Of Bell flowers.
The kindes.
There be diuers sorts of Bell flowers, whereof the greatest number of them when they be broken or bruised do yeeld a milkie iuice: some likewise be great, others small; differing very notable as well in colour of flowers, as in shape and proportion: which shall be deuided into sundrie chapters, according to the neernesse of them in kinred and neighbourhood: and first we wil describe Couentrie bels, called Viola mariana. | 1 Viola Mariana. | 2 Viola Mariana flore albo. | |--------------------|-------------------------------| | Blew Couentrie bels. | White Couentrie bels. |
The description.
Coventrie bels hath broade leaues, rough and hairie, not vnlike to those of the garden Buglosse, of a swart greene colour: among which do rise stiffe hairie stalkes, the second yeere after the sowing of the seede, which stalke deuideth it selfe into sundrie braunches, whereupon doe growe many faire and pleasant Bell flowers, long, hollowe, and cut on the brim with fiue sleight gashes, ending in fiue corners toward night when the flower shutteth it selfe vp, as do the most of the Bell flowers: in the middle of the flowers be three or fower whitish chiues, as also much downy haire, such as is in the eares of a dogge or such like beast. The whole flower is of a blew purple colour, which being past, there succeede great square or cornered seede vessels, deuided on the inside into diuers cels, or chambers, wherein doe lie scatteringly many small browne flat seeds. The roote is long and great like a parsnep, garnished with many threddie strings, which perisheth when it hath perfected his seede, which is in the seconde yeere after his sowing, and recouereth it selfe againe by the falling of the seede. The second agreeth with the first in each respect, as well in leaues, stalkes, as rootes; and differeth in that, that this plant bringeth foorth milke white flowers, and the other not so.
The place.
They growe in woods, mountaines and darke vallies, and vnder hedges among the bushes, especially about Couentrie, where they growe very plentifully abroad in the fieldes, and are there called Couentrie bels; and of some about London Canterburie bels, but vnproperly; for that there is another kinde of Bell flower growing in Kent about Canterbury, which may more fitly be called Canterburie bels, bicause they growe there more plentifully than in any other countrie. These pleasant Bel flowers we haue in our London gardens, especially for the beauty of their flowers, although they be kindes of Rampions, and the rootes eaten as Rampions are.
The time.
They flower in Iune, Iuly, and August, the seed waxeth ripe in the meane time; for these plants do not bring foorth their flowers all at once, but by parcels; for when one flowreth, another feedeth, and both vpon one branch.
The names.
Couentrie bels are called in Latine Viola Mariana, or Mercuries violets, and Couentrie Rapes, and of some Mariettes. It hath been taken to be Medion, but vnproperly. Of some it is called Rapum syluestre, which the Grecians call γογγύλη ἀγρία.
The vertues.
The roote is colde and somewhat binding, and not vsed in phisicke, but esteemed for one of the sallet rootes, boiled and eat en with oile, vineger and pepper.
Text in Gerard's own spelling (the long s is printed as s), transcribed by the Source Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). A chapter may run onto pages not yet transcribed. Gerard wrote within Galenic medicine; nothing here is advice.