Of Sea Rush grasse.

| 1 Iuncus Marinus gramineus. | 2 Iuncus lævis. | | :--- | :--- | | Sea Rush grasse. | Common Rushes. |

The description.

1 The flowers of this Sea Rush grasse are faire and beautifull, very much downie, in maner like Iuncus odoratus, but thicker, growing togither like a foxe taile, fiue or sixe inches long, hauing the bright glosse of white silke, or rather siluer, topped as aforesaid like Alopecurus, and leafed like Schœnante. 2 The rootes of our Common Rushes are long and hairie, spreading largely in the ground, from which as from one entire tuft, proceedeth a great companie of small Rushes: so exceedingly well knowen, that I shall not neede to spend much time about the description thereof. 3 There be sundrie sorts of Rushes besides the former, whose pictures are not extant, and the rather for that the generall description of Rushes, as also their common use and seruice are sufficient to leade us to the knowledge of them. This great Water grasse or Bull rush, in steed of leaues bringeth foorth many straight twiggie shootes or springs, which be round, smooth, sharpe pointed, and without knots. Their tuft or flower breaketh foorth a little beneath the top, upon the one side of the rush, growing vpon little short stems like grape clusters, wherein is contained the seede after the fashion of a speares point. The rootes be slender and full of strings. Plinie and Theophrastus before him, affirme that the rootes of the rush do die euerie yeere, and that it groweth againe of the seede. And they affirme likewise, that the male is barren, and groweth againe of the yoong shootes; yet I could neuer obserue any such thing. 4 Iuncus acutus, or the sharpe Rush, is likewise common and well knowen: not much differing from Iuncus læuis, but harder, rougher, and sharper pointed: fitter to straw houses and chambers than any of the rest: for the others are so soft and pithie, that they turne to dust and filth with much treading; where contrariwise this rush is so hard, that it will last found much longer. | 3 Iuncus aquaticus maximus. Great Water Rush, or Bull Rush. | 4 Iuncus acutus. Sharpe Rush, or hard Rush. | |---------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|

The place.

1 Iuncus Marinus gramineus, Francis Penny of famous memorie, a learned phisition and expert herbarist, found this Sea rush in the coast of the Mediterrane sea, in the way as he trauelled to Piscaire, and hath not as yet been found in England. 2 Iuncus læuis groweth in fertill fields, and medowes that are somewhat moist. 3 Iuncus aquaticus groweth in standing pooles, and by riuers sides in most places. 4 Iuncus acutus groweth vpon drie and barren grounds, especially neere the furrowes of plowed land. I neede not speake of their time of growing, they being so common as they are.

The names.

The Rush is called in Greeke σχοῖνος : in Latine Iuncus: in high Dutch Binken : in lowe Dutch Biesen : in Italian Giunco: in Spanish Iunco: in French Ionc: in English Rushes. The Grecians haue called the Bull rush ὁλοσχοῖνος . Iuncus læuis is that rush which Dioscorides called σχοῖνος λεῖα . Iuncus acutus is called in Greeke ὀξυσχοῖνος . In Dutch Yseren Biesen .

The temperature.

These rushes are of a drie nature.

The vertues.

The seede of rushes dried at the fire, and drunke with wine alaied with water, staieth the laske, and the ouermuch flowing of womens termes. Galen yeeldeth this reason thereof, bicause that their temperature consisteth of an earthie essence, moderately cold and waterie, and meanly hot: and therefore doth the more easily drie vp the lower parts, and by little and little send vp the cold humors to the head, whereby it prouoketh drowsines and desire to sleepe; but causeth headach, whereof Galen yeeldeth the reason as before. The tender leaues that be next the roote, make a conuenient ointment against the bitings of the spider called Phalangium. The seede of the Bull rush is most soporiferous; and therefore the greater care must be had in the administration thereof, least in prouoking sleepe, you induce a drowsines, or deepe sleepe.