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. CCXXVII. Of Winter Cherries.

The Names.

IT may be called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for it is a kind of Solanum; nay, in Latine, it is called Solanum Halicacabum; and Vesicatorium by Pliny, either of the Bladder wherein the Berry groweth, or of the Vertues against the diseases of the Bladder and Stone. The Arabians call it Alkakengi, which name the Shops retaine. Brunfelsius calleth it his Saxifraga quarta, terming it Rubra; for which Epithet there is more colour then for Filipendula that it should be so call∣ed. It is called Winter Cherry in English, because it flourisheth in the Win∣ter, and the fruit is like a Cherry.

The Forme.

I find but three sorts of Winter-Cherryes, that which is called Halicacabum Petegrinum or the Black Winter-Cherry perishing at the very first approach of Winter; and therefore, and for other reasons ought not to be so called. 1. The Ordinary Winter-Cherry. 2. Virginian Winter Cherries. 3. Upright Indian Winter-Cherries,

The Forme.

The Winter-Cherry sendeth forth a stalke which groweth to be a Cubit or two foot high, whereupon are set many broad and long greene Leaves, somwhat like unto the Leaves of Night-shade, whereof it seemeth to be a kind, as I said before, but larger; at the joynts whereof come forth whitish flowers, made of five Leaves a peece, which after turne into greene berries inclosed with thin skins or bladders, which change to be reddish when they grow ripe, the berry being likewise reddish, and as large as a Cherry, wherein are contained many flat and yellowish seeds, lying within the Pulpe. The root runneth or creepeth in the ground, somtimes as big as ones little finger, shooting forth at severall Joynts in severall places, whereby it quickly overspreadeth a great compasse of ground.

The Places and Time.

Though the first be only to be found in Gardens (or in other places whither it hath beene cast forth from thence) here in England, yet in some Countryes it groweth naturally by the hedg sides in moist and shadowy places: the second came from Virginia, the last groweth also in the West Indies. They flower in August, and are fittest to be gathered in October, (yet some of them continue longer) and being strung up they may be kept all the yeare to be used upon occasion.

The Temperature.

VVinter Cherries are thought to be cold and dry, and of subtill parts. The fruit Openeth, but the Leaves do only coole, and therefore are good in inflammations.

The Vertues and Signature.

Having given you severall Plants that had the Signature of the Stone, I come in the la••t place to shew you one or two that have the Signature both of the stone and bladder which the VVinter Cherry doth very much re••emble, and is therefore of great use by opening the Uritory parts, and drawing down the Urine to pro∣vo••e it to be avoided plentifully, when it is stopped; and is good also to expell the Stone and Bladder out of the Reines, Kidneys, and Bladder, helping to dissolve the Stone, and avoiding it by greet or Gravell, sent forth in the Urine: it helpeth much also to clense inward Impostumes or Ulcers, in the Reines or Bladder, or in those that avoid a bloody or foule Urine, two or three handfulls of the berries being bruised and put into two or three Gallons of new Wine or Ale, assoone as it is tunned up there to continue till the Wine or Ale be sit to be drunk, but the decoction of the Berries in Wine or Water is the most usuall way to be taken, yet the powder of them taken in drink or broth, is held to be more effectuall. It helpeth the yellow Jaundise also by opening the passages of the Gall and Liver, and expelling it by Urine. The diuilled Water of the Fruit or the Leaves together with them, or the berries greene or dry distilled with a little Milk is effectuall for all the purposes before specified, if it be drunk morning and evening with a little Sugar, and in speciall against the heat and sharpnesse of the Urine. The other Plant, whose fruit beareth the Signature of the Stone in the Bladder, is the Bladder Nut-Tree which is therefore said to be effectuall to help those which are troubled with the Stone in the Bladder, but because it is without any other Ver∣tue, unlesse it be to provoke Venery, as some affirme, having withall divers e∣vill Qualities, whereby they are loathsome and overturne the Stomacks of them that eate them, I shall passe it by without any description at all, only tell you that it is called Nux Vesicaria in Latine & supposed to be the Staphylodendron of Pliny. Some call it Pistacium Germanicum, because they call it by the same name they do the Pistake, whereof Scaliger taketh it to be a kind. So much I thought good to say of it, because it growes in Gardens and Fields in divers places of this land.