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Nailwort, or Witlowgrass

Description. This very small and common herb hath no root, save only a few strings; neither doth it ever grow to be above a hand's breadth high, the leaves are very small, and something long, not much unlike those of chickweed, among which rise up divers slender stalks, bearing many white flowers, one above another, which are exceeding small: after which come small flat pouches containing the seed, which is very small, but of a sharp taste. Place. It grows commonly upon old stone and brick walls, and sometimes in dry gravelly grounds, especially if there be grass or moss near to shadow it. Time. They flower very early in the year, sometimes in January, and in February; for before the end of April they are not to be found. Government and virtues. It is held to be exceeding good for those imposthumes in the joints, and under the nails, which they call whitlows, felons, audicous, and nailwheals.