Chap. CXVII.
Yuca siue Iucca.
The supposed Indian Iucca.
This rare Indian plant hath a great thicke tuberous roote (spreading in time into many tuberous heads) from the head whereof shooteth forth many long, hard, and guttured leaues, very sharpe pointed, compassing as it were one another at the bottome, of a grayish greene colour, which doe not fall away, but abide euer greene on the plant; from the middle whereof springeth forth (now and then, but not euery yeare) a strong round stalke, diuided into diuers branches, whereon stand diuers white, and somewhat large flowers, hanging downe their heads, consisting of six leaues, with diuers veines, of a weake reddish or blush colour, spread on the backe of the three outer leaues, especially from the middle of the leaues to the bottome, and not rising to the edge of the leafe of any flower, which fall away without bearing any seede in our Country, as farre as euer could be obserued either in the plant that Master Gerard kept a long time by him, or by Robinus at Paris his plant, which Master Gerard sent vnto him, or yet by that plant, that Vespasian Robin the sonne of old Robin sent vnto Master Iohn de Franqueuille, and now abideth and flourisheth in my Garden.
The Place.
It was first brought into England (as Master Gerard saith) from the West Indies, by a seruant of Master Thomas Edwards, an Apothecary of Exeter, and imparted to him, who kept it vnto his death: but perished with him that got it from his widow, intending to send it to his Country house.
The Time.
It flowreth not vntill Iuly, and the flowers fall away sodainely, after they haue beene blowne open a while.
The Names.
Master Gerard first as I thinke called it Iucca, supposing it to bee the true Yuca of Theuet, wherewith the Indians make bread, called Cassaua: but the true Iucca is described to haue a leafe diuided into seuen or nine parts, which this hath not: Yet not knowing by what better name to call it, let it hold still his first imposition, vntill a fitter may be giuen it.
The Vertues.
Wee haue not heard of any, that hath either read, heard, or experimented the faculties hereof, nor yet whether it hath good or euill taste; for being rare, and possessed but by a few, they that haue it are loth to cut any thereof, for feare of spoiling and losing the whole roote.
Some haue affirmed, that in some parts of Turkie, where as they say this plant groweth, they make a kinde of cloth from the threads are found running through the leaues; but I finde the threads are so strong and hard, that this cannot be that plant the relators meane is vsed in that manner.
| 1 | Yuca siue Iucca. The Indian Iucca. |
| 2 | Arbor vitæ. The tree of life. |
| 3 | Arbor Iudæ. Iudas tree. |
| 4 | Laburnum. Beane Trefoile. |
| 5 | Cytisus. Tree Trefoile. |