Home › Contents › Of Crow-Feet

Of Crow-Feet

The Kindes.

THere be divers sorts or kinds of these pernitious herbes comprehended under the name of Ranunculus, or Crow foot, whereof most are very dangerous to be taken into the body, and therefore they require a very exquisite moderation, with a most exact and due maner of tempering, not any of them are to be taken alone by themselves, because they are of most violent force, and therefore have the greater need of correction.

The knowledge of this herbe is as necessarie to the Physitian as of other herbes, to the end they may shun the same, as Scribonius Largus saith, and not take them ignorantly: or also, if necessitie at any time require, that they use them, and that with some deliberation and speciall choice, and with their proper correctives. For these dangerous simples are likewise many times of themselves beneficial, & oftentimes profitable: for some of them are not so daungerous, but that they may in some sort, and oftentimes in fit and due season profit and doe good.

The Description. 1 THe common Crow-foot hath leaves divided into many parts, commonly three, sometimes five, cut here and there in the edges, of a deep green colour, in which stand divers white spots: the stalks be round, somthing hairie, some of them bow downe toward the ground, and put forth many little roots, whereby it taketh hold of the ground as it traileth along: some of them stand upright, a foot high or higher; on the tops whereof grow small flours with five leaves apiece, of a yellow glittering colour like gold: in the middle part of these floures stand certaine small threads of like colour: which being past, the seeds follow, made up in a rough ball: the roots are white and threddy. 2 The second kind of Crow-foot is like unto the precedent, saving that his leaves are fatter, thicker, and greener, and his small twiggy stalks stand upright, otherwise it is like: of which kinde it chanced, that walking in the field next to the Theatre by London, in the company of a worshipfull Merchant named Mr. Nicholas Lete, I found one of this kind there with double floures, which before that time I had not seene.

The Place.

They grow of themselves in pastures and medowes almost everie where. The Time.

They floure in May and many moneths after.

The Names.

Crow-foot is called of Lobel, Ranunculus pratensis: in English, King Kob, Gold cups, Gold knobs, Crow-foot, and Butter-floures.