Lib. 2. Of the Hiftory of Plants. 
which Diofcorides lib. 3. cap. 1 ?4.harh fct forth by the name of Coris ; and prefently defcribcs after 
the kindes ofHypcricon, and that with tliele words 5 « Jtej Some aifo call this li .po 1- 
con ; to which Matthiolus and others haue fitted a plant, which is indeed a kinde of Hypericon, a. s you 
may pcrceiue by the figure and defcription which I giue you in the firft place. Some (as Heficbi- 
us) referre it to cbamxpfisf and indeed by Diofcorides it is placed betweene^W™/i w » and Cktm*- 
pjtic) and to this that which is defcribed by Pena and Lobel In the Aduerf and by Clufsus in his Hi- 
liorie, may fitly be referred : this I giue you in the fecond place. 
f Tfe Defcription. 
1 'T"' He firft hath a wooddy thickeand long Iafting root, which fendeth vp many branches 
1 fome foot or more high, and it is fet at certaine fpaces with round leaues like thole of 
the (mall Glafle-wort or Sea-Spurry, but ihorter : the tops of the ftalkes are diutded into fun l r ie 
branches, which carry fioures like thofe of S.Iohns wort, of a vvhitilh red colour, with threds in 
their middles hauing little yellow pendants. It growes in Italy and other hot countries, in places 
not fat from the (ea fide. This is thought to be the true Cons, by Matthiolus, Gefner, Lomcerus La- 
cuna, Bellas, Pona, and others. 3 
2 This from a thicke root red on the outfide fendeth vp fundry ftalkes, fome but an handful! 
other fome a foot or more long, ftiffe, round, purplifh, fet thicke with leaues like thofe of Heath 3 
but thicker, more fucculent and bitter, which fo netimes grow orderly, and otherwhtles out of or- 
der. The fpikes or heads grow on the tops of the branches, confi fting ofa number of little cups, 
diuided into flue fharpe points, and marked with a blacke fpot in each diuifion : out of thefe cups 
comes a floure ofa blew purple colour, of a mod elegant and not fading colour ; and it is compo- 
fed of foure little bifide leaues, whereof the two vppermoft are the larger : the feed, which is round 
and blackifh, is contained in feed-veffels hauing points fomewhat fharpe or prickly. It floures in 
Aprill and May, and is to be found growing in many places of Spame, as aifo about Mompelier in 
France -, whence Pena and Lobel called it Coris (JMonfpehaca ; and Clufus ,Corts quomndam G allorum & 
Hijpanoram. J ■ 
The Temperature. 
Thefe Plants feeme to be hot in the fecond or third degree. 
TheVertues, 
Diofcorides faith, That the feed of Cons drunke moue the courfes and vrine, are good againft A 
the biting of the Spider Phdangium, the Sciatica-, and drunke in Wine, againft that kinde of 
Convulfion which the Greekes call Optfthotonos, (which is when the body is drawne backwards) 
as aifo againft the cold fits in Agues. It is aifo good anointed with oyle, againft the aforefaid 
Convulfion. $ 
Chap. i< 52. Of the great Centorie . 
The Defcription. 
• 
1 r I ’ ^' c S reat Centory bringeth forth round fmooth ftalkes three cubits high : the leaues 
arc long, diuided as it were into many parcels like to thofe of the Walnut tree, and 
of an ouerworne grayifh colour, fomewhat fnipt about the edges like the teeth ofa 
faw . The floures grow at the top of the ftalks in fcaly knaps like the great Knapweed, the middle 
thrums whereof are ofa light blew or sky colour : when the feed is ripe the whole knap or head 
turneth into a downy fubftance like the head of an Artichoke,whereinisfoundalong fmooth 
feed, bearded at oneend like thofe of Baftard Saffron, called Cartamus, or the feed olCardm Bene. 
diBus. The root is great, long, blacke on the outfide, and ofa fangttine colour on the infide, fome- 
what fweet in tafte,and biting the tongue. 
2 There is likewife another fort, hauing great and large leaues like thofe of the water Dockef 
fomewhat fnipt ortoothed about theedges. The ftalke is Ihorter than the other, but the root is 
more oleous or fuller ofiuyce, otherwife like. The floure is ofa pale yellow purplifh colour, and 
the feed like that of the former. 
Zz 
j Ceni 
