Chap. CXXIX.
Abrotanum fæmina siue Santolina.
Lauender Cotton.
This Lauender Cotton hath many wooddy, but brittle branches, hoary or of a whitish colour, whereon are set many leaues, which are little, long, and foure square, dented or notched on all edges, and whitish also: at the tops of these branches stand naked stalkes, bearing on euery one of them a larger yellow head or flower, then eyther Tansie or Maudeline, whereunto they are somewhat like, wherein is contained small darke coloured seede: the roote is hard, and spreadeth abroad with many fibres: the whole plant is of a strong sweete sent, but not vnpleasant, and is in many places planted in Gardens, to border knots with, for which it will abide to be cut into what forme you thinke best; for it groweth thicke and bushy, very fit for such workes, besides the comely shew the plant it selfe thus wrought doth yeeld, being alwayes greene, and of a sweet sent; but because it quickly groweth great, and will soone runne out of forme, it must be euery second or third yeare taken vp, and new planted.
The Place.
It is onely planted in Gardens with vs, for the vses aforesaid especially.
The Time.
It flowreth in Iuly, and standeth long in the hot time of the yeare in his colour, and so will doe, if it be gathered before it haue stood ouer long.
The Names.
Diuers doe call it as Matthiolus doth, Abrotanum fæmina, and Santolina; and some call it Chamæcyparissus, because the leaues thereof, are somewhat like the leaues of the Cypresse tree: Wee call it in English generally Lauender Cotton.
The Vertues.
This is vsually put among other hot herbes, eyther into bathes, ointments, or other things, that are vsed for cold causes. The seede also is much vsed for the wormes.