Fig. 824. Kinds of Snapdragon (1-5)

The Description.

            1. The Purple Snapdragon hath great and brittle stalks which divideth itself into many fragile branches, whereupon do grow long leaves sharp pointed, very green, like unto those of wild flax, but much greater, set by couples one opposite against another. The flowers grow at the top of the stalks, of a purple colour, fashioned like a frog's mouth, or rather a dragon's mouth, from whence the women have taken the name Snapdragon. The seed is black, contained in round husks fashioned like a calf's snout, (whereupon some have called it Calves'-Snout) or in mine opinion it is more like unto the bones of a sheep's head that hath been long in the water, the flesh consumed clean away.

            2. The second agreeth with the precedent in every part, except in the colour of the flowers, for this plant bringeth forth white flowers, and the other purple, wherein consists the difference.

            3. The Yellow Snapdragon hath a long thick woody root, with certain strings fastened thereto; from which riseth up a brittle stalk of two cubits and a half high, divided from the bottom to the top into divers branches, whereupon do grow long green leaves like those of the former, but greater and longer. The flowers grow at the top of the main branches, of a pleasant yellow colour, in shape like unto the precedent.

            4. The Small or Wild Snapdragon differeth not from the others but in stature: the leaves are lesser and narrower: the flowers purple, but altogether smaller: the heads or seed-vessels are allo like those of the former.

            5. There is another kind hereof which hath many slender branches lying oft times upon the ground: the leaves are much smaller than those of the last described: the flowers and seed-vessels are also like, but much lesser, and herein consists the only difference.

The Place.

            The three first grow in most gardens; but the yellow kind groweth not common, except in the gardens of curious herbarists.

            The fourth and fifth grow wild amongst corn in divers places.

The Time.

            That which hath continued the whole winter doth flower in May, and the rest of summer afterwards; and that which is planted later, and in the end of summer, flowereth in the spring of the following year: they do hardly endure the injury of our cold winter.

The Names.

            Snapdragon is called in Latin also Antirrhinum: of Apuleius, Canis cerebrum, Herba simiana, Venusta minor, Opalis grata, and Orontium: it is thought to be Leo herba which Columella, lib. 10, reckons among the flowers: yet Gesner hath thought that this Leo is Columbine, which for the same cause he hath called Leontostomium: but this name seemeth to us to agree better with Calves'-Snout than with Columbine; for the gaping flower of Calves'-Snout is more like to Lion's-Snap than the flower of Columbine: it is called in Dutch Diant: in Spanish, Cabeza de ternera: in English, Calves'-Snout, Snapdragon, and Lion's-Snap: in French, Teste de chien and Teste de Veau.

The Temperature.

            They are hot and dry, and of subtle parts.

The virtues.

            A. The seed of Snapdragon (as Galen saith) is good for nothing in the use of physic and the herb itself is of like faculty with Bubonium or Starwort, but not so effectual.

            B. They report (saith Dioscorides) that the herb being hanged about one preserveth a man from being bewitched, and that it maketh a man gracious in the sight of people.

            C. Apuleius writeth, that the distilled water, or the decoction of the herb and root made in water, is a speedy remedy for the watering of eyes proceeding of a hot cause, if they be bathed therewith.