Chap. 039. Of Sea or Marsh Asparagus.

I. The Names. It is called in Greek *********, in Latin, by Anguillara and Tabermontanus, Asparagus Palustris: and Asparagus marinus, by Clusius and Camerarius: by Baubinus, Pena, and Lobel, Asparagus maritimus: in English, Sea, or Marsh Asparagus.

II. The Kinds. This is the first sort of the Wild Kinds which some would have us to believe will, by Transplantation, and Manuring in Gardens, become the Garden Kind; at least as good as the Garden Kind.

III. The Description. This Wild or Sea, or Marsh kind of Asparagus has a Root with many Strings and Fibres dispersed from a spongy Head like the former, from whence rises up many, but shorter Stalks than the Garden Kinds, stronger also and thicker, branching forth in the same manner, and having such like winged Leaves, but shorter, thicker, harder, and of a blewish, green Colour. The Flowers are like the other, and so are the Berries or Seed which follow, but greater than they, and not of so fresh a red colour.

IV. The Places. It is found to grow in the Marshes of Tidnam, near Chepstow, and in Appleton Meadow, in Gloucetershire, about two Miles from Bristol, where the Poor People do gather the young Shoots or Heads, and sell them in the Market at Bristol, much cheaper than our Garden Kind is sold in London. Mr Ray says he has found it also at the Lizzard Point; and it is said to be found about Harwich in Essex, and divers other Marsh Grounds and Places, as in a Meadow belonging to a Mill near Thorp in Essex; and at Singleton not far from Corbie: also in the Meadows near Moulton in Lincolnshire: At a place called Badmor-lading, not far from Harwich, and at Moulton in Holland, which is also a part of Lincolnshire.

V. The Times. The Tender Shoots spring up in March and April, at what times they are gathered and Eaten they Flower in June and July, and the Berries are ripe in September.

VI. The Qualities. It is, as to its first Qualities, temperate: Mr. Ray says, that the Roots are Diuretick, and Lithontriptick, and are one of the five opening Roots: They are appropriated to the Liver, Spleen, Reins, Womb and Joints.

VII. The Specification. The Roots are peculiar against the Yellow Jaundice, Stone or Gravel in the Reins and Bladder, as also the Sciatica and Gout.

VIII. The Preparations. You may have therefrom,
I. The tender Sprouts or Heads.
2. A Decoction of the Roots in Wine.
3. A Juice from the same.
4. An Essence of the Roots.
5. A Syrup of the same.
6. A Saline Tincture.

The Virtues.

IX. The Virtues of the Roots and Seed, and even of the whole Plant, are the same in all respects with those of the Manured or Garden so that we need not here be particular in explicating the Virtues and Uses of the afore enumerated Preparations, but wholly refer you to that which has already been said in the last Chapter.

Botanologia, or The English Herbal, was written by William Salmon, M.D., in 1710.
This chapter has been proofread by Nick Jones.