CULPEPER'S COMPLETE HERBAL

WELD, OR WOLD

Name. Called also Dyers' Weed, and Willow-leaved Yellow Herb.

Description. Weld grows to be a yard or more high, having hollow channelled stalks, covered with long, narrow, green leaves, set on without footstalks; of a dark blueish green colour, somewhat like unto woad, but nothing so large, a little crumpled, and as it were roundpointed, which do so abide the first year; and the next spring; from among them rise up divers round stalks, thereon, but smaller, and shooting forth small branches, which, with the stalks, carry many small yellow flowers, in a long-spiked head at the top of them, where afterwards come the seed, which is small and black, inclosed in heads that are divided at the topsinto four parts. The root is long, white, and thick, abiding the winter. The whole herb changes to be yellow, after it has been in flower for a while.

Place. It grows every where by the way sides, in moist grounds, as well as dry, in corners of fields and bye lanes, and sometimes all over the field. In Sussex and Kent they call it Green-weed.

Time. It flowers about June.

Government and virtues. Matthiolus says, That the root hereof cures tough phlegm, digests raw phlegm, thins gross humours, dissolves hard tumours, and opens obstructions. Some do highly commend it against the biting of venomous creatures, to be taken inwardly and applied outwardly to the hurt place; as also for the plague or pestilence. The people in some counties of this land, do use to bruise the herb, and lay it to cuts or wounds in the hands or legs, to heal them.