The Greek Valerian hath many winged leaues lying vpon the ground, that is, many small leaues set on both sides of a middle ribbe, very like vnto the wilde Valerian, that groweth by the ditch sides, but much smaller and tenderer, among which rise vp one or two round brittle stalkes, two foote high or thereabouts, whereon are set at the ioynts, such like leaues as grow below, but smaller: the toppes of the stalkes are diuided into many small branches, thicke set together, full with flowers, consisting of fiue small round leaues a peece, layd open like vnto the Cinquefoile flower, with some white threds in the middle, tipt with yellow pendents: the colour of these flowers in some plants, is of a faire bleake blew colour, and in others pure white: And I doe heare of one beyond the Seas (if the report bee true, for I haue not seene such a one) which should beare red flowers: after the flowers are past, there come vp in their places small hard huskes or heads, containing small blackish seedes: the roote is composed of a number of small long blackish threds, fastened together at the head, without any sent at all of a Valerian, eyther in roote or leafe; and why it should bee called a Valerian I see no great reason, for it agreeth with none of them, in flower or seede, and but onely with the wilde Valerian in leafe, as I said before: but as it is, we so giue it you, and for the flowers sake is receiued into our gardens, to helpe to fill vp the number of natures rarities and varieties.
The Place.
All these Valerians are strangers, but endenizond for their beauties sake in our Gardens. The Mountaine Valerian I had of the liberalitie of my louing friend Iohn Tradescante, who in his trauaile, and search of natures varieties, met with it, and imparted thereof vnto me.
The Time.
They flower in the Summer moneths, and seed quickly after.
The Names.
The first is generally called of most, Valeriana rubra Dodonæi, who saith also that some would haue it to be Behen rubrum. Some call it Valerianthon, others make it a kinde of Ocimastrum, and some Saponaria altera, with other names, which are to no great purpose to set downe in this place, it beeing fitter for a generall worke to discusse of names, wherein both reading, knowledge and iudgement must bee shewen, to correct errours, and set downe the truth, that one may rest thereon. The others haue their names in their titles sufficient to distinguish them.
The Vertues.
The Mountaine Valerian is of all the rest here set downe of most vse in Physicke, the rest hauing little or none that I know, although it be much weaker then the great garden kinde, or the Indian Nardus, in whose steed anciently it was vsed, in oyles, oyntments, &c.