Page 3 Advertisements Column 1

Manawatu Herald, 9 March 1897, Page 3

New Zealand Department of Agriculture' JOHN D ; RITCHIE, Secretary. LEAFLETS FOR FARMERS, NO. 8.6 SELF- HEAL (Prunella wlgaria). By T. W. Kirk, F.R.M.S., F.L.S., &c, Lond., Government Biologist. Portions of stem, showing foliage and spike of flowers. From nature. This is usually a low-growing Self-heal, or brunnel, had formerly perennial weed, with square stem, a number of common names in varithickly clothed with hairs; leaves OUB parts o f England, most of which opposite; flowers blue or purple, . * L i! ljj arrwged in whorls, forming a now, however, been abandoned, crowded terminal spike. Its modern name is now nearly the The plant is a native of Europe, same all over Europe — " prunnell " ; and was introduced here many years j n German " prunnellen," and Dutch ago. It is now rapidly «preading, « brnynelie " ; in French, "pro-" especially in somewhat damp or „ „ „ ' , ~, ' r iU barren pastures. nelle - evi(3 <*tly ado P ted il ™ &* Self-heal is reproduced by seed, German; in Italian, "brunella" ; but it sends out shoots in all direc- in Spanish, brunela." tions, which root at the joints, so Like many of the wild flowers of that it soon spreads and clings te- Europe, this plant was formerly naoiously to the earth. credited, with curative properties of The seed-case is brown, smooth, considerable value, and appears in and glossy, about one-twelfth inch most of the old Herbals. It was in length, rounded at the upper end, supposed to be of special service as and gradually tapering to tne base, a healer of cuts and wounds, also for not infrequently found in clover and quinsy and other throat complaints ; graßs«seed. hence the name " self-heal."