poo Of the Hiftpry of Plants. Lib. 2. 
certaine fpaces grow by couples leaues forae halfe foot long, and three inches broad,darke greene 
on their vpper lides, more whitifh below, and full of largeand eminent veines: atthe topofthe 
ftalke and branches it carries mod commonly an hundred or more floures, growing vpon foot- 
ftalkes fome inch long, allclofe thruft together after the manner of the Hyacinth of Peru at the 
firft flouring : each floure is thus compofed ; firft it hath flue fmall greene leaues bending backe, 
which ferae for the cup : then hath it other flue leaues foure times larger than the former , which 
bend backe and couer them ; and thefe arc greene on the vnder fide, and of a pale colour with fome 
rednefle aboue : then are there fine little graines (as I may fo terme them)of a pleafantred colour 
and on their outfide like comes of Millet, but hollow on their infides,with a little thred or chine 
comming forth of each of them : thefe fine ingirt a fmall head like a button, greenith vnderneath 
and whitifh aboue. I hauegiuen you the figure of one floure by the fide of our Authors ficr ure ’ 
The leaues and ftalkes olthis plant areveryfullofamilky iuyee. 4 
% The place. 
It groweth, as before is rehearfed, in the countries of Norembega, now called Virginia by the 
honourable Knight Sir Walter Raleigh, who hath bellowed great fummes of money in the difeo- 
uerie thereof ; where are dwelling at this prefent Englifh men. 
The Time. 
It fpringeth vp, floureth, and flourifheth both Winter and Sommer,as do many or moil of the 
plants of thatcountrey. 4 It dies downe with vs euery Winter and comes vp in the Spring, and 
floures in Auguft.but neuer bringeth forth the cods with vs, by reafon of the coldnefle of our 
Climate. $ 
^ The Names. 
The filke is vfed of the people of Pomeioc and other of the prouinces adioyning,being parts of 
Virginia, to couer the fecret parts of maidens that neuer rafted man ; as in other places they vfe a 
White kinde of mofle Wifanck :tve haue thought Jrfepias Virginian a, or Vincetoxicum Indianum 
fit and proper names for it : in Englifh, Virginia Swallow-wort, or the Silkc-wort of Norembega. 
The NatureandV ertues . 
A We finde nothing by report, or otherwifeofourowne knowledge, of his phyficall vertues, but 
onely report of the aboundance ofmoft pure filke wherewith the whole plant is poflefled. 
B The leaues beaten either crude, or boy led in water, and applied as a pulteffe , are good a- 
gainft fivellings and paines proceeding of a colicaufe. 
C The milky iuyee, which is very hot, purges violently . and outwardly applied is good againft 
tetters, to fetch haire off skins, if they be ftcepcd in it, and the like. Alpirms. 4 
Chap. 335; 
Of tbe'Bombafe or- Qottori'Tlant. 
«J The Defcription. 
T He Cottonbufh is a low and bafe Plant, hailing fmall ftalkes ofa cubit high, and fomtimes 
higher ; diuided from the lowed part to the top into fundry fmall branches, whereupon are 
fetconfufedly or without order a few broad leaues, cut for the moft part into three fedlions, 
and fometimes more, as Nature lift to beftow, fomewhat indented about the edges, not vnlike to 
theleafe of the Vine, or rather the Veruaine Mallow, but lefler, fofter,andof a grayifh colour :a- 
mongwhich come forth the floures, ftanding vpon flender foot-ftalkcs , the brimmes or edges 
whereof are of a yellow colour, the middle part purple : after which appeareth the fruit, round, and 
of the bignefleof a Tennife ball,wherein is thruft together a great quantitie of fine white Cotton 
vvooU ; among which is wrapped vp blacke feed of the bignefle of peafen, in fhape like the trettles 
or dung ofa cony. The fruit being come to maturitie or ripeneffe, the husks or cod opens it felfe 
Into foure parts or diuifions, and cafteth forth his wooll and feed vpon the ground, if it be not ga- 
thered in his time and feafon. The root is fmall and fingle,with few threds anexed thereto,and of 
aivooddy fubftance, as is all the reft of the plant. 
% The Place. 
It groweth in India, in Arabia, Egypt, and in certaine Iflandsofthe Mediterranean fea,as Cy- 
prus, Candy, Malta, Sicilia, and in other prouinces of the continent adjacent. It groweth about 
Tripolisand Aleppo in Syria, from whence the Faffor ofaworfhipfull merchant in London, Ma- 
iler NjcMat Tele before remembred, did (end vnto his (aid matter diuers pounds weight of the 
Led 5 whereof fome were committed to the earth at the impreffion hereof, the fuccefle we leaue to 
~ the 
