296 -^HE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 



Sciiivygrass. Ij. . (//. d. 3.) 



This is well known and much used by country people. 



Descript.l English Scurvygrass hath many thick flat 

 loaves, more long than broad, and sometimes longer and 

 narrower ; sometimes also smooth on the edges, and some- 

 times a little waved ; sometimes plain, sm.ooth and pointed, 

 of a sad green, and sometimes a bluish colour, every one 

 standing by itself upon a long foot-stalk, which is brownish 

 or greenish also, from among which arise many slender 

 stalks, bearing few leaves thereon like the other, but 

 longer and lesser for the most part; at the tops whX'reof 

 grow many whitish flowers, with yellow threads in the 

 middle, standing about a green head, which becometh the 

 seed vessel, which will be somewhat Hat when it is ripe, 

 wherein is contained reddish seed, tasting somew hat hot. 

 The root is made of many white strings, which stick deeply 

 into the mud, wherein it chiefly delights, yet it will well 

 abide in the more upland and drier ground, and taste a 

 little brackish and salt even there, but not so much as 

 wh«>re it hath the salt water to feed upon. 



riace.l It groweth all along the Thames side, both on 

 the Essex and Kentish shores, from Woolwich round 

 about the sea coasts to Dover, Portsmouth, and even to 

 Bristol, where it is had in plenty ; the other with round 

 leaves, groweth in Lincolnshire, and other places by the 

 sea-side. 



There is also another sort called Dutch Scurvygrass, 

 which is most known, and frequent in gardens. 



Time.'] It flowereth in April and May, and giveth seed 

 ripe quickly after. 



Government and Virtues.'] It is an herb of Jupiter. 

 The English Scurvygrass is more used for the salt taste it 

 bearcth, which doth somewhat open and cleanse ; but the 

 Dutch is of better effe<5t, and chiefly used (if it may be had) 

 by those that have the scurvy, and is of singular good 

 effect to cleanse the blood, liver and spleen, taking the 

 juice in the Spring, every morning fasting, in a cup of 

 drink. The decodtion is good for the same purpose, and 

 openeth obstru6iions, evacuating cold, clammy and phleg- 

 matic humours, both fiom the liver and spleen, aud bring- 



