Mouse-ear.
Pilosella.
An exceeding pretty little plant, with whitish leaves, and large bright yellow flowers, frequent on our ditch banks. The leaves grow in little clusters, and are longish and broad, of a dark green on the upper side, but white underneath; and so much of the under part is usually seen, that the whole looks whitish. The stalks trail upon the ground, and take root at every joint: the leaves have long hairs upon them. The stalks which support the flowers rise single. They are hairy, they have no leaves, and each bears only one flower, this stands on the top, and is large, somewhat of the form of the dandelion flower, but of a beautiful pale yellow.
The seeds are winged with down, and the stalks when broken yield a milky juice, but in no great quantity. The plant has scarce any smell, but an austere bitterish taste.
A decoction of the fresh gathered herb is excellent against the bleeding of the piles: and the leaves boiled in milk, may be applied externally, it is good also in the overflowing of the menses, and in all other bleedings, and in the whites.
