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Of Burre-Reed

The Description. 1 THe first of these plants hath long leaves, which are double edged, or sharpe on both sides, with a sharpe crest in the middle, in such manner raised up that it seemeth to be triangle or three-square. The stalks grow among the leaves, and are two or three foot long, being divided into many branches, garnished with many prickly husks or knops of the bignesse of a nut. The root is full of hairy strings. 2 The great water Burre differeth not in any thing from the first kinde in roots or leaves, save that the first hath his leaves rising immediately from the tuft or knop of the root; but this kinde hath a long stalke comming from the root, whereupon a little above the root the leaves shoot out round about the stalke successively, some leaves still growing above others, even to the top of the stalke, and from the top thereof downward by certaine distances. It is garnished with many round wharles or rough coronets, having here and there among the said wharles one single short leafe of a pale greene colour. The Place.

Both these are very common, and grow in moist medowes and neere unto water courses. They plentifully grow in the fenny grounds of Lincolnshire and such like places; in the ditches about S. Georges fields, and in the ditch right against the place of execution at the end of Southwark, called S. Thomas Waterings.

The Time.

They bring forth their burry bullets or seedy knots in August. The Vertues.

Some write, that the knops or rough burres of these plants boiled in wine, are good against the bitings of venomous beasts, if they be either drunke, or the wound washed therewith.