Of Tode flaxe.
The description.
Linaria being a kinde of Antyrrhinum, hath small, slender, blackish stalkes; from which do growe many leaves like flaxe. The flowers be yellow, with a spurre hanging at the same like unto a Larkes spurre, having a mouth like unto frogs mouth, even such as is to be seene in the common Snapdragon; the whole plant so much resembleth Esula minor, that the one is hardly knowne from the other, but by this olde verse: > Esula lactescit, sine lacte Linaria crescit. Some there be that have confounded Scoparia, or Belueder Italorum, with this Linaria; but in that they are deceived greatly, as in many other things; for the leaves of Belueder are longer then Linaria, and more in number, not bitter, nor of that effect which Linaria serveth unto in them which be molested with the iaundise, and brought therby very neere unto the dropsie. The seventh kinde of Snapdragon, being the second kinde of Tode flaxe, hath leaves like unto Bellis maior, but not so broade, and somewhat iagged about the edges. The stalke is small and tender, of a cubite high, beset with many purple flowers like vnto the former in shape. The root is long, with many threddes hanging thereat: the whole plant is of a reasonable sweete sauour. 3 Linaria purpurea altera. Variable Tode flaxe. <column-break/> 4 Linaria Valentia. Tode flaxe of Valentia. 3 The eight kinde of Antyrrhinum or Snapdragon, being likewise a kinde of Tode flaxe, hath small and narrowe leaues like vnto the first kinde of Linaria: the stalke is a cubite high, beset with flowers of a purple colour, in fashion like Linaria, but that it wanteth the taile or spurre at the ende of the flower which the other hath. The roote is small and threddie. 4 Linaria Valentia hath leaues like Hypericon, or rather like Cytisus, growing vpon a stalke or twiggie braunch, of a foote high, and called by Clusius Valentia, for that it was founde by himselfe in agro Valentino, a citie in Italie; where it beareth yellowe flowers about the top of the stalke like common Linaria, but the mouth of the flower is downie, or mossie, and the taile of a purple colour. It flowreth at Valentia in March, and groweth in the medowes there, and hath not as yet been seen in these northern parts. 5 Osyris alba hath great, thicke, and long rootes, with some threds or strings hanging at the same: from which rise vp many braunches very tough and pliant, beset towards the top with flowers, not much vnlike the small Snapdragon, but of a white colour, and the inner part of the mouth somewhat more wide and open, and the leaues like the common Tode flaxe. 6 Osyris purpurocaerulea is a kind of Snapdragon, or Tode flaxe, that hath many smal & weak branches, trailing vpon the grounde, beset with many little leaues like flaxe. The flowers grow at the top of the stalke like vnto the common kinde, but of a purple colour declining to blewnesse. The roote is small and threddie. 5 Osyris alba. White Tode flaxe. 6 Osyris purpurocærulea. Purple Tode flaxe. 7 Linosyris Nuperorum. Bushie Tode flaxe. 8 Linaria aurea. Golden Tode flaxe. 7 Forasmuch as this plant is stalked and leafed like common Linaria, the new writers haue called it Linosyris: it hath stalkes very stiffie and wooddie, beset with leaues like the common Linaria, with flowers at the top of the stalks of a faint shining yellow colour, in forme or shape somewhat like vnto Conyza maior. The whole plant groweth to the height of two cubits, & is in taste sharpe & clammie, or glutinous, & somewhat bitter. The root is compact of many strings, entangled one within another. Guillandinus calleth this plant Hyssopus vmbellifera Dioscoridis, that is, Dioscorides his Hysope, which beareth a tuft in all points like Linosyris, whereof it is a kinde, not differing from it in shew and leaues. The stalkes are a cubite high, diuided aboue into many small branches, the tops whereof are garnished with tuftes of small flowers, glistering full of many golden haires or thrums, with seede as small as dust. 8 Golden Tode flaxe hath diuers small vpright branches very little & tender, garnished from the bottome to the top with small long thinne leaues like those of wilde flaxe: on the toppe of the stalkes doe grow tufts of flowers of a gold yellow colour. The roote is tough and single. 9 Scoparia siue Osyris Græcorum. Broome Tode flaxe. 10 Passerina linaria. Sparrowes Tode flaxe. 9 Scoparia, or after Dodoneus Osyris, which the Italians call Belvidere, hath very many shootes or sprigs rising from one small stalke, making the whole plant to resemble a broome or beesome, whereof it tooke the name Scoparia. The leaues be small and narrowe, almost like to the leaues of flaxe. The flowers be as it were a bush of herbie coloured threds, growing among the leaues, which keepe greene all the winter. 10 This plant also for resemblance sake is referred vnto the Linaries, bicause his leaues be like Linaria. At the top of the small branched stalks, do growe little yellowish flowers, pale of colour, somewhat like the tops of Chrysocome, and the stalkes of Limonium. Iohn Mouton of Tournay taketh it to be Chrysocome altera: and bicause there hath beene no concordance among writers, it shall be sufficient to haue set foorth his description with his name Passerina.
The place.
The kindes of Tode flaxe growe wilde in many places, as vpon stone wals, grauelly grounds, barren medowes, and along by hedges.
The time.
They flower from Iune to the end of August.
The names.
Tode flaxe is called of the herbaristes of our time, Linaria, or Flaxweede, and Vrina lis: of some Osyris: in high Dutch Lynkraut, and Vnser fraumen flatch: in Lowe Dutch Wildt Vlas: in English Wilde flaxe, Tode flaxe, and Flaxe weede: in Italian Bel videre, or faire in sight, which may very well agree with the first described, as being in shew a most glorious and goodly flower, but at the nose most lothsomly stinking. The plant called Scoparia, is named also Herba studiosorum, bicause it is a fit thing to make broomes of, wherewith schollers and students may sweepe their owne studies and closets. The particular names are expressed both in Latine and English in their seuerall titles, whereby they may be distinguished.
The temperature.
The kindes of Tode flaxe are of the same temperature with wilde Snapdragons, whereof they are kindes.
The vertues.
The decoction of Tode flaxe taketh away the yellownesse and deformitie of the skin, being washed and bathed therewith. The same drunken openeth the stoppings of the liuer and spleene, and is singular good for the iaundise which is of long continuance. The same decoction doth also prouoke vrine, in those that pisse drop after drop, vnstoppeth the kidneies and bladder.
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.