Of the Historic of Plants. 
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B 
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I5l8 
Syriabe the befhthcy grow likewife in raoft places of the Eaft and Weft Indies,where there be di. 
uers forts, as well w ilde, as tame or manured . 
«[ The Time. 
The Dare tree is alwaies green, and floureth in the Spring time : the fruit is ripein September, 
and being then gathered they are dried in the Sunne, that they may be the better both tranfpoited 
into other countries far dillant,as alfo preferued from rotting at home. 
The Names. 
The tree is called inGreeke, = in Latine, Palma .- in Englifh, Date tree. 
The fruit is named in Gretkc, that is to fay, Gians Palm arum, or the fruit of the Date 
trees : and by one word, : in Latine, Pdmula in (hops ^Dadyltu : in high- Dutch, 33>attC= 
lent in low-Dutch,13at)£Un : in Italian, Dattoh : in French, Danes . in Spani|b,Ta»w,«,and Dat- 
tiles ■■ in Englifh, Date. 
The cod or fheath wherein the fioures and Dates are wrapped, is called .v™ : and of lbme,E, 
iheTemperatureandVertues. 
Allmanner of Dates whatfoeuc ran- hard ofdigeftion, and caufe head-ache: the worferfort be 
thofe that be dry and binding, as the Egyptian Dates ; but the foft, moilt.and fweet ones are leffe 
hurtfull. 
The blond which is ingendred of Dates in mans body is altogether grofTe,and fomewhat clam- 
my :by thefe the liner is very quickly (hopped, efpecially being” inflamed and troubled with feme 
hard (welling : fo is the fpleer.e likevr ife. 
The Dares which grow in colder regions, when they cannot come to perfect ripeneffc,if they be 
eaten too plentifully, do fill the body full d raw humors, ingender wir.de, and oft times caufe the 
leprofie. 
The drier forts of Dates, as nicfcorides fi ith.be good for thofe that fpet blond, for fitch as haue 
bad ftomacks.and for thofe alfo that be troubled with thebloudy flix. 
The bed Dares, called in Latine C ryot a. are good for the roughnelfeof the throat and lun<rs. 
There is made hereof both by the cunning Confectioners and Cookes, diners excellent cordi- 
al!, comfortable, and nourifh ing me elicit es, and that procure lull of the body very mightily. 
They do alfo refrefh and refio'e lech v mo (Length as are entring in to a confumption,for they 
(Lengthen the feebleneffe ol the liner and fplecne, being made intoconuenient broths.and phyfi- 
call medicines directed by a learned Phyfitian. 
Dry Dates do flop tbcbeMy, and flay vomiting, and the wambling of womens flomackesthat 
are with childe, if they be either eaten in meates or otherwife.or (lamped and applu d vnto the (lo- 
macke as a peflorall plaifter. 
The afhesofthe Date Hones haue a binding quah'tie.andemplaffick facultie,they heale pufhes 
in the eyes , Staphylomata, and falling away ofthe haire of the eye lids, being applied together with 
Spikenard : with wine it keepeth proud flefh from growing in wounds. 
The boughes and leaues do euidently binde, but efpecially the hofe, that is to fay, the fheath or 
cafe ofthe fioures: and therefore it is good tovfe thefe foolt as there is need ofbinding. 
The leaues and branches ofthe Date tree do heale grecne woundsand vlcers, refrefit and coofe 
hot inflammations. 
Galen in his booke of Medicines according to the kindes mentioneth a compofition called Dla- 
falma , which is to be (lirred with thebough of a Date tree in (lead of a fpature or a thing to 
flirrc- with, for no other caufe than that it may receiue thereby fomekindeof aflri&ion or binding- 
force. D 
1 
Chap. 13! ?. Of the wilde Date trees. 
The Defer! ft ion, 
1 nr* 1 hheophrafifis makerb thispIan:tobeakindeofDatetree,butlowand of fmall growth 
1 ifldome attaining aboue theheightof a cubit : on the top whereof (boot forth for 
, the mod part long leaues like thofe ofthe Date tree, but leflerand fliorter • from the 
hues thereof breakes forth a bufln of threddy firings : among which rifeth vp fmall branches gar- 
mfhed with clutters ofwhite fioures, in which before they be opened are robe feene vnperfert 
(hapesot leaues cloft.y compared about with an innumerable fort of thin skinny hulls - which 
riioGG Irani' 1 fl °u’ r - S ‘ ne f cwed V P and eaten at the fccond courfe among other iunkets.with 
a little fait and pepper, being pleafant to the fade. $ The flalke is about the thicknes of ones 
little 
