The lesser spurge.
Botanical name:
Esula minor.
A lesser plant than the former, but sufficiently robust; it is a native of the same part of the world, but is common in our gardens. It is a foot high. The leaves are longish and very narrow, but rounded at the end: the stalks are thick, round, and red; the flowers are small and yellow; and the seed vessels large and three cornered. The whole plant is full of a sharp milky juice, but most of all the root.
The bark of the root is used. It works by vomit and stool as the former; but though with less violence, yet too rough for most constitutions. It is good in the rheumatism.
