T E U C R I U M Scordium.
Water Germander.
D I D Y N A M I A G y m n o f p e r m i a .
Gen. Char. Upper lip of the corolla divided down
below its bafe and divaricated. Siam, projecting
above it.
Spec. Char. Leaves feffile, oblong, with tooth-like
feri*atures. Flowers axillary, in pairs, on ftalks.
Stem procumbent.
Syn, Teucrium Scordium. Linn. Sp. PI. 790. Sm•
FI. Brit. 606. Hudf. 247. With. 519. FIull. 130.
Relb. 219. Sibth. 180. Woodv. Med. Bot. t. 57.
Scordium. Rail Syn. 246,
T he officinal S c o r d i u m has been fuppofed almoft peculiar
to the marfhes of the Ifle of Ely, where it grows in plenty.
Mr. Relhan has however obferved it infeveral fituations nearer
Cambridge, and from thence we received a wild fpecimen by
favour of the Rev. J. Holme. It has moreover a place in the
F l o r a O x o n i e n f i s . We know of no other part of Britain that
produces it.
The root is perennial and creeping. Stems fpreading, or
even proftrate, fquare, branched, leafy, hairy. Leaves numerous,
oppolite, feffile, elliptical or oblong, ftrongly ferrated,
veiny, a little downy. Flowers about 2 in the bofom of each
leaf, on ftalks, pale purple, fmaller and lefs handfome than
thofe of thè Wall Germander, t . 680. Calyx downy, tubular,
with 5 nearly equal teeth.
The whole herb is very bitter, with a ftrong difagreeable
fcent, fomewhat approaching to garlick. It has been fuppofed
ufeful to cure or to prevent peftilential difeafes, as well as ta
remove obftru&ions, expel worms, and cleanfe ulcers—a fort
©f key to all locks, now grown rufty and out of ufe.