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Of Colts-Foot, or Horse-Foot

The Description. 1 TUssilago or Fole-foot hath many white and long creeping roots, somewhat fat; from which rise up naked stalkes (in the beginning of March and Aprill) about a spanne long, bearing at the top yellow floures, which change into downe and are caried away with the winde: when the stalke and seed is perished, there appeare springing of out the earth many broad leaves, greene above, and next the ground of a white hoarie or grayish colour, fashioned like an Horse foot; for which cause it was called Fole-foot, and Horse-hoofe: seldome or never shall you find leaves and floures at once, but the flours are past before the leaves come out of the ground; as may appeare by the first picture, which setteth forth the naked stalkes and floures; and by the second, which pourtraiteth the leaves only.

The Place.

This groweth of it selfe neere unto Springs, and on the brinkes of brookes and rivers, in wet furrowes, by ditches sides, and in other moist and watery places neere unto the sea, almost everywhere.

The Time.

The floures which quickly fade, are to be seene in the end of March, and about the Calends of Aprill, which speedily wither together with the stems: after them grow forth the leaves, which remaine greene all Summer long: and hereupon it came that Coltsfoot was thought to be without floures; which thing also Pliny hath mentioned in his six and twentieth booke, cap. 6. The Names.

Fole-foot is called in English, Folefoot, Colts-foot, Horse-hoofe, and Bull-foot.

The Vertues.

A decoction made of the greene leaves and roots, or else a syrrup thereof, is good for the cough that proceedeth of a thin rheume. The green leaves of Fole-foot pound with hony, do cure and heale inflammations.

The fume of the dried leaves taken through a funnell or tunnell, burned upon coles, effectually helpeth those that are troubled with the shortnesse of breath, and fetch their winde thicke and often.

Being taken in manner as they take Tobaco, it mightily prevaileth against the diseases aforesaid.