A C H I L L E A Ptarmica.
Sneeze-wort Yarrow ; or Goofe-tongue.
SYNGENESI A Polygamia-fuperflua.
G en. Char. Recept. chaffy. Down none. Cal. ovate,
imbricated, unequal. Florets of the radius 5 to 10,
roundifh, or inverfely heart-fhaped.
£pec. Char. Leaves lanceolate, pointed, fharply fer-
rated.
Syn. Achillea Ptarmica. Linn. Sp. PI. 10.66. Sm. FI.
Brit. 908. Hudf. 375. With. 741. Hull. 189.
Relh. 324. Sibth. 260. Abbot. 187. Curt. Lond.
fafc. $.t. 60.
Ptarmica. Rail Syn. 183.
T >
A HIS, though not a very general plant, is plentiful in fome
parts of England about wet hedges and the banks of rivers,
flowering in July and Auguft. It fliould feem by Mr. Curtis’s
account to be more common about London than it is in Norfolk.
In gardens it often occurs with a double flower, that is,
with the tubular florets of the ditk almoft entirely exchanged
for radiant ones; and indeed it frequently happens that the
radius is compofed of more florets than the generic character
allows. Their peculiar fhort roundifh figure however is always
charafteriftic, independent of their number.
Root creeping, perennial, very difficult to be eradicated
where the foil is moift. Stems ere ft, about 2 feet high, angular,
fmooth, terminating in a corymbus of feveral flowers whofe
difk, as well as the radius, is white. Leaves Ample, linear,
fmooth, very neatly and fharply ferrated with little callous
prickly teeth. Calyx rather hairy. Seeds compreffed, dilated
at the edge, but not crowned with any feather or wing. Scales
of the receptacle as long as the florets.
The juice is pungent, provoking a flow of faliva if applied
to the mouth or gums; and the dried herb occafions fneezing,
probably by means of the minute prickles that border the
leaves.