Adam in Eden, or nature's paradise. The history of plants, fruits, herbs, and flowers. With their several names, whether Greek, Latin or English ... as also their several signatures, anatomical appropriations, and particular physical vertues ... / By William Coles, herbarist.

Coles, William, 1626-1662.

Date:: 1657

Credit: Adam in Eden, or nature's paradise. The history of plants, fruits, herbs, and flowers. With their several names, whether Greek, Latin or English ... as also their several signatures, anatomical appropriations, and particular physical vertues ... / By William Coles, herbarist. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$The Forme, % The ordinary white Willow groweth quickly to be a great and tcill Trfee, it it be not lopped, as it is ufuall in moft places- with a Imoodi white bark on the bo¬ dy, and bigger branches, the younger Iprigs being fomewhat green Vv ith the whiteneffe: the Leaves are long and narrow, pale, green on the upper hde, and of a fhining filver white colour underneath, without any dent on the edges: the Flowers come out before the Leaves appeare, and are fmall, long, and round yellow motTie heads, Imclling fweet for the moft part, divers {landing one above another, upon a long ftalk, which in rime turn to down, that is blown away by . the winde, and the Seed with it, if it hath py : The wood is loft and white, and with the brandies hereof are made flakes for hedges^ br to uphold Vines^ &c. The ,Flaces aad Time', » Mofl of thefe Willows are common,, and to be found in low grounds, near Water Courfes and ditches; the Rofe VVillow in fnndry places of Fj^ex and Cam. hridgejhire-^ others on Hamfieed-FIeath, Rumney (J\Far]hy and the like. The Oiier is alwayes in the low grounds, that are often overflowen, where it will only thrive.The Blolfoms come forth before any Leaves, appear, and are in their mbit flourifliing eftate, ufually before Eafier.y divers gathering them to deck up their koufes on Palm Sunday, and therefore the faid Floivers are called Falme, . Ttoe TemperatHre, The Leaves, Flowers, Seed, and ^ark of Willows, are cold and dry in the le- cond degree and aftringent. , The Vert He s and Signature, • ~ TheLeavesandBarkofWillow, but efpeciilly the Catkins, are ufed with good fuccefle, to flanch Ip^eeding of wounds, and at the mouth or nofe, and fpit- ting of blood, as alfo all other fiuxes of blood in man or woman ; and likewii'e to liay cafting, and the defile thereunto, if the decodfion of them in Wine be drunk: IfhelpethaLo to ftay'thin,hot, and flaarp fait diftillations, from the head upon the Lungs, caufing a Confumptioni The Leaves bruifed with fome Pepper, and drunk in Wine, do much help the Wind-Cholick. The Leaves only bruiled andboyled in jWine, and drunk, do much flay the heat of lull, and whol¬ ly exllinguifli ip both in man and woman,‘if it be much ufed: the Catkins alfo are of the like.effedh The water that is gathered from the Willow, whiled it flowreth,‘the: Bark;being fUt,^andaVe{fel apt to receive it, being, fitted to it, is very good for rednelfe, and dim eye-fight,^ and Films that begin to grow over them, and flay the. Rheums that fall into them,to provoke Urine, being {lopped, if it be drunk; and to clear the face and skin of any fpots or difcolourings jifvvalb-' gd thereWithvrThe Flovyers^fiuth have f llronger effedf, to dry up any Iglux or humour*, being a'^ledicine without any diarpnelTe, .“and the Bark much mofei as all Barks do ;• but if the Bark be burnt and ufed, it doth yet dry more ibrcibfy, and being mixed with Vinegar, it taketh away Warts and Corns,and o- ther the like callous flefh, that groweth on the hands or feet, or other parts.The decodlions of the Leaves and Bark in Wine., is good to bath the Sinews, as alfo the places pained with the Gout, and to cleanfe the Head or other parts of fcurf. The Juyce of the Leaves and green Bark mingled with fome Rofe-water, and heated in the.Rhind of a Pomegranet, isfingular good to help deafiaefs, to be dropped into the Ears, The Seed of the black Willow mixed with Litharge of t Silver,$