Although Lobel maketh mention of this tree to grow both in Italy, and Prouence in France, in some of their hedges, yet he saith it is neglected in the naturall places, and to be of no vse with them: neither doe I heare, that it is applyed to any Physicall vse with vs, but (as I before said) it is preserued with diuers as an ornament to a Garden or Orchard, by reason of his euer greene leaues, and red berries among them, being a pleasant spectacle, and fit to be brought into the forme of an hedge, as one please to lead it.
11. Taxus. The Yewe tree.
The Yewe tree groweth with vs in many places to bee a reasonable great tree, but in hoter countries much bigger, couered with a reddish gray scaly barke; the younger branches are reddish likewise, whereon grow many winged leaues, that is, many narrow long darke greene leaues, set on both sides of a long stalke or branch, neuer dying or falling away, but abiding on perpetually, except it be on the elder boughes: the flowers are small, growing by the leaues, which turne into round red berries, like vnto red Asparagus berries, in taste sweetish, with a little bitternesse, and causing no harme to them for any thing hath been knowne in our country.
The Vse of the Yewe tree.
It is found planted both in the corners of Orchards, and against the windowes of Houses, to be both a shadow and an ornament, in being alwayes greene, and to decke vp Houses in Winter: but ancient Writers haue euer reckoned it to be dangerous at the least, if not deadly.
12. Buxus. The Boxe tree.
The Boxe tree in some places is a reasonable tall tree, yet growing slowly; the trunke or body whereof is of the bignesse of a mans thigh, which is the biggest that euer I saw: but sometimes, and in other places it groweth much lower, vsually not aboue a yard, or a yard and a halfe high, on the backe sides of many Houses, and in the Orchards likewise: the leaues are small, thicke and hard, and still the greater or lesser the tree is, the greater or lesser are the leaues, round pointed, and of a fresh shining greene colour: the flowers are small and greenish, which turne into heads or berries, with foure hornes, whitish on the outside, and with reddish seede within them.
Buxus aureus. Gilded Boxe.