Gerard's Herbal - Part 3
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| Fig. 924. Brooklime (1) |
Fig. 925. Great Long-Leaved Brooklime (2) |
The Description.
1. Brooklime or Brooklem hath fat thick stalks, round, and parted into divers branches: the leaves be thick, smooth, broad, and of a deep green colour. The flowers grow upon small tender footstalks, which thrust forth of the bosom of the leaves, of a perfect blue colour, not unlike to the flowers of land Pimpernel: the root is white, low creeping, with fine strings fastened thereto: out of the root spring many other stalks, whereby it greatly increaseth.
2. The Great Water Pimpernel is like unto the precedent, saving that this plant hath sharper pointed or larger leaves, and the flowers are of a more whitish or a paler blue colour, wherein consisteth the difference.
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| Fig. 926. Round-Leaved Water Pimpernel (3) |
Fig. 927. Lobel's Fourth Water Pimpernel (4) |
3. Now I will acquaint you with two or three more plants which may fitly be here inserted: The first of these Lobel calls, Anagallis aquatica tertia; and therefore I have thought fit to give you it in the same place here. It hath a white and fibrous root; from which ariseth a round smooth stalk a foot and more high, (yet I have sometimes found it not above three or four inches high) upon the stalks grow leaves round, green, and shining, standing not by couples, but one above another on all sides of the stalks. The leaves that lie on the ground are longer than the rest, and are in shape somewhat like those of the common Daisy, but that they are not snipped about the edges: the flowers are white, consisting of one leaf divided into five parts; and they grow at the first as it were in an umbel, but afterwards more spike-fashioned: It flowers in June and July, and groweth in many watery places, as in the marshes of Dartford in Kent, also between Sandwich and Sandown Castle, and in the ditches on this side Sandwich. Bauhin saith, That Guillandinos called it sometimes Alsina, and otherwhiles Cochlearia: and others would have it to be Samolum of Pliny, lib. 25. cap. 11. Bauhin himself fitly calls it Anagallis aquatica folio rotundo non crenato.
4. I conjecture this figure which we here give you with the author's title to be only the lesser variety of that which our author describes in the second place; but because I have no certainty hereof (for that Lobel hath given us no description thereof in any of his Latin Works, and also Bauhin hath distinguished them) I am forced to give you only the figure thereof; not intending to deceive my reader by giving descriptions from my fancy and the figure, as our author sometimes made bold to do.
Fig. 928. Garden Brooklime (5)
5. This which is set forth by most writers for Cepća, which some may object to be more fit to be put next the Purslanes, I will here give you, having forgot to do it there; and I think this place not unfit, because our author in the names in this chapter takes occasion in Dodonćus his words to make mention thereof. It hath a small unprofitable root, sending up a stalk some foot high, divided into many weak branches, which are here and there set with thick leaves like those of Purslane, but much less, and narrower, and sharper pointed: the flowers which grow in good plenty upon the tops of the branches are composed of five small white leaves; whereto succeeds small heads, wherein is contained a seed like that of Orpine. This by Matthiolus and others is called Cepća: but Clusius doubts that it is not the true Cepća of the ancients.
The Place.
They grow by rivers' sides, small running brooks and watery ditches. The yellow Pimpernel I found growing in Hampstead Wood near London, and in many other woods and copses.
The Time.
They bring forth their flowers and seed in June, July, and August.
The Names.
Water Pimpernel is called Anagallis aquatica: of most, Becabunga, which is borrowed of the German word Bachpunghen: in Low Dutch, Beeckpunghen: in French, Berle: whereupon some do call it Berula: notwithstanding Marcellus reporteth, That Berula is that which the Grecians call Cresses: it is thought to be Cepća; that is to say, of the garden; which Dioscorides writeth to be like unto Purslane, whereunto this Brooklime doth very well agree. But if it be therefore said to be because it groweth either only or for the most part in gardens, this Pimpernel or Brooklime shall not be like unto it, which groweth nowhere less than in gardens, being altogether of his own nature wild, desiring to grow in watery places, and such as be continually overflown: in English the first is called Brooklime, and the rest by no particular names; but we may call them water Pimpernels, or Brooklimes.
The Temperature.
Brooklime is of temperature hot and dry like Watercresses, yet not so much.
The Virtues.
A. Brooklime is eaten in salads as Watercresses are and is good against that illness of such as dwell near the German Seas, which they call Scuerbuyke or as we term it, the Scurvy, or Skirby, being used after the same manner that Watercresses and Scurvy Grass is used, yet is it not of so great operation and virtue.
B. The herb boiled maketh a good fomentation for swollen legs and the dropsy.
C. The leaves boiled, strained, and stamped in a stone mortar with the powder of Fenugreek, Linseeds, the roots of Marsh Mallows, and some hog's grease, unto the form of a cataplastm or poultice, taketh away any swelling in leg or arm; wounds also that are ready to fall into apostumation it mightily defendeth, that no humour or accident shall happen thereunto.
D. The leaves of Brooklime stamped, strained, and given to drink in wine, helpeth the strangury, and griefs of the bladder.
E. The leaves of Brooklime, and the tendrils of Asparagus, eaten with oil, vinegar, and pepper, helpeth the strangury and stone.
