CULPEPER'S COMPLETE HERBAL

RED SPURGE

Description. This has long, narrow, and sharp-pointed ends; they have short foot-stalks and are smooth of a dead green at first, but afterwards red; they are of a hard, firm substance, and differ as much in that as colour from those of the preceeding species. Towards the top the stalk divides in a number of branches, on which stand the flowers in umbels; they are small, very numerous, and of so deep a purple, that they appear nearly black. The seed is very large; and the whole plant, when it has stood some time, becomes red.

Place. It is found wild in Staffordshire; and also on the mountains in the north of Ireland.

Time. It flowers in May.