Blagrave's supplement or enlargement to Mr. Nich. Culpeppers English physitian containing a description of the form, names, place, time, coelestial government, and virtues, all such medicinal plants as grow in England, and are omitted in his book, called, The English-physitian, and supplying the additional virtues of such plants wherein he is defective : also the description, kinds, names, place, time, nature, planetary regiment, temperature, and physical virtues of all such trees, herbs, roots, flowers, fruits, excrescencies of plants, gums, ceres, and condensate juices, as are found in any part of the world, and brought to be sold in our druggist and apothecaries shops, with their dangers and corrections / by Joseph Blagrave ... ; to which is annexed, a new tract for the cure of wounds made by gun-shot or otherways, and remedies for the help of seamen troubled with the scurvy and other distempers ...

Line or Linden-tree.

Kinds and Names.] OF the Line-tree, there are accounted two sorts the Male, and the Female; and of the Female also two sorts, the greater and the lesser. It is called in Latine Tilia.

Descript.] 1. Tilia mas, the Male Line, groweth to be a great tree, with large spreading boughs but not so much as the Female, nor so flexible but harder and more brittle, and of a thicker bark; the leaves are like unto Elder-leaves but smaller and longer; and on every one for the most part grow small bladders full for Worms which turn into flyes, which being ripe do fly away.

This tree seldom beareth either flower or fruit, yet when it doth bear, it is round flat husks; many growing close together, each hanging on a long foot-stalk by it self, with a notch or clift at the head or end thereof. The wood hereof is harder, more knotty and yellower then the Female.

Descript.] 2. Tilia foemina, major. The greater Female Line-tree groweth to be a larger tree then the former (especially if it happen to be planted in good ground;) covered with a dark coloured bark, the next thereunto being very pliable to bend and bind, having some other thin rindes within it, the leaves are fair & broad greener smoother, gentler, & rounder than Elm-leaves, and with a longer end; dented about the edges, and of a reasonable good scent: at the end of the branches oftentimes and at the foot of the leaves, shoot forth long and narrow, whitish leaves, along the middle rib, whereof springeth out a slender long stalk with divers white flowers thereon, smelling very sweet, after which follow small berries, wherein is contained black round seed, the wood is whitish, smooth, and light.

Descript.] 3. Tilia foemina, minor. The lesser Linden-tree is like the last in all things, saving that it groweth smaller in body, leaves and flo∣wers, the leaves are of a darker green colour, and beareth no fruit after the flowers.

Place and Time.] The greater Female-kind is planted in many places in this land, in pleasant Walks it making a large sweet shadow, and usually flowreth in May. The other are great strangers, and scarce to be seen any where in this land.

Government and Vertues.] There is no medicinal use made of the Male Linden: The Female is under the dominion of Venus, of a mode∣rate temperature, and somewhat drying and astringent, the decoction of the leaves being sod in water is a pood Lotion to wash the sore Mouthes* 1.1 of young Children, or any sore Mouths that have Ulcers, blisters,* 1.2 or Cankers in them. The leaves being pounded or bruised after the boyling, and applied to the Legs or Feet* 1.3 that are

swelled with falling down of humors, doth help them; the hark is also effectual for the same purpose.

The flowers of the Line-tree, and of Lilly Convally, distilled toge∣ther, the water thereof is good against the Falling-sickness; so like∣wise is the distilled water of the bark, and is good against those fretting humors, that cause the bloody Flux, and griping in the Guts; the wa∣ter wherein the inner bark hath been steeped till the water become thick and muscilaginous, and applied with clothes wet therein, helps burnings and scaldings.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sore mouths
• * 1.2

  Ʋlcers, blisters
• * 1.3

  cankers, swel∣led Feet.