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The VVater-Lilly.
☽ Description.
OF these there are two principally noted kinds, Viz. Thewhite, and the Yel∣low.
The white Lilly hath very large, round and thick dark green Leavs lying on the Water, sustained by long and thick Footstalks, that rise from a great thick, round and long tube∣rous black Root, spungy or loos with many Knobs thereon like Eyes, and whitish within, from amidst the which rise other the like thick and great Stalks, sustaining one large white Flower thereon, green on the outside, but as white as Snow within, consisting of di∣vers rows of long, and somwhat thick and nar∣row Leavs, smaller and thinner the more in∣ward they be, encompassing a head within wth many yellow threds, or thrums in the middle, where after they are past, stand round Poppy∣like Heads ful of broad, Oyly, and bitter Seed.
The yellow kind is little different from the former save only it hath fewer Leavs on the Flowers, greater and more shining Seed, and a whitish Root, both within and without: The Roots of both being somwhat sweet in tast.
Place.
They are sound growing in great Pools and standing Waters, and somtimes in slow running Rivers and lesser Ditches of Water, in sundry places of this Land.
Time.
They Flower most commonly about the end of May, and their Seed is ripe in Au∣gust.
Vertues and use.
The Leavs and Flowers of the Water-Lillies are cold and moist, but the Root and Seed is cold and dry: The Leavs do cool al Inflama∣tions,* 1.1 and both outward and inward heats of Agues, and so doth the Flowers also, either, by the Syrup or Conserve; The Syrup hel∣peth much to procure rest, and to settle the Brains of Frantick persons, by cooling the hot distemperature of the Head.* 1.2 The Seed as wel as the Root is effectual to stay Fluxes* 1.3 of Blood or Humors, either of Wounds, or of the Belley;* 1.4 but the Roots are most used, some chusing the one, and some the other to be more effectual to cool, bind and restrain all Fluxes in Man or Woman, as also the run∣ning of the Reins,* 1.5 and the passage away of the Seed when one is asleep: but the frequent use hereof extinguisheth Venereous actions: The Root is likewise very good for those whose U∣rine is hot and sharp to be boyled in Wine or Water, and the Decoction drunk. The Di∣stilled water of the Flowers is very effectual for al the Diseases aforesaid, both inwardly ta∣ken and outwardly applied, and is much com∣mended to take away Freckles, Spots, Sun∣burn, and Morphew from the Face, or other parts of the Body. The Oyl made of the Flo∣wers as Oyl of Roses is made, is profitably u∣sed to cool hot Tumors, and the Inflamati∣ons of Ulcers and Wounds and to ea•• the pains, and help the Sores.
The Herb is under the Dominion of the Moon, and therefore cools and moistens like the former.