The first figure hereof setteth forth unto your view the cod wherein the hot spice lieth, which we call Grains: in shops, Grana Paradisi: it groweth, by the report of the learned, upon a low herby plant: the leaves are some four inches long, and three broad, with somewhat a thick middle rib, from which run transverse fibres; they much in shape resemble those of Cloves. The fruit is like a great cod or husk, in shape like a fig when it groweth upon the tree, but of colour russet, thrust full of small seeds or grains of a dark reddish colour (as the figure showeth which is divided) of an exceeding hot taste.

The other sorts may be distinguished by the sight of the picture, considering the only difference consists in form.

The Place.

Grains grow in Guinea, and the Cardamoms in all the East Indies, from the port of Calicut unto Cananor; it groweth in Malabar, in Java, and in divers other places.

The Time.

They spring up in May, being sown of seed, and bring their fruit to ripeness in September.

The Names.

Grains are called in Greek, Kardamomon: in Latin, Cardamomum; of the Arabians, Corrumeni: of divers Gentiles, Dore: of Avicenna, Saccolaa quebir (i.e.) magnum: the other, Saccolaa ceguer (i.e.) minus. It is called in Malabar, Etremelli: in Ceylon, Encal: in Bengal, Gujerat, and Deccan, Hil, and Eluchi. The first and largest sort are called of some, Mileguetta, and Milegetta: in English, Grains, and Grains of Paradise.

The Temperature.

Avicenna writeth, that Saccolaa, Cardamomum, or Grana Paradisi, are hot and dry in the third degree, with astriction.

The Virtues.

A. The Grains chewed in the mouth draw forth from the head and stomach waterish and pituitous humours.

B. They also comfort and warm the weak, cold, and feeble stomach, help the ague, and rid the shaking fits, being drunk with Sack.

CHAP. 155. Of Yucca.

The Description.

The plant of whose root the Indian bread called Cassava is made, is a low herb consisting only of leaves and roots: it hath neither stalk, flowers, nor fruit, that I can understand of others, or by experience of the plant itself, which hath grown in my garden four years together, and yet doth grow and prosper exceedingly; nevertheless without stalk, fruit, or flowers, as aforesaid. It hath a very great root, thick and tuberous, and very knobby, full of juice somewhat sweet in taste, but of a pernicious quality, as saith my author: from which root riseth up immediately forth of the ground very many leaves joined unto the head of the root in a round circle; the which are long, of the length of a cubit, hollowed like a gutter or trough, very smooth, and of a green colour, like that of Woad: the edges of the leaves are sharp like the edge of a knife, and of a brown colour; the point of the leaf is a prick as sharp as a needle, which hurteth those that unadvisedly pass by it: the leaf with advised eye viewed is like unto a little wherry, or such like boat: they are also very tough, hard to break, and not easy to cut, except the knife be very sharp.

Thus saith our author, but Lobel in the second part of his Adversaria largely describes and figures this plant; and there he affirms he wrote a description (the which he there sets down) for our author; but he did not follow it, and therefore committed these errors: First, in that he saith it is the root whereof Casava bread was made; whenas Lobel in his description said he thought it to be alia species a Yucca Indica ex qua panis communis fit ["Another species of Indian Yucca from which common bread is made"]. Secondly, in that he set down the place out of the Historia Lugdunensis (who took it out of Thevet) endeavouring by that means to confound it with that there mentioned, whenas he had his from Mr Edwards his man. And thirdly, (for which indeed he was most blameworthy, and wherein he most showed his weakness) for that he doth confound it with the Manihot or true Yucca, which all affirm to have a leaf like that of hemp, parted into seven or more divisions: and also in that he puts it to the Arachidna of Theophrastus, whenas he denies it both flower and fruit, yet within some few years after our author had set forth this work it flowered in his garden.

This some years puts forth a pretty stiff round stalk some three cubits high, divided into divers unequal branches carrying many pretty large flowers, shaped somewhat like those of Fritillaria, but that they are narrower at their bottoms; the leaves of the flower are six: the colour on the inside white, but on the outside of an overworn reddish colour from the stalk to the midst of the leaf; so that it is a flower of no great beauty, yet to be esteemed for the rarity. I saw it once flower in the garden of Mr Wilmot at Bow, but never since, though it hath been kept for many years in sundry other gardens, as with Mr Parkinson and Mr Tuggy. This was first written of by our author; and since by Lobel and Mr Parkinson, who keep the same name, as also Bauhine, who to distinguish it from the other calls it Yucca foliis aloes.

The Place.

This plant groweth in all the tract of the Indies, from the Magellan Straits unto the cape of Florida, and in most of the islands of the Cannibals, and others adjoining, from whence I had that plant brought me that groweth in my garden, by a servant of a learned and skilful apothecary of Exeter, named Mr Tho. Edwards.

The Time.

It keepeth green both winter and summer in my garden, without any coverture at all, notwithstanding the injury of our cold climate.

The Names.

It is reported unto me by Travellers, that the Indians do call it in same parts, Manihot, but generally Yucca: it is thought to be the plant called of Theophrastus, Arachidna: and of Pliny, Aracidna.

The Temperature.

This plant is hot and dry in the first degree, which is meant by the feces or dross, when the poisonous juice is pressed or strained forth, and is also dry in the middle of the second degree.