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Gerard's Herbal - Part 3

Gerard's Herbal - CHAP. 233. Of the Ironworts or All-heals.

CHAP. 233. Of the Ironworts or All-heals.


Fig. 1034. Ironwort, or All-Heal (1)

Fig. 1035. Narrow-Leaved All-Heal (2)

 

The Kinds.

            There are many plants that belong to this kindred of the Sideritides, or Ironworts, and some of them are already treated of; and one of them is also set forth hereafter by the name of Clown's All-Heal: these that are formerly handled, and properly belong to this Chapter, are first the Herba iudaica lobelii, being in the fourth place of the 230th Chapter. Secondly, the Stachys fuchsii, (being the first Sideritis of Dioscorides) described in the second place of the last chapter. Thirdly, the Sideritis scordiodes set forth in the fifth place: and fourthly the Sideritis alpina hyssopifolia set forth in the sixth place of the last chapter. Now besides all these, I will in this chapter give you the descriptions of some others like to them in face and virtues, and all of them may be referred to the first Sideritis of Dioscorides his description.

The Description.

            1. This hath square stalks some cubit high, rough, and jointed with two leaves at each joint which are wrinkled and hairy, of an indifferent bigness, snipped about the edges, of a strong smell, and of a bitterish and somewhat hottish taste: almost forth of every joint grow branches, set with lesser leaves: the flowers which in roundels encompass the tops of the stalks end in a spike, being somewhat hooded, whitish, well-smelling, and marked on the inside with sanguine spots. The seed is rough and black, being contained in five-cornered seed vessels. The root is hard and woody, sending forth many stalks. This is the Sideritis prima of Fuchsius, Cordus, Clusius, and others, it hath a very great affinity with the Panax coloni, or Clown's All-Heal of our author, and the difference between them certainly is very small.

            2. The four-square stalk of this plant is not above a foot high, and it is presently from the root divided into divers branches; the leaves are long and narrow with some nerves or veins running alongst them, being also very hairy, but not snipped about the edges; the flowers grow alongst the branches, and upon the main stalk in roundels like those of the first mentioned, but lesser, and of a dark colour, with a yellowish spot on their insides: the seed is also contained in five-cornered vessels like as the former. It flowers in June and July, and grows amongst the corn in Hungary and Austria. This is only set forth by Clusius, and that under the name of Sideritis 6. pannonica.

Fig. 1036. Branched Creeping Ironwort (3)

Fig. 1037. Unbranched Creeping Ironwort (4)

            3. This hath some branches lying along upon the ground, slender, quadrangular & hairy, which at certain spaces are set with leaves growing by couples, almost like those of the first, but much less, and snipped only from the middle to the end: the flowers grow after the manner of the former, and (as Clusius thinks) are like them, as is also the seed. Clusius hath this by the name of Sideritis 4.

            4. The same author hath also given us another, which from the top of the root sends forth many branches, partly lying spread on the ground, and partly standing upright, being hairy, jointed, and square like those of the former, and such also are the leaves, but that they are less snipped about the edges: and in their bosoms from the bottom of the stalks to the top grow roundels of whitish flowers shaped like others of this kind. Clusius calls this Sideritis 5. He had only the figures of these elegantly drawn by the hand of Jacques Plateau, and so sent him.

            5. This from a small woody root sends forth a square hairy stalk some half foot high, and sometimes higher, and this stalk most commonly sends forth some four branches, which subdivide themselves into smaller ones, all of them sometimes lying upon the ground, and the stalk standing upright; the leaves grow by couples at each joint, from a broader bottom, ending in an obtuse point, the lower leaves being some inch long, and not much less in breadth: the flowers are whitish, or light purple, small and hooded, engirting the stalks in roundels, which falling, four longish black seeds are contained in five-cornered vessels. I first found it August 1626 in flower and seed amongst the corn in a field joining to a wood side not far from Greenhithe in Kent, and I at that time, not finding it to be written of by any, called it Sideritis humilis lato obtuso folio; but since I find that Bauhin hath set it forth in his Prodromus by the name of Sideritis alsine trissaginis folio.

Fig. 1038. Smooth Broad-Leaved All-Heal (6)

            6. This (which Tabernamontanus calls Alyssum germanicum) grows up with square stalks some cubit high, set with pretty large and green smooth leaves snipped about the edges: the flowers grow in roundels at the tops of the branches, being hooded, and of a pale yellow colour. This grows in the corn fields in some places of Germany and Italy: and it is the Sideritis 2 of Matthiolus in Bauhin's opinion, who cals it Sideritis arvensis glabra.

            7. There is another plant that grows frequently in the corn fields of Kent, and by Purfleet in Essex which may fitly be joined to these, for Camerarius calls it Sideritis arvensis flore rubro, and in the Historia Lugdunensis it is named Tetrahit angustifolium, and thought to be Ladanum segetum of Pliny, mentioned lib. 29. cap. 8, and lib. 26. cap. 11. It hath a stalk some foot or better high, set with sharp pointed longish leaves, having two or three nicks on their sides, and growing by couples; at the top of the branches, and also the main stalk itself, stand in one or two roundels fair red hooded flowers: the root is small and fibrous, dying every year when it hath perfected the seed. It flowers in July and August. This is also sometimes found with a white flower.

The Time, Place, &c.

            All these are sufficiently delivered in the descriptions.

The Temperatures and Virtues.

            A. These plants are dry with little or no heat, and are endued with an astrictive faculty. They conduce much to the healing of green wounds being beaten and applied, or put in unguents or plasters made for that purpose.

            B. They are also good for those things that are mentioned in the last chapter, in B and C.

            C. Clusius saith, the first and second are used in Styria in fomentations, to bathe the head against the pains or aches thereof; as also against the stiffness and weariness of the limbs or joints.

            D. And the same author affirms that he hath known the decoction used with very good success in curing the inflammations and ulcerations of the legs.

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