Chap. 564. ‘Englijh Herbs . 
8 77 
CHAP. DLXVIII. 
Of PLANTAIN Water. 
I* ' ft v H E Names. What Greek Name this 
A was called by in Diofcori 3 .es or Theo- 
phraftus , is uncertain, but in refpeft to the Latine 
Name it may be 'fyvbyruaaav 'ivvj'&v : in Latine 
Plantago Aquatica, ArmgloJJum Aquat icum : and’ 
in Englijh , Water Plantain. 
II. The Kinds. 1. Plantago Aquatica major , 
Fifhiia Pafioris , Barba Sylvana , Our common 
greater Water Plantain. 2. Plantago minor Aqua- 
tica Cafalpini ; Plantago Aquatica humilis angttjii- 
folia Lobelij , The Idler Water Plantain. 3. Plan- 
tago Aquatica minor muricata , Damafonium Ste/la- 
tum Lugdunenfis, The lefler Water Plantain, with 
Calthrope like Seed, Star Water Plantain. 4. 
Plantago Aquatica minima Guftj ; Plantaginella 
paluftris Bauhtni, The leaft Water Plantain. 
the Descriptions: 
III. The firjl, or Our common greater Water 
Plantain. Its Root conjifts of a great Bujh of 
many long Fibres or Strings fet together: which 
Plantain Water Star. 
fends Jonh fever al long thick green hollow Stalks 
with large long green Leaves on them , having 
Jome Jhew of Ribs m them , like unto Plantain -. 
but they are much greattcr , fiffer , and longer, 
and roith far per ends. From among thefe rife up 
Several tall three cornered fpongy Stalks , divided in 
Jeveral Branches at the Tops , on which Band a 
great number of white Flowers , comppfed of three 
leaves apiece. After which follow fmall three cor- 
nered. green Heads , in which is contained the 
Seed. 
IV. The fecond, or The lefler Water Plantain. 
Its Root conffts of many fmall white Fibres like 
t_ c former, which fends forth fever al long 
Leaves , fix times f mailer and narrower than the 
.former, from among which rife up divers bare 
Stalks a Foot high, bearing a Tuft of many blufh , 
colored Flowers , conft fling of three Leaves apiece 
like the former each {landing on a long foot Stalk , 
and all rftng from one Head, like an Umbel, after 
zohicb follow rough Heads of Seed like to thofe of 
the Crowfoot. 
V The third, or Lefler Water Plantain with 
Calthrope like Seed, Star Water Plantain. Its 
Root is a bujh of long white Fibres or Strings: 
zwich fends up fever al fmall and long Leaves 
jr e ,!° °f Ribwort Plantain, but much 
f mailer, and turning thcmfelves backwards. The 
Stalks are fender and naked, and about half a Foot 
high or more, which bear at their tops fparfed fmall 
*- u Jf s °f white three Leav'd Flowers -, which being 
pff away, come after them, prickly Heads Banding 
out with ends like to a Star, in which lyes the 
Seed. J 
VI. Johnfon in Gerard fays. That this Plant in 
its Roots and Leaves is like to our firft deferi- 
bed, as alfo in the Stalk, but much lefs in each 
of them, the Stalk being about a Foot high - 
at . t0 P °f which fands many pretty Star 
like skinny Seed Vcffels , containing a yellowijfj 
\ 11 . The fourth, or The leaft Water Plan- 
tain. Its Roots conffts of nothing but a Bujh of 
very fine ' Fibres or Threads. This Leaft Wa- 
ter Plantain fpreads it felf wholly upon the 
Ground, bringing forth fever al fmall, long and 
narrow Leaves, ftanding on very fender foot 
*c /a ’/ r ° m amon & which come many fender 
o talks lying down on the Ground, being not much 
above an Inch long , and ending in a fmall 
Head, which fending forth fmall Fibres, compre- 
hends a great fpace of place , and take Root 
again, footing forth other f mailer Leaves 
from among which fpring forth five or fix 
Jmall round Buttons (no Flowers having yet 
been obferved on the Plant) fanding on very 
fine Stalks, opening into two parts, fhewing very 
fmall Seed within them. From among thej'e round 
Buttons grow alfo other rows or courfes of fmall 
Heads, bringing forth other fmaller Leaves and 
Buttons than the former. 
, ■ V l | 11 ' per laces. Thefe all grow on the 
brinks of Rivers, in Watery Ditches. Plalhes 
wet Ponds, and other ftanding Waters. The firft 
grows almoft every where in moift places through- 
out the whole Kingdom. The fecond and third 
are more rare, but in the like places, as in 
a Dirch on this fide Margate, in the Ifle of 
lenet. The third has been found growing in 
the Ditches on the left Hand of the High- 
Way irom Holloway to Highgate and a lit- 
tle beyond Ilford , in the Way to Rumford: 
Mr. Goodycr found it alfo growing upon Hour- 
fidw-Heatb . 
IX. The 
