as a poultice, and inwardly as a
decoction, when an astringent is needed. It is most useful for a
spongy state of the gums, attended with looseness of the teeth.

This plant grows in moist meadows, but is not common. Its roots are
reddish of colour inside.

The Bistort contains starch, and much tannin; likewise its rhizome
(crooked root) furnishes gallic acid. The decoction is to be made
with an ounce of the bruised root boiled in a pint of water; one
tablespoonful of this may be given every two hours in passive
bleedings, and for simple diarrhoea. Other names for the [608] plant
are Osterick, and Twice writhen (_bis tort_), Red legs, and Man
giant, from the French _mangeant_, eatable.

WHITETHORN.
(_See_ "Hawthorn," _page 245_.)

WHORTLEBERRY.
(_See_ "Bilberry," _page 52_.)

WOODRUFF.

Concerning the Sweet Woodruff (_Asperula odorata_), it is a
favourite little plant growing commonly in our woods and gardens,
with a pleasant smell which, like the good deeds of the worthiest
persons, delights by its fragrance most after death. This herb is of
the Rubiaceous order, and gets its botanical name from the Latin
_asper_, rough, in allusion to the rough leaves possessed by its
species.

It may be readily recognised by its small white flowers set on a
slender stalk, with narrow leaves growing round it in successive
whorls, just as in the Cleaver (Goosegrass), which belongs to the
same order.

The name Woodruffe has been whimsically spelt Woodderowffe,
thus:--

Double U, double O, double D, E
R, O, double U, double F, E.

Its terminal syllable, "ruff," is derived from _rofe_, a wheel,--with
the diminutive _rouelle_, a little wheel or rowel, like that of an
ancient spur,--which the verticillate leaves of this herb closely
resemble. They serve to remind us also of good Queen Bess, and of
the high, starched, old-fashioned ruff which she is shown to wear
[609] in her portraits. Therefore, the plant is known as Woodrowel.

When freshly gathered, it has but little odour, but when dried it
exhales a delightful and lasting aroma, like the scent of meadow
grass, or of peach blossoms.

A fragrant and exhilarating tea may be made from the leaves and
blossoms of the sweet Woodruffe, and this is found to be of service
in correcting sluggishness of the liver. "When it is desired," says
Mr. Johns, "to preserve the leaves merely for their scent, the stem
should be cut through just below and above a joint