Cheese Rennet

Cheese Rennet

Cheese Rennet is a native plant that thrives in fields and along roadsides. It features a sturdy, upright, square stem with short branches that culminate in spikes of small yellow flowers, which bloom in July and August.

The flowers of this plant are known to coagulate boiling milk; it is, however, mistakenly believed that the finest Cheshire cheese is made under their influence. According to Dr. Withering, when boiled in alum-water, these flowers impart a yellow hue to wool. The roots yield a vibrant red dye, comparable to that of madder. Additionally, they bestow a similar coloration to the bones of animals that consume them. Based on experiments conducted by the German chemist Succow, a decoction of the entire plant during its flowering stage, when combined with iron vitriol and spirit of salt, produces a striking green color, which can also be transferred to wool and silk.

Sheep and goats consume the yellow bed-straw, while horses, pigs, and cows tend to avoid it. In France, the flowers are recommended for treating hysterical conditions. The juice of the plant has been effectively utilized in Britain; an account in the Edinburgh Medical Commentaries suggests it serves as a potent remedy for scorbutic ailments.

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