CULPEPER'S COMPLETE HERBAL

COMMON OR MALE PIMPERNEL

Description. This is a small low plant, not above a span high, having a great many square smooth stalks, with small chickweed-like leaves, set one opposite to another, without foot-stalk, full of small, round, blackish, red spots underneath; the flowers spring from the setting on of the leaves, and grow singly on long foot-stalks, being a flower of one leaf divided into five partitions, of a beautiful scarlet colour. The seed-vessel is round, opening horizontally in the middle, when the seed is ripe, which is small and round, of a dark brown colour. The root is small and thready, perishing every year.

Place. It grows in corn-fields.

Time. It flowers in May and June.