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Hedge-Hyssop

Description. There are several sorts of this plant, the first of which is a native of Italy, and only reared here by the curious. Two or three kinds however grow wild in England, two of which I shall here mention, viz. The first is a low smooth plant, not quite a foot high, of a very bitter taste, composed of many square stalks, diversely branched from the bottom to the top; it has many joints, shooting forth at each two small leaves; these are rather broader at the bottom than the top, a little dented on the edges, of a sad green colour, and full of veins. The flowers stand also at the joints being of a fair purple colour with white spots, and made very much like those of dead-nettle; the seed is small and yellow, and the roots spread much under ground.

The second seldom grows more than half a foot high, shooting forth several small branches, whereon grow many small leaves set one against the other, somewhat broad, but very short; the flowers are not much unlike the former in shape, but of a pale reddish colour; the seed is small and yellowish, and the root spreadeth like that of the first.

Place. They grow in wet low grounds, and by water-sides, and the latter sort may be found amongst the bogs on Hampstead-heath.

Time. They generally flower in June, July, and August, and the seed ripens presently after.

Government and virtues. They are under the dominion of Mars. They are very unsafe to take inwardly, unless well rectified by an alchymist, and only the purity of them given, as they are violent purgers, especially of choler and phlegm. Being prepared, they are very good for the dropsy, gout, and sciatica; externally applied in ointments, or the belly anointed therewith, they destroy the worms therein, and are an excellent remedy for old and filthy sores.