CULPEPER'S COMPLETE HERBAL

COMMON SHEPHERD'S NEEDLE

Description. This has a long, slender, white root hung with a few slight fibres; the leaves are small, and supported on short foot-stalks; they are finely divided, and their colour is a very dark green. The stalks are numerous, green, branched, and a foot high. The leaves stand irregularly on them, and resemble those from the root; but they are smaller. The flowers are moderately large, and grow in umbels like those of hemlock chervil: they are white, with very little smell.

Place. It is common in corn-fields.

Time. It flowers in August.

Government and virtues. This little plant is under the government of Venus. When taken as a medicine, it operates by urine, and is good against obstructions of the viscera.