Of Snakeweede.

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The description.

The great Bistort hath long leaues much like Patience, but smaller & more wrinkled or crumpled, on the vpper side of a darke greene, and vnderneath of a blewish greene colour, much like Woade. The stalke is long, smoothe, and tender, hauing at the top a spiked knap or eare, set full of small whitish flowers, declining to carnation. The roote is all in a lumpe, without fashion; within of a red colour like vnto flesh, in taste like the kernell of an acorne. 2 The small Bistort hath leaues about three inches long, and of the bredth of a mans naile: the vpper side is of a greene colour, and vnderneath of an ouerworne greenish colour: among which riseth vp a stalke, of the height of a span, ful of ioints or knees, bearing at the top such flowers as the great Bistort beareth; which being fallen, the seedes appeere of the bignes of a Tare, reddish of colour; euerie seede hauing one small greene leafe fastened thereunto, with many such leaues thrust in among the whole bunch of flowers ers and feed. The roote is tuberous like the other, but smaller, and not so much crooked. 3 Broade leafed Snakeweede hath many large vneuen leaues, smooth and very greene: among which rise vp small brittle stalkes of two handes high, bearing at the top a faire spike of flowers, like vnto the great Bistort. The roote is knobbie or bunched, crookedly turned or wrythed this way and that way, whereof it tooke his name Bistorta.

The place.

1 The great Bistort groweth in moist and waterie places, and in the darke shadowie woods, and is very common in most gardens. 2 The small Bistort groweth in great abundance, in Westmerland, at Crosby, Rauenswaith, at the head of a parke belonging to one Master Pickering, from whence it hath beene dispersed into many gardens, as also sent vnto me from thence for my garden.

The time.

They flower in May, and the seede is ripe in Iune.

The names.

Bistorta is called in English Snakeweede; in other places Oisterloit: in Cheshire Passhions and Snakeweede, and there vsed for an excellent potherbe. It is called Bistorta, of his writhed rootes, and also Colubrina, Serpentaria Britannica, Dracontion Plinij, Dracunculus Dodon. and Limonium Gesneri.

The temperature.

Bistort doth coole and drie, in the third degree.

The vertues.

The iuice of Bistort put vp into the nose, preuaileth much against the disease called Polypus, and the biting of serpents, or any venemous beast, being drunke in wine, or the water of Angelica. The roote boiled in wine and drunke, stoppeth the laske, and bloodie flixe; it staieth also the ouermuch flowing of womens monethly sickneffes. The roote taken as aforesaid, staieth vomiting, and healeth the inflammation, and sorenes of the mouth and throte: it likewise fasteneth loose teeth, being holden in the mouth for a certaine space, and at sundrie times.