Of Gumme Succorie.
The kindes.
Dioscorides describeth two sorts or kindes of gum Succorie, notwithstanding by the diligence of the later writers there be sundrie sorts founde more, differing as well in colour of the flowers as also in the shape and proportion of the whole plant, which shall bee described in this Chapter folowing. | 1 Chondrilla cærulea. | 2 Chondrilla cærulea latifolia. | | :--- | :--- | | Blewe gum Succorie. | Robinus gum Succorie. |
The description.
Gumme Succorie with blewe flowers hath a thicke and tough roote with some strings annexed thereto, full of a milkie iuice as is all the rest of the plant, the flowers excepted. The leaues are great and long, in shape like to those of garden Succorie, but deeper cut or iagged; among which rise tender stalkes very easie to be broken, branched toward the top in two or fometime more braunches, bearing very pleasant flowers of an azure colour or deepe blewe, which being past the seede flieth away in downe with the winde. 2 Gum Succorie with broad leaues, which I haue named Robinus gum Succorie (for that he was the first that hath made any mention of a second kind, which he sent me as a great dainty, as indeede I confesse it) in rootes is like vnto the former; the leaues be greater not vnlike vnto those of Endiue, but cut more deeply euen to the middle rib; the stalkes growe to the height of two foote: the flowers are likewise of an azure colour, but sprinckled ouer as it were with siluer sande, which addeth vnto the flower great grace and beautie. 3 Yellowe gum Succorie hath long leaues like in forme and deuision of the cut leaues to those of wilde Succorie, but lesser, couered all ouer with a hoarie downe. The stalke is two foote high, white and downie also, diuided into sundrie braunches: whereupon do growe torne flowers like those of Succorie, but in colour yellowe, which are turned into downe that is carried away with the winde. The roote is long and of a meane thicknesse, from the which as from all the rest of the plant doth issue foorth a milkie iuice, which being dried is of a yellowish red, sharpe or biting the toong. There is founde vpon the braunches heereof a gum as Dioscorides saith, which is vsed at this daie in Phisicke in the Ile Lemnos, as Bellonius witnesseth. 4 Spanish gum Succorie hath many leaues spread vpon the ground, in shape like those of Groundsell, but not so thicke and fat: among which rise vp braunched stalkes set with leaues like those of Stoebe salamantica or siluer weede, whereof this is a kinde. The flowers growe at the top of an ouerworne purple colour, which seldome shewe themselues abroade blowen. 3 Chondrilla lutea. Yellowe gum Succorie. 4 Chondrilla Hispanica. Spanish gum Succorie. 5 Rushie gum Succorie hath a tough and harde roote, with a fewe short threeds fastened thereto: from the which rise vp a fewe iagged leaues like those of succorie. The stalke groweth vp to the height of two foote, tough and limmer like vnto rushes, whereon are set many grassie leaues. The flowers be yellowe, single and small, which being faded, do flie away with the winde. The whole plant plant hauing milkie iuice like vnto the other of his kinde. 6 Sea gum Succorie hath many knobby or tuberous rootes like those of Chamæbalanus, or Pesee-earth nut, with long strings fastened thereto: from which immediately rise vp a fewe small thinne leaues fashioned like the point of a speare: among which spring vp small tender stalkes, weake and reeling this way and that way lying flat vpon the ground. The flower groweth at the top, of an ouer-worne or euill yellow colour. The whole plant is whitish or hoarie, as are many of the sea plants. | 5 Chondrilla Iuncea. | 6 Chondrilla marina L'Obelii. | | :--- | :--- | | Rushie gum Succorie. | Sea gum Succorie. | 7 Swines Succorie hath long, small and tender rootes, from the which rise many indented leaues like those of Sowthistle, spread or laide flat vpon the ground; from the middest whereof rise vp small soft and tender stalkes, bearing at the top small double yellowe flowers like those of Dandelion or pisse-abed, but smaller. The seede with the downie tuft flieth away with the winde. 8 The male Swines Succorie hath a long and slender roote, with some fewe threds or strings, fastened thereon: from which spring vp small tender leaues spread vpon the ground, cut or snipt about the edges confusedly, of an ouerworne rustie grayish colour, full a milkie iuice: among which rise vp diuers small tender naked stalkes, bearing at the top of euerie stalke one flower and no more, of a faint yellow colour and something double; which being ripe doe turne into downe that is carried away with the winde. The seede likewise cleaueth vnto the saide downe, and is likewise carried away. The whole plant perisheth when it hath perfected his seede, and recouereth it selfe againe by the falling thereof. 7 Hypochæris Porcellia. Swines Succorie. 8 Hyoferis mascula. Male Swines Succorie.
The place.
These kinds of gum Succories do grow in vntilled places vpon ditch bankes and the borders of fieldes.
The time.
They do flower from Maie to the end of August.
The names.
Gum succorie hath beene called of the Græcians κονδρίλλη : of the Latines Condrilla and Chondrilla. Dioscorides and Plinie cal it Cichorion and Seris, by reason of some likenesse they haue with Succorie, especially the two first which haue blewe flowers as those of the Succories. L'Obelius maketh Cicorea verrucaria to bee Zazintha of Mathiolus. Diuers haue taken the plant with blewe flowers to be Sesamoides magnum; but without any reason, for that Sesamoides hath borrowed his name from the likenesse it hath with Sesamum: but this herbe is not like to Sesamum in anie one point, and therefore I thinke it better referred vnto the gum Succories, for the flowers haue the forme and colour of gum Succorie, and yeelde the like milkie iuice.
The temperature.
The kinds of gum Succorie are like in temperature to the common Succorie, but somwhat drier.
The vertues.
The iuice of gum Succorie taken with red and thicke wine and drunke, staieth the laske. The root and leaues tempered with & honie made vp into Trocis or little flat cakes with niter or saltpeter added thereto, doe clense away the morphewe, sun burnings, and all spots of the face. The gum which is gathered from the braunches whereof it tooke his name, laieth downe the staring haires of the eie browes and such like places. The gum powdered with myrrhe and put into a linnen cloth and a pessarie made thereof like a finger, and put vp, bringeth downe the termes in yoong wenches and such like. The seedes of Zazintha brought to powder and giuen in the decreasing of the Moone to the quantitie of a spoonefull, taketh away wartes and such like excrefcence in what part of the bodie soeuer they be; the which medicine a certaine Chirurgion of Padua did much vse, whereby he gained great sums of money, as reporteth that auncient Physition Ioachimus Camerarius now liuing in Nuremberg a famous citie in Germanie.
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.