the Hiitory of Plants. 
1 6 19 
and then drying. Now I iudge this the fame that the vvriterof the Virginian Hi done mentions 
in his chapter of roots,and faith, it was bronghtinto England for China, though the Natiues knew 
no vfe thereof : but they vfe another root very like China,which they call of which beeing 
ciit,beaten,and preffed out with water,they draw a iuice wherewith they make their bread. Thus 
much Clufius, to yv hofc words I thinkeit not amiffe to adde that which W. Thom as Hariot(whowas 
the writer of the Virginian hidorie,here mentioned by Cluftus) hathfetdowne concerning this 
thing. 
Tfinm (faith he) is a kindeofroot much like vnto that which in England is called the China 
root, brought from the Eaft Indies. And we know not any thing to thecontrariebut that it may be 
of the fame kinde.Thefe roots grow many together in great cinders, and doe bring forth a Brier 
ftalkjbut the leafein fhape is far vnlike.-which being fupported by the trees it growetb neeered vn. 
to,wil reach or clime to the top of the highed.Erom thefe roots whiled they be new or frefh,being 
chopt into frnall pieces and ftamptps drained with water a iuice that maketh bread, and alfo bee- 
ing boiled,a very good fpoonemeat in manner ofagclly, and is much better in tade, if it be tempe- 
red with oyle.This Tfinrw is not of that fort which by fome was caufed tobe brought into England 
forthe China roopfoi itwasdifeouered fince, and is in vfe as is aforefaid ; but that which was 
brought hither is not yet knowne,neither by vs, nor by the inhabitants, to ferue for any vfe or pur- 
pole, although the roots in fhape are very like. Thus much Hariot , 
China is thought to be moderately hot and drie : the decoftion thereofmadealone orwith o- A 
thcr things, as the difeafe and Symptomes fhal require, is mqfcb commended by Garcias, fat to cure 
the French pox, but chiefely that difeafe which is of fome dauding : yet by mod it is iudged lefle 
powerfull than Gttajacum,* or SarfapariUa. 
Ti- driArntdipc /wear anH rf rips anrl therefore redds OLltrifaiTion : ir ft-rena-rhens flip lijier B 
Poxe, conduces to the cureofthe Palfie,Gout,Sciatica,fchirrous and oedematous turnours.lt al 
fo helps the Kings-euill.Itcureth the weakenedbof the domacke, the inucterate head-ache, the 
done and viceration of the bladder ; for many by the vfe of the decoction hereof haue beene cured, 
which formerly receiued help by no medicine. 
T His fimple medicine was briefely deferibed by Diofiorides,wha mentions three kindes thereof 
but what part of a plant,whether root, wood, or fruit, he hath not expred: bur one may probable- 
ly coniefture it is aroot,for that he writes toward the end ofthe Chapter where he treats thereof 
hb.i.cap. 15. that it is adulterated by mixing therewith the roots of commagcnsim ; now a 
root cannot well be adulterated but with another. Alfo Pliny, lib. 1 t.cap.n .calls it a root ; but nei- 
ther any of the antientor moderne Writers hauedeliniated the plant, whofe root fhould be this 
Cojlus. Diofiorides makes three forts, as I haue laid : the Arabian being the bed • which was white, 
light, drong, and well duelling: the Indian,wliich was large,Iighr, and -blacke: the Syrian, which 
was beauievof the colour of Box, and drong fmelling.Now Pliny makes two kindes, the blacke, and 
the white, which he faith is the better-, fo I iudge his blacke to be the Indian of Diofiorides, and his 
white, the Arabian. Much agreeaqjje to thefef but whether the fame or no, I do not determine; are 
the two roots whofe figures I here prefent to your view, and they are called by the names of Cojlus 
dulcis(l thinke they fhould haue laid odor utils') and Coftus amarus . 
1 The firdofthe(e,which rather from the fmell, than tade, is called fweet, is a pretty large 
root, light, white, and well duelling, hauing the fmell of Orris ,or a violet,but fomewhat more quick 
and piercin2,efpecially if the root be frefli,and not too old : it is oft times d iuided at the top into 
two, three, or more parts, from whence feuerall dalks haue growne,and you (hall fomtimes obferue 
vpon fome of them pieces of thefe dalks (ome two or three inches long, of the thickeneffe of ones 
«]• The Temperature and Virtues, 
The decoidion of this root, faith Garcias, beCides the difeafes which haue communitie with the C 
Chap. 2 .6. Of Qojlns. 
The Dcficription, 
little" 
