Of Thistles
The Kindes.
THe matter of the Thistles is divers, some Thistles serve for nourishment, as the Artichoke without prickles, and the Artichoke with prickles; other for medicine, as the root of Carline which is good for many things; the blessed Thistle also, otherwise called Carduus benedictus; Sea Hulver, and divers others: some are poisonsome, as Chamaeleon niger; one smooth, plaine, and without prickles, as the Thistle called Beares Breech, or Acanthus sativus, whereof there is another with prickles, which we make the wilde. The Description. 1 THe common Thistle, whereof the greatest quantity of down is gathered for divers purposes, as well by the poore to stop pillowes, cushions, and beds for want of feathers, as also bought of the rich upholsters to mix with the feathers and down they do sell, which deceit would be looked unto: this Thistle hath great leaves, long and broad, gashed about the edges, and set with sharpe and stiffe prickles all alongst the edges, covered all over with a soft cotton or downe: out from the middest whereof riseth up a long stalke about two cubits high, cornered, and set with filmes, and also full of prickles: the heads are likewise cornered with prickles, and bring forth floures consisting of many whitish threds: the seed which succeedeth them is wrapped up in downe; it is long, of a light crimson colour, and lesser than the seed of bastard Saffron: the root groweth deep in the ground, being white, hard, wooddy, and not without strings.
The Place.
These Thistles grow by high waies sides, and in ditches almost every where. The Time.
They floure from June untill August, the second yeare after they be sowne: and in the mean time the seed waxeth ripe, which being thorow ripe the herbe perisheth, as doe likewise most of the other Thistles, which live no longer than till the seed be fully come to maturity.
The Names.
This Thistle is called in English, Cotton-Thistle, white Cotton-Thistle, wilde white Thistle, Argentine or the Silver Thistle.
The Vertues.
Dioscorides saith, That the leaves and roots hereof are a remedy for those that have their bodies drawne backwards.