OF SUNDRY HERBS 91 



PLANTAIN 



" And thou waybroad (plantain) 

 Mother of worts 

 Open from eastward 



Mighty within ; 

 Over thee carts creaked 



Over thee queens rode 



Over thee brides bridalled 



Over thee bulls breathed. 

 All these thou withstood st 

 And with stound stayedst 

 As thou withstoodst 



Venom and vile things 

 And all the loathly ones 



That through the land rove." 



Saxon MS. Herbal. 



The plantain is said to have been once a maiden who, 

 after constantly watching the roadway for her lover, was 

 changed into this plant which still clings to the roadside. 

 It has frequently been pointed out that wherever the 

 English flag is carried the plantain in an incredibly short 

 time makes its appearance, so it merits a place in the herb 

 garden quite apart from its virtues. From the days of our 

 Saxon ancestors, who called it " way broade " (a much more 

 appropriate name than plantain), it has always been highly 

 valued. A tea made from its leaves is excellent, and both 

 Chaucer and Shakespeare refer to its use for healing wounds. 

 The young leaves were formerly used in salad, and the 

 seeds, being very mucilaginous, are a good substitute for 

 linseed. 



Canaries are very fond of plantain seed. 



PLANTAIN TEA. One quart of boiling water poured on 

 to two large handfuls of the young leaves and left to infuse 

 several hours. 



To REMEDY THE FEETE THAT ARE SORE WITH TRAVELLING. 

 Take Plantaine and stampe it well, and anoynt your 

 feete with the juice thereof and the greefe will swage. The 

 Good Housewife's Handmaid, 1588. 



