Chap. XV.Phalangium.Spider-wort.These plants doe so nearely resemble those that are last set forth, that I thinke none that knowes them, will doubt, but that they must follow next vnto them, being so like vnto them, and therefore of the fairest of this kinde first.{Spider-worts}1.Phalangium Allobrogicum.The Sauoye Spider-wort.The Sauoye Spider-wort springeth vp with foure or fiue greene leaues, long and narrow, yet broader at the bottome, narrower pointed at the end, and a little hollow in the middle; among which riseth vp a round stiffe stalke, a foote and a halfe high, bearing at the toppe one aboue another, seuen or eight, or more flowers, euery one as large almost as the yellow Day Lilly last described, but much greater then in any other of the Spider-worts, of a pure white colour, with some threeds in the middle, tipt with yellow, and a small forked pointell: after the flowers are past, the heads or seede vessels grow almost three square, yet somewhat round, wherein is contained blackish seede: the rootes are many white, round, thicke, brittle strings, ioyned together at the head, but are nothing so long, as the rootes of the otherPhalangiaor Spider-worts.2.Phalangium maius Italicum album.The great Italian Spider-wort.This great Spider-wort hath diuers long and narrow leaues spread vpon the ground, and not rising vp as the former, and not so broad also as the former, but somewhat larger then those that follow: the stalke is bigger, but seldome riseth vp so high as the next, whereof this is a larger kinde, hauing a long vnbranched stalke of white flowers, laid open like starres as it hath, but somewhat greater: the rootes are long and white, like the next, but somewhat larger.3.Phalangium non ramosum vulgare.Vnbranched Spider-wort.The leaues of this Spider-wort doe seeme to bee little bigger or longer then the leaues of grasse, but of a more grayish green colour, rising immediately from the head or tuft of rootes; among which rise vp one or two stalkes, sometimes two or three foote long, beset toward the toppe with many white Starre-like flowers, which after they are past turne into small round heads, containing blacke seede, like vnto the seed of the little yellow Asphodill, but lesser: the rootes are long white strings, running vnder ground.4.Phalangium ramosum.Branched Spider-wort.The branched Spider-wort hath his leaues somewhat broader then the former, and of a more yellowish greene colour: the stalke hereof is diuersly branched at the top, bearing many white flowers, like vnto the former, but smaller: the seedes and rootes are like the former in all things.Page 151: Spider-wort.1Phalangium Allobrogicum.The Sauoye Spider-wort.2Phalangium non ramosum.Vnbranched Spider-wort.3Phalangium ramosum.Branched Spider-wort.4Phalangium Ephemerum Virginianum.Iohn Tradescante’s Spider-wort.The Place.The first groweth on the Hils neare vnto Sauoye, from whence diuers, allured with the beauty of the flower, haue brought it into these parts.The second came vp in my Garden, from the seede receiued out of Italy. The others grow in Spaine, France,&c.The Time.The vnbranched Spider-wort most commonly flowreth before all the other, and the branched a moneth after it: the other two about one time, that is, towards the end of May, and not much after the vnbranched kinde.The Names.The first (as I said before) hath beene taken to be a white Lilliasphodill, and calledLiliasphodelus flore albo; but Clusius hath more properly entituled it aPhalangium, and from the place of his originall, gaue him his other denomination, and so is called of most, as is set downe in the title.The other haue no other names then are expressed in their titles, but only that Cordus calleth themLiliago; andDodonæus,lib.4.hist. plant.would make the branched kinde to beeMoly alterum Plinij, but without any good ground.The Vertues.The namesPhalangiumandPhalangiteswere imposed on these plants, because they were found effectual, to cure the poyson of that kinde of Spider, calledPhalangium, as also of Scorpions and other Serpents. Wee doe not know, that any Physitian hath vsed them to any such, or any other purpose in our dayes.{The soon fading Spider-wort of Virginia}5.Phalangium Ephemerum Virginianum Ioannis Tradescant.The soon fading Spider-wort of Virginia, or Tradescant his Spider-wort.This Spider-wort is of late knowledge, and for it the Christian world is indebted vnto that painfull industrious searcher, and louer of all natures varieties, Iohn Tradescant (sometimes belonging to the right Honourable Lord Robert Earle of Salisbury, Lord Treasurer of England in his time, and then vnto the right Honourable the Lord Wotton at Canterbury in Kent, and lastly vnto the late Duke of Buckingham) who first receiued it of a friend, that brought it out of Virginia, thinking it to bee the Silke Grasse that groweth there, and hath imparted hereof, as of many other things, both to me and others; the description whereof is as followeth:From a stringie roote, creeping