157-160 Citrul, Wild Iris, Rosemary, Flax.

157 Water Melon. 157c Water Melon. Text page 040. 157. The Citrul or Water-melon. Citrullus or Anguria.

1. The Stalks creep on the Ground like the Stalks of a Cucumber; the Flowers are yellow and the Fruit Green; and commonly grows as big as a Pomkin.
2. It is much cultivated in the Warm Countries, as Italy, Spain, Turkey, the East & West Indies; and flowers according to the Months it is sown in.
3. Water Melons are much esteem'd for their cooling and refreshing Quality, being very serviceable in great Heats. The Seed is one of the greater Cold Seeds, and is much of the Nature of Melon and Cucumber, agreeing with them in their cooling diuretic Faculties.
4. Greek, . Latin, Anguria. Spanish, Cogombro. Italian, Anguria. French, Cocombres. German, Erdopffel. Dutch, Cocomero.

158 Wild Iris. 158c Wild Iris. 158. Wild Iris or Stinking Gladwyn. Iris silvestris, spatula foetida.

Also see #069, Garden Flower de-luce.

1. It grows to be a Foot high; the Leaves are a grass Green, and the Flowers a dull Colour with purple Veins, and the Seed Red.
2. It grows in Hedges and Thickets, particularly by Jack Straws Castle beyond Islington, and flowers in Iune.
3. Some account the Root a Specific for the King's-Evil; and scrophulous Swellings, both given inwardly and applied outwardly. It is said also to provoke Urine, and to be usefull in Hysteric Disorders.
4. Greek, Ξυγις. Latin, Xyris. Spanish, Irio Spadanal. Italian, Spatola fetida. French, Glaciul. German, Baudtleusscraut. Dutch, .

159 Rosemary. 159c Rosemary. 159. Rosemary. Rosmarinus.

1. This Shrub grows larger in England than in most Countries; the Leaves are hoary underneath and a dark green above, and the Flowers a pale Purple.
2. It grows wild in Spain & ye Southern Parts of France; but it is planted here in Gardens flowring in April.
3. It is accounted good for affections of the Head & Nerves. It strengthens ye Sight and Memory, and opens Obstructions of the Liver & Spleen. - The Dried Herb burnt is good to sweeten the Air. Officinal Preparations are, Conserva Anthos, Aqua Reginae Hungariae, the Chymical Oil and fix'd Salt.
4. Greek, Λιβανωτις σεφανωματικη. Latin, Libanotis or Rosmarinum coronarium. Spanish, Romero. Italian, Rosmarino coronario. French, Rosmarin. German, Rossmarin. Dutch, Rosemaryn.

160 Flax. 160c Flax. 160. Flax. Linum.

1. the Stalks grow to be a Yard high, the Leaves are a grass Green, and the Flowers blue.
2. It is sown in Fields and flowers in Iune.
3. Linseed is esteem'd emollient, digesting and ripening, of great use in Inflammations, Tumours and Imposthumes. Cold drawn Linseed Oil is of great Service in all Distempers of the Breast and Lungs. - It also helps the Collic and Stone, both taken at the Mouth, and given in Glysters.
4. Greek, Λινον. Latin, Linum sativum. Spanish, Lino. Italian, Lino. French, Lin. German, Lein or Flacks. Dutch, Dlas.


A Curious Herbal, Containing Five Hundred Cuts of the Most Useful Plants, Which Are Now Used in the Practice of Physick was written, drawn, engraved and coloured by Elizabeth Blackwell in 1737 (Vol. 1) and 1739 (Vol. 2).