The Description.

            1. This plant, called Viscaria, or Limewort, is likewise of the stock and kindred of the wild Gillyflowers: notwithstanding Clusius hath joined it with the wild Campions, making it a kind thereof, but not properly. Lobel among the Sweet-Williams, whereof doubtless it is a kind. It hath many leaves rising immediately from the root like those of the Crow-Flower, or wild Sweet-William: among which rise up many reddish stalks jointed or kneed at certain spaces, set with leaves by couples one against another: at the top whereof come forth pretty red flowers; which being past there cometh in place small blackish seed. The root is large with many fibres. The whole plant, as well leaves and stalks, as also the flowers, are here and there covered over with a most thick and clammy matter like unto bird-lime, which if you take in your hands, the sliminess is such, that your fingers will stick and cleave together, as if your hand touched bird-lime: and furthermore, if flies do light upon the same, they will be so intangled with the liminess, that they cannot fly away; insomuch that in some hot day or other you shall see many flies caught by that means. Whereupon I have called it Catchfly, or Limewort. This is Lychnis sylvestris 3 of Clusius; Viscago of Camerarius; and Muscipula sive Viscaria of Lobel.

            2. This plant hath many broad leaves like the great Sweet-William but shorter (whereof it is likewise a kind) set upon a stiff and brittle stalk, from the bosom of which leaves spring forth smaller branches, clothed with the like leaves, but much lesser. The flowers grow at the top of the stalks many together tuft fashion, of a bright red colour. The whole plant is also possessed with the like liminess as the other is, but less in quantity. This is Lychnis sylvestris 1 of Clusius; and Muscipula sive Armoraria altera of Lobel: Dodonæus calls it Armerius flos 3 in his first edition: but makes it his fourth in the last edition in folio.

Fig. 898. Narrow-Leaved Catchfly (3)

            3. There is also belonging unto this kindred another plant which Clusius makes his Lychnis sylvatica 4. It comes up commonly with one stalk a foot or more high, of a green purplish colour, with two long sharp pointed thick green leaves, set at each joint: from the middle to the top of the stalk grow little branches, which upon pretty long stalks carry flowers consisting of five little round leaves, yet divided at the tops, they are of a fair incarnate colour, with a deep purple ring in their middles, without smell: after the flowers are past succeed skinny and hard heads, smaller towards the stalks, and thicker above, and in these are contained very small dark red seeds. The root is thick and black, with many fibres, putting up new shoots and stalks after the first year, and not dying every year like as the two last described.

The Place.

            These plants do grow wild in the fields in the west parts of England, among the corn; we have them in our London gardens rather for toys of pleasure, than any virtues they are possessed with, that hath as yet been known.

The Time.

            They flower and flourish most part of the summer.

The Names.

            Catchflies hath been taken for Behen, commonly so called, for the likeness that it hath with Behen rubente flore: or with Behen that hath the red flower, called of some Valeriana rubra, or red Valerian; for it is something like unto it in jointed stalks and leaves, but more like in colour: of Lobel, Muscipula and Viscaria: of Dodonæus, Armerius flos tertius: of Clusius, Lychnis sylvestris, Silene Theophrasti, and Behen rubrum salamanticum: in English, Catchfly, and Limewort.

The Nature and Virtues.

            The nature and virtues of these wild Williams are referred to the Wild Pinks and Gillyflowers.