5. Wall Sow-Thistle hath a fibrous woody root, from which rises up a round stalk not crested: the leaves are much like to those of the other Sow-Thistles, broad at the setting on, then narrower, and after much broader, and sharp pointed, so that the end of the leaf much resembles the shape of an ivy leaf; these leaves are very tender, and of somewhat a whitish colour on the underside: the top of the stalk is divided into many small branches, which bear little yellow flowers that fly away in down.

            6. This hath longish narrow leaves soft and whitish, unequally divided about the edges. The stalks grow some foot high, having few branches, and those set with few leaves, broad at their setting on, and ending in a sharp point: the flowers are pretty large like to the great Hawkweed, and fly away in down: the root is long, white, and lasting. It flowers most part of summer; and in Tuscany, where it plentifully grows, it is much eaten in salads, with oil and vinegar, it having a sweetish and somewhat astringent taste.

Fig. 480. Kinds of Sow-Thistle (7-10)

            7. This Blue-Flowered Sow-Thistle is the greatest of all the rest of the kinds, somewhat resembling the last described in leaves; but those of this are somewhat rough or hairy on the underside: the flowers are in shape like those of the ordinary Sow-Thistle, but of a fair blue colour; which fading, fly away in down that carries with it a small ash-coloured seed. The whole plant yieldeth milk as all the rest do.

            8. Tree Sow-Thistle hath a very great thick and hard root set with a few hairy threads; from which ariseth a strong and great stalk of a woody substance, set with long leaves not unlike to Langue-de-bœuf, but more deeply cut in about the edges, and not so rough: upon which do grow fair double yellow flowers, which turn into down, and are carried away with the wind. The whole plant is possessed with such a milky juice as are the tender and herby Sow-Thistles; which certainly showeth it to be a kind thereof: otherwise it might be referred to the Hawkweeds, whereunto in face and show it is like. This hath a running root, and the heads and tops of the stalks are very rough and hairy.

            9. This other Tree Sow-Thistle grows to a man's height or more, having a firm stalk, smooth, without any prickles, and set with many leaves encompassing the stalk at their setting on, and afterwards cut in with four, or sometimes with two gashes only: the upper leaves are not divided at all: the colour of these leaves is green on the upper side, and greyish underneath; the top of the stalk is hairy, and divided into many branches, which bear the flowers in an equal height, as it were in an umbel: the flowers are not great, considering the largeness o the plant, but usually as big as those of the common Sow-Thistle, and yellow, having a hairy head or cap: the seed is crested, longish, and ash-coloured, and flies away with the down: the root is thick, whitish, having many fibres, putting out new shoots, and spreading every year. Bauhin maketh this all one with the other, according to Clusius his description: but in my opinion there is some difference between them, which chiefly consists, in that the former hath larger and fewer flowers; the plant also not growing to so great a height.

            10. This plant hath long knotty creeping roots, from whence ariseth a round slender stalk some two foot high, set at first with little leaves, which grow bigger and bigger as they come nearer the middle of the stalk, being pretty broad at their setting on; then somewhat narrower, and so broader again, and sharp pointed, being of the colour of the Wall (or Ivy-Leaved) Sow-Thistle. The top is divided into many small branches, which end in small scaly heads like those of the wild Lettuce, containing flowers consisting of four purple leaves, turned back and snipped at their ends; there are also some threads in the middle of the flower, which turning into down, carry away with them the seed, which is smaall, and of an ash-colour. Bauhin makes a bigger, and a lesser of these, distinguishing between that of Clusius (whose figure I here give you) and that of Columna; yet Fabius Columna himself could find no difference, but that Clusius his plant had five leaves in the flower, and his but four: which indeed Clusius in his description affirms; yet his figure (as you may see) expresses but four: adding, That the root is not well expressed; which notwithstanding Clusius delcribes according to Columna's expression.

The Place

            The first four grow wild in pastures, meadows, woods, and marshes near the sea, and among pot-herbs.

            The fifth grows opon walls, and in woody mountainous places.

            The Tree Sow-Thistle grows amongst corn in watery places.

            The fixth, seventh and tenth are strangers in England.

The Time.

            They flower in June, July, August, and sometimes later.

The Names.

            Sow-Thistle is called in Latin, Sonchus: of divers, Cicerbita, Lactucella, and Lacterones, Apuleius calleth it Lactuca leporina, or Hare's-thistle: of some, Brassica leporina, or Hare's Colewort. The English names are sufficiently touched in their several titles: In Dutch it is called Hasen Latouwe: the French, Palays de lievre.

The Names in Particular.

            1 This is Sonchus asper maior of Cordus: Sonchus tenerior aculeis asperior of Lobel: Sonchus 3. asperior of Dodonæus.

            2. This is Sonchus asper, of Matthiolus, Fuchsius, and others.

            3. This, Matthiolus, Dodonæus, Lobel, and others call Sonchus lævis: Tragus calls it Intybus erratica tertia.

            4. This Tabernamontanus only gives, under the title as you have it here.

            5. Matthiolus styles this, Sonchus lævis alter: Cæsalpinus calls it Lactuca murorum and Tabernamontanus Sonchus sylvaticus quartus: Lobel, Sonchus alter folio sinuato hederaceo.

            6. Lobel calls this, Sonchus lævis matthioli: it is Terracrepulus of Cæsalpinus, and Crepis of Dalechampius.

            7. Clusius and Camerarius give us this under the title of Sonchus cœruleus.

            8. Only Tabernamontanus hath this figure, under the title our author gives it: Bauhin puts it amongst the Hieracia, calling it Hieracium arborescens palustre.

            9. This Bauhin also makes an Hieracium, and would persuade us that Clusius his description belongs to the last mentioned, and the figure to this: to which opinion I cannot content. Clusius giveth it under the name of Sonchus 3. lævis altissimus.

            10. This Clusius gives under the name of Sonchus lævior pannonicus 4. flore purp. Tabernamontanus calls it Libanotis Theophrasti sterilis: Columna hath it by the name of Sonchus montanus purpureus: Cordus, Gesner, Thalius, and Bauhin refer it to the Lactucæ sylvestres: the last of them terming it Lactuca montana purpuro-cœrulea.

The Temperature

            The Sow-Thistles, as Galen writeth, are of a mixed temperature; for they consist of a watery and earthy substance, cold, and likewise binding.

The Virtues.

            A. Whilst they are yet young and tender they are eaten as other pot-herbs are; but whether they be eaten, or outwardly applied in manner of a poultice, they do evidently cool: therefore they be good for all inflammations or hot swellings, if they be laid thereon.

            B. Sow-Thistle given in broth taketh away the gnawings of the stomach proceeding of an hot cause and increase milk in the breasts of nurses, causing the children whom they nurse to have a good colour: and of the same virtue is the broth if it be drunken.

            C. The juice of these herbs doth cool and temper the heat of the fundament and privy parts.