The Kinds.

            There be sundry sorts of plants comprehended under the title of Cichoracea, that is to say, Chichory, Endive, Dandelion, &c. differing not so much in operation and working, as in shape and form, which hath caused many to deem them divers, who have distinguished them under the titles aforesaid: of every which kind there be divers sorts, the which shall be divided in their several chapters, wherein the differences shall be expressed.

The Description.

            1. Garden Succory is of two sorts, one with broad leaves, and the other with narrow, deeply cut and gashed on both sides. The first hath broad leaves somewhat hairy, not much unlike to Endive, but narrower; amongst which do rise up stalks, whereon are placed the like leaves, but smaller. The stalk divideth itself toward the top into many branches, whereon do grow little blue flowers consisting of many small leaves, after which followeth white seed. The root is tough, long, and white of colour, continuing many years; from the which as from every part of the plant doth issue forth bitter and milky juice. The whole plant is of a bitter taste likewise.

            2. The second kind of Succory is like unto the former, but greater in every point. That which causeth the difference is, that this beareth flowers white of colour tending to blueness; the others blue, as I have said.

            3. Garden Endive bringeth forth long leaves, broad, smooth, more green than white, like almost to those of lettuce, something nicked in the edges. The stalk groweth up among the leaves, being round and hollow, divided into branches; out of which being broken or cut there issueth a juice like milk, somewhat bitter; the flowers upon the branches consist of many leaves, in colour commonly blue, seldom white. The root is long, white; with strings growing thereat, which withereth after the seed is ripe.

            4. Curled Endive hath leaves not unlike to those of the curled or Cabbage Lettuce, but much greater; among which rise up strong and thick stalks set with the like leaves, but lesser, and not so notably curled or crisped. The flowers grow at the top, blue of colour. The root perisheth, as doth the whole plant, when it hath brought forth his ripe seed.

Fig. 462. Thorny Succory (5)

            5. To these may fitly be added the thorny or prickly Succory of Candy, being of this kindred, and there used in defect of the true Succory, in stead thereof. The root is pretty long, white, with few fibres hanging thereat; the stalk is hard, woody, and divaricated into many branches, which commonly end in two or three pricks like horns: The leaves are bitter, long, narrow, and sharp pointed, and lie spread upon the ground, and are a little sinuated, or cut about the edges. The flowers, which usually grow upon little footstalks at the divisions of the branches, are much like those of the ordinary Succory, yet much less, consisting of five blue leaves, with yellow chives in the middle. The seed is like those of the common Succory. It flowers in July and August.

The Place and Time

            This Succory, and these Endives are only grown in gardens.

            Endive being sown in the spring quickly cometh up to flower, which seedeth in harvest, and afterward dieth. But being sown in July it remaineth till winter, at which time it is taken up by the roots, and laid in the sun or air for the space of two hours; then will the leaves be tough, and easily endure to be wrapped upon an heap, and buried in the earth with the roots upward, where no earth can get within it (which if it did, would cause rottenness) the which so covered may be taken up at times convenient, and used in salads all the winter, as in London and other places is to be seen; and then it is called white Endive, whereof Pliny seemeth not to be ignorant, speaking to the same purpose in his 20th book and 8th chapter.

The Names.

            1. Pliny nameth the Succory Hedypnois: and the bitterer Dioscorides calleth Pichris: in Latin, Intybum sylvestre, Intybum agreste, Intybum erraticum, and Cichorium: in shops it is called Cichorea, which name is not only allowed of the later physicians, but also of the poet Horace in the 31st Ode of his first book.

Me pascunt olivæ,
Me chicorea, levesque malvæ
["I browse on olives,
and chicory, and simple mallows"]

            With us, saith Pliny in his 20th book, 8th chapter, they have called Intybum erraticum, or wild Endive, Ambugia (others read Ambubeia) and some there be that name it Rostrum porcinum: and others, as Guilielmus Placentinus, and Petrus Crescentius, term it Sponsa solis: the Germans call it Wegwarten, which is as much to say, as the keeper of the ways: the Italians, Cichorea: the Spaniards, Almerones: the Englishmen, Chicory and Succory: the Bohemians, Czakanka.

            3. Endive is named in Latin, Intybum sativum: of some, Endivia: of Avicenna and Serapio, Taraxacon: of the Italians, Scariola, which name remaineth in most shops; also Seriola, as though they should fitly call it Seris, but not so well Serriola, with a double r: for Serriola is Lactuca sylvestris, or wild lettuce: it is called in Spanish, Serraya Envide: in English, Endive, and Scariole: and when it hath been in the earth buried as aforesaid, then it is called white Endive.

            5. This was first set forth by Clusius under this name, Chondrillæe genus elegans cæruleo flore: since, by Pona and Bauhin, by the title we give you, to wit, Cichorium spinosum. Honorius Bellus writes that in Candy where as it naturally grows, thcy vulgarly term it Hydriæ spina, the Pitcher Thorn; because people fetch all their water in stone pots or Pitchers, which they top with this plant, to keep mice and other such things from creeping into them: and it grows so round, that it seems by nature to be provided for that purpose.

The Nature.

            Endive and Succory are cold and dry in the second degree, and withal somewhat binding: and becaus they be something bitter, they do also cleanse and open.

            Garden Endive is colder, and not so dry or cleansing, by reason of these qualities they are thought to be excellent medicines for a hot liver, as Galen hath written in his 8th book of the Compositions of Medicines according to the places affected.

The Virtues.

            A. These herbs when they be green have virtue to stop the hot burning of the liver, to help the stopping of the gall, yellow jaundice, lack of sleep, stopping of urine, and hot burning fevers.

            B. A syrup thereof and sugar is very good for the diseases aforesaid.

            C. The distilled water is good in potions, cooling and purging drinks.

            D. The distilled water of Endive, Plantain, and Roses, profiteth against excoriations in the conduit of the yard to be injected with a syringe, whether hurt came by uncleanness or by small stones and gravel issuing forth with the urine; as often hath been seen.

            E. These herbs eaten in salads or otherwise, especially white Endive, doth comfort the weak and feeble stomach, and cooleth and refresheth the stomach overmuch heated.

            F. The leaves of Succory bruised are good against inflammation of the eyes, being outwardly applied to the grieved place.