The Description.

            1. Matfellon or Black Knapweed is doubtless a kind of Scabious, as all the others are, entitled with the name of Iacea; yet for distinction I have thought good to set them down in a several chapter, beginning with that kind which is called in English Knapweed and Matfellon, or Materfilon. It hath long and narrow leaves, of a blackish green colour, in shape like Devil's-Bit, but longer, set upon stalks two cubits high, somewhat bluntly cut or snipped about the edges: the flowers do grow at the top of the stalks, being first small scaly knops, like to the knops of Corn-flower, or Bluebottles, but greater; out of the midst thereof groweth a purple thrummy or thready flower. The root is thick and short.

            2. The Great Knapweed is very like unto the former, but that the whole plant is much greater, the leaves bigger, and more deeply cut, even to the middle rib: the flowers come forth of such like scaly heads, of an excellent fair purple colour, and much greater.

Fig. 1082. Kinds of Knapweed (3-6)

            3. The third kind of Matfellon, or Knapweed is very like unto the former great Knapweed last before mentioned, saving that the flowers of this plant are of an excellent fair yellow colour, proceeding forth of a scaly head or knop, beset with most sharp pricks, not to be touched without hurt: the flower is of a pleasing smell, and very sweet; the root is long and lasting, and creepeth far abroad, by means whereof it greatly increaseth.

            4. The Mountain Knapweed of Narbonne in France, hath a strong stem of two cubits high, and is very plentiful about Coventry among the hedges and bushes: the leaves are very much jagged, in form of Lonchitis, or Spleenwort; the flowers are like the rest of the Knapweeds, of a purple colour.

            5. The white flowered Knapweed hath creeping roots, which send up pretty large whitish green leaves, much divided or cut in almost to the middle rib; from the midst of which rises up a stalk some two foot high, set also with the like divided leaves, but lesser: the flowers are like those of the common sort, but of a pleasing white colour. I first found this growing wild in a field nigh Martin-Abbey in Surrey, and since in the Isle of Thanet.

            6. The tuberous or knobby Knapweed being set forth by Tabernamontanus, and which is a stranger in these parts, hath many leaves spread upon the ground, rough, deeply gashed or hacked about the edges, like those of Sow-Thistle: among which riseth up a straight stalk, dividing itself into other branches, whereon do grow the like leaves, but smaller: the knappy flowers stand on the top of the branches, of a bright red colour, in shape like the other Knapweeds. The root is great, thick and tuberous, consisting of many cloggy parcels, like those of the Asphodel.

Fig. 1083. Rough-Headed Knapweed (7)

            7. This (saith Clusius) is a comely plant, having broad and long leaves white, soft, and lightly snipped about the edges: the taste is gummy, & not a little bitter: it sends up many crested stalks from one root, some cubit high or more: at the tops of them grow the heads some two or three together, consisting of many scales, whose ends are hairy, and they are set so orderly, that by this means the heads seem as they were enclosed in little nets: the flowers are purple, and like those of the first described; the seed is small and long, and of an ash colour. This Clusius calls Iacea 4 austriaca villoso capite.

Iacea capitis hirsutis Boelii.

            8. This hath many small cornered streaked hairy trailing branches growing from the root and those again divided into many other branches, trailing or spreading upon the ground three or four foot long, employing or covering a good plot of ground, whereon grow hairy leaves divided or jagged into many parts, like the leaves of Iacea maior, or Rocket, of a very bitter taste: at the top of each branch groweth one scaly head, each scale ending with five, six, or seven little weak prickles growing orderly like half the rowel of a spur, but far lesser: the flowers grow forth of the heads of a light purple colour, consisting of many small flowers, like those of the common Iacea, the bordering flowers, being bigger and larger than those of the middle of the flower, each small flower being divided into five small parts or leaves, not much unlike those of Cyanus; the seed is small, and enclosed in down. The root perisheth when the seed is ripe.

            This plant hath not been hitherto written of that I can find. Seeds of it I received from Mr. William Coys, with whom also I observed the plant, October 10,1621. He received it from Boehm a Low-Country man. John Goodyer.

The Place.

            The two first grow commonly in every fertile pasture: the rest grow in my garden.

The Time.

            They flower in June and July.

The Names.

            The later age doth call it Iacea nigra, putting nigra for a difference between it and the Heartsease or Pansy, which is likewise called Iacea: it is called also Materfillon, and Matrefillen: in English Matfellon, Bulweed, and Knapweed.

The Temperature and Virtues.

            A. These plants are of the nature of Scabious, whereof they be kinds, therefore their faculties are like, although not so proper to physic's use.

            B. They be commended against the swellings of the uvula, as is Devil's-Bit, but of less force and virtue.