Of Groundsell.

The description.

1 The stalke of Groundsell is round, chamfered & deuided into many braunches: the leaues be greene, long and cut in the edges almost like those of Succorie, but lesser, like in a manner to the leaues of Rocket. The flowers be yellowe and turne into downe that is carried away with the winde. The roote is full of strings and threds. 2 Cotton Groundsell hath a straight stalke of a browne purple colour, couered with a fine cotton or downie haire, of the height of two cubits. The leaues are like those of Saint Iames woort or Rag-woort, woort; and at the top of the stalke growe small knops, from which come flowers of a pale yellowe colour, which are no sooner opened and spred abroad, but they change into downe like that of the Thistle, euen the same hower of his flowring, and is caried away with the winde. The roote is small and tender. 1 Erigerum. Groundsell. <column-break/> 2 Erigerum Tomentosum. Cotton Groundsell. ☙ The place. These herbes are very common throughout England, and do growe almost euery where. ☙ The time. They flourish almost euery moneth in the yeere. ☙ The names. Groundsell is called in Greeke ἠριγέρων: in Latine Senecio, bicause it waxeth olde quickly: it is called by a bastarde name Herbutum: in Germanie Creutzwurtz: in lowe Dutch Cruys cruyt, and Cruytken cruyt: in Spanish Yerua cana: in Italian Cardoncello spelicioso: in English Groundsell. Cotton Groundsell seemeth to be all one with Theophrastus his Aphace, he maketh mention of Aphace in his 7. booke, which is not onely a kinde of pulse, but an herbe also, vnto which this kind of Groundsell is very like. For as Theophrastus faith, the herbe Aphace is one of the potherbes and kindes of Succorie: adding further that it flowreth in haste, but yet soone is olde and turneth into downe, and such a one is this kinde of Groundsell. But Theophrastus faith further, that it flowreth al the winter long, and so long as the spring lasteth, as my selfe haue often seene this Groundsell do. ☙ The temperature. Groundsell hath mixt faculties: it cooleth and withall digesteth as Paulus AEgineta writeth. ☙ The vertues. The leaues of Groundsell boiled in wine or water and drunke, healeth the paine and ache of the stomacke that proceedeth of choler. The leaues and flowers stamped with a little hogs greace, ceaseth the burning heate of the stones and fundament: by adding to a little saffron and salt helpeth Struma or the Queenes euill. The leaues stamped and strained into milke and drunke, helpeth the red gumme and frets in children. Dioscorides saith, that with the fine powder of frankensence it healeth wounds in the sinewes. The like operation hath the downe of the flowers mixed with vineger. Boiled in ale with a little honie and vineger, prouoketh vomite, specially if yee adde thereto a fewe rootes of Assarabacca.