The first springeth vp in the end or middle of March, and flowreth in Iune. The second springeth in February, but flowreth not vntill Iune.
The Names.
The first is called Elleborus albus, or Helleborus albus, the letter H, as all Schollers know, being but aspirationis nota: and Veratrum album flore viridante, of some Sanguis Herculis. The other is called Elleborus albus præcox, and flore atrorubente, or atropurpurante. We call the first in English, White Ellebor, Neesewort, or Neesing roote, because the powder of the roote is vsed to procure neesing; and I call it the greater, in regard of those in the [next Chapter]. The other hath his name according to the Latine title, most proper for it.
The Vertues.
The force of purging is farre greater in the roote of this Ellebor, then in the former; and therefore is not carelessly to bee vsed, without extreame danger; yet in contumatious and stubborne diseases it may bee vsed with good caution and aduice. There is a Syrupe or Oxymel made hereof in the Apothecaries shops, which as it is dangerous for gentle and tender bodies, so it may be very effectuall in stronger constitutions. Pausanias in Phocicis, recordeth a notable stratagem that Solon vsed in besieging the Citie of Cirrheus, viz. That hauing cut off the riuer Plistus from running into the Citie, he caused a great many of these rootes to be put into a quantity thereof, which after they had steeped long enough therein, and was sufficiently infected therewith, he let passe into the Citie againe: whereof when they had greedily drunke, they grew so weake and feeble by the superpurgation thereof, that they were forced to leaue their wals vnmand, and not guarded, whereby the Amphyctions their enemies became masters of their Citie. The like stratagems are set downe by diuers other Authors, performed by the helpe of other herbes.
Chap. LXXXIII.
Elleborine. Small or wilde white Ellebor.
The likenesse of the leaues of these plants, rather then any other faculty with the former white Ellebor, hath caused them to be called Elleborine, as if they were smaller white Ellebors. And I for the same cause haue ioyned them next, whereof there are found many sorts: One which is the greater kinde, is of greatest beauty; the other which are lesser differ not much one from another, more then in the colour of the flowers, whereof I will onely take three, being of the most beautie, and leaue the rest to another worke.
1. Helleborine vel Elleborine maior, siue Calceolus Mariæ. Our Ladies Slipper.
This most beautifull plant of all these kindes, riseth vp with diuers stalkes, a foote and a halfe high at the most, bearing on each side of them broad greene leaues, somewhat like in forme vnto the leaues of the white Ellebor, but smaller and not so ribbed, compassing the stalke at the lower end; at the tops of the stalkes come forth one, or two, or three flowers at the most, one aboue another, vpon small short foote-stalkes, with a small leafe at the foote of euery stalke: each of these flowers are of a long ouall forme, that is, more long then round, and hollow withall, especially at the vpper part, the lower being round and swelling like a belly: at the hollow part there are two small peeces like eares or flippets, that at the first doe couer the hollow part, and after stand apart one from another, all which are of a fine pale yellow colour, in all that I haue seene (yet it is said there are some found, that are more browne or tending to purple) there are likewise foure long, narrow, darke coloured leaues at the setting on of the flower vnto the stalke, wherein as it were the flower at the first standeth: the whole flower is of a pretty small sent: the seede is very small, very like vnto the seede of the Orchides or Satyrions, and contained in such like long pods, but bigger: the roots are composed of a number of strings enterlacing themselues one within another, lying within the vpper crust of the earth, & not spreading deep, of a darke brownish colour.