The Roman Nettle.
Urtica Romana.
Also see: Nettle - Roman Nettle.
A wild plant of the nettle kind, but not common. It is two feet high, the stalks are round, and of a deep green colour. The leaves are large, and of a deep green also; broad at the base, narrow to the point, and deeply serrated. The flowers are small and inconsiderable, the fruit is a round ball, as big as a large pea, it stands on a long foot-stalk, and is of a deep green colour, and full of small brown seeds. All the plant is covered with the same sort of prickles as the common nettle, but they are shorter and finer; they are silvery, white at the tips, and have the same bag of liquor at the base, and they sting very terribly; more a great deal than the common nettle.
The seeds are the part used; they are good against coughs, shortness of breath, and hoarsenesses; the seeds of the common nettle are commended for this purpose, but these are greatly preferable. The best way of giving them is in the manner of tea, sweetened with honey.
