vide p. 609. rt lel be * Sinm nodiflorum Lin. t Fl. Dan. t. 247. Mor. Hist. s. 9. t.5.°f. 3+ Eng. Bot. 659. 1 f.8. sisymbrivm Nasturtium Lin. FI. Dan. t, 690, Ger. 257. 5, Mor, Hist, s. 3. t. 4- COMMON LADIES-SMOCK, OR CUCKOO-FLOWER. CARDAMINE PRATENSIS. Class XV. Tetradynamia. Order II. Silquosa. Essent, Gen. Cnar. Siliqua bursting elastically with reyolute valves: Stigma entire: Calyx half gaping. Spec. Cuar, Leaves pinnate: Radical Pinne nearly round. pees DESCRIPTION. Tus plant rises near a foot, with a smoothanderect stalk. Leaves few ; radical ones spreading in an orbicular manner, Jarger than the stem leaves, and nearly round ; both terminate in an oddleaf, which is largest. Flowers in acluster terminate the stem, upon smoothlong flower-stalks, conspicuous, of a de- licate blush-red, or whitish purple, delicately veined. HISTORY, Common in moist meadows, and producing its flowers in Apriland May. This is the plant mentioned as a spring flower by our immortal Shakspeare, in Love’s Labour Lost: |