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CHAP. 106. Of English Felwoort.
¶ The Description.
HOllow leafed Felwoort or English Gentian hath many long tough roots, dispersed hither and thither within the vpper crust of the earth; from which immediatly riseth a fat thicke stalke, iointed or kneed by certaine distances, set at euery knot with one leafe, and sometimes moe, keeping no certaine number: which leaues doe at the first inclose the stalkes round about, be∣ing one whole and entire leafe without any incisure at all, as it were a hollow trunke; which after it is growne to his fulnesse, breaketh in one side or other, and becommeth a flat ribbed leafe, like vn∣to the great Gentian or Plantaine. The floures come forth of the bosome of the vpper leaues, set vpon tender foot stalkes, in shape like those of the small Bindweed, or rather the floures of Sope∣woort, of a whitish colour, washt about the brims with a little light carnation. Then followeth the seed, which as yet I haue not obserued.
¶ The Place.
I found this strange kind of Gentian in a small groue of a wood called the Spinie, neere vnto a small village in Northamp∣ton shire called Lichbarrow: elsewhere I haue not heard of it.
¶ The Time.
It springeth forth of the ground in A∣prill, and bringeth forth his floures and seed in the end of August.
¶ The Names.
I haue thought good to giue vnto this plant, in English, the name Gentian, being doubtlesse a kinde therof. The which hath not been set forth, nor remembred by any that haue written of plants vntil this time. In Latine we may call it Gentiana concaua, of the hollow leaues. It may be called also hollow leaued Felwoort.
¶ The Temperature and Vertues.
Of the faculties of this plant as yet I can say nothing, referring it vnto the other Gentians, vntill time shall disclose that which yet is secret and vnknowne.
‡ Bauhine receiued this plant with the figure thereof from Doctor Lister one of his Maiesties Physitions, and he referres it vnto Saponaria, calling it Saponaria concaua Anglica; and (as farre as I can coniecture) hath a good description thereof in his Prodrom. pag. 103. Now both by our Authour and Bau∣hines Description, I gather, that the roote in this Figure is not rightly expressed, for that it should bee long, thicke, and creeping, with few fibers adhering thereunto; when as this figure expresseth an annuall wooddy root. But not hauing as yet seene the plant, I can assirme nothing of certaintie. ‡