Chap. 265. 'Engtijh Herbs. 359 
making every Leaf look almoft like to the Leaf of 
the Red Rattle. Ftom the middle of the Stalk up- 
wards it fpteads it felf out into other Branches, al- 
moit tothe very top, thofe Branches growing fmal- 
ler and fmaller as they grow higher and nearer to 
the top , having on all iides fuch like Leaves, but 
leifer than thofe growing below. At the tops of the 
Stalks and Branches are many fmall Flowers, fet al- 
moft like unto the tirlt Common Figwort, but part of 
a deeper, and part of a paler Purple Color, with 
fome yellow Threads rifing out of the middle. 
IV. The Second , or Indian or American Great Fig- 
wort, has a Root which is thick and bujhy , which pe- 
rtjhes in the Winter , if it comes up to flowering , but 
if it flowers not , it continues all the Tear. From 
this Root fpring up divers thick, but weak, Stalks 
or Branches, all lying round about upon the Ground, 
full of Joints, with large and long dark green Leaves, 
cut in on the edges into five long Divifions, all of 
them dented about the edges; and from the lame 
Joints come forth alfo other lefler Leaves, divided 
and dented, and with them, towards the tops of the 
Stalks, feveral large Flowers of a yellowifh color on 
the outfide and lower parts, but of a reddifh color, 
mixt with yellow within. The Flowers being paft 
away, larger and harder Fleads fucceed than in the 
Common Kinds, and pointed at the end as the reft, 
which contain within them fmall blackiftl Seed. 
V. The Third , or Yellow Flowered Great Fig- 
wort, has a Root which is thick and blackijh , with 
many Fibres or Strings thereat , but without any Tu- 
bers or Knobs at all. From the Flead of this Root 
fpring forth feveral fquare brown Stalks , a little 
hairy and foft, above two Feet high, at the Joints 
of which grow two large , broad , roundifh , hairy, 
fofr, green Leaves, deeply indented about the edges, 
and ftanding upon very long Footftalks, thofe at the 
lower parts of the Stalks being largeft, which in 
Winter lye in a compafs upon the Ground about the 
Root, and thofe which grow ori the Stalks lefler, 
growing leffer and lefler till they come to the tops ; 
at each Joint with the Leaves comes forth, even al- 
moft from the bottom, one fmall naked Branch, 
bearing many Flowers in Tufts at the ends of them, 
which are round and yellow , fomewhat like unto 
the Ordinary or Common fort , parted or cut in at the 
brims into divers pieces, having fome long yellow- 
ifh Threads in the middle. After the Floiivers are 
paft, larger round Heads come than in the Com- 
mon Kind, but not fo large as thofe in the laft deferi- 
bed, which have at the end a long point, a little 
crooked, and contain within them fmall black Seed. 
VI. The Places. The two firft I have found 
growing in feveral parts of Florida , in the South of 
Carolina , and in thofe parts leading to the Cape of 
Florida. The firft alfo has been found growing in 
Caniia, being Clufws his firft Cretick Species. The 
fecond has been found growing in Spain likewife, 
hut as I am informed was Tranfplanted thither from 
America. The third is a Native of Germany and 
Hungary , from the former of which places it was 
brought to us ; but here in England they are all nurlt 
up in the Gardens of the Curious. 
VII. The Times. They Flower in July, and the 
Heads of Seed will be ripe in Augujl or September. 
VIII. The Qualities , Specification , Preparations 
and Virtues are the lame with thofe of the Common 
Kind in the former Chapter, and therefore I Ihall 
fay no more of them in this place. 
CHAP. CCLXV. 
Of FLAG Sweet Smelling, 
0 R, 
True ACORUS. 
I. H E Names. It is called in Greek , $ 
X in Latin Acorus or Aeorum , Acorus 
vents, and Aeorum verum : Clufuts iavs it is taken 
to be Butomos Theophrajh : and in Englijh The true 
fweet fmelling Flag. 
II. The Kinds. Authors make but one Kind there- 
of, which Camerarius, Clufuts, Coritts , Gefner , Lug- 
dunenfis, Lobel, AFat thiol us , jHonardus, and others, 
call Acorus, or Aeorum, which is the vulgar Cala- 
mus Aromaticus Officinarum , according to Am at us, 
Brafjavolus, Ccefalpmus, and Fuchjius, but it is not 
the true Calamus Aromaticus of the Ancients , far 
that was really a Reed , whereas this is really and 
truly a Flag, (but fweet fmelling ) and the Root here 
intended the Root only of a Flag; as for the True 
and Ancient Calamus Aromaticus , I am apt to be- 
lieve it is not to be found thro’ all Europe , that is to 
fay, not in the Shops _; but of this we (hall have oc. 
cafiori to fpeak more in out III. Book. 
III. The Defctiption. If has a Root like to the 
Common Water Flag in the next Chapter, but fmal- 
ler, and not fo red , of a fweet fmell and fomewhat 
bitter tafle ; it is thick and long, lying under the up- 
per Face of the Earth, Jhooting forwards , and with 
fmall Roots, as Suckers on all Jides, not much unlike 
to Garden Valerian, whitijh on the outfide, or green - 
ifh if it lyes above Ground , and more pale or whitijh 
on the in fide , confijfing of many Joints , from which 
it (hoots forth underneath many long thick Fibres, by 
which it takes hold in the Ground ; the thick part of 
the 
