The Vse of the Larch tree.
The coles of the wood hereof (because it is so hard and durable as none more) is held to be of most force being fired, to cause the Iron oare to melt, which none other would doe so well. Matthiolus contesteth against Fuchsius, for deeming the Venice Turpentine to be the liquid Rossen of the Firre tree, which he assureth vpon his owne experience and certaine knowledge, to be drawne from this Larch tree, and none other; which cleere Turpintine is altogether vsed inwardly, and no other, except that of the true Turpintine tree, and is very effectuall to cleanse the reines, kidneyes, and bladder, both of grauell and the stone, and to prouoke vrine: it is also of especiall property for the gonorrhæa, or running of the reines, as it is called, with some powder of white Amber mixed therewith, taken for certaine dayes together. Taken also in an Electuary, it is singular good for to expectorate rotten flegme, and to helpe the consumption of the lungs. It is vsed in plaisters and salues, as the best sort of Turpintine. The Agaricke that is vsed in physicke, is taken from the bodies and armes of this tree. And Matthiolus doth much insist against Brasauolus, that thought other trees had produced Agaricke, affirming them to be hard Fungi, or Mushroms (such as wee call Touch-wood) wherwith many vse to take fire, strooke thereinto from steele.
16. Tilia. The Line or Linden tree.
There are two sorts of Line trees, the male and the female; but because the male is rare to be seene, and the female is more familiar, I will onely giue you the description of the female, and leaue the other.
The female Line tree groweth exceeding high and great, like vnto an Elme, with many large spreading boughes, couered with a smooth barke, the innermost being very plyant and bending from whence come smaller branches, all of them so plyable, that they may bee led or carried into any forme you please: the leaues thereon are very faire, broad, and round, somewhat like vnto Elme leaues, but fairer, smoother, and of a fresher greene colour, dented finely about the edges, and ending in a sharpe point: the flowers are white, and of a good smell, many standing together at the top of a stalke, which runneth all along the middle ribbe of a small long whitish leafe; after which come small round berries, wherein is contained small blackish seede: this tree is wholly neglected by those that haue them, or dwell neere them, because they suppose it to be fruitlesse, in regard it beareth chaffie huskes, which in many places fall away, without giuing ripe seede.
| 1 | Tilia famina. The Line or Linden tree. |
| 2 | Tamariscus. The Tamariske tree. |
| 3 | Acer maius latifolium. The Sycomore tree. |
| 4 | Staphylodendron. The bladder nut. |
| 5 | Rhus Myrtifolia. The Mirtle leafed Sumach. |
| 6 | Rhus Virginiana. The Bucks horne tree. |
| 7 | Vitis seu potius Hedera Virginensis. The Virginia Vine or rather Iuie. |