farre vnder ground, and rising vp againe in many places, springeth vp diuers heads of long folded leaues, of a grayish ouer-worne greene colour, two or three for the most part together, and not aboue, compassing one another at the bottome, and abiding greene in many places all the Winter; other-where perishing, and rising anew in the Spring, which leaues rise vp with the great round stalke, being set thereon at the ioynts, vsually but one at a ioynt, broad at the bottome where they compasse the stalke, and smaller and smaller to the end: at the vpper ioynt, which is the toppe of the stalke, there stand two or three such like leaues, but smaller, from among which breaketh out a dozen, sixteene, or twenty, or more round green heads, hanging downe their heads by little foot-stalkes, which when the flower beginneth to blow open, groweth longer, and standeth vpright, hauing three small pale greene leaues for a huske, and three other leaues within them for the flower, which lay themselues open flat, of a deepe blew purple colour, hauing an vmbone or small head in the middle, closely set about with six reddish, hairy, or feathered threeds, tipt with yellow pendents: this flower openeth it selfe in the day, & shutteth vsually atnight, and neuer openeth againe, but perisheth, and then hangeth downe his head againe; the greene huske of three leaues, closing it selfe againe into the forme of a head, but greater, as it was before, the middle vmbone growing to bee the seede vessell, wherein is contained small, blackish, long seede: Seldome shall any man see aboue one, or two at the most of these flowers blowne open at one time vpon the stalke, whereby it standeth in flowring a long time, before all the heads haue giuen out their flowers.The Place.This plant groweth in some parts of Virginia, and was deliuered to Iohn Tradescant.The Time.It flowreth from the end of May vntill Iuly, if it haue had greene leaues all the Winter, or otherwise, vntill the Winter checke his luxuriousnesse.The Names.Vnto this plant I confesse I first imposed the name, by considering duely all the parts thereof, which vntill some can finde a more proper, I desire may still continue, and to call itEphemerum Virginianum Tradescanti, Iohn Tradescante’s Spider-wort of Virginia, orPhalangium Ephemerum Virginianum, The soone fading or Day Spider-wort of Virginia.The Vertues.There hath not beene any tryall made of the properties since wee had it, nor doe we know whether the Indians haue any vse thereof.
Chap. XV.Phalangium.Spider-wort.These plants doe so nearely resemble those that are last set forth, that I thinke none that knowes them, will doubt, but that they must follow next vnto them, being so like vnto them, and therefore of the fairest of this kinde first.{Spider-worts}1.Phalangium Allobrogicum.The Sauoye Spider-wort.The Sauoye Spider-wort springeth vp with foure or fiue greene leaues, long and narrow, yet broader at the bottome, narrower pointed at the end, and a little hollow in the middle; among which riseth vp a round stiffe stalke, a foote and a halfe high, bearing at the toppe one aboue another, seuen or eight, or more flowers, euery one as large almost as the yellow Day Lilly last described, but much greater then in any other of the Spider-worts, of a pure white colour, with some threeds in the middle, tipt with yellow, and a small forked pointell: after the flowers are past, the heads or seede vessels grow almost three square, yet somewhat round, wherein is contained blackish seede: the rootes are many white, round, thicke, brittle strings, ioyned together at the head, but are nothing so long, as the rootes of the otherPhalangiaor Spider-worts.2.Phalangium maius Italicum album.The great Italian Spider-wort.This great Spider-wort hath diuers long and narrow leaues spread vpon the ground, and not rising vp as the former, and not so broad also as the former, but somewhat larger then those that follow: the stalke is bigger, but seldome riseth vp so high as the next, whereof this is a larger kinde, hauing a long vnbranched stalke of white flowers, laid open like starres as it hath, but somewhat greater: the rootes are long and white, like the next, but somewhat larger.3.Phalangium non ramosum vulgare.Vnbranched Spider-wort.The leaues of this Spider-wort doe seeme to bee little bigger or longer then the leaues of grasse, but of a more grayish green colour, rising immediately from the head or tuft of rootes; among which rise vp one or two stalkes, sometimes two or three foote long, beset toward the toppe with many white Starre-like flowers, which after they are past turne into small round heads, containing blacke seede, like vnto the seed of the little yellow Asphodill, but lesser: the rootes are long white strings, running vnder ground.4.Phalangium ramosum.Branched Spider-wort.The branched Spider-wort hath his leaues somewhat broader then the former, and of a more yellowish greene colour: the stalke hereof is diuersly branched at the top, bearing