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Of Baccharis Out of Dioscorides

The Description. 1 ABout this plant Baccharis there hath beene great contention amongst the new Writers; Matthiolus and Dodonaeus have mistaken this plant, for Coniza major, Virgil and Athaeneus have confounded Baccharis, and Azarum together: but following the antient Writers, it hath many blackish rough leaves, somwhat bigger than the leaves of Primrose: amongst which riseth up a stalke two cubits high, bearing at the top little chaffie or scalie floures in small bunches, of a darke yellowish or purple colour, which turne into downe, and are carried away with the winde, like unto the kindes of Thistles: the root is thicke, grosse, and fat, spreading about in the earth, full of strings: the fragrant smell that the root of this plant yeeldeth, may well be compared unto the savour of Cinnamon, Helenium, or Enula Campana, being a plant knowne unto very many or most sort of people, I meane in most parts of England. The Place.

Baccharis delighteth to grow in rough and craggy places, and in a leane soile where no moisture is: it groweth very plentifully about Montpellier in France, and divers places in the West parts of England.

The Time.

It springeth up in April, it floureth in June, and perfecteth his seed in August.

The Names.

The learned Herbarists of Montpellier have called this plant Baccharis. In English it may be called the Cinamom root, or Plowmans Spiknard: Virgil in his seventh Ecloge of his Bucolicks maketh mention of Baccharis, and doth not onely shew that it is a Garland plant, but also such a one as prevaileth against inchantments, saying, With Plowmans Nard my forehead girt, Lest evill tongue thy Poet hurt. Baccharis is likewise an ointment in Athenaeus, in his 15. booke, which may take his name of the sweet herbe Baccharis: for as Pliny writeth, Aristophanes of old, being an antient comical Poet witnesseth, that ointments were wont to bee made of the root thereof: to bee briefe, Cratevas, his Asarum is the same that Dioscorides his Baccharis is. Dagger This plant here described is the Coniza major of Matthiolus, Tragus, and others. Dagger The Vertues.

Baccharis is a singular remedy to heale inflammations, and the smell thereof provoketh sleepe.

When it is boiled in wine, it is given with great profit against the biting of Scorpions, or any venomous beast, being implaistered and applied thereto.