045-048 Bramble, Betony, Marum, Brooklime.
45. Bramble or Blackberry Bush. Rubus or Rubus vulgaris.
1. This Shrub has many long creeping Branches; there are commonly 5 Leaves on one Footstalk in the lower Parts, and three on the upper Parts next ye Fruit; the Leaves are a deep Green; the Flowers a pale Red, and sometimes White; and the Fruit when ripe is of a black Colour.
2. It grows in most Hedges, & flowers in Iune & Iuly: the Fruit is ripe in September.
3. The Leaves are accounted restringent, & are frequently prescribed in Gargarisms for sore Mouths & Throats; the unripe Fruit is very binding and restringent, useful for all kinds of Fluxes & Bleeding, for Thrushes & sore Mouths. The Juice of the ripe Fruit made into Syrup is esteemed good against the Heat of Urine.
4. Greek, Βάτος. Latin, Rubus, & Rubus vulgaris. Spanish, Carza. Italian, Rove. French, Ronce. German, Briamen, Brambeer and Grakbeer. Dutch, Braam-bezein.
46. Betony. Betonica & Betonica silvestris or vulgaris.
Also see #046. Betony - #084. Hedge Nettle
1. It grows to be eighteen Inches high, the Leaves are a deep grass Green, and the Flowers a red Purple.
2. Betony grows in Woods & Tickets & by Hedge-sides, & flowers in May and Iune.
3. It is accounted a good cephalic, hepatick & vulnerary Plant. The Ancients had it so much in esteem that Antonius Musa, Physician to Augustus Caesar, wrote a whole Treatise on it. The Leaves dried & mix'd with Tobacco are frequently smoaked for the Head-Ach, Vertigo, & sore Eyes. Mixd with Wood-Sage & Ground-Pine, it makes a good diet Drink for the Gout & Rheumatism. The fresh leaves bruised are good for green Wounds & to draw out Splinters. The officinal preparations are the conserve of the Flowers, and the Emplastrum de Betonica.
4. Greek, Κεσρον & Ψυχότροφον. Latin, Betonica. Spanish, Bretonia. Italian, Beloneca. French, Betoine. German, Betonien. Dutch, Betonie.
47. Marum, or Syrian mastic Thyme. Marum Syriacum.
(Some Teucriums contain livertoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Their use is discouraged. --Henriette.)
Also see #009. Wood Sage. - #047, Marum. - #180. Small Germander.
1. This plant grows to be a Foot high, the Leaves are willow Grwwn, & ye Flowers red.
2. It grows naturally in Candy and Syria; and is nursed up here in ye Gardens of the Curious; and flowers in Iuly.
3. Marum is accounted a good cephalic and nervine Plant, and is much used in cephalic Snuff; but is of little service else in Physick.
4. Greek, Μάρον η υσόβριον. Latin, Marum Syriacum, or Majorana and Crëtica, or Marum Cretense. Spanish, -. Italian, Maro. French, -. German, -. Dutch, -.
48. Brooklime. Anagalis aquatica or Becabunga.
Also see #048. Brooklime. - #143, Male Speedwell.
1. It grows to be sixteen Inches high, the Leaves are a grass Green, and the Stalks a reddish Green, and the Flowers a fine Blue.
2. This Plant grows in Rills & running Ditches, it flowers in Iune, & keeps its Leaves all ye Winter.
3. It is accounted a good deabstruent & antiscorbutic, abounding with volatile Parts, very good for ye Scurvy, being an Ingredient of ye antiscorbutic Juices, & diet Drinks for that Distemper. It is like wise detersive & cleansing, useful in obstructions of ye Kidneys by Gravel or slimy Humours, as also for the Stone & Dropsy. Matthiolus says it is good to bring away a false conception, & provoke the Menses.
4. Greek, Αναγαλλίς. Latin, Anagallis aquatica & Becabunga. Spanish, -. Italian, -. French, Berle. German, Wasserbungen and Backbungem. Dutch, Bekeboon & Beek-pungen.
