The Description.
Goats-beard, or Go to bed at noone hath hollow stalks, smooth, and of a whitish green colour, whereupon do grow long leaves crested downe the middle with a swelling rib, sharp pointed, yeelding a milkie juice when it is broken, in shape like those of Garlick: from the bosome of which leaves thrust forth smal tender stalks, set with the like leaves, but lesser: the floures grow at the top of the stalks, consisting of a number of purple leaves, dasht over as it were with a little yellow dust, set about with nine or ten sharp pointed green leaves: the whole floure resembles a Star when it is spred abroad; for it shutteth it selfe at twelve of the clock, and sheweth not his face open untill the next daies Sunne doth make it floure anew, whereupon it was called Go to bed at noone: when these floures be come to their full maturitie and ripenesse, they grow into a downy Blow-ball like those of Dandelion, which is carried away with the winde.
2 The yellow Goats beard hath the like leaves, stalks, root, seed, and downie blow-balls that the other hath, and also yeeldeth the like quantitie of milke, insomuch that if the pilling while it is greene be pulled from the stalks, the milky juice followeth: but when it hath there remained a little while it waxeth yellow. The floures hereof are of a gold yellow colour, and have not such long green leaves to garnish it withall, wherein consisteth the difference.
The Place.
The first growes not wild in England that I could ever see or heare of, except in Lancashire on the banks of the river Chalder, neere to my Lady Heskiths house, two miles from Whawley: it is sown in gardens for the beauty of the floures almost every where. The other growes plentifully in most of the fields about London, and in divers other places.
The Time.
They floure and flourish from the beginning of June to the end of August.
The Names.
Goats-beard is called in English, Josephs floure, Star of Jerusalem, Noon tide, and Go to bed at noone.
The Vertues.
The roots of Goats-beard boiled in wine and drunk, asswageth the pain and pricking stitches of the sides.
The same boiled in water untill they be tender, and buttered as parsneps and carrots, are a most pleasant and wholesome meate, in delicate taste far surpassing either Parsenep or Carrot: which meat procures appetite, and strengthneth those that have been sicke of a long lingring disease.