The Kinds.

            There be three kinds of wild Camomile, which are generally called in Latin Cotula; one stinking, and two other not stinking: the one hath his flower all white throughout the compass and also in the middle; and the other yellow. Besides these there is another with very fair double flowers void of smell, which a Kentish gentleman called Mr. Bartholomew Lane found growing wild in a field in the Isle of Thanet, near unto a house called Queakes, sometime the house of Sir Henry Crispe. Likewise Mr. Hesketh, before remembered, found it in the garden of his inn at Barnet, if my memory fail me not, at the sign of the Red Lion, or near unto it, and in a poor woman's garden as he was riding into Lancashire.

            The double flowered Mayweed, the last year, being 1632, I (being in company with Mr. William Broad, Mr. James Clarke and four other London apothecaries in the Isle of Thanet) found it growing wild upon the cliff side, close by the town of Margate, and in some other places of the island.

The Description.

            1. Mayweed bringeth forth round stalks, green, brittle, and full of juice, parted into many branches thicker and higher than those of Camomile; the leaves in like manner are broader, and of a blackish green colour. The flowers are like in form and colour, yet commonly larger, and of a rank and naughty smell: the root is woody, and perisheth when the seed is ripe. The whole plant stinketh, and giveth a rank smell.

            This herb varies, in that it is found sometimes with narrower, and otherwhiles with broader leaves; as also with a strong unpleasant smell, or without any smell at all: the flowers also are single, or else (which is seldom found) very double.

            2. The Yellow Mayweed hath a small and tender root, from which riseth up a feeble stalk dividing itself into many other branches, whereupon do grow leaves not unlike to Camomile, but thinner and fewer in number. The flowers grow at the top of the stalks, of a gold yellow colour. So saith our author, but I take this to be no other than the Buphthalmum verum of our author, formerly described in the second place of the 258th chapter.

            3. This Mountain Camomile hath leaves somewhat deeply cut in almost to the middle rib, thick also and juicy, of a bitterish taste, and of no pleasant smell: the stalks are weak, and some foot high, carrying at their tops single flowers, bigger, yet like those of Camomile, yellow in the middle, with a border of twenty or more long white leaves, encompassing it. It increaseth much, as Camomile doth, and hath creeping roots. It is found upon the Styrian Alps, and flowereth in July and August. Clusius hath set this forth by the name of Leucanthemum alpinum.

The Place.

            They grow in corn fields near unto pathways, and in the borders of field.

The Time.

            They flower in July and August.

The Names.

            Mayweed is called in shops Cotula fœtida: of Leonhardus Fuchsius, Parthenium and Virginea, but not truly: of others, High Dutch, Krotendill; in Low Dutch, Paddebloemen, in French, Espargoutte: in English, Mayweed, Wild Camomile, and Stinking Maythes.

The Temperature and Virtues.

            Mayweed is not used for meat nor medicine, and therefore the faculties are unknown; yet all of them are thought to be hot and dry, and like after a sort in operation to Camomile, but nothing at all agreeing with man's nature; notwithstanding it is commended against the infirmities of the mother, seeing all stinking things are good against those diseases.

            It is an unprofitable weed among corn, and raiseth blisters upon the hands of the weeders and reapers.