The Description.

            1. Corn-Grass hath many grassy leaves resembling those of Rye, or rather Oats, amongst the which cometh up slender benty stalks, kneed or jointed like those of corn, whereupon groweth a fair tuft or panicle not much unlike to the feather-like tuft of common Reed, but rounder, compact together like unto Millet. The root is thready like those of Oats.

            2. Reed-Grass hath many thin grassy leaves like the former: the bushy top, with his long feather-like panicles do resemble the common Reed; which is lightly shaken with the wind, branched upon a long slender reeden stalk, kneed or jointed like corn. The root is small and fibrous.

The Place and Time.

            These kinds of Grass grow for the most part near hedges, & in fallow fields in most places. Their time of springing, flowering, and fading may be referred to the common Meadow-Grass.

The Names.

            1. The first is called in English, Corn-Grass. Lobel calls this, Segetum gramen pannicula speciosa latiore: others term it Gramen segetale, for that it usually groweth among corn; the which I have not as yet seen.

            2. The second is called in English, Reed-Grass: of Lobel in Latin, Gramen agrorum latiore, arundinacea, & comosapannicula, for that his tuft or panicles do resemble the Reed: and Spica venti agrorum, by reason of his feather-top, which is easily shaken with the wind. Some in English, much agreeable to the Latin name, call these, Windle-straws. Now I take this last to be the Grass with which we in London do usually adorn our chimneys in summer time: and we commonly call the bundle of it handsomely made up for our use, by the name of Bents.

The Temperature and Virtues.

            These Grasses are thought to agree with common Grass, as well in temperature as virtues, although not used in physic.