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Of Rough Binde-Weed: Zarza

Zarza Parilla, or the prickly Binde-weed of America, groweth in Peru a province of America, in Virginia, and in divers other places both in the East and West Indies.

The others grow in rough and untilled places, about the edges and borders of fields, on mountaines and vallies, in Italy, Languedoc in France, Spaine, and Germany.

The Time.

They floure and flourish in the Spring: their fruit is ripe in Autumne, or a little before.

The Names.

Divers affirme that the root (brought out of Peru a Province in America) which the later Herbarists do call Zarza, is the root of this Bindeweed. Garcias Lopius Lusitanus granteth it to be like thereunto, but yet he doth not affirme that it is the same. Plants are oftentimes found to be like one another, which notwithstanding are proved not to be the same by some little difference; the divers constitutions of the weather and of the soile maketh the difference. Zarza parilla of Peru is a strange plant, and is brought unto us from the Countries of the new world called America; and such things as are brought from thence, although they also seeme and are like to those that grow in Europe, notwithstanding they do often differ in vertue and operation: for the diversitie of the soile and of the weather doth not only breed an alteration in the forme but doth most of all prevaile in making the vertues and qualities greater or lesser. Such things as grow in hot places be of more force, and greater smell; and in cold, of lesser. Some things that are deadly and pernitious, being removed wax milde, and are made wholesome: so in like manner, although Zarza parilla of Peru be like to rough Bind-weed, or to Spanish Zarza parilla, notwithstanding by reason of the temperature of the weather, and also through the nature of the soile, it is of a great deale more force than that which groweth either in Spaine or in Africke. The roots of Zarza parilla of Peru, which are brought alone without the plant, be long and slender, like to the lesser roots of common liquorice, very many oftentimes hanging from one head, in which roots the middle string is hardest. They have little taste, and so small a smell that it is not to be perceived. These are reported to grow in Honduras a province of Peru. They had their name of the likenesse of rough Binde-weed, which among the inhabitants it keepeth; signifying in Spanish, a rough or prickly vine, as Garcias Lopius witnesseth. The Vertues.

The roots are a remedie against long continuall paine of the joynts and head, and against cold diseases. They are good for all manner of infirmities wherein there is hope of cure by sweating, so that there be no ague joyned. The cure is perfected in few daies, if the disease be not old or great; but if it be, it requireth a longer time of cure. The roots here meant are as I take it those of Zarza parilla.