* 
AND COMPLETE HERBAL, 33t 
property, and is fometimes alfo put into cataplafins that are applied to repel hu- 
mours from flowing or falling to the place, and is alfo conveniently applied to wo. 
mens breafts, to-ftay inflammations therein. 
IG SWEET on AROMATICAL REED. 
Kinps anD Namrs, THERE is one fort called calainus arometicus Mathioh, . 
Mathiolus’s aromatical reed, a fecond called calamus aromaticus Syrtacus vel Arabicus 
fuppofitivus, the fuppofed Syrian or Arabian aromatical reed; andthe third, the true 
acorus of Diofcorides, or fweet-fmelling reed, called in Shops calamus aromaticus, and 
likewile acorus verus, five calamus officinarum. 
Description. 1, Mathiolus’s aromatical reed. This groweth with an upright 
tall ftalk, fet full of joints of certain {paces up to the top, (not hollow, but ftuffed 
full of a white, fpongeous, pith, of a gummy tafte, fomewhat bitter, and of the big- 
nefs of a man’s finger,) and at every one of them a long narrow leaf, of a dark green 
colour, {melling very fweet, differing therein from all other kinds of reeds ; on the 
tops whereof groweth a bufhy or feather-like panicle, refembling thofe of the com- 
mon reed. The root is knobby, with divers heads thereat, whereby it increafeth and 
fhooteth forth new heads of leaves, fmelling alfo very fweet, al a little beeline 
tafte, and fharp withal. 
2. The fuppofed Syrian or Arabian aromatical reed, rifeth up from a thick root 
three or four inches long, big at the head and {mall at the bottom, with one ftalk, 
fometimes more, two,cubits high, being ftraight, round, fmooth, and eafy to 
break into fplinters ; full of joints, and abouta finger’s thicknefs, hollow and fpungy 
within, of a whitith yellow colour, the ftalk is divided into other branches, and they 
again into other fmaller ones, two ufually fet together at a joint, with two leaves un- 
der them likewife, very like unto the leaves of lyfimachia, the willow-herb, or loofe- 
ftrife, but lefs, being an inch and an half long; compaffing the ftalk at the bottom, . 
with fundry veins running all the length of them; from the joints rife long ftalks, 
bearing fundry yellow {mall flowers, made of leaves like alfo unto lyfimachia, with 
a {mall pointel in the middle, after which follow {mall, blackith, Jong heads or feed- 
veffels, pointed at the end, and having in them fall blackith feed: the ftalk hath 
little or no fcent, yet not unpleafant, as Alpinus faith, being bitter, with a Jittle acri- 
mony therein; but Bauhinus faith, itis of an aromatical tafte, and very bitter. 
3» The fweet-fmelling reed, or calamus officinarum, or acorus verus, hath many flags, 
long and narrow fref green leaves, two feet long, or more; yet oftentimes fome- 
what brownifh at the bottom, the one rifing or growing out of the fide of the enter, 
No. 22, 4R in 