many white flowers, like vnto the former, but smaller: the seedes and rootes are like the former in all things.Page 151: Spider-wort.1Phalangium Allobrogicum.The Sauoye Spider-wort.2Phalangium non ramosum.Vnbranched Spider-wort.3Phalangium ramosum.Branched Spider-wort.4Phalangium Ephemerum Virginianum.Iohn Tradescante’s Spider-wort.The Place.The first groweth on the Hils neare vnto Sauoye, from whence diuers, allured with the beauty of the flower, haue brought it into these parts.The second came vp in my Garden, from the seede receiued out of Italy. The others grow in Spaine, France,&c.The Time.The vnbranched Spider-wort most commonly flowreth before all the other, and the branched a moneth after it: the other two about one time, that is, towards the end of May, and not much after the vnbranched kinde.The Names.The first (as I said before) hath beene taken to be a white Lilliasphodill, and calledLiliasphodelus flore albo; but Clusius hath more properly entituled it aPhalangium, and from the place of his originall, gaue him his other denomination, and so is called of most, as is set downe in the title.The other haue no other names then are expressed in their titles, but only that Cordus calleth themLiliago; andDodonæus,lib.4.hist. plant.would make the branched kinde to beeMoly alterum Plinij, but without any good ground.The Vertues.The namesPhalangiumandPhalangiteswere imposed on these plants, because they were found effectual, to cure the poyson of that kinde of Spider, calledPhalangium, as also of Scorpions and other Serpents. Wee doe not know, that any Physitian hath vsed them to any such, or any other purpose in our dayes.{The soon fading Spider-wort of Virginia}5.Phalangium Ephemerum Virginianum Ioannis Tradescant.The soon fading Spider-wort of Virginia, or Tradescant his Spider-wort.This Spider-wort is of late knowledge, and for it the Christian world is indebted vnto that painfull industrious searcher, and louer of all natures varieties, Iohn Tradescant (sometimes belonging to the right Honourable Lord Robert Earle of Salisbury, Lord Treasurer of England in his time, and then vnto the right Honourable the Lord Wotton at Canterbury in Kent, and lastly vnto the late Duke of Buckingham) who first receiued it of a friend, that brought it out of Virginia, thinking it to bee the Silke Grasse that groweth there, and hath imparted hereof, as of many other things, both to me and others; the description whereof is as followeth:From a stringie roote, creeping farre vnder ground, and rising vp againe in many places, springeth vp diuers heads of long folded leaues, of a grayish ouer-worne greene colour, two or three for the most part together, and not aboue, compassing one another at the bottome, and abiding greene in many places all the Winter; other-where perishing, and rising anew in the Spring, which leaues rise vp with the great round stalke, being set thereon at the ioynts, vsually but one at a ioynt, broad at the bottome where they compasse the stalke, and smaller and smaller to the end: at the vpper ioynt, which is the toppe of the stalke, there stand two or three such like leaues, but smaller, from among which breaketh out a dozen, sixteene, or twenty, or more round green heads, hanging downe their heads by little foot-stalkes, which when the flower beginneth to blow open, groweth longer, and standeth vpright, hauing three small pale greene leaues for a huske, and three other leaues within them for the flower, which lay themselues open flat, of a deepe blew purple colour, hauing an vmbone or small head in the middle, closely set about with six reddish, hairy, or feathered threeds, tipt with yellow pendents: this flower openeth it selfe in the day, & shutteth vsually atnight, and neuer openeth againe, but perisheth, and then hangeth downe his head againe; the greene huske of three leaues, closing it selfe againe into the forme of a head, but greater, as it was before, the middle vmbone growing to bee the seede vessell, wherein is contained small, blackish, long seede: Seldome shall any man see aboue one, or two at the most of these flowers blowne open at one time vpon the stalke, whereby it standeth in flowring a long time, before all the heads haue giuen out their flowers.The Place.This plant groweth in some parts of Virginia, and was deliuered to Iohn Tradescant.The Time.It flowreth from the end of May vntill Iuly, if it haue had greene leaues all the Winter, or otherwise, vntill the Winter checke his luxuriousnesse.The Names.Vnto this plant I confesse I first imposed the name, by considering duely all the parts thereof, which vntill some can finde a more proper, I desire may still continue, and to call itEphemerum Virginianum Tradescanti, Iohn Tradescante’s Spider-wort of Virginia, orPhalangium Ephemerum Virginianum, The soone fading or Day Spider-wort of Virginia.The Vertues.There hath not beene any tryall made of the properties since wee had it, nor doe we know whether the Indians haue any vse thereof.
