in this Seed is contained a white Kernel , which being 
bruifed , refolves into a very white Pulp like Starch. 
Thus Gerard. 
V. T he fecund . or Lelfer Marvel. The Root 
of this is like to the former, and anfwerable to it , 
in proportion to the refl of the Plant. This Small 
Marvel of the World, or of Peru, at it is called , 
grows in the fame manner that the former greater 
does , but nothing fo large , or fo high ; having Juch 
like Leaves fet on the Stalks , blit much lejfer and 
rounder : the flowers likewife being of a red color 
for the mofi part , and made of one Leaf opening 
into five parts on the Brims , like the other. They 
ere fo Jmall , that the whole flower of this is fcarce- 
ly fo big , cu the one part or divifton of the greater 
flower ; and the Seed which follows , is in proportion 
to the flower going before it. 
VI. An Objervation. This larger flant yields in 
our Gardens, five or fix feveral Varieties of beauti- 
ful Flowers, as, I. Pure White. 2. Pure Yellow. 
3. Pure Red. 4. White and Red Spotted. 5. 
Red and Yellow Spoted. 6. Purple Spotted. But 
befides thefe there are fome other forts, among 
which was , 7. One of a Pale Purple or Peach 
color. 8. And a Purple or Peach color Spotted, Lac. 
all which differences in the color of their Flowers, 
may be difeerned by the Leaves of the Plant, and 
manner of growing, which are all different one from 
another: andimanyof them in their Native Coun- 
tries different from thofe which we have growing 
with us in our Gardens ; but concerning them all, 
the chief difference almoft confilts in the Flowers. 
VII. Obfervauon 2. Within a while after the 
firftFrofts have taken the Plants, fo that the Leaves 
wither and fall, dig up the Roots whole; and lay 
them in a dry Place for three or four Days, that 
the fuperfluous moifture on the outfide may be 
exhaufted or fpent and dryed away, which dene, 
wrap them up feverally , in two or threa brown 
Papers, and lay them by in a Box, Cheft, Tub, or in 
fome other convenient thing or place in the Houfe, 
all the Winter time , where no Wind or moift Air 
may come to them. And thus you (hall have 
thefe Roots preferved, and fit to Plant again the 
next Spring , which will fpring again afrelh the 
next Year, if you plant them in the beginning of 
March , as has been often times proved. 
VIII. Objervation 3. Some have put them up 
into a Barrel or Firkin of Sand or dry Alhes, 
which is alfo good, if the Sand or Alhes be thro’ 
dry ; but if they be any thing moift, or if they 
give again in Winter , as is ufual, that moifture of 
Sand or Alhes, will putrifie the Roots, fo that they 
will be nothing worth, when the time (hall come 
that they (hould be planted. 
IX. Objervation 4. This is alfo to be Noted, 
as to the fowing of the Seed, that if you would 
have variable Flowers, and not all of one color, 
you mull chufe it out of fuch Plants as be varia- 
ble while they grow , and out of fuch you muft 
always referve your Seed : for if the Flowers be 
of one entire color , you will have for the molt 
part from thofe Seeds, Plants which will bring 
forth Flowers all of a color, whether they be 
white, red, or yellow. 
X. The Places. Thefe Plants grow naturally 
in Peru , Mexico , and other Provinces of the Weji- 
Indits , where there is a perpetual Summer , or at 
the leaft no cold Frofty Winters : and from fome 
of rhofe parts the Seed was firft brought to Spaing 
from whence it has been conveyed to molt other 
Countries in Europe , and particularly into our 
Gardens in England , having now had it with us, 
Tor near this Hundred Years, or more ; fo that now 
they are almoft in every Garden of Note. 
XL The Times. The Roots ought to be plant- 
ed in the middle of March if the Sealon is tempe- 
rate and warm; otherwife in the beginning of 
April, at which time they are to be taken out of 
the Papers, or from the Sand, in which they lay 
Buried, and then placed in that part of the Gar- 
den which is warmeft, and withall lhady and a 
a little moift. If you raile them from the Seed, 
it is to be fown or planted about the midft of 
April. They bring forth their Flowers from the 
end of July, and Flower thro’ all Attguft and Sep- 
tember, toO fiber, or till cold Air and Frofts come, 
which pull them down ; the Seed ripening in the 
mean Seafon. 
The Virtues. 
XII. This Plant is efteemed more for its Rarity 
and Beauty, than for any Virtues it is known to 
have; nor have we learnt anything concerning the 
fame from the Indians , among whom it is a Na- 
tive: Its exceeding and admirable Beauty, and 
Sweetnels of its Flowers, being the only reafons 
for which it is Nurft up in our Gardens ; in which 
ir is indeed a pleafant Ornament. However, Ja- 
cobus Antonins Cortufus of Padua fays, That he 
had found out by experience, that the Ponder of 
the Root , taken to two Drams inwardly, in any fit 
Vehicle, does exceedingly well purge Watery 
Humors. 
PESCOD-TREE, fee Bean Trefoil, Coup. 
PESTILENT-WORT, fee Burter-Bur, Chap. 100. 
PETTY-COTTON, fee Cudweed, Chap. 180. 
PETTYGREE, fee Knee-Holme, Chap. 4 r 7 . 
PETER-CORN, fee Barley Wild, Chap. 44. 
CHAP. DLX. 
Of P E T E R S - W O R«T. 
0 
Square JOHNS - WORT. 
I. 1 j ' H E Names. It is called in Greek , 
1 ’Aanoyv, i, ’A emesiSit, Afcyron (f Afcyrot- 
des : Diofcorides faith, it was called alfo, timunSe 
lb •AvJ'eiaaiucv, Hypericon, i: e. Johns-Wort, and 
Anirofamon , i. e. Tutfan , or Park Leaves : and 
Galen therefore, accounted ir a kind of Androfa- 
mumi, but it is truly neither of thefe Plants : in 
Latine, it has no other Name than Afcyrum , from 
the Greeks: and in Englifh, it is tailed Peters- 
wort, or Johns-wort future Stalked, Johns-wort the 
greatefi. 
II. The Kinds. Authors have many Kinds of 
this Plant, the three following afe eminent, viz. 
Afcyrum vulgar e , Matthioli-, it is, Androfimum 
pnmum fuchfij-. Hypericon Dodonati, in his French 
Edition ; Androfamum allerum Hirfutum Column € 
(and yet he doubted whether he Ihould Call it Hy- 
pericum, or Androfsmum, and fa id that it came 
neareft unto Afcyrum , tho’ fomething differing 
5 R 2 from 
Chap. 559. ‘Englijb Herbs . 
