Fig. 1417. Herb Christopher

The Description.

            Although Herb Christopher be none of the Bindweeds, or of those plants that have need of supporting or underpropping wherewith it may climb or ramp, yet because it beareth grapes, or clusters of berries; it might have been numbred among the Ampeloi, or those that grow like Vines. It brings forth little tender stalks a foot long, or not much longer; whereupon do grow sundry leaves set upon a tender footstalk, which do make one leaf somewhat jagged or cut about the edges, of a light green colour: the flowers grow at the top of the stalks, in spoky tufts consisting of four little white leaves apiece: which being past, the fruit succeeds, round, somewhat long, and black when it is ripe, having upon one side a strreaked furrow or hollowness growing near together as do the clusters of grapes. The root is thick, black without, and yellow within like Box, with many trailing strings flexed thereto, creeping far abroad in the earth, whereby it doth greatly increase, and lasteth long.

The Place.

            Herb Christopher groweth in the North parts of England, near unto the house of the right worshipful Sir William Bowes. I have received plants thereof from Robinus of Paris, for my garden, where they flourish.

The Time.

            It flowereth and flourisheth in May and June, and the fruit is ripe in the end of summer.

The Names.

            It is called in our age Christophoriana, and S. Christophori herba: in English, Herb Christopher: some there be that name it Costus niger: others had rather have it Aconitum bacciferum: it hath no likeness at all nor affinity with Costus, as the simplest may perceive that do know both. But doubtless it is of the number of the Aconites, or Wolf's-Banes, by reason of the deadly and pernicious quality that it hath, like unto Wolf's-Bane, or Leopard's-bane.

The Temperature.

            The temperature of Herb Christopher answereth those of the Aconites, as we have said.

The Virtues.

            I find little or nothing extant in the ancient or later writers, of any one good property wherewith any part of this plant is possessed: therefore I wish those that love new medicines to take heed that this be none of them, because it is thought to be of a venomous and deadly quality.