Of Willow herbe, or Loose strife.
The kindes (las clases).
Dioscorides and other old writers knew but one herbe Willow, which was that with the yellow flower. The later age hath added three, which are bastarde kindes; two of a purple, and the third of a blew flower. Since wee haue discouered diuers sorts more, one of them hauing leaues like the water Willow, or Osier, which shall be set forth; the rest we will leaue to a second edition, or a further consideration.
The description (la descripción).
The first kinde of Willow herbe hath long and narrow leaues, of a grayish greene colour, in shape like the Willow or Sallow leaues, standing three or fower one against another round about the stalke, which toward the top diuideth it selfe into many other branches: on the tops whereof grow tufts of yellow flowers without smell; which being past, there commeth foorth seede like Coriander. The roote is long and slender. The second kinde of Willow herbe in stalkes and leaues is like the former, sauing that his leaues are not so broad. The flowers growe along the stalke toward the top spike fashion, of a faire purple colour; which being withered, doe growe into downe that is carried away with the winde. 1 Lysimachia lutea. Yellow Willow herbe. 3 Lysimachia siliquosa. Codded Willow herbe. <column-break/> 2 Lysimachia purpurea spicata. Spiked Willow herbe. 4 Chamaenerion. Rose bay Willow herbe. 3 This Lysimachia being the thirde in number, hath leaues and stalkes like the former. The flower groweth at the top of the stalke, comming out of the ende of a small long codde, of a purple colour, in shape like the stocke Gilloflower: and is called of many Filius ante Patrem, that is, the sonne before the father, bicause that the codde commeth foorth first hauing seedes therein, before the flower doth shewe it selfe abroade, which is of a purple colour like Geranium called Doues foote. 4 The fourth being thought by Dodoneus to be a bastard kinde, is (as I do esteeme it) of all the rest the most goodly and stately plant, hauing leaues like the greatest Willow or Ozier. The branches come out of the ground in great numbers, growing to the height of fixe foote, garnished with braue flowers of great beautie, consisting of fower leaues a peece, of an orient purple colour, hauing some thrums in the middle of a yellow colour. The cod is long like the last spoken of, and full of downie matter, which flieth away with the winde when the cod is opened. 5 There is another bastarde Loosestrife, or Willowe herbe, hauing stalkes like the other of his kinde, whereon are placed long leaues snipt about the edges, in shape like the great Veronica, or herbe Fluellen. The flowers growe along the stalkes spike fashion, or like vnto Lauender, of a blewe colour, after which succeede small cods or pouches. The roote is small and fibrous. It may be called Lysimachia Cœrulea, or blewe Willowe herbe. 6 We haue likewise another Willowe herbe that groweth neere vnto the brinkes of riuers and water courses. This I found in a waterie lane leading from the Lord Treasurers house called Thibals vnto the backside of his slaughter house: and in other places as shall be declared heereafter: which L'Obelius hath called Lysimachia galericulata, or hooded Willowe herbe. It hath many small tender stalkes trailing vpon the grounde, beset with diuers leaues, somewhat snipt about the edges, of a deepe greene colour like vnto the leaues of Scordium, or water Germander: among which are placed sundrie small blew flowers, fashioned like a little hoode, in shape resembling those of Alehooue. The root is small and fibrous, dispersing it selfe vnder the earth far abroad, whereby it greatly increaseth. | 7 Lysimachia campestris. | 8 Lysimachia syluatica. | | :--- | :--- | | Wilde Willowe herbe. | Wood Willowe herbe. | 7 The wilde Willow herbe hath fraile and verie brittle stalkes, slender, and of the height of a cubite, sometimes higher: whereupon do growe sharpe pointed leaues somewhat snipt about the edges, set together by couples. There come foorth at the first long slender coddes, wherein is conteined small seede, wrapped in a cottonie or downie wooll, that is caried awaie with the winde when the seede is ripe; at the ende of which commeth foorth a small flower of a purplish colour, whereupon it was called Filius ante Patrem, bicause the flower doth not appeere vntill the cod be filled with his seede: but there is another sonne before the father, as hath beene declared in the chapter of meadowe Saffron. The roote is small and threddie. 8 The woode Willow herbe hath a slender stalke diuided into other smaller braunches, wheron are set long leaues, rough and sharpe pointed, of an ouetworne greene colour. The flowers growe at the tops of the braunches, consisting of fower or fiue small leaues, of a pale purplish colour tending to whitenes, after which come longs cods, wherin are little seeds wrapped in a certaine white downe, that is caried away with the winde. The roote is threddie.
The place (el lugar).
The yellow Lysimachia groweth plentifully in moist medowes, especially along the medowes as you go from Lambeth to Battersey neer London, and in many other places throughout England. The second groweth in places of greater moisture, yea almost in the running streames, and standing waters, or harde by them. It groweth vnder the Bishops house wall at Lambeth, neere the water of Thames, and in moist ditches in most places of England. The third groweth neere the waters (but not in the waters) in all places for the most part. The fourth groweth in Yorkeshire in a place called the Hooke, neere vnto a close called the Cow pasture; from whence I had these plants, which do grow in my garden very goodly to behold, for the decking vp of houses and gardens. The fift groweth hard by the Thames, as ye go from a place called the Diuels Neckerchefe to Redreffe, neere vnto a stile that standeth in your way vpon the Thames banke, among the plankes that do hold vp the same banke. It groweth also in a ditch side not farre from the place of execution, called Saint Thomas Waterings.
The time (la época).
These herbes flower in Iune and Iuly, and oftentimes vntill August.
The names (los nombres).
Lysimachia, as Dioscorides and Plinie doe write, tooke his name of a speciall vertue that it hath in appeasing the strife and vnrulinesse which falleth out among oxen at the plough, if it be put about their yokes: but it rather retaineth and keepeth the name Lysimachia, of King Lysimachus the sonne of Agathocles, the first finder out of the nature and vertues of this herbe, as Plinie saith: which retaineth the name of him vnto this day, and is made famous of Erasistratus in his 25. booke, chap. 7. Ruellius writeth, that it is called in French Cornelle and Corneola: in Greeke λυσιμαχιον: of the Latines Lysimachium: of Plinie Lysimachia: of the later writers Salicaria: in high Dutch Wederick: in English Willow herbe, or herbe Willow, and Loose strife. Chamanerium is called of Gesnerus Epilobion: in English Bay Willow, or Bay Willow herbe.
The temperature (el temperamento).
The yellow Lysimachia, which is the chiefe and best for phisicke vses, is colde and drie, and very astringent.
The vertues (las virtudes).
The iuice according to Dioscorides, is good against the bloodie flixe, being taken either by potion or glister. It is excellent good for greene wounds, and stancheth the blood: being also put into the nostrils it stoppeth the bleeding at the nose. The smoke of the burned herbe driueth away serpents, and killeth flies and gnats in a house which Plinie speaketh of in his 25. booke, chap. 8. Snakes saith he, craull away at the smell of Loose strife. The same author affirmeth in his 26. booke, last chap. that it dieth haire yellow; which is not very vnlike to be done by reason the flowers are yellow. The others haue not beene experimented, wherefore vntill some matter woorthy the noting doth offer it selfe vnto our consideration, I will omit further to discourse hereof. The iuice of yellow Lysimachia taken inwardly, stoppeth all fluxe of blood, and the Dysenteria or bloodie flixe.
Texto en la ortografía original de Gerard, en inglés de 1597 (la s larga se imprime como s), transcrito por la Source Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). Un capítulo puede continuar en páginas aún no transcritas. Gerard escribía dentro de la medicina galénica; nada de esto es un consejo.