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. CCV. Of Harts-Tongue.

The Names.

IT is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Phyllitis, quasi foliosa, because it hath many long Leaves growing without any stalk, which name is sometimes given it by the Latines; but they call it also Lingua Cervina, from the similitude it hath with an Hearts-Tongue which is the name that the English have taken up. In former times the Apothecaries called it Scolopendrium; but that error is now sufficiently manifested, and left.

The Kinds.

The sorts of Harts-Tongue which I find mentioned by Authors are three, 1. Ordinary Hearts-Tongue, 2. Iagged Hearts-Tongue, which is also called Finger Ferne, and Finger Hearts-Tongue, because the tops of the leaves thereof are divided into parts, like unto the Fingers of a mans hand, 3. Branched Hearts-Tongue according to Alphinus.

The Form.

Ordinary Hearts-Tongue hath divers Leaves rising from the Root, every one severall, which at their first springing up, are crumpled and fo••ded, as Spleenwort and Fern are at theirs, but after they have spread themselves to their full proportion, they almost a foot long, smoth and green above, but hard or with little sap in them and straked on the back overthwart, on both sides of the middle rib, with small and somewhat long brownish marks; the bottoms of the Leaves are a little bowed on each side of the middle rib, somewhat narrow with the length, and somewhat small at the end: the root is of many black threds, folded or interlaced together.

The Places and Time.

The first groweth in shadowy places, and moist stony vallies in the Western parts, and is much planted in Gardens in every Country, by those that have de∣light in Physicall herbs. The second groweth upon Ingleborough hills, and di∣vers other mountaines in the North of England. It beareth no flower, but is green all the year long, bringing forth new Leaves in the Summer time.

The Temperature.

Hearts-Tongue is of a binding and drying faculty, but whether it be hot or cold is set down by few, and those disagree concerning it.

The Signature and Vertues.

Crollius writeth also that Hearts-Tongue hath the Signature of the Spleen, as indeed it very manifestly hath, being in Figure somewhat long as the Leafe of this herbe is. Neither hath it this Signature for nothing, for there is no Simple whatsoever, that is more effectuall for all the Diseases of the M••lt then this is, for if it be loose or too much opened, this bringeth it to its right temper, and so likewise if it be swollen hard or stopped, the decoction thereof in Wine, being drunk and the herb it self after it is boyled, laid to the greived place. It is also commended against the hardnesse and stopping of the Liver, and against the heat both of it and the Stomack. It is very good likewise to stop lasks and the bloody Flix, Spitting of blood, the Termes, and all other Fluxes. Posset drink made of the Milk, wherein it hath been boiled, drunk warm, or sodden in water, till the Third part be boiled away, and afterwards streined, and one part thereof drunk with two parts of good white wine, it expelleth the Stone and Gravell. The like quantity of Hearts-Tongue, Knot-grasse, and Comfrey Roots being boiled in Water, and a draught of the decoction drunk every morning, and the Materialls, which are taken out thereof, applyed to the place is a notable re∣medy for such as are burst. It is profitable also in the Jaundise, Kings-Evill and against the bitting of Venemous beasts. The herb or juyce applyed doth cleanse Wounds and Ulcers very wonderfully. The distilled Water is commended by divers, against the passion of the Heart to stay the Hicket, to help the Falling of the Pallate, and to stay the bleeding of the Gummes, if the mouth be gargled there∣with. Mr. Culppeper commendeth the Syrupe thereof for strengthening the Li∣ver, which may be allowed of: but the hardnesse of his beliefe as to the growing of it green all the year, sheweth him to be one very little versed, concerning the times of Plants, and silly also in doubting of that which he himself saith Authors, (much more skillfull then himself) do affirm.