Of Sea Pennywoort.

| | | |---|---| | 1 Androsace Mathioli. Sea Nauell woort. | 2 Androsace annua spuria. One sommers Nauell woort. |

The description.

The Sea Nauelwoort hath many round thicke leaues like vnto little saucers, set vpon small and tender stalkes, bright, shining and smooth, of two inches long, for the most part growing vpon the furrowed backs of the shell fish called Chamæconcha, euery small stem bearing vpon the end or point, one little buckler and no more, resembling a nauell; the stalke and leafe set together in the middle of the same. Whereupon the Herbarists of Montpelier haue called it Umbilicus Marinus, or Sea Nauell. The leaues and stalkes of this plant, whilest they are yet in the water, are of a pale ashe colour, but being taken foorth, they presently waxe white, as Sea Mosse called Corallina, or the shell of a Cockle. It is thought to be barren of seede, and is in taste saltish and bitter. It were a maruell to consider (as I haue done) how far, euen the best writers haue beene deceiued in the description of this plant. But we must remember, that no man liuing knoweth all things, and Aliquando bonus dormit at Homerus: it is a good horse that neuer stumbleth. 2 The second Androsace hath little smooth leaues, spred vpon the ground like vnto the leaues of small Chickweede, or Hennebit, whereof doubtlesse it is a kinde: among which riseth vp a slender stem, hauing at the top certaine little chaffie flowers of a purplish colour. The seede is conteined in small scaley huskes, of a reddish colour, and a bitter taste. The whole plant perisheth when it hath perfected his seede, and must be sowen againe the next yeere, which plant was giuen to Mathiolus by Cortusus, who (as he affirmeth) receiued it from Syria; but I thinke he saide so to make Mathiolus more ioifull: but surely I surmise he picked it out of one olde wall or other, where it doth growe euen as the small Chickweede, or Nailewoort of the wall do.

The place.

Androsaces will not growe any where but in water: great store there is of it about Frontignan by Monpelliers in Languedoc, where euery fisher man doth knowe it. The seconde groweth vpon olde stone and mudde wals: notwithstanding I haue (the more to grace Mathiolus great iewell) planted it in my garden.

The time.

The bastarde Androsace flowreth in Iuly, and the seede is ripe in August.

The names.

Androsaces is of some called Umbilicus marinus, or sea Nauell.

The temperature.

The sea Nauell is of a diureticke qualitie, and more drie then Galen thought it to be, and lesse hot then others haue deemed it: there can no moisture be found in it.

The vertues.

Sea Nauell woort prouoketh urine, and digesteth the filthinesse and sliminesse gathered in the iointes. Two drams of it, as Dioscorides saith, drunke in wine, bringeth downe great store of urine out of their bodies that haue the dropsie, and maketh a good plaister to cease the paine of the gout.