Fig. 663. Calathian Violet

The Description.

            Among the number of the base Gentians there is a small plant, which is late before it cometh up, having stalks a span high, and sometimes higher, narrow leaves like unto Thyme, set by couples about the stalks by certain distances: long hollow flowers growing at the top of the stalks like a cup called a beaker, wide at the top, and narrower toward the bottom, of a deep blue colour tending to purple, with certain white threads or chives in the bottom: the flower at the mouth or brim is five-cornered before it be opened, but when it is opened it appeareth with five clefts or pleats. The whole plant is of a bitter taste, which plainly showeth it to be a kind of wild Gentian. The root is small, and perisheth when it hath perfected his seed, and recovereth itself by falling of the same.

The Place.

            This plant I never found but once, and that was on a wet marsh ground in Lincolnshire, 2 or 3 miles on this side Caister, and as I remember, the place is called Nettleton Moor.

The Time.

            The gallant flowers hereof be in their bravery about the end of August, and in September.

The Names.

            This is thought to be Viola Calathiana of Ruellius, yet not that of Pliny; and those that desire to know more of this may have recourse to the twelfth chapter of the first book of the 2. Pempt. of Dodonæus his Latin Herbal. It is called Viola autumnalis, or Autumn Violet, and seemeth to be the same that Valerius Cordus doth call Pneumonanthe, which he saith is named in the German tongue Lungen blumen, or Lung-flower: in English, Autumn Bell-Flowers, Calathian Violets, and of some, Harvest-Bells.

The Temperature.

            This wild Felwort or Violet is in temperature hot, somewhat like in faculty to Gentian, whereof it is a kind, but far weaker in operation.

The Virtues.

            A. The latter physicians hold it to be effectual against pestilent diseafes, and the bitings & stingings of venomous beasts.