The Time.
They flower for the most part in Iune and Iuly, but the small Gentian of the Spring flowreth somewhat earlier, and that of the Autumne in August and September.
The Names.
Gentiana is the generall name giuen to the Gentians. We call them in English Gentian, Fellworte, Bitterwort, and Baldmoney. Saponaria taketh his name from the scouring qualitie it hath: Wee call it in English Sopewort, and in some places Bruisewort. Some haue thought it to bee Struthium of Dioscorides, or at least haue vsed it for the same causes, but therein they are greatly deceiued, as Matthiolus hath very well obserued thereon, and so is Dodonæus, that thought it to be Alisma. The Rose Plantaine is so called of the double spikes it carrieth.
The Vertues.
The wonderfull wholsomnesse of Gentian cannot bee easily knowne to vs, by reason our daintie tastes refuse to take thereof, for the bitternesse sake: but otherwise it would vndoubtedly worke admirable cures, both for the liuer, stomacke and lunges. It is also a speciall counterpoison against any infection, as also against the violence of a mad dogges tooth: wilde Sopewort is vsed in many places, to scoure the countrey womens treen, and pewter vessels, and physically some make great boast to performe admirable cures in Hydropicall diseases, because it is diureticall, and in Lue Veneria, when other Mercuriall medicines haue failed. The Rose Plantaine no doubt hath the same qualities that the ordinary hath.
Chap. LXXXVI.
Campanula. Bell-flowers.
Under the title of Bell-flowers are to bee comprehended in this Chapter, not only those that are ordinarily called Campanula, but Viola Mariana, and Trachelium also, whereof the one is called Couentry, the other Canterbury Bells.