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IN this Countrie there is founde three sortes of wilde Thistelles, commonly growing by the way sydes, and in the borders of feeldes, and in wooddes, the whiche are all comprised vnder the name of wilde Thistelles.
[ 1] THE first kinde of these Thistels groweth about a foote & a halfe high, it hath a round stem ful of branches, and set with prickley leaues, like the leaues of Acanthium, but smaller, and nothing at all frized or Cot∣tonie, & of a browner colour, at the top of the stalke grow round rough knops, set round about full of sharpe prickles, in fashion lyke to a Hedge Hogge, the whiche being open, do shewe foorth a faire purple flower, within the whiche groweth the seede lyke to the seede of the other Thistelles, but smaller. The roote is long and browne, and very full of threddes, or sucking stringes.
[ 2] The second kinde groweth three or foure foote high, and beareth a rounde naked stemme, with a few branches. The leaues be like to the leaues aforesaid, set on euery syde with sharpe prickles, but they be smaller, and not so large as the leaues of the other. The knoppes smal and somewhat long, not very sharpe or pricking: the whiche when it openeth, putteth foorth a purple flower. The roote is blacke and of a foote long.
[ 3] The third kind of wild Thistel groweth also to the length of three or foure foote, hauing a straight stemme, without many branches, but set full of cruell prickles, the leaues are lyke to them of the seconde kinde. The knoppes of this Thistel, are smaller then the knoppes of the seconde. The flowers are purple. The seede is white and very smal. And for his roote, it is nothing els but smal hearie sucking stringes.
These Thistels grow in all places of this Countrie, by the way sides, & in
the feeldes. The second and the third sort are lykewise founde in medowes.
The Thistels flower in Iuly and August.
[ 1.2] These Thistels be called Cardui syluestres, that is to say, Wild Thistels, & the two first sortes are of that kind of wild Thistels, called in Greke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, & of Plinie in Latin Carduus syluestris, & also Limoniū, of some 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Pherusa, and Pyracantha. Cooper calleth this, wild Artichoke and Cowthistel.
[ 3] The third is also a kinde of wild Thistel, yet it is not Scolymus, but it may be wel called Carduus Asininus, that is to say, Asse Chistel.
The wilde Thistel is hoate and dry in the second degree, as Galen writeth.
[ A] The roote of the wilde Thistel, especially that of the second kinde, which is blacke and long, boyled in wine & dronke, purgeth by vrine, and driueth forth al superfluities of the blood, & causeth the vrine to stincke, & to be of a strong smel: also it amendeth the stenche of the armepittes, and of all the rest of the body.
[ B] The same layd to with vineger, healeth the wild scurffe, & noughty scabbe.
[ C] Plinie writeth, that in some places men do vse to eate this roote, & the first buddes or tender croppes of the same, as Galen reporteth, but it nourisheth but little, and the nourishment that it yeeldeth, is waterie and nought.