The Description.

1. This grows to the height of a cubit, and is covered with a crested and rough bark; and divided into many longish branches crested & green, which at their first springing up have some leaves upon them, which fall away as soon as the plant comes to flower: from the sides of the branches come forth long footstalks whereon hang some small yellow flowers, which are succeeded by short round yellowish-red cods which commonly contain but one seed, seldom two, and these hard and black, and like a little Kidney, which when it is ripe will rattle in the cod being shaken.

2. This naked broom groweth up to the height of a man: the stalk is rough, and void of leaves, very green and pliant, which divideth itself into divers twiggy branches, green, and tough, like rushes: the flowers grow all along the stalks like those of broom, but of a white colour, wherein it differeth from all the rest of his kind.

The Place.

These grow in the provinces of Spain, and are in one place higher and more bushy, and in another lower.

The Time.

The first flowers in May, and the second in February.

The Names.

These base Spanish brooms may be referred to the true, which is called in Greek Sparton: the Latins use the same name, calling it sometimes Spartum, and Spartium: in Spanish, Retama: in English, Spanish Broom, and Bastard Spanish Broom.

The Temperature and Virtues.

A. Both the seeds and juice of the branches of these base Brooms, wherewith they in Spain and other hot regions do tie their vines, do mightily draw, as Galen writeth.

B. Dioscorides saith, that the seeds and flowers being drunk in the quantity of a dram, with mead or honeyed water, doth cause one to vomit strongly, as the Hellebore or neezing powder doth, but yet without jeopardy or danger of life: the seed purgeth by stool.

C. The juice which is drawn from out of the branches steeped in water, being first bruised, is a remedy for those that are tormented with the sciatica, and for those that be troubled with the squincy, if a draught thereof be drunk in the morning; some use to steep the branches in sea water, and to give the same in a clyster, which purgeth forth bloody and slimy excrements.