Home › Contents › Of Mede-Sweet, or Queene of the Medowes

Of Mede-Sweet, or Queene of the Medowes

The Description.

I THis herbe hath leaves like Agrimony, consisting of divers leaves set upon a middle rib like those of the ash tree, every small leaf sleightly snipt about the edges, white on the inner side, and on the upper side crumpled or wrinkled like unto those of the Elme tree; whereof it tooke the name Ulmaria, of the similitude or likenesse that the leaves have with the Elme leaves. The stalke is three or foure foot high, rough, and very fragile or easie to bee broken, of a reddish purple colour: on the top whereof are very many little floures clustering and growing together, of a white colour tending to yellownesse, and of a pleasant sweet smell, as are the leaves likewise: after which come the seeds, small, crookedly turning or winding one with another, made into a fine little head: the root hath a sweet smell, spreading far abroad, black without, & of a darkish red color within.

The Place.

It groweth in the brinkes of waterie ditches and rivers sides, and also in medowes: it liketh watery and moist places, and groweth almost every where. The Time.

It floureth and flouresheth in June, July, and August. The Names.

It is called of the later age Regina prati: in English, Meads-sweet, Medow-sweet, and Queen of the medowes.

The Vertues.

It is reported, that the floures boiled in wine and drunke, do make the heart merrie.

The leaves and floures farre excell all other strowing herbes, for to decke up houses, to straw in chambers, halls, and banqueting houses in the Summer time; for the smell thereof makes the heart merrie, delighteth the senses: neither doth it cause head-ache, or lothsomenesse to meat, as some other sweet smelling herbes do.

The distilled water of the floures dropped into the eies, taketh away the burning and itching thereof, and cleareth the sight.