The Description.

            1. This grows some foot high, with little longish leaves set by couples: at the tops of the stalks amongst white downy heads come little white flowers: the whole plant is of a very sweet and pleasing smell.

            2. If any be desirous to search for the true Marum, let them be assured that the plant last mentioned is the same: but if any do doubt thereof, for novelty's sake here is presented unto your view a plant of the same kind (which cannot be rejected) for a special kind thereof, which hath a most pleasant scent or smell, and in show resembleth Marjoram and Organy, consisting of small twigs a foot and more long; the heads tufted like the common Marjoram; but the leaves are less, and like Myrtus: the root is of a woody substance, with many strings hanging thereat.

Fig. 1001. Creeping Mastic (3)

            3. This plant hath many creeping branches like to those of Wild Thyme, but set with whiter and shorter leaves like to those of the smaller Marjoram, but somewhat narrower: the flowers grow in roundels amongst the leaves, as in Calamint, and are of a purple colour: the whole plant is of a strong and sweet smell, and of an hot and bitter taste. Cæsalpinus thinks this to be the Sampsychum of Dioscorides and so also do the authors of the Adversaria. Tabernamontanus calls it Marum repens.

The Place.

            There plants are set and sown in the gardens of England, and there maintained with great care and diligence from the injury of our cold climate.

The Time.

            They flower about August, and somewhat later in cold summers.

The Names.

            The English and French herbarists at this day do in their vulgar tongues call this herb Mastic or Mastich, taking this name Marum of Maro King of Thrace; though some rather suppose the name corruptly to be derived from this word Amaracus, the one plant being so like the other, that many learned have taken them to be one and the self-same plant: others have taken Marum for Sampsychus, which doubtless is a kind of Marjoram. Some (as Dodonæus) have called this our Marum by the name of Clinopodium; which name rather belongs to another plant than to Mastic. Mastic is called of the new writers Marum: and some, as Lobel and Anguillara think it the Helenium odorum of Theophrastus. Dodonæus judges it to be the Clinopodium of Dioscorides. Clusius makes it his Tragoriganum 1 and saith he received the seeds thereof by the name of Ambra dulcis.

The Nature.

            These plants are hot and dry in the third degree.

The Virtues.

            A. Dioscorides writeth, that the herb is drunk, and likewise the decoction thereof, against the bitings of venomous beasts, cramps and convulsions, burstings and the strangury.

            B. The decoction boiled in wine till the third part be consumed, and drunk, stoppeth the lask in them that have an ague, and unto others in water.