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. CCIX. Of Germander.

The Names.

IT is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Chamaedrys, which in English is as much as a dwarfe Oak the Leaves of it being somwhat like to those of the great Oake In Latine Trissago and Trixago, and of some Querculaminor, yet Chamaedrys is more frequent then either of them in shops or else∣where: in English Germander, or English Treacle. Tree Germander is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in Greek and Teucrium in Latine, à Teucro inventore from one Teucer which first found out the vertues of it; in English Tree Germander, and upright Germander.

The Kindes.

Of both these kinds we may reckon Eighteen sorts. 1. The common German∣der. 2. Great Germander. 3. Germander, of Naples. 4. Jagged Germander or with fine cut Leaves. 5. Thorny Germander of Candy. 6. Mountaine Ger∣mander. 7. Rock Germander. 8. The greater Bastard Germander. 9. The smaller Bastard Germander. 10. The least Bastard Germander. 11. Common Wild Germander. 12. Narrow Leased wild Germander. 13. Jagged base Germander of Austria. 14. Wild Spanish Germander with fine ••ut Leaves. 15. The more common Tree Germander. 16. Tree-Germander of Candy. 17. Tree-Germander of Spaine. 18. Unsavory-Tree Germander of the Alpes.

The Form.

Common Germander shooteth forth very many branches, lying on the ground, which are tough, hard and wooddy, spreading themselves here and there; where∣upon are placed small Leaves, sni•••• about the edges like the teeth of a Saw, and therefore of some called Serratula, though improperly, resembling the shape of an Oaken Leafe, as I said before. The flowers are of a purple colour, very small, standing close to the Leaves towards the top of the branches. The seed is little and black, the root slender and full of strings which by spreading themselves a great way round about, cause it to be very plentifull in a short space where it is once set.

The Places and Time.

To set down the places of all the sorts abovenamed would be to little purpose seeing that none of them grow naturally in England save the Eleaventh sort which groweth almost every where: I shall therefore referre you to the Gardens of those that delight in Varieties of this Nature, where it is probable you may find many of them. Some of them flower in June and July, and some later.

The Temperature.

Germander is hot and dry almost in the third degree, of thin parts, and having a cutting quality.

The Vertues.

All these sorts of Germander as well the Wild as those that grow in Gardens, and the Tree-Germander, as the other, either greene or dry, used inwardly or ap∣plyed outwardly are of great efficacy to helpe the distempers of the Spleene, espe∣cially the hardnesse thereof, by taking the Decoction of the greene herbe, and so it not only procureth Urine to those that can hardly make Water, but helpeth tho••e also that are falling into a Dropsy, if it be taken in time. It is good also a∣gainst the Diseases of the Braine, as paines of the Head, Falling sicknesse, Melan∣choly, Lethargy, Palsy, Gout, and for those that are sottish through the dullnesse of their Spirits. A dramme of the seed taken in Powder doth purge Choler, by U∣rine, and is thereby good for the yellow Jaund••se, and to kill the Wormes, and so are the tops of them when they are in flower, steeped a day and a night in a draught of White Wine, and drunk in the Morning. It is commended against the Plague and Pestilence, as also against Poyson and against the paines of the side, it cureth both Tertian and Quartaine Agues, as also the Cramp, if the Decoction thereof be taken for some dayes together. It brings down the Termes, helpeth to expell the Dead-Child, and taken with Vinegar it wasteth the Spleene, with Honey, and it is good for Coughs. It is effectuall likewi••e against Venome and

the stinging of Venemous Creatures being bruised and applyed; used with Honey it cleanseth old and foule Ulcers; and the juice mixed with Honey, and put into the Eyes taketh away their dimnesse, and moistnesse, the juice also dropped into the Eares, killeth Wormes therein. The decoction thereof stayeth the Whites in Women, if they sit in a great quantity thereof, while it is warme, and so it easeth the passions of the Mother. Being boiled in Vinegar, and applyed to the Sto∣mack with a lttle Leaven, it stayeth Vomitings, that rise not from hot causes. The Leaves of Germander with the seeds of Nigella quilted in a Cap, and worne on the heads of those that are troubled with Catarrhes or distillations of cold raw and thin Rheume helpeth them: Being boiled in Lye with Lupines, and the Head washed therewith, it taketh away the Dandraffe or Scurfe thereof; stamp∣ed and applyed to bruises, it helpeth them speedily.