The English physitian, or An astrologo-physical discourse of the vulgar herbs of this nation being a compleat method of physick, whereby a man may preserve his body in health, or cure himself being sick for three pence charge, with such things only as grow in England ... / by Nich. Culpeper.

Description.

THis shooteth forth three, four, or five Leavs at the most from one Root, every one wherof is somwhat large and long, broad at the bottom next the Stalk, and forked, but ending in a point, without cut on the edges, of a ful green colour, each standing upon a thick round Stalk, of a hands breadth long or more: among which after two or three Months that they begin to wither, riseth up a bare round whitish green Stalk, spotted and straked with purple, somwhat higher than the Leavs: at the top wherof standeth a long hollow Hose or Husk, close at the bottom, but open from the middle upwards ending in a point; in the middle wherof standeth a smal long Pestle or Clapper, smaller at the bottom than at the top, of a dark purple colour as the Husk is on the inside, though green without; which after it hath so abidden for some time, the Husk with the Clapper decayeth, and the foot or bottom therof groweth to be a smal long Bunch of Berries, green at the first, and of a yellowish red colour when they are ripe, of the bigness of an Hazel Nut Kernel; which abide ther∣on almost until Winter; The Root is round

and somwhat long, for the most part lying a∣long, the Leavs shooting forth at the bigger end, which when it beareth his Berries, is somwhat wrinkled and loos, another being growing under it, which is solid and firm with many smal threads hanging therat: The whol Plant is of a very sharp biting tast, pricking the Tongue as Nettles do the Hands, and so abideth for a great while without alteration: The Root hereof was anciently used instead of Starch to starch Linnen withal.

There is another sort of Cuckowpint, with lesser Leavs than the former, and somwhat; harder, having blackish spots upon them which for the most part abide longer green in Summer than the former; and both Leavs and Roots are more sharp and fierce than it: In al things els it is like the former.