CULPEPER'S COMPLETE HERBAL

BIRD'S FOOT

Description. This small herb groweth not above a span high, with many branches spread upon the ground, set with many wings of small leaves. The flowers grow upon the branches, many small ones of a pale yellow colour being set a-head together, which afterwards turneth into small jointed pods, well resembling the claw of small birds, whence it took its name.

There is another sort of bird's foot in all things like the former, but a larger; the flower of a pale whitish red colour, and the pods distinct by joints like the other, but little more crooked; and the roots do carry many small white knots or kernels amongst the stings.

Place. These grow on heaths, and many open untilled places of this land.

Time. They flower and seed in the end of summer.

Government and virtues. They belong to Saturn, and are of a drying, binding quality, and therefore very good to be used in wound drinks; as also to apply outwardly for the same purpose. But the latter bird's-foot is found by experience to break the stone in the back or kidneys, and drives them forth, if the decoction thereof be taken; and it wonderfully helpeth the ruptures, being taken inwardly, and outwardly applied to the place.

All salts have best operations upon the stone, as ointments and plaisters have upon wounds; and therefore you may make a salt of this for the stone: the way how to do so may be found in my translation of the London Dispensatory; and it may be I may give it you again in plainer terms at the latter end of this book.