CULPEPER'S COMPLETE HERBAL

BLUE-BOTTLE

Names. It is called Syanus, I suppose from the colour of it; hurt-sickle, because it turns the edges of the sickles that reap the corn; blue-blow, corn-flower, and blue-bottle.

Description. I shall only describe that which is commonest, and in my opinion most useful; its leaves spread upon the ground, being of a whitish green colour, somewhat on the edges like those of corn-scabions, amongst which ariseth up a stalk divided into divers branches, beset with long leaves of a greenish colour, either but very little indented, or none at all; the flowers are of a blue colour, whence it took its name, consisting of an innumerable company of small flowers set in a scaly head, not much unlike those of knapweed: the seed is smooth, bright and shining, wrapped up in a woolly mantle; the root perisheth every year.

Place. They grow in corn-fields, amongst all sorts of corn (pease, beans, and tares excepted.) If you please to take them up from thence, and transplant them in your gardens, especially towards the full of the moon, they will grow more double than they are, and many times change colour.

Time. They flower from the beginning of May, to the end of harvest.

Government and virtues. As they are naturally cold, dry, and binding, so they are under the dominion of Saturn. The powder or dried leaves of the blue-bottle, or corn-flower, is given with good success to those that are bruised by a fall, or have broken a vein inwardly, and void much blood at the mouth; being taken in the water of plaintain, horse-tail, or the greater comfrey, it is a remedy against the poison of the scorpion, and resisteth all venoms and poisons. The seed or leaves taken in wine, is very good against the plague, and all infectious diseases, and is very good in pestilential fevers. The juice put into fresh or green wounds, doth quickly solder up the lips of them together, and is very effectual to heal all ulcers and sores in the mouth. The juice dropped into the eyes takes away the heat and inflammation of them. The distilled water of this herb, hath the same properties, and may be used for the effects aforesaid.