SANICLE.

Description:

Sanicula Europaea.—A pretty wild plant growing in woods and under shady hedges. It has many large round leaves standing upon long brownish stalks, every one deeply cut, or divided into five or six parts, and some of these also cut like the leaf of crow's-foot, or dove's-foot., and finely dented at the edges, smooth, and of a dark shining colour, and reddish about the brim; from which rise up small, round, green stalks, without any joint or leaf, except at the top, where it branches into flowers, having a leaf divided into three or four parts at that joint with the flowers, which are small and white, starting gut of small round greenish yellow heads, in a tuft, in which afterwards are the seeds, which are small round burs, almost like the leaves of clovers, and stick in the same manner upon any thing they touch. The root is fibrous.

Herbal Remedies and Medicinal Uses of Sanicle:

It heals green wounds speedily, Or any ulcers, imposthumes, or inward bleeding, and it is good for tumours; for the decoction or powder taken in beer, and the juice applied outwardly, dissipates the humours; and there is not found any herb that can give such instant help, when the disease falls upon the lungs or throat. It is good for healing malignant ulcers in the mouth and throat, by gargling with the decoction of the leaves and roots made in water, and a little honey. It has been celebrated for the cure of ulcers, and ruptures.

There is another Sanicle, called Yorkshire Saiticle, or Butterwort or Marsh Violet; and there are four varieties of it. It grows wild on wet bogs on the moors in the north of England and Scotland, on the mountainous parts. This and its fellow the Bladderwort, are, on account of their beauty, cultivated in some gardens. The Butterwort is easily known by its violet-coloured flowers, and its thick plaintain-shaped leaves growing at the root. The remarkable greasy feel of the leaves, have caused it to be applied to chapped hands and sore nipples. It is applicable to all kinds of sores.