Gerard's Herbal Vol. 1
Figs. 67 & 68. Italian Trasi, or Spanish Galingale
The Description
The Italian Trasi, which is here termed Spanish Galingale, is a plant that hath many small roots, hanging at stringy fibres like as our ordinary Dropwort roots do, but they are of the bigness of a little Medlar, and have one end flat and as it were crowned like as a Medlar, and it hath also sundry streaks or lines seeming to divide it into several parts; it is of a brownish colour without, and white within; the taste thereof is sweet almost like a Chestnut. The leaves are very like those of the garden Cyperus, and never exceed a cubit in length. Stalks, flowers, or seed it hath none, as John Pond an apothecary of Verona, who diligently observed it nigh to that city whereas it naturally grows, affirms; but he saith there grows with it much wild Cyperus, which as he judges hath given occasion of their error who give it the stalks and flowers of Cyperus, or English Galingale, as Matthiolus and others have done. It is increased by setting the roots first steeped in water, at the beginning of November. I have here given you the figure of it without the stalk, according to Pena, and with the stalk, according to Matthiolus and others.
The Names.
The Italian Trasi is called by Pliny Anthalium: the later writers Cyperus Esculentus, and Dulcichinum: The Italians, Trasi, and Dolzolini, by which names in Italy they are cried up and down the streets, as oranges and lemons are here.
The temper and Virtues.
A. The milk or cream of these bulbous roots being drunk, mundifies the breast and lungs, wherefore it is very good for such as are troubled with coughs. Now you must beat these roots, and macerate them in broth, and then press out the cream through a linen cloth, which by four late writers is commended also to be used in venereous potions.
B. The same cream is also good to be drunk against the heat and sharpness of the urine, especially if you in making it do add thereto the seeds of Pumpkins, Gourds, and Cucumbers. The citizens of Verona eat them for dainties, but they are somewhat windy.
