Adam in Eden, or, Natures paradise the history of plants, fruits, herbs and flowers with their several names ... the places where they grow, their descriptions and kinds, their times of flourishing and decreasing as also their several signatures, anatomical appropriations and particular physical vertues together with necessary observations on the seasons of planting and gathering of our English simples with directions how to preserve them in their compositions or otherwise : ... there is annexed a Latin and English table of the several names of simples, with another more particular table of the diseases and their cures ... / by William Coles ...

CHAP. XCVIII. Of Fennell Gyant.

The Names.

THe Grecians called the greater sort 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and the least 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which Gaza in his Translation of Theophrastus calleth Ferula and Feru∣lago in Latine. The Greek name Signifieth Thyrsum, Virgultum, Ba∣cillum, the ancients using the stalks of it, which grow to be very strong and Substantiall, for props to hold up the weaker Sort of Plants, and for staves for old men to walk with. The Latine name is derived à feriendo because the said stalks were used by School-masters, for their Sceptra Paedagogica and with them did smite the hands or heads of their Idle and truant Schollers, and there∣fore Martiall calleth them tristes ferulas. This Herb growing in Cyrene of Afri∣ca, nigh to the Oracle of Jupiter Ammon, bringeth forth a Gum which is there∣fore called Ammoniacum, as some think: when it groweth in Media it bringeth forth Sagapenum; and in Syria Galbanum. Of the two last I shall treat elsewhere: but of the first, which groweth in Cyrene, I shall principally take notice of, because it dryeth up milk.

The Kindes.

There be three Sorts of Fennel Gyant. 1. Fine leafed Fennel Gyant. 2. The broader leased Fennel Gyant. 3. Small Fennel Gyant.

The Form.

Fennel Gyant bringeth forth sundry, large, hollow Fungous, thick branched stalks, of very light, fine, thin, (for substance but thick set) leaves, placed out of or∣der, the bottom of the stalks being as thick as ones finger; but compassing one an∣other with broad thin hollowish Skins, at the bottom, from amongst which, ri∣seth up a strong stalk, eight or ten foot, in its naturall soil; but with us, it seldom riseth higher then a yard and a half, or two yards high, sometimes as big as a great Cudgel; set with divers such fine Leaves thereon, one above another, compassing the stalk at the bottom: out of the bosom whereof, come forth severall small Branches towards the tops; the top also being divided into sundry parts, forming a large Umbel of small yellow Flowers, which turn into blackish flat Seeds, two alwayes joyned together, by the little foot-stalk, whereon they stand, as is usuall in all umbelliferous Plants: the two inner sides being somewhat hollow, and the outsides round with the longnesse: the Root groweth very great, and never de∣cayeth, branching forth many wayes, of a blackish brown on the out-side, and somewhat white within, yielding a thick juyce, being broken in any part, which doth quickly condensate, and grow into a yellowish gummy substance, not smel∣ling any thing strong in our Country, as it doth in the hotter Climates.

The Places and Time.

The most naturall places of these Plants, are as I said before Cyrene in Africa, Media, and Syria, yet they are all found growing, as well in Narbone in France; a∣mong the Rocks that are torrified with the Sun all day, as in divers places of Ita∣ly, Apulia, and Florence, and divers other places, but yieldeth little Gum in Eu∣rope.

They are likewise growing in our English Gardens, as in the Physick Gar∣den at Oxford, and that at VVestminster. They flowre in June and July, and the Seed is ripe in the beginning, or end of August.

The Temperature.

Ammoniacum is hot in the second Degree, and dry in the beginning of the same: or, as some say, hot in the third Degree, and dry in the second. When it is applyed outwardly, it is of a dissolving nature.

The Vertues.

It being generally supposed, that Ammoniacum proceedeth from the Root▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this Fennel Gyant; and because it is held good to dissolve the tumours with which sometimes Womens Breasts are affected, or brings them to maturity, and ripens, being applyed thereunto, and to decrease the Milk, and keep it from curdling, be∣ing mixed with Vinegar, and applyed likewise, and therefore I have thus disposed of it. Being taken inwardly, it purgeth thick flegme from the Head, Nerves, Sto∣mach, Mesentery, and also from the Joynts. It much prevails in Asthmaes, that is in the shortnesse of the breath, and in Diseases comming of flegme. It is good in old pains of the Head, and against stoppings of the Liver: it provokes the terms in Women, and Urine, and is good in any kind of Gout, whether Sciatica, or Joynt Gout: as also in the Falling-Sicknesse. It killeth Worms, called Ascarides; and is excellent against the hardnesse of the Liver or Spleen. It bringeth away the dead Child. Being outwardly applyed, it consumes spongious or proud flesh, it soft∣neth Corns, and the hard swellings of the Joynts, which come by reason of the Gout, and draweth forth Corns, Splinters, and the like, if it be dissolved with Vinegar; but it is more effectuall, if it be mixed with Honey, Birthwort and Saf∣fron. It consumes Strumaes, or Swellings, called the Kings Evill, and ripeneth all kinds of Impostumes, being applyed on Wooll that is not greasie. Being mixed with Honey, and applyed to the Throat, it helpeth the Quins••e, and Swelling in the Neck or Throat. It taketh away Spots of the Eyes, being mixed with Womens Milk, and it cleanseth the sight, being mixed in Medicines for the Eys. Being dis∣solved with Frankinsence in Vinegar, and applyed, helpeth Ring-worms. It is dangerous, to be taken by Women with Child, lest it make them miscarry, and though it provoke Urine, yet too much of it will make one pisse blood. Galen set∣teth down the properties of the Ferula it self, in this manner. The Seed, saith he, doth heat and rarifie, the pith of the stalk is of a binding quality, whereby it help∣eth the spitting of blood, and those which are troubled with the Collick. It is a most acceptable food to Asses, but a present poyson to other Creatures, especial∣ly the Lamprey. It doth help the Falling Sicknesse, being taken at severall times of the Moon, and the fresh Juyce of the Root, dropped into the Eys, cleareth the dimnesse of the sight.