Knapweed
Description. The common sort hereof hath many long and somewhat broad dark green leaves, rising from the root, dented about the edges, and sometimes a little rent or torn on both sides in two or three places, and somewhat hairy withal; amongst which ariseth a long round stalk, four or five feet high, divided into many branches, at the tops whereof stand great scaly green heads, and from the middle of them thrust forth a number of dark purplish red thrums or threads, which after they are withered and past, there are found divers black seeds, lying in a great deal of down, somewhat like unto thistle seed, but smaller; the root is white, hard, and woody, and divers fibres annexed thereunto, which perisheth not, but abideth with leaves thereon all the winter, shooting out fresh every spring.
Place. It groweth in most fields and meadows, and about their borders and hedges, and in many waste grounds also every where.
Time. It usually flowereth in June and July, and the seed is ripe shortly after.
Government and virtues. Saturn challengeth the herb for his own. The knapweed helpeth to stay fluxes, both of blood at the mouth or nose, or other outward parts, and those veins that are inwardly broken, or inward wounds, as also the fluxes of the belly; it stayeth distillations of thin and sharp humours from the head upon the stomach and lungs; it is good for those that are bruised by any falls, blows, or otherwise, and is profitable for those that are bursten, and have ruptures by drinking the decoction of the herb and roots in wine, and applying the same outwardly to the place. It is singularly good for all running sores, cancerous or fistulous, drying up the moisture and healing them up gently; without sharpness: it doth the like to running sores or scabs of the head or other parts. It is of special use for the soreness of the throat, swelling of the uvula and jaws, and excellent good to stay bleeding and heal up all green wounds.