Burnet, the English name of two closely
[Sanquisorba] officinale) is common in meadows in all parts of Europe. It is cultivated in Germany on poor soils for fodder. The root-stock is astringent, and was formerly used in medicine.—Common Burnet (Potterium Sanquisorba) grows in dry pastures, especially on chalky soils, on which it sometimes becomes of importance, and has also been cultivated as a fodder plant. It grows wild in the United States. It used to be cultivated in gardens, its slightly astringent leaves being used in salads or soups, also as an ingredient in cool tankard (the name Potterium being from a Greek word signifying a drinking-vessel). S. Canadensis is an interesting American species sometimes cultivated in gardens.