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Rock, or Small Samphire
Description. Rock-samphire grows up with a tender green stalk, about half a yard or two feet high at the most, branching forth almost from the very bottom, and stored with sundry thick and almost round, (somewhat long) leaves, of a deep green colour, sometimes two together, and sometimes more on a stalk, sappy, and of a pleasant hot and spicy taste. At the tops of the stalks and branches stand umbels of white flowers, and after them come large seed bigger than fennel seed, yet somewhat like it. The root is great, white, and long, continuing many years; and is of an hot and spicy taste likewise. Place. It grows, like the former, on rocks that are often moistened at the least, if not overflowed, with the sea water.
Time. It flowers and seeds in the end of July and August. Government and virtues. It is an herb of Jupiter, and was in former times wont to be used more than now it is; the more is the pity. It is well known, almost to every body, that ill digestions and obstructions are the cause of most of the diseases to which the frail nature of man is subject to; both which might be remedied by a more fequent use of this herb. If people would have sauce to their meat, they may take some for profit as well as for pleasure. It is a safe herb, very pleasant both to taste and stomach, helping digestion, and in some sort opening obstructions of the liver and spleen; provokes urine, and helps thereby to wash away the gravel and stone engendered in the kidnies or bladder.
SENA.
Description. It has winged leaves, each entire leaf is composed of about six pair of smaller leaves without an odd one at the end; these are of an oblong form, pointed, and of a whitish green colour. The flowers are produced in longish spikes at the tops of the branches moderately large, of a yellow colour, and striped with red. The root is woody, divided and spreading. Place. It is a native of the east. There is a bastard Sena which is kept in many gardens, which is called colutia, which is its Latin name. Government and virtues. It is under Mercury. The leaves (which are only used) are hot and dry, of a purging faculty, but afterwards leaves a binding quality. It opens obstructions: corrected with carroway-seed, aniseed, or ginger, a drachm taken in wine, ale, or broth, fasting, comforts and cleanses the stomach, purges melancholy, choler, and phlegm from the head and brain, lungs, heart, liver, and spleen, cleansing those parts of evil humours; strengthens the senses, procures mirth, and is also good in chronical agues, whether quartan or quotidian. It cleanses and purifies the blood, and causes a fresh and lively habit of the body, and is a special ingredient in diet-drinks, and to make purging ale for clarifying and cleansing the blood. The bastard sena works very violently both upwards and downwards, offending the stomach and bowels.