T lx (jar den of pleat ant Flowers, 4 
filken doune. But what reafon Cafpar Bauhims in his Piitx That'! " oU- 
nici had, to call it (for it is Cludus his Apgcymsm Syriscum ) by the name of 
Lttptthmn ^£oyytitc»m Lttcfans filiqut Ajclepitdis , I know" none in the 
world : for but that he would (lievv an extrearae Angularity in giuhg names 
to plants, contrary to all others (which is very frequent with him) how 
could he thinke, that this plant could haue any hkenelfe or corr fponden- 
cie, with any of the kindes of Dockes, that eucr he had feene, read , or heard 
of, in face, orlhewofleaues, flowers, orfeede ; butefpecigliy in giumg 
milke. I haue you fee (and that not without iuft and euident c.iu(e) gfu n ic 
a differing Latme name from Gerard, becaufe the A/clepias giuci h no nulke 
but the Perifloca or -Aptcymum doth ; and therefore fitter to be referred to 
this then to that. And bccaufcitfbouldnot wantan Englilhnameaufwcra- 
ble to fome peculiar property thereof , I haue from the filken doune called 
it Virginian Silke : but I know there is another plant growing in Virginia 
called Silke Grade, which is much differing from this. 
The Vertues. 
I know not of any in our Land hath made any tryall of the properties 
hereof Captaine Iohn Smith in his bookeof the difcoucry and deferip- 
tion of Virginia, faith, that the Virginians vfc the rootes hereof (if his be 
the fame with this)being bruifed and appiyed to cure their hurts & difeafes. 
Chap. CXXV. 
Lignftr»m. Primme or Priuct. 
B Ecaufc the vfe of this plant is fo much, and fo frequent throughoutall this Land 
although for no other purpofe but to make hedges or arbours in Gardens , &cl 
whereuntoitis foapt, that no other can be like vnto it, to bee cue, lead’ and 
drawne into what forme one will, either of hearts, birds, or men armed, or otherwife: 
I could not forget it, although it be fo well kno wne vnto all, to bean hedge bufh growl 
ing from a woo Jdy white roote, fpreadingmuch within the ground,and bearing ma- 
nie long, tough, and plyantfprigs and branches, whereon are fet long, narrow , and 
pointed fad greene leaues by couples at euery ioynt ; at the tops whereof breake forth 
great tufts of fwectcfmelling whiteflowers , which when they are fallen , turneinto 
l'mail blackc berries, ha. eng a purple iuyee within them , and fmall feede, flat on the 
one fide, with an hole or dent therein : this is feene in thofe branches that are not cut 
but fuffered to beare out their flowers and fruit. 
The Place. 
Thisbufhgroweth as plentifully in the Woods of our owne Couutrcv, 
as in any other beyond the Seas. s ' 
The Time. 
It flowreth fometimes in lune, and in Iuly ; the fruit is ripe in Auguft and 
c September. 
TheNames. 
There is great controuerfie among the moderne Writers concerning this 
plant, fome taking it to be of Diofcorides, other to be PhiUyru of Di- 
ofcorides, which followeth next after Cyprus Pliniemaketh mention of 
Cjfrm in two places ; in the one he faith , Cyprus hath the leafe of Ztuphus, 
