Ta: also herba Benedicta,cary-oph. vulgaris, garyophilla, janamunda, avens, herb bennet. It is called caryophyllata, from caryophillus, because its smell resembles that of clove July flowers. Geum urbanum Lin. Sp. Pi. 716. Nat, order ronaceae.

It is perennial, grows wild in woods and hedges, and is found in flower the greatest part of the summer.

The root is gently styptic, corroborant, and stomachic; hath a moderately austere aromatic taste, a pleasant smell, especially in the spring, and when produced on dry warm soils. It has been said to be astringent, vulnerary, and tonic; to cure intermittents where bark has failed. Indeed, it is strongly astringent with some aroma, when recently raised in the spring, and from a dry soil. There is great reason to doubt its efficacy in intermittents, as the experiments of the Swedish physicians contradict those of the Danes and the Germans, who are the great advocates for this medicine. It gives its aroma chiefly to spirits, and its astringent matter to water or to spirit. In distillation with water it affords a small quantity of an agreeable concrete oily and the remaining decoction, if inspissated by evaporation, is moderately astringent. Lewis's Mat. Med. Cullen's Mat. Med.