Soap-Wort, the Common, or Bruiskwort, Saponaria officinalis, L. a native perennial, growing in meadows and hedges; flowering in July and August. - The leaves possess a disagreeable bitter taste : if bruised and agitated with water, they produce a saponaceous froth, which may serve for removing greasy spots from linen, as well as woollen cloths ; but it discharges no colours. - The roots are somewhat pungent, have a sweetish taste, and in smell resemble those of liquorice : a strong tincture may be prepared, by digesting them in rectified spirits. - In medicine, this plant is now exploded ; but, in domestic economy, the sap expressed from the root, stalk, and leaves, may be employed as a substitute for soap, in cleansing raw or coarse cloth, and likewise for fine linen, in the washing of which, it will save at least one-half of that expensive article, otherwise required. - Lastly, the admirers of winged insects may catch the most beautiful butterflies on the flowers of the common soap-wort, which are visited by them during twilight.