Gerard's Herbal - Part 3
Fig. 1031. Kinds of Wild Horehound (1-4)
The Description.
1. Wild Horehound is also like to common Horehound: there riseth from the root hereof a great number of stalks high and jointed, and out of every joint a couple of leaves opposite, or set one against another, somewhat hard, a little longer than those of common Horehound, and whiter, as also the stalks are set with soft hairs, and of a sweet smell: the flowers do compass the stalk about as those do of common Horehound, but they are yellow, and the whorls be narrower: the root is woody and durable.
2. Besides this there is also another described by Fuchsius: the stalks hereof are thick, four-square, now and then two or three foot long: the leaves be broad, long, hoary, nicked in the edges, hairy as are also the stalks, and much broader than those of the common Horehound: the flowers in the whorls which compass the stalk about, are of a purple colour; the seed is round and blackish: the root hard & something yellow.
3. This thorny Stachys hath leaves before it comes to send forth the stalk, like those of the lesser Sage, but more white & hairy, those that grow upon the stalks are much narrower: the stalks are square some foot high: and at the parting of them into branches grow always two leaves one opposite against another: the tops of the branches end in long sharp thorny prickles: the flowers grow about the tops of the branches like those of Sage, but of somewhat a lighter colour. This grows naturally in Candy, about a town called Larda, where Honorius Bellus first observed it, there it is called Guidarothymo, or Asses' Thyme, though it agree with Thyme in nothing but the place of growth. Clusius sets it forth by the name of Stachys spinosa.
4. Lobel hath given us the figure and first description of this by the name of Stachys lusitanica. It hath creeping and downy stalks some handful and half high, set with little leaves: amongst which in roundels grow small flowers like those of the other wild Horehounds; the whole plant is of somewhat a grateful smell.
|
|
|
| Fig. 1032. Germander Ironwort (5) |
Fig. 1033. Hyssop-Leaved Ironwort (6) |
5. There is another wild Horehound of Mountpellier, called Sideritis monspelliaca scordiordes, sive scordii folio; being that kind of Sideritis or wild Horehound which is like unto Scordium, or Water Germander, which groweth to the height of a handful and a half, with many small branches rising upright, of a woody substance, having the tops and spoky coronets of Hyssop, but the leaves do resemble Dioscorides his Scordium, save that they be somewhat lesser, stiffer, more wrinkled or curled and hairy, than Tetrahit, or the Judaical herb: the flowers do resemble those of the common Savory, in taste bitter, and of an aromatical smell.
6. Mountain Sideritis being also of the kinds of Horehound, was first found by Valerandus Donraz, in the mountains of Savoy, resembling very well the last described, but the leaves are much narrower, and like those of Hyssop: the flowers grow in small rough roundels or tufts, pale of colour like Marrubium or Tetrahit; the root long and bending, of a woody substance, and purple colour, bitter in taste, but not unpleasant, whose virtue is yet unknown.
The Place.
There herbs are foreigners, they grow in rough and barren places, notwithstanding I have them growing in my garden. My kind friend Mr. Buckner an apothecary of London the last year, being 1632, found the second of these growing wild in Oxfordshire in the field joining to Witney Park a mile from the town.
The Time.
They flower in the summer months, and wither towards winter: the root remaineth alive a certain time.
The Names.
The former is taken for the right Stachys, it is known in shops and everywhere: we name it in English Yellow Horehound, and Wild Horehound. Lobel calls it Stachys lichnites spuria flandrorum.
The other wild Horehound, seeing it hath no name, is to be called Stachys spuria: for it is not the right, neither is it Sphacelus (as most have suspected) of which Theophrastus hath made mention. It is called in English Purple Horehound, Bastard Wild Horehound, Fuchsius his wild Horehound.
Fabius Columna proves the second to be the Sideritis heraclia of Dioscorides and the ancients.
The Temperature.
These herbs are of a biting and bitter taste, and are hot in the third degree according to Galen. The Stachys fuchsii and Sideritides seem to be hot and dry in the first degree.
The Virtues.
A. The decoction of the leaves drunk doth draw down the menses and the secondine, as Dioscorides teacheth.
B. This is of singular use (as most of the herbs of this kind are) to keep wounds from inflammation, and speedily to heal them up, as also to stay all fluxes and defluctions, having a drying and moderate astrictive faculty.
C. Aetius and Ęgineta commend the use of it in medicines used in the cure of the biting of a mad dog.
