WATER PLANTS (Other).
(Water Dropwort, Water Lily, Water Pepper.)
The Water Dropwort–Hemlock (_oenanthe crocata_) is an umbelliferous plant, frequent in our marshes and ditches. [604] It is named from _oinos_, wine, and _anthos_, a flower, because its blossoms have a vinous smell. A medicinal tincture is made (H.) from the ripe fruit.
The leaves look like Celery, and the roots like parsnips. A country name of this plant is Dead-tongue, from its paralyzing effects on the organs of the voice. Of eight lads who were poisoned by eating the root, says Mr. Vaughan, five died before morning, not one of them having spoken a word. Other names are Horsebane, from its being thought in Sweden to cause in horses a kind of palsy; (due, as Linnaeus thought, to an insect, _curculio paraplecticus_, which breeds in the stem); and Five-fingered-root, from its five leaflets. The roots contain a poisonous, milky juice, which becomes yellow on exposure to the air, and which exudes from all parts of the plant when wounded. It will be readily seen that because of so virulent a nature the plant is too dangerous for use as a Herbal Simple, though the juice has been known to cure obstinate and severe skin disease. It yields an acrid emetic principle. The root is sometimes applied by country folk to whitlows, but this has proved an unsafe proceeding. The plant has a pleasant odour. Its leaves have been mistaken for Parsley, and its root for the Skirret.
The _OEnanthe Phellandrium_ (Water Fennel) is a variety of the same species, but with finer leaves. Pliny gave the seeds, twenty grains for a dose, against stone, and disorders of the bladder. Also they have been commended for cancer.
In this country Water Lilies, or Pond Lilies, comprise the White Water Lily–a large native flower inhabiting clear pools and slow rivers–and the Yellow Water Lily, frequent in rivers and ditches, with a yellow, globose flower smelling like brandy, so that it is called “Brandy [605] bottle” in Norfolk and other parts. Its root and stalks contain much tannin.
This latter Yellow Lily (_Nuphar lutea_) possesses medicinal virtues against diarrhoea, such as is aggravated in the morning, and against sexual weakness. A tincture is made (H.) from the whole plant with spirit of wine. The second title, _lutea_, signifies growing in the mud; whilst the large white Water Lily is called _Nymphoea_, from occurring in the supposed haunts of the nymphs: and Flatter-dock.
The root stocks of the Yellow Water Lily, when bruised, and infused in milk, will destroy beetles and cockroaches. The smoke of the same when burnt will get rid of crickets.
The small Yellow Pond Lily bears the name of Candock, from the shape of its seed vessel, like that of a silver can or flagon, and this perhaps has likewise to do with the appellations, “Brandy bottle” and “Water can:” which latter may be given because of the half unfolded leaves floating on the water like cans.
The root of the larger white Water Lily is acrid, and will redden the skill if the juice is applied thereto.
