Gerard's Herbal - Part 2
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| Fig. 391. Wild Turnip (1) |
Fig. 392. Charlock (2) |
The Kinds
There be three sorts of wild Turnips, one our common Rape which beareth the seed whereof is made rape oil, and feedeth singing birds, the other the common enemy to corn, which we call Charlock; whereof there be two kinds, one with a yellow or else purple flower, the other with a white flower: there is also another of the water and marsh grounds.
The Description.
1. Wild Turnips or Rapes, have long, broad, and rough leaves like those of Turnips, but not so deeply gashed in the edges. The stalks are slender and brittle, somewhat hairy, of two cubits high, dividing themselves at the top into many arms or branches, whereon do grow little yellowish flowers: which being past, there do succeed small long cods which contain the seed like that of the Turnip, but smaller, somewhat reddish, and of a fiery hot and biting taste as is the mustard, but bitterer. The root is small, and perisheth when the seed is ripe.
2. Charlock, or the wild rape, hath leaves like unto the former, but lesser, the stalk and leaves being also rough. The stalks be of a cubit high, slender, and branched; the flowers are sometimes purplish, but more often yellow. The roots are slender, with certain threads or strings hanging on them.
There is also another variety hereof with the leaves less divided, and much smoother than the two last described, having yellow flowers and cods not so deeply jointed as the last described: this is that, which is set forth by Matthiolus under the name of Lampsana.
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| Fig. 393. Another Wild Charlock (2) |
Fig. 394. Water Charlock (3) |
3. Water Charlock groweth up to the height of three foot or somewhat more, with branches slender and smooth in respect of any of the rest of his kind, set with rough ribbed leaves, deeply indented about the lower part of the leaf. The flowers grow at the top of the branches, umbel or tuft fashion, sometimes of one colour, and sometimes of another. The root is long, tough, and full of strings, creeping and putting forth many stalks: the seed vessels are short and small. Bauhin hath this under the title of Raphanus aquaticus alter.
The Place.
Wild Turnips or Rapes, do grow of themselves in fallow fields, and likewise by highways near unto old walls, upon ditch-banks, and near unto towns and villages, and in other untoiled and rough places.
The Charlock groweth for the most part among corn in barren grounds, and often by the borders of fields and such like places.
Water Charlock groweth in moist meadows and marsh grounds, as also in water ditches, and such like places.
The Time.
These do flower from March, till summer be far spent, and in the mean season the seed is ripe.
The Names
Wild Turnip is called in Latin Rapistrum, Rapum sylvestre, and of some, Sinapi sylvestre, or wild mustard: in High Dutch, Hederich: in Low Dutch, Herick: in French, Velar: in English, Rape, and Rape seed. Rapistrum arvorum is called Charlock, and Carlock.
The Temperature.
The seed of these wild kinds of Turnips as also the water Charlock, are hot and dry as mustard seed is. Some have thought that Charlock hath a drying and cleansing quality, and somewhat digesting.
The Virtues.
A. Divers use the seed of Rape instead of mustard seed, who either make hereof a sauce bearing the name of mustard, or else mix it with mustard seed: but this kind of sauce is not so pleasant to the taste, because it is bitter.
B. Galen writeth that these being eaten engender evil blood: yet Dioscorides saith, they warm the stomach and nourish somewhat.
