Names. Called also origane, origanum, eastward marjoram, wild marjoram, and grove marjoram.
Description. Wild or field marjoram hath a root which creepeth much under ground, which continueth a long time, sending up sundry brownish, hard, square stalks, with small dark green leaves, very like those of sweet marjoram, but harder, and somewhat broader; at the tops of the stalks stand tufts of flowers, of a deep purplish red colour. The seed is small and something blacker than that of sweet marjoram.
Place. It groweth plentifully in the borders of corn fields, and in some copses.
Time. It flowereth towards the latter end of summer.
Government and virtues. This is also under the dominion of Mercury. It strengthens the stomach and head much, there being scarce a better remedy growing for such as are troubled with a sour humour in the stomach; it restores the appetite, being lost; helps the enough, and consumption of the lungs; it cleanseth the body of choler, expelleth poison, and remedieth the infirmities of the spleen; helps the bitings of venomous beasts, and helps such as have poisoned themselves by eating hemlock, henbane, or opium. It provoketh urine and the terms in women, helps the dropsy, and the scurvy, scabs, itch, and yellow jaundice. The juice being dropped into the ears, helps deafness, pain and noise in the ears. And thus much for this herb, between which and adders, there is a deadly antipathy.