Chap. CXVIII.
Arbor vitæ.
The tree of life.
The tree of life riseth vp in some places where it hath stood long, to be a tree of a reasonable great bignesse and height, couered with a redder barke then any other tree in our Country that I know, the wood whereof is firme and hard, and spreadeth abroad many armes and branches, which againe send forth many smaller twigges, bending downewards; from which twiggy or slender branches, being flat themselues like the leaues, come forth on both sides many flat winged leaues, somewhat like vnto Sauine, being short and small, but not pricking, seeming as if they were brayded or folded like vnto a lace or point, of a darke yellowish greene colour, abiding greene on the branches Winter and Summer, of a strong resinous taste, not pleasing to most, but in some ready to procure casting, yet very cordiall and pectorall also to them that can endure it: at the toppes of the branches stand small yellowish dounie flowers, set in small scaly heads, wherein lye small, long, brownish seede, which ripen well in many places, and being sowne, doe spring and bring forth plants, which with some small care will abide the extreamest Winters we haue.
The Place.
The first or originall place where it naturally groweth, as farre as I can learne or vnderstand, is that part of America which the French doe inhabite, about the riuer of Canada, which is at the backe of Virginia Northward, and as it seemeth, first brought by them from thence into Europe, in the time of Francis the first French King, where it hath so plentifully encreased, and so largely beene distributed, that now few Gardens of respect, either in France, Germany, the Lowe Countries, or England, are without it.
The Time.
It flowreth in the end of May, and in Iune; the fruit is ripe in the end of August and September.
The Names.
All the Writers that haue written of it, since it was first knowne, haue made it to be Thuyæ genus, a kinde of Thuya, which Theophrastus compareth vnto a Cypresse tree, in his fifth Book and fifth Chapter: but Omne simile non est idem, and although it haue some likenesse, yet I verily beleeue it is proprium sui genus, a proper kinde of it owne, not to bee paralleld with any other. For wee finde but very few trees, herbes, or plants in America, like vnto those that growe in Europe, the hither part of Africa, or in the lesser Asia, as experience testifieth. Some would make it to be Cedrus Lycia, but so it cannot be. The French that first brought it, called it Arbor vitæ, with what reason or vpon what ground I know not; but euer since it hath continued vnder the title of the Tree of life.
The Vertues.
It hath beene found by often experience, that the leaues hereof chewed in the morning fasting, for some few dayes together, haue done much good to diuers, that haue beene troubled with shortnesse of breath, and to helpe to expectorate thinne purulentous matter stuffing the lungs. Other properties I haue not heard that it hath; but doubtlesse, the hot resinous smell and taste it hath, both while it is fresh, and after it hath beene long kept dry, doth euidently declare his tenuity of parts, a digesting and cleansing quality it is possessed with, which if any industrious would make tryall, hee should finde the effects.