L i b. 3. Of the Hiftory of Plants. 135 1 
3 There is found alfo another plant growing vpon the boughes or branches oftrees, in maner 
as our MiiTeltoe doth, and may very well be reckoned as a kinde thereof : the plant cleaueth vnto 
the branches, being fet thereto as it were with the pillings of the lea onion, of the bredth of a mans 
hand toward the bottome, and fomewhat hollow: the tops whereof are very fmallandrufhy hol- 
low likewife,and of a purple colour : among which comes forth a branch like that of H attain Real,' 
or the Kings Speare,refembling the bufh of Otes,couered with a white filke,fuch as is to be found 
in Afclepias, of a fait and nitrous tail©, and very vnpleafant. 
The Place. 
The firft kindeofMifleltoegroweth vpon Okes and diuers other trees almoft euery where • as 
for the other two they are ftrangers in England . 3 
«([ The Time. 
Mifleltoe is alwaies greene as well in Winter as in Sommer : the berries are ripe in Aucumne - 
they remaine all Winter thorow, and are a food for diuers birds, as Thrulhes,Blacke-birds and 
Ring-doues. 
The Names. 
Miileltoe is called in Greeke itir, and : in Latine, Vifcum .• in high-Dutch, : tn Low- 
Dutch, 30<ltcntgcliCtt : in Italian, Vifchio : in Spanilh, Liga . in the Portugal language, .■ in 
Englifh,Miflel,and Miffeltoe. - 
The glue.which is made of the berries ofMiflel is likewife called Vifcum and Ixia in Englifh, 
Bird-lime, ixia is alfo called chameleon alius, by reafon of the glue which is oftentimes founda- ' 
bout the root thereof. This word is alfoafcribed to Chamxleonniger, as we reade among the ba- 
ftard names. Ixia. is likewife reckoned vp by Diofcorides,lib. 6 . and by Panins tAnginetafib. ^ .amorJcr 
the poyfons : but what this poyfonfome and venomous Ixia is it is hard anddoubtfull to declared 
many would haue it to be Chameleon nigtr : others, the glue or clammy fubftance which is made of 
the berries of Miflel-toe 5 who do truly thinke that Ixia differeth from Chamaleon mger for Panins 
yEgineta.lib.s. cap. 30. in reckoning vp of Ample poyfons hath firft made mention of Chameleon 
niger, thena little after of Ixia : andwhilefthedoth particularly difcourfeofeueryone,he intrea- 
,teth of C liamxleon nig cr, cap. 3 2 . and of Ixia (which hee alfonameth Vlophomn ) cap. ■?. and telleth 
of the dangerous and far differing accidents of them both. And Dicfcorides himlelfe, lib. 6. where 
he fetteth downe his iudgement of fimple poyfons, intreateth firft of Chamaleon mger, and then a 
little after of Ixia. Thefe things declare that Chamalconniger doth differ from Ixia, which is recko- 
ned among the poyfons. Moreouer, itcanno where be read that Chamaleon mger beareth Bird- 
lime, or hath fo glutinous and clammy a fubftance as that it ought to be called Ixia ■ therfore Ixia, 
as it is one of the poyfons, is the glue that is madeofthe berries of Miffeltoe, which becaufe it is 
iliarpe and biting, inflameth and fetteth the tongue on fire, and with his flimie and clammy fub- 
ftance doth fo draw together, (hut, and glue vp the guts, as that there is no paflage for the excre- 
ments, which things are mentioned among the mifehiefes that Ixia bringeth. 
$ I can by no meanes approue of, or yeeld to this opinion here deliuered out of Dedonaus by 
our Author ■ which is. That the Bird-lime made of the berries of Mifleltoe is poyfon ; or that/*M 
fet forth by Viofcorides and Nicander for a poyfon is meant of this : for this is manifeftly treated of 
in Diofcorides , lib.]. cap. 103 . by the name of : when as the other is mentioned, lib. 6 . cap. 21 . by 
the name Alfo dayly experience fhewes this plant to haue no maligne nor poifonous,but ra- 
ther a contrarie facultie, being frequently vfed in medicines againft the E’pilepfie. Syeh as would ' 
fee more concerning ixia or Ixias, let them haue rccourfe to the firft chapter of the mft part of Fa- 
biusCclnmia , de Stirpib .min.cognitit dr rarioribus, where they {hall finde it largely treated of. £ 
TheTemperatunandVerlues . 
The leaiies and berries of Miffeltoe are hot and dry, and of fubtill parts : the Bird-lime is hot ^ 
and biting, and confifts ofan airy and waterie fubftance, with fome earthy qualitie ; for according 
to the iudgement of Galen, his acrimony ouercommeth his bitternefle; for ifitbevfed in outward 
applications it draweth humors from the deepeftor moft fecretparts of the body, fpreadinga.nd 
dilperfing them abroad, and digefting them . 
It ripeneth fwellings in the groine,hard fwellings behinde the eares,and other impoftumes,be- B 
ing tempered with rofin and a little quantitieofwax. 
With Frankincenfeitmollifietholdvlcers and malicious impoftumes,beingboy!edwith vn- C 
flaked lime, or with G agate lapide, or Afio, and applied, it wafteth away the hardnes of the fpleene. 
With Orpment or Sander aca it taketh away foule ill fauoured nailes, being mixed with vnflaked D 
Jimeand wine lees it receiueth greater force. 
It hath been moftcredibly reported vnto me, that a few of theberries of Mifleltoe bruifed and £• 
ftrainedinto Oyle, and drunken, hathprefently and forthwith rid agtieuous and fore flitch. 
CHAP; 
Xxxxx a 
