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Of Birdsnest

The Description. 1 BIrds nest hath many tangling roots platted or crossed one over another very intricately, which resembleth a Crows nest made of sticks; from which riseth up a thicke soft grosse stalk of a browne colour, set with small short leaves of the colour of a dry oken leafe that hath lien under the tree all the winter long. On the top of the stalke groweth a spiky eare or tuft of floures, in shape like unto maimed Satyrion, wherof doubtlesse it is a kinde. The whole plant, as well stickes, leaves, and floures, are of a parched brown colour. The Place.

This bastard or unkindely Satyrion is very seldome seene in these Southerly parts of England. It is reported, that it groweth in the North parts of England, neere unto a village called Knaesborough. I found it growing in the middle of a wood in Kent two miles from Gravesend, neere unto a worshipfull gentlemans house called Mr William Swan, of Howcke green. The wood belongs to one Mr John Sidley. Which plant I did never see elsewhere; and because it is very rare, I am the more willing to give you all the markes in the wood for the better finding it, because it doth grow but in one piece of the wood: that is to say, The ground is covered all over in the same place neere about it with the herb Sanicle, as also with the kind of Orchis called Hermaphroditica, or Butterfly Satyrion.

The Time.

It floureth and flourisheth in June and August. The dusty or mealy seed (if it may bee called seed) falleth in the end of August: but in my judgment it is an unprofitable or barren dust, and no seed at all.

The Names.

It is called Satyrium abortivum: of some, Nidus avis: in French, Nid d'oiseau: in English, Birds nest, or Goose nest.

The Nature and Vertues.

It is not used in physicke, that I can finde in any authoritie either of the antient or later writers, but is esteemed as a degenerat kind of Orchis, and therefore not used.

THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF PLANTS.

Containing the Description, Place, Time, Names, Nature, and Vertues of all sorts of Herbes, for meat, medicine, or sweet-smelling use, &c. WEE have in our first booke sufficiently described the Grasses, Rushes, Flags, Corne, and bulbous rooted Plants, which for the most part are such as with their brave and gallant floures deck and beautifie gardens, and feed rather the eies than the belly. Now there remain certain other bulbs, whereof the most, though not all, serve for food: of which we will also discourse in the first place in this booke, dividing them in such sort, that those of one kinde shal be separated from another.