The Description.

            1. The Sea Navelwort hath many round thick leaves like unto little saucers, set upon small tender stalks, bright, shining, and smooth, of two inches long, for the most part growing upon the furrowed shells of cockles or the like, every small stem bearing upon the end or point one little buckler and no more resembling a navel; the stalk and leaf set together in the middle of the same. Whereupon the herbarists of Montpellier have called it Umbilicus marinus, or Sea Navel. The leaves and stalks of this plant, whilst they are yet in the water, are of a pale ash colour, but being taken forth, they presently wax white, as Sea Moss, called Corallina, or the shell of a cockle. It is thought to be barren of seed, and is in taste saltish.

            2. The second Androsace hath many leaves lying flat upon the ground like to those of Plantain, but lesser and of a pale green colour, and toothed about the edges, soft also and juicy, and of somewhat a biting taste. Amongst these leaves rise up five or six stalks of an handful high, commonly of a green, yet sometimes of a purple colour, naked and somewhat hairy, which at their tops carry in a circle fine roundish leaves also a little toothed and hairy; from the midst of which arise five or more footstalks, each bearing a greenish rough or hairy cup, parted also into five little leaves or jags, in the midst of which stands a little white flower parted also into five; after which succeed pretty large seed vessels which contain an unequal red seed like that of Primroses, but bigger: the root is single and slender, and dies as soon as the seed is perfected. It grows naturally in divers places of Austria, and amongst the corn about the baths of Baden; whereas it flowers in April, and ripens the seed in May and June.

The Place.

            1. Androsace will not grow any where but in water: great store of it is about Frontignan by Montpellier in Languedoc, where every fisherman doth know it.

            2. The second groweth upon old stone and mud walls: notwithstanding I have (the more to grace Matthiolus' great jewel) planted it in my garden.

The Time.

            The bastard Androsace flowereth in July, and the seed is ripe in August.

The Names.

            1. Androsace is of some called Umbilicus marinus, or Sea Navel.

            2. The second is known and called by the name of Androsace altera matthioli.

The Temperature.

            The Sea Navel is of a diuretic quality, and more dry than Galen thought it to be, and less hot than others have deemed it: there can no moisture be found in it.

The Virtues.

            A. Sea Navelwort provoketh urine, and digesteth the filthiness and sliminess gathered in the joints.

            B. Two drams of it, as Dioscorides saith, drunk in wine, bringeth down great store of urine out of their bodies that have the dropsy, and maketh a good plaster to cease the pain of the gout.