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 ...

The true Sycomore-tree.

Names Descript. Kinds.] THere are two sorts of this tree: the one bearing fruit out of the Body, and greater Arms of the tree only, the other upon stalks without leaves.

The first is called in Latine Sycomorus, and Ficus Egyptia, the Egyp∣tian, Fig-tree, and is the true Sycomore tree; those trees which are vulgarly called Sycamores in England are a kind of Maples.

Descript.] 1. This Sycamore groweth to be a very great tree, bigger than the Mulberry tree, with great Arms and Branches, full of round and somewhat long leaves, pointed at the ends, and dented about the edges, very like the leaves of the Mulberry tree; but harder and rougher like Fig-leaves; this beareth small Figs or fruit and no flower, differing in that from all other trees; for it putteth forth the fruit out of the very body or trunk of the tree only, and the elder branches next to the body and no where else; And are very like unto white or wild Figs, and of the same bigness; but much sweeter, and without any kernels therein. The whole tree and e∣very part aboundeth with milk, if the bark be but gently wounded; but if it be cut too deep, it yieldeth no milk at all; which maketh it to bear

three or four times a year, new rising out of the places where the old grew; The root is solid hard and black, and will abide fresh long after it is felled.

Descript.] 2. The other Sycamore is called Sycomorus altera, ceu Fi∣cus Cypria, the Sycamore of Cyprus. This groweth to be as big as a Plum-tree, or white Poplar-tree, the Arms and Branches bearing broad and somewhat round leaves, like unto the Elm, but very like unto the former; This beareth such like fruit as Figs but smaller, which rise both from the body and the greater Arms, but not as the former; but on certain stalks in branches, which rise by themselves without any leaves with them, and are as sweet as Figs; and bear four times every year, but not unless they be slit; that the milk in them may come forth.

Place and Time.] The first chiefly in Egypt, Syria, and Arabia, and other places adjacent; The other in Cyprus, Caria, Rhodes, and the neighbouring parts; their time you may know by their Descripti∣ons.

Government and Vertues.] These are under the particular Influ∣ence of Venus. The fruit maketh the belly soluble, but by its overmuch moisture it troubles the Stomach and giveth but little nourishment. The milk that is taken from the tree by gently piercing the bark, and afterwards dryed and made into Trochiss, and kept in an earthen pot, hath a property to dissolve Tumors, and soften them; and to soder and close together the lips of green wounds. The fruit it self being applyed as a plaister worketh the same effect; The said dry∣ed milk is good against venemous creatures and the Plague, and easeth the pains of the head and Ears, and is good to be drunk by those persons that are Splenetick.

Notes

• Belly soluble, Tumors molli∣fied, Green wounds.
• Venemous Crea∣tures, Plague, Pains in the head, Ears, Spleen.