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Of Calves Snout, or Snapdragon

The Description. 1 THe purple Snapdragon hath great and brittle stalks, which divideth it selfe into many fragile branches, whereupon do grow long leaves sharpe pointed, very greene, like unto those of wilde flax, but much greater, set by couples one opposite against another. The floures grow at the top of the stalkes, of a purple colour, fashioned like a frogs mouth, or rather a dragons mouth, from whence the women have taken the name Snapdragon. The seed is blacke, contained in round huskes fashioned like a calves snout, (whereupon some have called it Calves snout) or in mine opinion it is more like unto the bones of a sheeps head that hath beene long in the water, or the flesh consumed cleane away. 2 The second agreeth with the precedent in every part, except in the colour of the floures, for this plant bringeth forth white floures, and the other purple, wherein consists the difference. 3 The yellow Snapdragon hath a long thicke wooddy root, with certain strings fastned thereto; from long thicke wooddy root, with certain strings fastned thereto; from which riseth up a brittle stalke of two cubits and a halfe high, divided from the bottome to the top into divers branches, whereupon do grow long greene leaves like those of the former, but greater and longer. The floures grow at the top of the maine branches, of a pleasant yellow colour, in shape like unto the precedent.

The Place.

They grow in most gardens.

The Time.

That which hath continued the whole Winter doth floure in May, and the rest of Summer afterwards; and that which is planted later, and in the end of Summer, floureth in the Spring of the following yeare: they do hardly endure the injurie of our cold Winter.

The Names.

Snapdragon is called in English, Calves snout, Snapdragon, and Lyons snap: in French, Teste de chien, and Teste de Veau.

The Vertues.

They report (saith Dioscorides) that the herbe being hanged about one preserveth a man from being bewitched, and that it maketh a may gracious in the sight of people.