Gerard's Herbal - Part 3
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| Fig. 1297. Virgin's Bower (1) |
Fig. 1298. Upright Virgin's Bower (2) |
The Description.
1. Among these plants which are called Clematides these be also to be numbered, as having certain affinity, because of the spreading, branching, and semblance of the Vine; and this is called Flammula urens, by reason of his fiery and burning heat, because that being laid upon the skin it burneth the place, and maketh an eschar, even as our common caustic or corrosive medicines do. The leaves hereof answer both in colour and smoothness, Vinca, Pervinca, or Periwinkle, growing upon long clambering tender branches, like the other kinds of climbing plants. The flowers are very white, star-fashion, and of an exceeding sweet smell, much like unto the smell of Hawthorn flowers, but more pleasant and less offensive to the head: having in the middle of the flowers certain small chives or threads. The root is tender, and disperseth itself far under the ground.
2. Upright Clamberer or Virgins Bower is also a kind of Clematis, having long tough roots not unlike to those of Liquorice, from which riseth up a straight upright stalk, of the height of three or four cubits, set about with winged leaves, composed of divers small leaves, set upon a middle rib, as are those of the Ash tree, or Valerian, but fewer in number: at the top of the stalks come forth small white flowers very like the precedent, but not of so pleasant a sweet smell; after which come the seeds, flat and sharp pointed.
3. There is another Clematis of the kind of the white Clematis or burning Clemitis, which I have recovered from seed, that hath been sent me from a curious and learned citizen of Strasbourg, which is like unto the others in each respect, saving that, that the flowers hereof are very double, wherein consisteth the special difference.
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| Fig. 1299. Bush Bower (4) |
Fig. 1300. Great Bush Bower (5) |
4. Amongst the kinds of climbing or clambering plants, Carolus Clusius, and likewise Lobel have numbered these two, which approach near unto them in leaves and flowers, but are far different in clasping tendrils, or climbing otherwise, being low and base plants in respct of the others of their kind. The first hath for his roots a bundle of tough tangling threads, in number infinite, and thick thrust together; from which rise up many small stalks, of a brownish colour, four-square, and of a woody substance: whereupon do grow long leaves, of a biting taste, set together by couples, in shape like those of Asclepias, or Silken Swallow-Wort. The flowers grow at the top of the stalks, of a fair blue or sky colour, consisting of four parts in manner of a cross, having in the middle a bunched pointel, like unto the head of field Poppy when it is young, of a whitish yellow colour, having little or no smell at all. The flowers being past, then cometh the seed, such as is to be seen in the other kinds of Clematis. The whole plant dieth at the approch of winter, and recovereth it self again from the root, which endureth, whereby it greatly increaseth.
5. The Great Bush Bower differeth not from the former last described, but in greatness: which name of greatness setteth forth the difference.
Fig. 1301. Alpine Virgin's Bower (6)
6. Of these there is another, whose bending crested stalks are some three cubits high, which send forth sundry small branches, set with leaves growing together by threes upon short footstalks, and they are like myrtle leaves, but bigger, more wrinkled, dark coloured, and snipped about the edges: the flower resembles a cross, with four sharp pointed rough leaves of a whitish blue colour, which contain divers small loose little leaves in their middles. The root is long and lasting. It grows upon the rocky places of Mount Baldus in Italy, where Pona found it, and he calls it Clematis cruciata alpina.
The Place.
These plants do not grow wild in England, that I can as yet learn; notwithstanding I have them all in my garden, where they flourish exceedingly.
The Time.
These plants do flower from August to the end of September.
The Names.
There is not much more found of their names than is expressed in their several titles, notwithstanding there hath been somewhat said, as I think, by hearsay, but nothing of certainty: wherefore let that which is set down suffice. We may in English call the first, Biting Clematis, or White Clematis, Biting Periwinkle or Purging Periwinkle, Lady's Bower, and Virgin's Bower.
The Temperature.
The leaf hereof is biting, and doth mightily blister, being, as Galen saith, of a caustic or burning quality: it is hot in the beginning of the fourth degree.
The Virtues.
A. Dioscorides writeth, that the leaves being applied do heal the scurf and lepry, and that the seed beaten and the powder drunk with fair water or with mead, purgeth phlegm and choler by the stool.
