Of Starre woort.
The kindes.
There be diuers forts of the Afters or Starwoorts, as fhall be declared. * The defcription. The firft kinde of Aster or Inguinalis, hath large, broade leaues like Verbascum, or the great Conyza: among which rifeth vp a ftalke fower or fiue foote long, harde, rough, and hairie, befet with leaues like rofe Campions, of a darke browne green colour. At the top of the faid ftalks come foorth flowers, of a fhining & gliftering golden colour, & fomtimes purple: among thefe flowers growe fiue or fixe long leaues, fharpe pointed and rough, not much vnlike the fifh called Stella marina. The flowers turne into downe, and are caried away with the winde. The roote is fibrous, of a binding and fharpe tafte. The feconde called Italian Starrewoort, hath leaues like Conyza, among which rife vp manie fhrubbie ftalks, verie hard and blackifh, a foote high, bearing at the top yellowe flowers, mixed with fome purple, fet about with chaffie fcales like Iacea or Knapweede. The roote is fibrous, of an astringent and drying tafte. The third kinde hath leaues fo like Italian Starrewoort, that a man can fcarfely at the fudden diftinguifh the one from the other. The fingle ftalke is a cubite long, vpright, and tender: on the top whereof growe faire yellowe flowers, like thofe of Enula Campana, in fhape like a ftarre: and the roote fmall and threddie. The fourth kinde in talneffe and flower is not much vnlike that laft before specified, but in ftalke and leaues more hairie, and longer, fomewhat like our fmall Hounds toong: and the roote fibrous or threddie as the former. 1 Aster atticus. Starrewoort. 2 Aster Italorum. Italian Starrewoort. 3 Aster montanus. Mountaine Starrewoort. 4 Aster hirsutus. Hairie Starrewoort. 5 There is another sort that hath a browne stalke, with leaues like the small Coniza. The flowers are of a darke yellow, which turne into downe that flieth away with the winde like Coniza. The roote is full of threds or strings. 6 There is also another that hath leaues like the great Campion, somewhat hairie; among which come vp crooked crambling stalkes, leaning lamely many waies: whereupon do grow faire yellow flowers, starre fashion, which turne into downe that is caried away with the winde. The roote is long and straight as a finger, with some few strings annexed vnto the vppermost part. 7 There groweth another kinde of Starwoort, which hath many leaues like Scabious, but thinner, and of a more greene colour, couered with a woollie hairines, sharpe and bitter in taste; among which springeth vp a yoong stalke more than a cubite high, often growing to a reddish colour: set with the like leaues, but smaller and sharper pointed, diuiding it selfe toward the top into some few branches; whereon do grow yellow flowers like Doronicum or Sonchus. The roote is thicke and crooked. 8 We haue seene growing vpon wilde mountaines, another sort, which hath leaues much lesser than the former, somewhat like to the leaues of Willow, of a faire greene colour, which do adorne and decke vp the stalke euen to the top; whereupon do growe yellow flowers star fashion, like vnto the former. The roote is small and tender, creeping far abroad, whereby it mightily increaseth. 9 Clusius hath set foorth a kinde that hath an vpright stalke, somewhat hairie, two cubites high, beset with leaues somewhat woollie like Willowes, hauing at the top of the stalke faire yellow flowers like Enula Campana, which turne into downe that is caried away with the winde. The roote is thicke, with some foote haires or threds fastened thereto. 10 He hath likewise described another sort, that hath leaues, stalkes, flowers, and rootes like the ninth, but neuer groweth to the height of one cubite. And the mother stalke and flower doth neuer growe so high as hir children, much lesse Herba impia so called, for that the children do ouergrowe their parents. 11 There is likewise set foorth in his Pannonicke Obseruation, a kinde of Aster that hath many small hairie leaues like the common great Daisie; among which riseth vp an hairie stalke of a foote high, hauing at the top faire blew flowers inclining to purple, which turne (in the time of feeding) into a woollie downe, that fleeth away with the winde. The whole plant hath a drying, binding, and bitter taste. The roote is threddie like the common Daisie.
The place.
The kindes of Starwoort growe vpon mountaines and hillie places, and sometimes in woods and medowes lying by riuers sides. The two first kindes do growe Hampsteed heath fower miles from London, in Kent vpon Southfleete downes, and in many other such downie places.
The time.
They flower from Iuly to the end of August.
The names.
This herbe is called in Greeke ἀστὴρ ἀττικὸς , and also βουβώνιον : in Latin Aster Atticus, Bubonium, & Inguinalis: of some Asterion, Asteriscon, and Hyophthalmon: in high Dutch Wegerkraut: in Spanish Bobas: in French Estrille, and Asper goutte menne: in English Starwoort and Sharewoort.
The temperature.
It is of a meane temperature in cooling and drying. Galen saith it doth moderately waste and consume, especially while it is yet soft and new gathered. That with the blew flower or purple, is thought to be that, which is of Virgill called flos Amellus: of which he maketh mention in the fourth booke of his Georgickes. > Est etiam flos in pratis, cui nomen Amello > Fecere agricolæ: facilis quærentibus herba; > Namque vno ingentem tollit de cespite syluam: > Aureus ipse, sed in folijs, quæ plurima circum > Funduntur, violæ sublucet purpura nigræ.
The vertues.
The decoction of Woade drunken, is good for such as haue any stopping or hardnes in the milt or spleene, and is also good for wounds and vlcers in bodies of a strong constitution, as of countrie people, and such as are accustomed to great labour, and hard course fare. It serueth well to die and colour cloth, profitable to some few, and hurtfull to many.
Text in Gerard's own spelling (the long s is printed as s), transcribed by the Source Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). A chapter may run onto pages not yet transcribed. Gerard wrote within Galenic medicine; nothing here is advice.