These plants doe so nearely resemble those that are last set forth, that I thinke none that knowes them, will doubt, but that they must follow next vnto them, being so like vnto them, and therefore of the fairest of this kinde first.
The Sauoye Spider-wort springeth vp with foure or fiue greene leaues, long and narrow, yet broader at the bottome, narrower pointed at the end, and a little hollow in the middle; among which riseth vp a round stiffe stalke, a foote and a halfe high, bearing at the toppe one aboue another, seuen or eight, or more flowers, euery one as large almost as the yellow Day Lilly last described, but much greater then in any other of the Spider-worts, of a pure white colour, with some threeds in the middle, tipt with yellow, and a small forked pointell: after the flowers are past, the heads or seede vessels grow almost three square, yet somewhat round, wherein is contained blackish seede: the rootes are many white, round, thicke, brittle strings, ioyned together at the head, but are nothing so long, as the rootes of the otherPhalangiaor Spider-worts.
This great Spider-wort hath diuers long and narrow leaues spread vpon the ground, and not rising vp as the former, and not so broad also as the former, but somewhat larger then those that follow: the stalke is bigger, but seldome riseth vp so high as the next, whereof this is a larger kinde, hauing a long vnbranched stalke of white flowers, laid open like starres as it hath, but somewhat greater: the rootes are long and white, like the next, but somewhat larger.
The leaues of this Spider-wort doe seeme to bee little bigger or longer then the leaues of grasse, but of a more grayish green colour, rising immediately from the head or tuft of rootes; among which rise vp one or two stalkes, sometimes two or three foote long, beset toward the toppe with many white Starre-like flowers, which after they are past turne into small round heads, containing blacke seede, like vnto the seed of the little yellow Asphodill, but lesser: the rootes are long white strings, running vnder ground.
The branched Spider-wort hath his leaues somewhat broader then the former, and of a more yellowish greene colour: the stalke hereof is diuersly branched at the top, bearing many white flowers, like vnto the former, but smaller: the seedes and rootes are like the former in all things.
Page 151: Spider-wort.1Phalangium Allobrogicum.The Sauoye Spider-wort.2Phalangium non ramosum.Vnbranched Spider-wort.3Phalangium ramosum.Branched Spider-wort.4Phalangium Ephemerum Virginianum.Iohn Tradescante’s Spider-wort.
The Place.The first groweth on the Hils neare vnto Sauoye, from whence diuers, allured with the beauty of the flower, haue brought it into these parts.The second came vp in my Garden, from the seede receiued out of Italy. The others grow in Spaine, France,&c.
The first groweth on the Hils neare vnto Sauoye, from whence diuers, allured with the beauty of the flower, haue brought it into these parts.
The second came vp in my Garden, from the seede receiued out of Italy. The others grow in Spaine, France,&c.
The Time.The vnbranched Spider-wort most commonly flowreth before all the other, and the branched a moneth after it: the other two about one time, that is, towards the end of May, and not much after the vnbranched kinde.
The vnbranched Spider-wort most commonly flowreth before all the other, and the branched a moneth after it: the other two about one time, that is, towards the end of May, and not much after the vnbranched kinde.
The Names.The first (as I said before) hath beene taken to be a white Lilliasphodill, and calledLiliasphodelus flore albo; but Clusius hath more properly entituled it aPhalangium, and from the place of his originall, gaue him his other denomination, and so is called of most, as is set downe in the title.The other haue no other names then are expressed in their titles, but only that Cordus calleth themLiliago; andDodonæus,lib.4.hist. plant.would make the branched kinde to beeMoly alterum Plinij, but without any good ground.
The first (as I said before) hath beene taken to be a white Lilliasphodill, and calledLiliasphodelus flore albo; but Clusius hath more properly entituled it aPhalangium, and from the place of his originall, gaue him his other denomination, and so is called of most, as is set downe in the title.
