The Description.

            1. Golden-Rod hath long broad leaves somewhat hoary and sharp pointed; among which rise up brown stalks two foot high, dividing themselves toward the top into sundry branches, charged or laden with small yellow flowers; which when they be ripe turn into down which is carried away with the wind. The root is thready and brown of colour. Lobel makes this with unsnipped leaves to be that of Arnoldus Villanova.

            2. The second sort of Golden-Rod hath small thin leaves broader than those of the first described, smooth, with some few cuts or nicks about the edges, and sharp pointed, of a hot and harsh taste in the throat being chewed; which leaves are set upon a fair reddish stalk. It took his name from the flowers which grow at the top of a gold yellow colour: which flowers turn into down, which is carried away with the wind, as is the former. The root is small, compact of many strings or threads.

The Place.

            They both grow plentifully in Hampstead Wood, near unto the gate that leadeth out of the wood unto a village called Kentish town, not far from London; in a wood by Rayleigh in Essex, hard by a gentleman's house called Mr. Leonard, dwelling upon Dawes Heath; in Southfleet and in Swainescombe wood also, near unto Gravesend.

The Time.

            They flower and flourish in the end of August.

The Names.

            It is called in English Golden-Rod: in Latin, Virga aurea, because the branches are like a Golden-Rod: in Dutch, Gulden Roede: in French, Verge d'or.

The Temperature.

            Golden-Rod is hot and dry in the second degree: it cleanseth with a certain astriction or binding quality.

The Virtues.

            A. Golden-Rod provoketh urine, wasteth away the stones in the kidneys, and expelleth them, and withal bringeth down tough and raw phlegmatic humours sticking in the urine vessels, which now and then do hinder the coming away of the stones, and causeth the gravel or sand which is brittle to be gathered together into one stone. And therefore Arnoldus Villanova by good reason hath commended it against the stone and pain of the kidneys.

            B. It is of the number of those plants that serve for wound-drinks, and is reported that it can fully perform all those things that Saracen's Confound can; and in my practise shall be placed in the foremost rank.

            C. Arnoldus writeth, That the distilled water drunk with wine for some few days together, worketh the same effect, that is, for the stone and gravel in the kidneys.

            D. It is extolled above all other herbs for the stopping of blood in sanguinolent ulcers and bleeding wounds; and hath in times past been had in greater estimation and regard than in these days: for in my remembrance I have known the dry herb which came from beyond the sea sold in Buckler's Bury in London for half a crown an ounce. But since it was found in Hampstead wood, even as it were at our town's end, no man will give half a crown for an hundredweight of it: which plainly setteth forth our inconstancy and sudden mutability, esteeming no longer of any thing, how precious soever it be, than whilst it is strange and rare. This verifieth our English proverb, Far fetched and dear bought is best for ladies. Yet it may be more truly said of fantastical physicians, who when they have found an approved medicine and perfect remedy near home against any disease; yet not content therewith, they will seek for a new farther off; and by that means many times hurt more than they help. Thus much I have spoken to bring these new fangled fellows back again to esteem better of this admirable plant than they have done, which no doubt hath the same virtue now that then it had, although it grows so near our own homes in never so great quantity.