Chap. 582. Englijh Herbs. 
9 l 5 
Varpk-Wort. 
cajl over them , ( whence came alfo our Englifh 
Name Purple-Grafs.) The Flowers are in form 
like the other Medow Trefoils , and of a white or 
whitifh color. 
IV. Gerard defcribes it thus. This Kind of 
Three Leav’d Grafs , or rather Four Leav’d, has 
Leaves like unto the Common Trefoii, fiving that 
they are lejfer , and of a brown purplijl) color , 
known by the Name of Purple- Wort, or Purple- 
Grafs , iphofe Flowers are in fhapc like unto the 
Medow Trefoil, but of a dufiy overworn color , 
tending to vohitenefs the which does oftentimes de- 
generate^ fome times into three Leaves , fomctimcs 
into five , and alfo into feven •, and yet the Plant of 
its own Nature has but four Leaves and no more, 
but Johnfon in Gerard , feems not to admit it to 
have white blowers : for that the Plant with white 
Flowers , he could never find had more than three 
Leaves upon a Stalk. 
V. To this we may add, Trifolium prat*enfe 
minus purpureum , Small Meadow Purple-Grafs, 
or Purple Trefoil. Its Root is /lender, white, and 
woody , ivhich fends up fmall hard Stalks about a 
Foot high, full of Branches , bearing on fome three 
Leaves , and on fome other Branches and Joints, 
four fmall Leaves, like a Lotus. The Flowers grow 
many together , at the tops of the Sprigs , being 
very fmall, and in a loofe Head, cf a purplijl) red 
color. 
VI. Lite Places. The firft grows only in Gar- 
dens , and is fcarcely ever leen any where elfe : 
for the Wild which is thought by fome to be the 
true Purple-Grafs, is not it. The fecond grows 
with us only in Fields and Medows , in molt places 
of this Kingdom. 
VII. TheTimes. They both Flower in the Sum- 
mer Months, viz. in July and Augufi , and their 
Seed is ripe not long after. 
VIII. The Qualities. Purple-Grafs is temperate 
in refpeft to heat or cold, and dry in the firft De- 
gr_ee ; Aftringent, Stomatick, Cardiack, Antife 
brmck and Alexipharmick. 
IX. The Specification. It is generally given 
(through the Kingdom) for the cure of the Purple 
lever or the Purples (as it is commoly called) 
in Children, as alfo in elder People. 
X. The Preparations. You may have there- 
imm 1. A Liquid Juice. 1. An Effence. 5. A 
Decoaion in Wine or Water. 
The Virtues. 
XL The Liquid Juice. Given to 4 Spoonfuls 
more or lei's, ir prevails againlt all forts of Burning 
fevers, more efpecially againit that called the 
Purple Fever. Dropt into the Eyes it repreffes 
or Hops a I-lux of Rheum into them, and cures 
Kednels or Inflamations, and Blood-Riot. 
XU .The EJJence. Drank inwardly to 3 or 4 or 
more Spoonfuls, ir is good againlt the bitingsof 
V ipers or of any other poifonous ferpent, walhing 
the place bitten with the fame. It Speedily alfo 
cures Green Wounds , they being daily once or 
twice a day waflfd therewith, ufed Clyfterwife 
it is good againlt Fluxes of rhe Bowels, ftrengthens 
the Guts, and prevails againlt a TeHaJmm , or con- 
tinual provocation or defire to go to Stool : and is 
profitable to Hop the Whites in Women. 
XIII. The Decof/ion in Wind or Water. It has 
been given with good fuccefs againlt the Purnte 
lever, commbnly called the Purples in O- 
and alfo in elder People; and has indeed all die 
Virtues of the Liquid Juice and /ever, but much 
weaker, and therefor e ought to be given in a larger 
Dole, as from a quarter of a Pin: cc 
CHAP. DLXXXH. 
Of PUR SLA N E Garden and Wild. 
'T'US frames. It is called in Arahick, Bakle 
. ancha , and Bachele alkanica .-in Greek , by 
D wf corides , Andrachne : and by Tbeo- 
phrafttts ; ’ASczzm, Adrachne : in Latine, Portula- 
ca : and in Englift, Purfiane. 
II. The Kinds. 1 here are two Principal Species 
of this Plant, viz. I. Portulaca terrene , vel terri- 
gena. The Land Purfiane, of which in this Chap- 
ter. II. Portulaca Hydattca, Sea or Water Purfiane 
of which in the next Chapter. 
III. The Varieties of the Land Kinds. Thefe 
are, I. Portulaca Hortcnfis , The Garden Purfiana, 
which is, 1 . Portulaca hortenfis viridis communis 
Our common Green Purfiane. 2. Portulaca Hor- 
tenfis aurea , Golden Leav’d Purfiane. II Portu 
laca Sylveftris^ Wild Purfiane, which is 9 Portu- 
laca agrejhs major ; Portulaca Sylveftris major - 
Portulaca minor , Corner arij d Gef fieri Portulaca 
Anguftifolia Bauhni & Cefalpim ; Cepsa Cordi 
for Cord, is upon Diojcorides fays that Cepata is no 
other than Portulaca Sylveftris , The greater Wild 
Purfiane. 4. Portulaca agreftis minor ; Portulaca 
Sylveftris minor . Portulaca exigua Camerarij , Per. 
tu/aca arvenfis Batihini, The lmaller or leal! Wild 
Purfiane. 
6 A 2 
The 
