Of Winter Cresses.
The description.
The winter Cresse, hath many greene, broade, smooth and flat leaues like vnto the common turneps, whose stalkes be round, & full of branches, bringing foorth at the top small yellow flowers; after them do followe small cods, wherein is conteined small reddish seede.
The place.
It groweth in gardens among pot herbes, and very common in the fields, neere to pathes and high waies, almost euery where.
The time.
This herbe is greene al winter long, it flowreth in Maie, and feedeth in Iune.
The names.
Winter Cresse is called of the Latines, Cardamum, or Nasturtium Hibernum, of some Barbarea, and Pseudobunium: the Germanes call it S. Barberen Kraut; in lowe Dutch, Winter Kerse. It seemeth to be Dioscorides his ψευδοβούνιον, that is to say, false or bastarde Bunium, in English winter Cresses, or herbe Saint Barbara.
The temperature.
This herbe is hot and drie in the second degree.
The vertues.
The seede of winter Cresse causeth one to make water, driueth foorth grauell, and helpeth the strangurie. The iuice thereof mundifieth corrupt and filthie vlcers, being made in forme of an vnguent with waxe, oyle, and turpentine. In winter when sallade herbes be scarce, this herbe is thought to be equall with Cresses of the garden, or Rocket. This herbe helpeth the scuruie, being boiled among scuruie grasse, called in Latin Cochlearia, causing it to worke the more effectually.
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.