Fig. 423. Dock-Cresses

The Description.

            Dock-Cresses is a wild wort or pot-herb having roughish hairy leaves of an overworn green colour, deeply cut or indented upon both sides like the leaves of small Turnips. The stalks grow to the height of two or three cubits, and sometimes higher, dividing themselves toward the top into sundry little branches, whereon do grow many small yellow flowers like those of Hieracium, or Hawkweed; which decaying, are succeeded by little crested heads containing a longish small seed somewhat like Lettuce seed, but of a yellowish colour: the plant is also milky, the stalk woody, and the root small, fibrous, and white.

The Place.

            Dock-Cresses grow everywhere by highways, upon walls of mud or earth, and in stony places.

The Time.

            It flowereth from May to the end of August; the seed is ripe in September.

The Names.

            Dock-Cresses are called in Latin, Lampsana, and Napium by Dodonæus: Tabernomontanus calleth this, Sonchus sylvaticus: Camerarius affirms, That in Prussia they call it Papillaris.

The Nature.

            Dock-Cresses are of nature hot, and somewhat abstersive or cleansing.

The Virtues.

            A. Taken in meat, as Galen and Dioscorides affirm, it engendereth evil juice and naughty nourishment.

            B. Camerarius affirmeth, That it is used with good success in Prussia against ulcerated or sore breasts.