Let mee thrust this plant into this place, rather then make a peculiar Chapter, because I haue no other of the same stocke or kindred to be ioyned with it, and is a pretty ornament in a Garden. The leaues whereof are very large, round, and great, rough or full of veines, which make it seeme crumpled, dented or deepely notched about the edges, and of a very darke greene colour, and some times brownish, or of a darke reddish colour withall, euery one standing on a long foote-stalke, very like in forme vnto the great white Arch-Angell leaues, but farre larger and blacker: the stalkes are great and foure square, hauing leaues and flowers standing round about them at the ioynts like coronets, which flowers are very great, long, and wide gaping open, of a darke red or purple colour, with some whitenesse or spots in the iawes, and some hairinesse also on the sides, which stand in full flower two or three moneths most vsually, and sometimes longer, after which come brownish seede: the roote is a great tuft or bush of long whitish strings, and encreaseth euery yeare, not fearing the greatest iniuries of our coldest and extreamest Winters.
The Place.
All these plants are strangers in our Countrey, and onely preserued in Gardens, to furnish them with variety; but (as I said) the cloth of gold Moth Mullein hath been raised from seed in our owne Country.
The Time.
The last flowreth first, before all the rest, beginning in Aprill. The Moth Mulleins in May and Iune. The French Sage in Iuly.
The Names.
All the sorts of Blattaria may bee comprehended vnder the kindes of Verbascum nigrum, as any one but meanely exercised in the knowledge of plants, may discerne. And although Plinie saith, that Moths doe most frequently haunt where Blattaria either groweth, or is laid, yet it is not obserued sufficiently in our Country so to doe, notwithstanding the name of Moth Mullein is generally giuen them. The last is generally called with vs Lamium Pannonicum, but certainely it is the Galeosis maxima Pannonica of Clusius.
The Vertues.
Other qualities I haue not found hath been alloted vnto the Blattaria or Moth Mullein, then those of Plinie, to engender Moths. Wee vse none of these plants in Physicke in these daies.