CULPEPER'S COMPLETE HERBAL

YELLOW HORNED POPPY

Description. This is a species of celandine. The root is long and thick at the head, divided into branches which fix themselves pretty deep in the earth; from which spring blueish-green winged leaves divided generally into five parts, somewhat like columbines, but longer, the section at the end being the largest. The stalks grow to be a foot or more high, full of thick joints or knees, having two smaller leaves at each joint: the flowers grow several together upon a foot-stalk three or four inches long, each having a shorter of its own; they consist of four small yellow leaves, included in calyces of two hollow parts; and after they are fallen, which they soon do, they are followed by pretty long narrow pods, full of the small round, shining black seed. Every part of the plant, when broken, emits a yellow, bitter, acrid juice.

Place. It grows among waste grounds and rubbish upon walls and buildings.

Time. It flowers in May.

Virtues. Like its species, it is under the Sun in Leo; and is aperitive and cleansing, opening obstructions of the spleen and liver, and of great use in curing the jaundice and scurvy: some reckon it cordial, and a good antidote against the plague. Some quantity of it is put into aqua mirabilis. Outwardly it is used for sore eyes, to dry up the rheum, and take away specks and films, as also against tetters and ringworms, and scurfy breakings-out. The root dried and powdered, is a galsamic and sub-astringent. It is given against bloody-fluxes, and in other hæmorrhages, half a drachm for a dose.