Of Wilde Cow wheate.

| 1 Crateogonon album. | 2 Crateogonon rubrum. | | :--- | :--- | | Wilde Cow wheate. | Red leafed Cow wheate. |

The description.

The first kinde of wilde Cow wheate Clusius in his Pannonick history calleth Parietaria sylvestris, or wilde Pellitorie: which name according to his owne words if it do not fitly answer the plant, he knoweth not what to call it, for that the Latins haue not giuen any name thereunto; yet bicause some haue so called it, he retaineth the same name. Notwithstanding he refereth it vnto the kinds of Melampyrum or Cow wheate, or vnto Crateogonum the wilde Cow wheat, which it doth very well answer in diuers points. It hath an hairie fower square stalk, very tender, weak & easie to break, not able to stand vpright without the helpe of his neighbors that dwel about him, a foote high or more, whereupon do grow long thin leaues, sharpe pointed and snipt about the edges like the teeth of a sawe, of a darke purplish colour, somtimes greenish, set by couples, one opposite against the other: among the which come foorth two flowers at one ioint, long & hollow, somwhat gaping like the flowers of a dead nettle, at the first of a pale yellow, and after of a bright golden colour; which do flowre by degrees, first a few, and then more; by means wherof it is long in flowring: which being past there succeede small cups or seed vessels, wherein is conteined browne seed not vnlike to wheate. The whole plant is hairie, not differing from the plant Stichwoort. 2 Red leafed wilde Cow wheate is very like vnto the former, sauing that the leaues be narrower, and the tuft of leaues more iagged. The stalks and leaues are of a reddish horseflesh colour. The flowers in forme are like the other, but in colour differing; for that the hollow part of the flower with the heele or spurre is of a purple colour, the rest of the flower yellow. The seede and vessels are like the precedent. 3 Crateogonon Euphrosine. Eiebright Cow wheate. 3 This kinde of wilde Cow wheate Taber Montanus hath set foorth vnder the title of Odontites: others haue taken it to be a kinde of Euphrasia or Eiebright, bicause it doth in some sort resemble it, especially in his flowers. The stalks of this plant are small, tender, and weake, not able to stand alone, rough and square. The leaues are indented about the edges, sharpe pointed, and in most points resembling the former Cow wheate: so that of necessitie it must be of the same kinde, and not a kinde of Eiebright, as hath beene set downe by some.

The place.

These wilde kindes of Cow wheate do growe commonly in fertill pastures, and bushie copses, or low woods, and among bushes vpon barren heaths and such like places. The two first do growe vpon Hampsted heath neere London, among the Iuniper bushes, and Bilberrie bushes in all the parts of the said heath, and in euery part of Englande where I haue trauelled.

The time.

They flower from the beginning of May to the end of August.

The names.

1 The first is called of L'Obelius Crateogonon: of Taber Montanus Milium syluaticum, or Wood Millet, and Alsine syluaticum, or Wood Chickweed. 2 The second hath the same titles: in English Wilde Cow wheate. 3 The last is called by Taber Montanus, Odontites: of Dodoneus, Euphrasia altera and Euphrosine: wherein I thinke he mistooke it. Hippocrates called the wilde Cow wheate Polycarpum and Polycritum.

The vertues.

There is not much set downe either of the nature or vertues of these plants: onely it is reported that the seedes do cause giddines and drunkennes as Darnell doth. The seede of Crateogonon made in fine flower, and giuen in broth or otherwise, mightily prouoketh venerie. Some write that it will likewise cause women to bring foorth male children.