w 
c 
Of the Hiftorie of Plants;- 
Ll B. 
The Names. 
It is called in our age CbrifiophoriaM, and S. chriflopbori herba : in Englifb, Herbe Chriftopher : 
fome there be that name it Cofius niger .-others had rather haue it comtum bacciferum : it hath no 
likenes at all nor affinitie with coftus , as the fimpleft may perceiue that do know both. But doubt- 
lefle it is of the number of the Aconites, or Wolfs-banes, by rcafon of the deadly and pernicious 
qualitie that it hath, like vnto Wolfes-bane.or Leopards-bane. 
The Temperature. 
The temperature of Herbe Chriftopher anfwereth thofe of the Aconites, as we haue faid. 
esj The Vertues. 
I finde little or nothing extant in the antient or later writers, of any one good propertie where- 
with any part of this plant is pofleffed : therefore I with thofe that lone new medicines to take 
heed that this be none of them, becaufe it is thought to be of a venomous and deadly qualitie. 
Chap. 380. OfT 1 
eiome. 
The Kindest 
T Here be three Peionies, one male, and two females, deferibed by the Antients : the later wri- 
ters haue found out foure more ; one of the female kinde, called Pxtmitt pumila, or dtvarfe Peo- 
nie • and another called Pdonia promifcitajiueneutra, Baftard, Mif-begotten,or neither of both, but 
as it were a plant participating of the male and female j one double Peionie with white floures, 
and a fourth kinde bearing Angle white floures. 
I Paoniiinitts 
Pteonia mas cum femme. 
Male Peionie in feed. 
