The common white Saxifrage.
Description.
THis hath a few smal reddish Kernels or Roots, covered with some Skins lying among diverse smal blackish Fibres, which send forth diverse round, faint, or yellowish green Leavs, and grayish underneath, lying above the ground unevenly dented about the edges, & somwhat hairy, every one upon a little footstalk from whence riseth up a round brow∣nish hairy green stalk, two or three foot high, with a few such like round Leaves as grow be∣low, but smaller, and somwhat branched at the top, whereon stand pretty large white Flowers of five Leaves apiece, with some yellow threds in the middle, standing in long crested brow∣nish green Husks: After the Flowers are past there ariseth somtimes a round hard head by, forked at the top, wherein is contained small blackish Seed, but usually they fall away with∣out any Seed; and it is the Kernels or grains of the Root which are usually called the white Saxifrage Seed, and so used.
Place.
It groweth in many places of our Land, as well in the lower moist, as in the upper dry corners of Meadows, and graffy sandy places; It used to grow neer Lambs Conduit, on the back side of Grayes-Inn.
Time.
It Flowreth in May, and is then gathered as well for that which is called the Seed, as to distil, for it quickly perisheth down to the ground when any hot weather comes.
Vertues and use.
It is very effectual to clense the Reins* 1.1 and B••dder, and to dissolve the Stone ingendred in them, and to expel it and the Gravel by U∣rine, to provoke Urine* 1.2 also being stopped, and to help the Strangury: for which purpo∣ses the Decoction of the Herb or Roots in white Wine, or the Pouder of the smal Ker∣nelly Roots which is called the Seed taken in white Wine, or in the same Decoction made with white Wine is most usual. The Distilled water of the whol Herb, Roots, and Flowers, is most familiar to be taken: It provoketh al∣so Womens Courses,* 1.3 and freeth and clenseth the Stomach and Lungs from thick and tough Flegm that troubles them. There is not ma∣ny better Medicines to break the Stone than this.