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Winter Rocket

Name. Called also winter cresses.

Description. Winter rocket, (or winter cresses) has divers somewhat large sad green leaves lying upon the ground, torn or cut in different parts, somewhat like unto rocket or turnip-leaves, with smaller pieces next the bottom, and broad at the ends, which so abide all the winter, (if it spring up in Autumn, when it is used to be eaten;) from among which rise up divers small round stalks, full of branches, bearing many small yellow flowers of four leaves apiece, after which come small pods with reddish seed in them. The root is somewhat stringy and perishes every year after the seed is ripe. Place. It grows of its own accord in gardens and fields, by the way-sides, in divers places.

Time. It flowers in May, seeds in June, and then perishes. Government and virtues. This is profitable to provoke urine, to help stranguary, and expel gravel and the stone. It is good for the scurvy, and found by experience to be a singular wound-herb to cleanse inward wounds; the juice or decoction being drank, or outwardly applied to wash foul ulcers and sores, cleanses them by sharpness, hinders or abates the dead flesh from growing therein, and heals them by a drying quality.