The Kinds.

            Like as there be divers sorts of Borage, so are there sundry of the Buglosss; notwithstanding after Dioscorides, Borage is the true Bugloss: many are of opinion, and that righly, that they may be both referred to one kind; yet will we divide them according to the custom of our time, and their usual denominations.

The Description.

            1. That which the apothecaries call Bugloss bringeth forth leaves longer than those of Borage, sharp pointed, longer than the leaves of Beets, rough and hairy. The stalk groweth up to the height of two cubits, parted above into sundry branches, whereon are orderly placed bluish flowers, tending to a purple colour before they be opened, and afterward more blue. The root is long, thick, and gross, and of long continuance.

            2. Langue de Boeuf is a kind hereof, altogether lesser, but the leaves hereof are rougher, like the rough tongue of an ox or cow, whereof it took his name. The leaves of Langue de Boeuf are very rough, the stalk four cubit and half high, commonly red of colour: the tops of the branches carry flowers in scaly rough heads: these flowers are composed of many small yellow leaves in manner of those of Dandelion, and fly away in down like as they do: the flowers are of a very bitter taste, whence Lobel calls it Buglossum echioides luteum hieracio cognatum. Tabernamontanus fitly called it Hieracium echioides.

Fig. 1185. Small Wild Bugloss (3)

            3. There is another wild Bugloss which Dodonæus, hath by the name of Buglossa sylvestris: it hath a small white root, from which arises a slender stalk some foot and half high, set with small rough leaves sinuated or cut in on the edges: the stalks at the top are divided into three or four small branches, bearing small blue flowers in rough husks.

The Place.

            These do grow in gardens everywhere. The Langue de Boeuf grows wild in many places; as between Redriffe and Deptford by the watery ditch sides. The Small Wild Bugloss grows upon the dry ditch banks about Picadilly, and almost everywhere.

The Time.

            They flower from May, or June, even to the end of summer. The leaves perish in winter, and new come up in the spring.

The Names.

            Garden Bugloss is called of the later herbarists Buglossa, and Buglossa domestica: or garden Bugloss.

            Langue de Boeuf is called in Latine Lingua bovis, and Buglossum luteum hieracio cognatum, and also Buglossa sylvestris or wild Bugloss.

            Small Wild Bugloss is called Borago sylvestris by Tragus; Echium germanicum spinosum by Fuchsius and Buglossa sylvestris by Dodonæus.

Temperature and Virtues.

            A. The root, saith Dioscorides, mixed with oil, cureth green wounds, and adding thereto a little barley meal, it is a remedy against Saint Anthony's fire.

            B. It causeth sweat in agues, as Pliny saith, if the juice be mixed with a little Aqua vitæ, and the body rubbed therewith.

            C. The physicians of the later time use the leaves, flowers, and roots instead of Borage, and put them both into all kinds of medicines indifferently, which are of force and virtue to drive away sorrow and pensiveness of the mind, and to comfort and strengthen the heart. The leaves are of like operation with those of Borage and are used as potherbs for the purposes aforesaid, as well Bugloss as Langue de Boeuf, and also to keep the belly soluble.