Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Rue, the Meadow

RUE, the Meadow, or Thalictrum, L. a genus of plants, comprising twenty-three species, four ot which only are indigenous: the principal of these, is the flavum, Common Meadow-rue, Spurious Rhubarb, or Rue-weed: it is perennial, grows in moist meadows, pastures, and on the banks of rivers; where it flowers in the month of June.

The root, branches, and leaves of this plant, impart to wool a yellow colour; which, on adding sal-ammoniac, assumes a pale shade; and, on dropping oil of tartar into the decoction, acquires an orange colour; but, in order to give it lustre, the cloth should be immersed in alum-water; and the tint itself may be fixed, by dissolving cream of tartar in the last liquor. A cataplasm prepared of the leaves, is said to have afforded relief in the Sciatica: See Rheumatism.—From the yellow flowers, bees extract a large portion of honey.—Cows, horses, goats, and sheep, eat the Meadow-rue; but it is disliked by hogs.