Lib. 2 . Of the Hiftory of Plants. 1179 
irraed for the moll part with cevtaine prickles Handing by couples, the point or fharpe end of one 
larding one way, and the point of another looking direftly a cleane contrarie way : thefe prickes 
are often found in the gumme it felfe, which is brought vnto vs from Libyaandotherparts:the 
ic aues hereof being planted in the ground will take root well, and bring forth great increafe, which 
thing I haue proued true in my garden : it hath perifhed againe at the firft approch of winter. The 
fap or liquor that is extradied out ofthis plant is of the colour and fubflance of the Creame of 
Milke ; it burneth the mouth extremely, and the dufl or pouder doth very much annoy the head 
and the parts thereabout, caufing great and vehement fneefing,and Huffing of all the pores. 
2 This rare plant called Antenphorbiim hath a very thickegroffe and farre fpreading root, very 
like vnto Eufhorbium ■ from which rifeth vp many round greene and flefhie flalkes, whereupon do 
grow thickc leaues like Purflane, but longer, thicker, and fatter : the whole plant is full of cold and 
clammie moiflure, which reprefleth the fcortching force of Eufhorbium /, and it wholly feemes at 
the firH view to be a branch of greene Coral). 
3 Cercus Peruvianas fpinofis Lobelij. 
The Torch-Thiflle or thorny Euphorbium. 
4 Calamus Peruvianas ffinofiis Lobelt}, 
The thorny Reed of Peru. 
3 There is not among the Hrange and admirable plants of the world any one that glues more 
. caufe of maruell, or more moueth the minde to honor and laud the Creator, than this plant, which 
is called of the Indians in their mother tongue Vragua, which is as much to f^y, a torch, taper, or 
wax candle ; whereupon it hath been called in Latine by thofe that vnderRoofl the Indian tongue, 
Cercus, ora Torch. This admirable plant rifeth vp to the height ofafpeare of twenty foot long, 
although the figure exprefle not the fame ; the realon is,the plant when the figure was drawn came 
to our view broken : it hath diuers bunches and vallies , euen as is to be feene in the fides of the 
Cucumber, that is, furrowed, guttered, or chamfered alongH the fame, and as it Were laid by a di- 
reft line, with a welt from one end vnto the other : vpon which welt or line do Hand final! Har-like 
ThiHIes, firarpe as needles, and of the colour of thofe of the Melon Thifile, that is to fay , of a 
browne colour : the trunke or body is of the bigneffe of a mans arme , or a cable rope ; from the 
middle whereof thruft forth diuers knobby clbowes of the fame fub Ranee, and armed vvith the like 
prickles that the body of the trunke is fet withall : the whole plant is thicke, fat, and full of a fle- 
fhie fubflance, hauing much iuyeelike that of Aloes, when it is har dned, and of a bitter tafle : the 
Routes 
