Tr I B R l6 
Cha f', 44 . H49 
The Theater of 'Tlantu 
The Names. 
Although the fignification ofZ/i£»)-»»j», doth properly entend the young twigge or (hoote (torn the rooteofa 
treej yet It is not improbable that Virgil in citing thefe vtrfes. Quantum lentafolent inter Vivaria Cuprejfur, 
fhould tneane this tree allo,cailed Viburnum , (that it might hold his comparifon to the Cyprette,of the meanenes 
of other Cities unto the datelines of Rome)i% divers learned men think, which are Gc{ner,MatthioIt»:,Lamerariut, 
VDttrantet and Lttgdunenlis,&c. and becaulc that the Italiant in their vulgar tongue,call it Lantana (ejucd lentil mil 
rami)Guilandmnt ,Cje[ner,Label and Cefalpinw ,are content to cal it ZdOTawa allo,yct RuelliMm writing ot the Rhus 
otThcophraJiw and Diojcorides, faith he found it without Barit, which the Country people called Blanche putain, 
and both heand Z,o£c/,doe call itZ’icna Gallorum, as ptradventure derived trom Viburnum, and yet they call 
another ramping bufa Viorna alio, which I have fhevved you before among the damberers, to be the lAtragcne 
of Tbeophraftus, unlcffe the French have two Vienna's, which is doubtlull, for RueUitu Iheweth a fliru b,which he 
faith the French call Blanchepurane ,and is the fame they call,faith h e,Viorne and Hardcau alio, Lugdttnenfis faith 
that DAlecbampiw did take this to be the SpeirsaTheopbrafbi, becaufe the pliant tough twigges may be writhed 
(in Jpirat) into wreathes ot round circles: but as I (hewed you before, Cltt/iut fetteth forth another Speirsa, 
which he taketh to be the truer. Csfatpinm and RueUiut, doe both thinke it to be the Rhus Theophrajhjib.^.c. 1 ij 
which Garni tranflateth Fluids from the Sreeke word pfv. but as they thinke is no fort of our Rhus, or Sumachs, 
bccaufehctheredefcribethit withtheleafe of theElme, but longer, &c, and therefore they both referreitto 
this plant. Matth'ulw faith, he was alfoof that opinion,untill having better perilled Theophrafiut,h - refuted that 
opinion, acknowledging himfelfc tohavebceneinanerrour. The/f<!&»aas 1 laid, call it Lantana, and Vibur. 
ot; the FrenchVierne ,as Rtt'Uiui faith, and Hardcau alfo, from the French word Hard, which fignifieth a band 
or rope, rise qermanet call it in iomc places Schiingbaum^mt Tragus and Lome true, Kleiner LMalbaum, Gerard 
calleth it in Englifli the Waifaring tree, but I know no travailer doth take either plealure orpiofitby it, more 
then by any other oi the hedge trees. I have therefore from Tre-gm his mealy tree, put to thepliantneffeof the 
twigges and branches, and called it the pliant mealy tree. 
‘the Verities. 
The leaves of this tree are harfh andbinding, and are good to flrengthen and fatten loofe teeth: the derati¬ 
on of the leaves hereof, and of Ollive leaves together in vinegar and ,vater, is ofexcellent good uletowalhthe 
mouth andthroatc that are fwelled by fharpe rheumes falling into them, it is good alio to fettheZAva/uor p a i lt c 
of the mouth into the right place,and toflay rheumes that doe fall upon the jawes: the kernels of the fuite here¬ 
of, taken before they are npe, dryed and made into poutlier anddrunke, doe llay the looteneffeof the belly, and 
allotherfiuxcs. Ot the ruotes being deeped under the ground-,-and then boyled. and beatena long timeafter- 
ward, is made Birdlime,with which Fowlers u(e to catch fmaller birdsithe leaves boyled in lye, and the head cr 
haires wafhed therewith doth keepe them from falling,and will make the haires olacke. 
Chap. X LI V. 
Sumach five Rhus. Sumacke 
^a^ Here are three or foure forts of Sumackc to (hew you, three of them of auncient knowledge and nfe, 
but one other of later invention : whcrcunto I mult ad joyne another plant, which both Fo, the names 
fake,and fome likeneffe thereunto,hath caufed divers learned men to intitle it by their name. 
1. Sumach Jive Rhtu obfoniamm & coriariorum. Coriars Sumacke. 
The Coriars Sumackc in fome places rileth to bearealonabegreat tree (but in dry barren grounds not above 
two or three cubits high, or where it is ycaiely o' every other yeare piuined lor the profit made of their.) fprea- 
ding iundry branches with large winged leaves, that is many let onbothfidei of amiddle ribbe, each of iheni 
dented about the edges, Theophrafin■ compareth them to Elme leaves, but letter and longer, and Die/coridet to 
the leaves of the Ilex : at the ends of the branches come forth large fpiked clutters of whitilh flowers, which 
afterwards become reddilb.round and flatfe.de like ur/o Lentils, with anoutward skinny huke, which was, 
and is yet flill in divers places in Tnrkj, the conciimento' ftafoning for meare, being dryed and made into peu- 
thcr.- the wood is whitilh, which being dryed and ground let vetiito dye blackc withall, as is well knowne 
to molt. 
2. Sumach five Rbui Virginians. Virginian Sumacke. 
The Virginian Sumacke groweth up in fome places to be a tree of a mcane fife whofe barke on the Body and 
elder armes is rugged, andof adarkeruttet colour, thofe that are two or three yeare old, are luiooth and not 
rugge J, but thefe of the laft yeare arc of the fame brownifh red colour and foftnette, that the new velvei head of 
a dearefheweth to have, (that irmighc deceive! riglitgood Woodman to fee one cut of and prefenred him on 
the fuddaine,yeeiding a ycllowilh milke.when it is broken or wounded, which in a lms.:l time b commefh chicke 
like unto agumme : the long winged leaves grow one above another on both (ides of the branches very iargely 
fpread, having eight or tenne or more long narrow leaves let on each fide of a middle ribbe, and one at the end, 
very finally dented about the edges,ofadarkegreene (hining colour on the upper fide, and paler greene under¬ 
neath : at the cuds of the branches come forth long and thickebrowne tufts or heads, very foft and woolly in 
handling,made all oflhort thredsor thiummes from among which appeare many fmall flowers much more red 
or crimfon then the tufts, which mi ne into a number of very red round flattifh 1‘eede, thicke and clofe, let on the 
branches of the head together, letter then the fmall Lentils, having a fmall blackiihfeede, tinder that outward 
skinny huskc,whofe (hell is lomew hat hard,encloling a white kemell within it. the roote fpreadeth much under 
ground, (hooting forth fuckers round about,and a good way of from the body of the tree. 
3. Rhus Pimij fJMirufJut. Mirtle leafed Sumacke 
The Mirtle leafed Sumacke groweth feldome above the height of a man having many flender branches with 
leaves let thereon every one of the bigneffe of the broad Mirtle leafe,fet by couples,but notfoclof:ly,or alwayes 
juft oppofite one to another, nor fo many together, and not dented about the edges; at the ends whereof come 
H h h h h h 
forth 
