Of wilde Turneps.
The kindes.
There be three sorts of wilde Turneps; one our common Rape, which beareth the seed whereof is made rape oile, and feedeth singing birdes: the other the common enimy to corne, which we call Charlock; whereof there be two kindes, one with a purple flower, the other with a white flower: there is also another of the water and marish grounds. | 1 Rapum sylvestre. Wilde Turneps. | 2 Rapistrum arvorum. Charlock or Chadlock. | |-------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | | |
The description.
1 Wilde Turneps or Rapes, haue long, broad, and rough leaues like those of Turneps, but not so deeply gashed in the edges. The stalkes are slender and brittle, somewhat hairie, of two cubits high, diuiding themselues at the top into many armes or branches, whereon do grow little yellowish flowers: which being past, there doe succeede small long cods which containe the seed like that of the Turnep, but smaller, somewhat reddish, and of a firie hot and biting taste as is the mustard, but bitterer. The roote is small, and perisheth when the seede is ripe. 2 Charlocke or the wilde Rape, hath leaues like vnto the former, but lesser, and not so rough. The stalkes be of a cubite high, slender, and branched, the flowers are sometimes purplish, sometimes white, and often yellow, varying in colour according to the soile and climate. The rootes are slender, with certaine threeds or strings hanging on them. 3 Water Chadlock groweth vp to the height of three foote or somewhat more, with braunches slender and smooth in respect of any of the rest of his kinde, set with rough ribbed leaues, deeply indented about the lower part of the leafe. The flowers grow at the top of the branches, vmble or tuft fashion, sometimes of one colour, and sometimes of another. The roote is long, tough, and full of strings. 3 Rapistrum aquaticum. Water Chadlock.
The place.
Wilde Turneps or Rapes, do grow of themselues in fallow fields, and likewise by high waies neere vnto olde walles, vpon ditche-bankes, and neere vnto townes and villages, and in other vntoiled and rough places. The Chadlocke groweth for the most part among corne in barraine grounds, and often by the borders of fields and such like places. Water Chadlock groweth in moist medowes and marish grounds, as also in water ditches, and such like places.
The time.
These do flower from March till sommer be far spent, and in the meane season the seede is ripe.
The names.
Wilde Turnep is called in Latine Rapistrum, Rapum syluestre, & of some Sinapi syluestre, or wild mustard: in high Dutch Hederich: in low Dutch Herick: in French Velar: in English Rape, and Rape seed. Rapistrum aruorum is called Charlock, Kedlock, and Carlock.
The temperature.
The seede of these wilde kindes of Turneps as also the water Chadlock, are hot and drie as mustard seed is. Some haue thought that Carlock hath a drying and clensing qualitie, and somewhat digesting.
The vertues.
Diuers vse the seede of Rape in steed of mustard seede, who either make heereof a sauce bearing the name of mustard, or else mixe it with mustard seede: but this kinde of sauce is not so pleasant to the taste, bicause it is bitter. Galen writeth that these being eaten engender euill blood: yet Dioscorides saith, they warme the stomack and nourish somewhat.
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.