The other haue no other names then are expressed in their titles, but only that Cordus calleth themLiliago; andDodonæus,lib.4.hist. plant.would make the branched kinde to beeMoly alterum Plinij, but without any good ground.
The Vertues.The namesPhalangiumandPhalangiteswere imposed on these plants, because they were found effectual, to cure the poyson of that kinde of Spider, calledPhalangium, as also of Scorpions and other Serpents. Wee doe not know, that any Physitian hath vsed them to any such, or any other purpose in our dayes.
The namesPhalangiumandPhalangiteswere imposed on these plants, because they were found effectual, to cure the poyson of that kinde of Spider, calledPhalangium, as also of Scorpions and other Serpents. Wee doe not know, that any Physitian hath vsed them to any such, or any other purpose in our dayes.
This Spider-wort is of late knowledge, and for it the Christian world is indebted vnto that painfull industrious searcher, and louer of all natures varieties, Iohn Tradescant (sometimes belonging to the right Honourable Lord Robert Earle of Salisbury, Lord Treasurer of England in his time, and then vnto the right Honourable the Lord Wotton at Canterbury in Kent, and lastly vnto the late Duke of Buckingham) who first receiued it of a friend, that brought it out of Virginia, thinking it to bee the Silke Grasse that groweth there, and hath imparted hereof, as of many other things, both to me and others; the description whereof is as followeth:
From a stringie roote, creeping farre vnder ground, and rising vp againe in many places, springeth vp diuers heads of long folded leaues, of a grayish ouer-worne greene colour, two or three for the most part together, and not aboue, compassing one another at the bottome, and abiding greene in many places all the Winter; other-where perishing, and rising anew in the Spring, which leaues rise vp with the great round stalke, being set thereon at the ioynts, vsually but one at a ioynt, broad at the bottome where they compasse the stalke, and smaller and smaller to the end: at the vpper ioynt, which is the toppe of the stalke, there stand two or three such like leaues, but smaller, from among which breaketh out a dozen, sixteene, or twenty, or more round green heads, hanging downe their heads by little foot-stalkes, which when the flower beginneth to blow open, groweth longer, and standeth vpright, hauing three small pale greene leaues for a huske, and three other leaues within them for the flower, which lay themselues open flat, of a deepe blew purple colour, hauing an vmbone or small head in the middle, closely set about with six reddish, hairy, or feathered threeds, tipt with yellow pendents: this flower openeth it selfe in the day, & shutteth vsually atnight, and neuer openeth againe, but perisheth, and then hangeth downe his head againe; the greene huske of three leaues, closing it selfe againe into the forme of a head, but greater, as it was before, the middle vmbone growing to bee the seede vessell, wherein is contained small, blackish, long seede: Seldome shall any man see aboue one, or two at the most of these flowers blowne open at one time vpon the stalke, whereby it standeth in flowring a long time, before all the heads haue giuen out their flowers.
The Place.This plant groweth in some parts of Virginia, and was deliuered to Iohn Tradescant.
This plant groweth in some parts of Virginia, and was deliuered to Iohn Tradescant.
The Time.It flowreth from the end of May vntill Iuly, if it haue had greene leaues all the Winter, or otherwise, vntill the Winter checke his luxuriousnesse.
It flowreth from the end of May vntill Iuly, if it haue had greene leaues all the Winter, or otherwise, vntill the Winter checke his luxuriousnesse.
The Names.Vnto this plant I confesse I first imposed the name, by considering duely all the parts thereof, which vntill some can finde a more proper, I desire may still continue, and to call itEphemerum Virginianum Tradescanti, Iohn Tradescante’s Spider-wort of Virginia, orPhalangium Ephemerum Virginianum, The soone fading or Day Spider-wort of Virginia.
Vnto this plant I confesse I first imposed the name, by considering duely all the parts thereof, which vntill some can finde a more proper, I desire may still continue, and to call itEphemerum Virginianum Tradescanti, Iohn Tradescante’s Spider-wort of Virginia, orPhalangium Ephemerum Virginianum, The soone fading or Day Spider-wort of Virginia.
The Vertues.There hath not beene any tryall made of the properties since wee had it, nor doe we know whether the Indians haue any vse thereof.
There hath not beene any tryall made of the properties since wee had it, nor doe we know whether the Indians haue any vse thereof.