Fig. 1060. Sawwort (1 & 2)

The Description.

            1. The plant which the new writers have called Serratula differeth from Betonica, although the Ancients have so called Betony; It hath large leaves somewhat snipped about the edges like a saw (whereof it took his name) rising immediately from the root: among which come up stalks of a cubit high, beset with leaves very deeply cut or jagged even to the middle of the rib, not much unlike the male Scabious. The stalks towards the top divide themselves into other small branches, at the top whereof they bear flowers somewhat scaly, like the Knapweed, but not so great nor hard: at the top of the knop cometh forth a bushy or thrummy flower, of a purple colour. The root is thready, and thereby increaseth and becometh of a great quantity.

            2. Sawwort with white flowers differeth not from the precedent, but in the colour of the flowers: for as the other bringeth forth a bush of purple flowers; in a manner this plant bringeth forth flowers of the same fashion, but of a snow white colour, wherein consisteth the difference.

The Place.

            Sawwort groweth in woods and shadowy places, and sometimes in meadows. They grow in Hampstead Wood likewise. I have seen it growing in great abundance in the wood adjoining to Islington, within half a mile from the further end of the town, and in sundry places of Essex and Suffolk.

The Time.

            They flower in July and August.

The Names.

            The later age do call them Serratula, and Serratula tinctoria, it differeth as we have said from Betony, which is also called Serratula: it is called in English Sawwort. Cæsalpinus calls it Cerretta and Serretta, and Thalius, Centauroides, or Centaureum maius sylvestre germanicum.

The Temperature and Virtues.

            A. Serratula is wonderfully commended to be most singular for wounds, ruptures, burstings, and such like: and is referred unto the temperature of Sanicle.