56 THE BOOK OF HERBS 



DiTTANDER (Lepidium Latifolium). 



Dittander or Pepperwort grows wild in a few places 

 in England, but was once cultivated. It was sometimes 

 used as " a sauce or sallet to meate, but is too hot, 

 bitter and strong for everyone's taste." These qualities 

 have gained it the names of Poor Man's Pepper, and 

 from Tusser, Garden Ginger. Culpepper's opinion is 

 briefly expressed: " Here is another martial herb for you, 

 make much of it." It is so " hot and fiery sharpe " 

 that it is said to raise a blister on the hand of anyone 

 who holds it for a while, and therefore (on homcEopathic 

 principles) it was recommended " to take away marks, 

 scarres . . . and the marks of burning with fire or Iron." 



Elecampane {Inula Helenium). 



Elecampane, the beauteous Helen's flower. 

 Mingles among the rest her silver store. 



Rapin. 



" Some think it took the name from the teares of Helen, 

 from whence it sprang, which is a fable ; others that she 

 had her hands full of this herbe when Paris carried her 

 away ; others say it was so called because Helen first 

 found it available against the bitings and stingings of 

 venomous beasts; and others thinke that it tooke the name 

 from the Island Helena, where the best was found to 

 grow." Parkinson gives a wide choice for opinions on 

 the origin of Elecampane, the two first "fables" are 

 very picturesque. The radiant gold of the flowers 

 would be gorgeous but beautiful, in a loose bunch, in a 

 meadow, though in-doors they would be apt to look big 

 and glaring. Gerarde speaks of them being " in their 

 braverie in June and July," and adds that the root "is 

 marvellous good for many things." Since the days of 

 Helen the fairies have laid hold of the plant, and another 



