Gerard's Herbal - Part 2
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| Fig. 699. White Sea stock-Gillyflower (1) |
Fig. 700. Purple Sea Stock-Gillyflower (2) |
The Kinds.
Of Stock-Gillyflowers that grow near unto the sea there be divers and sundry sorts, differing as well in leaves as flowers, which shall be comprehended in this chapter next following.
The Description.
1. The Sea Stock-Gillyflower hath a small woody root very thready; from which riseth up an hoary white stalk of two foot high, divided into divers small branches, whereon are placed confusedly many narrow leaves of a soft hoary substance. The flowers grow at the top of the branches, of a whitish colour, made of four little leaves; which being past, there follow long cods and seed, like unto the garden Stock-Gillyflower.
2. The purple Stock-Gillyflower hath a very long tough root, thrusting itself deep into the ground; from which rise up thick, fat, soft, and hoary stalks. The leaves come forth of the stalks next the ground, long, soft, thick, full of juice, covered over with a certain downy hoariness and sinuated somewhat deep on both sides; after the manner you may see expressed in the figure of the fourth described in this chapter. The stalk is set here and there with the like leaves, but lesser. The flowers grow at the top of the stalks, compact of four small leaves, of a light purple colour. The seed is contained in long crooked cods like the garden Stock-Gillyflower.
The figure of Lobel's which here we give you was taken of a dried plant, and therefore the leaves are not expressed so sinuate as they should be.
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| Fig. 701. Broad-Leaved Sea Stock-Gillyflower (3) |
Fig. 702. Yellow Sea Stock-Gillyflower (4) |
3. This Sea Stock-Gillyflower hath many broad leaves spread upon the ground, somewhat snipped or cut on the edges; amongst which rise up small naked stalks, bearing at the top many little flowers of a blue colour tending to a purple. The seed is in long cods like the others of his kind.
4. The Great Sea Stock-Gillyflower hath many broad leaves, growing in a great tuft, slightly indented about the edges. The flowers grow at the top of the stalks, of a gold yellow colour. The root is small and single.
Fig. 703. Small Yellow Sea Stock-Gillyflower (5)
5. The Small Yellow Sea Stock-Gillyflower hath many smooth, hoary, and soft leaves, set upon a branched stalk: on the top whereof grow pretty sweet smelling yellow flowers, bringing his seed in little long cods. The root is small and thready. The flowers of this are sometimes of a red, or purplish colour.
The place.
There plants do grow near unto the seaside, about Colchester, in the Isle of Man, near Preston in Aunderness, and about Westchester, saith our author, but I have not heard of any of these wild on our coasts but only the second, which it may be grows in these places here set down; for it was gathered by Mr. George Bowles upon the rocks at Aberdovey in Merionethshire.
The Time.
They flourish from April to the end of August.
The Names.
There is little to be said as touching the names, more than hath been touched in their several titles.
The Temperature and virtues.
There is no use of these in physic, but they are esteemed for the beauty of their flowers.
