Chap. XXXIIII.
Eruca satiua.
Garden Rocket.
Ovr Garden Rocket is but a wilde kinde brought into Gardens; for the true Romane Rocket hath larger leaues; this hath many long leaues, much torne or rent on the edges, smaller and narrower then the Romane kinde: the flowers hereof are of a pale yellowish colour, whereas the true is whitish, consisting of foure leaues: the seede of this is reddish, contained in smaller and longer pods then the true, which are shorter and thicker, and the seede of a whitish yellow colour: the rootes of both perish as soone as they haue giuen seede. Some haue taken one sort of the wilde kinde for Mustard, and haue vsed the seede for the same purpose.
The Vse of Rocket.
It is for the most part eaten with Lettice, Purslane, or such cold herbes, and not alone, because of its heate and strength; but that with the white seede is milder. The seede of Rocket is good to prouoke vrine, and to stirre vp bodily lust.
The seede bruised, and mixed with a little vinegar, and of the gall of an Oxe, cleanseth the face of freckles, spots, and blew markes, that come by beatings, fals, or otherwaies.
Matthiolus saith, that the leaues boyled, and giuen with some Sugar to little children, cureth them of the cough.
The seede is held to be helpfull to spleneticke persons; as also to kill the wormes of the belly.