CULPEPER'S COMPLETE HERBAL

LADY'S BEDSTRAW

Names. Besides the common name above written, it is called cheese rennet, because it performs the same office; as also gallion, pettimugget, and maid's hair; and by some wild rosemary.

Description. This rises up with divers small, brown, and square upright stalks a yard high, or more, sometimes branched forth into divers parts, full of joints, and with divers very fine small leaves at every one of them, little or nothing rough at all; at the tops of the branches grow many long tufts or branches of yellow flowers, very thick set together, from the several joints, which consist of four leaves each, which smell somewhat strong, but not unpleasant: the seed is small and black like poppy seed, two for the most part joined together; the root is reddish with many small threads fastened unto it, which take strong hold of the ground, and creepeth a little; and the branches, leaning a little down to the ground, take root at the joints thereof, whereby it is easily increased.

There is also another sort of lady's bedstraw growing frequently in England, which beareth white flowers as the other doth yellow; but the branches of this are so weak, that unless it be sustained by the hedges, or other things near which it groweth it will lie down on the ground; the leaves are little bigger than the former, and the flowers not so plentiful as those; and the root hereof is also thready and abiding.

Place. They grow in meadow and pastures, both wet and dry, and by the sides of hedges.

Time. They flower in May for the most part, and the seed is ripe in July and August.

Government and virtues. They are both herbs of Venus, and therefore strengthen the parts, both internal and external, which she rules. The decoction of the former of these, being drank, is good to fret and break the stone, provoke urine, stay inward bleedings, and to heal inward wounds; the herb or flower bruised, and put up into the nostrils, stayeth their bleeding likewise; the flowers and the herb being made into an oil, by being set in the sun, and changed after it hath stood ten or twelve days; or into an ointment being boiled in axungia , or salled oil with some wax melted therein after it is strained; either the oil made thereof, or the ointment, do help burning with fire or scalding with water; the same also, or the decoction of the herb and flower, is good to bathe the feet of travellers and lacquais, whose long running causesth weariness and stiffness in their sinews and joints; if the decoction be used warm, and the joints afterwards anointed with the ointment, it helpeth the dry scab, and the itch in children: and the herb with the white flower is also very good for the sinews, arteries, and joints, to comfort and strengthen them after travel, cold, and pains.