97 * 
Of the Biitorie of Plants. 
L I B. 2. 
it growech in the mountaines of Rhetia, and in fundry places ofthe Alps, where you (hall find the 
grafle that groweth round it eaten vp with cattell, b ut no part of the herbe it fclfe touched, except 
by certain hies, who in Rich aboundant meafure fwarme about the fame that they couer the whole 
plant : and (which is very ftrange) although thefe flies do with great delight fc-edhereupon,yerof 
them there is contested an Antidote or moft auailable medicine againft the deadly bite ofthe fpi- 
der called Tarantula, or any other venomous beaft vvhatfoeuer : yea, an excellent remedie notonely 
againft the Aconites, but all other poyfons whatfoeuer. The medicine of the forefaid flies 
is thus made:Take of the flies which haue fed themfelues as is aboue mentioned, in number twen- 
tie of AriftolochU rotunda , and bole Armoniack, of each a dram . 
4 There isakindeofWolfes-banewhich Dodonaus reports he found in an old written Greeke 
booke in the Emperors Librarieat Vienna,vnder the the title of Aconitum lyoclomim, that anfive- 
reth in all points vnto Diofcorides his defeription, except in the leaues. It hath leaues (faith hee) 
likevnto the Plane tree, but lelfer,and more fullofiags ordiuilions ; a flender ftalkeas Feme, of 
acubithigh,bearinghisfeed in long cods : ithathblacke roots in fliape like Creauifes. Hereunto 
agreeth the Emperors pi&ure in all things fauing in the leaues, which arc not fo large, nor fo much 
diuided, but notched or toothed like the teeth of a faw. 
g Nape Hus vents car ulcus. 
Blew Helmet-floure,or Monks-hood. 
J 4 Aconitum lycochmm ex Cod.Cxforeo. 
% 5 Befides thefe mentioned by our Author there are fundry other plants belonging to this 
pernitious Tribe, whofe hiftorie I will briefely runne ouer : The firft of thefe is that which Clufius 
hath fet forth by the name oi Aconitum, lyoclonutn Jlo. Dclpbinij Silefiacum : it hath ftalks fome two 
or three cubits high, fmooth and hollow, of a greenifh purple colour, and cotiered with a certaine 
mcalinefle : the leaues grow vpon long ftalks, being rough, and falhioned like thofe of the yellow 
Wolfes bane, but of a blacker colour : Che top ofthe ftalke ends in a long fpike of fpurre-floures, 
which before they be open refemble locufts or little Lyzards,with their long and crooking tailes ; 
but opening they fhew flue leaues, two on the ftdes, two below, and one aboue, which ends in a 
crooked taiie or borne: all thefe leauesatewrinckled,and purple on their outfides, but fmooth, and 
of an elegant blew within. After the floures are paft fucceed three Equate cods , as in other Aco- 
nites, wherein is contained an vnequall brovvnifh wrinckled feed.; the root is thicke,black,and tu- 
berous. This gtovves naturally in fome mountaines of Silefia,and floures in July and Auguft. < v 
5 The 
