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. LXXVII. Of Cudweed.

The Names.

IT is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Gnaphalium, and so likewise the Latine, be∣cause the Ancients used it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, instead of flocks, which come from Cloth, by the dressing of the Fuller, to stuff their Beds with; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Greek, signifying to dresse Cloth, as Fullers do, or sheare or toase wooll. It hath also divers other Latine Names, as Centunculus, and Centun∣cularis, from Cento, which in Latine signifies, a covering made with course Wooll, or Flocks, whereunto this Plant hath so much likenesse; Tomentum To∣mentaria & Tomentitia, Cottonaria sive Bombax humilis, especially the Sea-kind, Filago and Herba impia, Herb Impious, because no Beast will tast thereof, as Pli∣ny saith: as also that it was called Camaezelon, as some Copies have it, or rahter Camaexylon, the low Bombast or Cotton-Plant, and Albinum from the whiteness. In English it is called Cudweed or Cottonweed.

The Kindes.

The Sorts of Cudweed which I meet with are ten. 1. Our great common Cudweed. 2. The lesser Cudweed, or Herb Impious. 3. Another lesser Cudweed. 4. The lesser broad leafed Cudweed. 5. Small leaning Cudweed. 6. The great Cudweed of America, commonly called Livelong; or life everlasting. 7. Moun∣tain Cudweed, or Cats-foot. 8. Sweet smelling, white flowred Cudweed. 9. The greater German Cudweed. 10. Sea Cudweed, or Cotton-weed.

The Forme.

The common Cudweed riseth up, but with one stalk sometimes, and sometimes two or three, thick set on all sides, with small, long, and narrow, whitish, or woolly Leaves from the middle of the stalk, almost to the top: from amongst which do grow small Flowers, of a dun or brownish yellow colour, like those of the small Conyza, or Fleabane: in the Heads of which, after the Flowers are fallen, commeth small Seed, wrapped up with the Down therein, and is carried away with the wind: the Root is small and threddy.

The Places and Time

The three first grow every where almost in this Land, especially in barren, dry, sandy, and gravelly Grounds. The Mountain-Cudweed hath been found in Scos∣by Leas, near Donkester, and in Sherewood Forrest near Bescot Park path, and no where else. The sweet smelling white flowred Cudweed, groweth on a goodly Heath, by Barneck: the rest are found in the like places, beyond the Seas, onely the last is found upon the West Sea-Coasts of our Land, in divers places, as well as in others, although smaller, which maketh it to seem another sort. They do all flowre about July, and their Seed is ripe in August.

The Temperature.

These Herbs are all of them astringent, or of a binding, or drying quality.

The Vertues.

Pliny saith, that the Juyce of the Herb Impious, or lesser Cudweed, taken in Wine or Milk, is a Soveraign against the Mumps and Quinsey; and further saith, that it is marvellous, what is reported of it, that whosoever shall take it, shall never be troubled with that Disease again. Cudweed is also profitable for De∣fluxions of Rheum from the Head, into any other part, and to stay Fluxes of blood, wheresoever, either at the Nose, or mouth, or by siege, which is the Bloo∣dy Flux; and easeth the torments that come thereby, the decoction being made into red Wine, and drunk, or the Powder taken therein. It stayeth also the im∣moderate Courses of Women, and is also good for inward or outward Wounds, hurts and bruises, as the Western Country people do daily find by experience; and helpeth Children of burstings, and the Worms, and the Disease called Tenasmus, (which is an often supposed provocation to the stool, and doing nothing) to be either drunk, or injected, or otherwise. The green Leaves bruised, and layd, or bound to any green wound, stayeth the bleeding, and healeth it up quickly: the Decoction or Juyce thereof, doth the same, and doth help all old and filthy Ul∣cers quickly. Most of them also may be used for a week, in Lamps, &c. to burn▪ but especially, that which groweth by the Sea-side. When the Hoggs were trou∣bled with tuberous Baggs of corruption about their Necks, the Country people were formerly wont to give them of the Herb Impious boyled in Milk, or the like, and they observed that which soever of them refused to take it, would assu∣redly die.