Names and kinds. Of this there are three kinds: 1. The ordinary nipple-wort, called Lapsana vulgaris. 2. The nipple-wort of Austria, called Lapsana papillaris. 3. Wild, or wood bastard nipple-wort, Soncho affinis, Lapsana sylvatica. And in Prussia, as saith Camerarius, they call it Papillaris.
Description. 1. The ordinary nipple-wort groweth with many hard upright stalks, whereon grow dark green leaves from the bottom to the top, but the higher the smaller; in some places without dents in the edges, and in others with a few uneven jags therein, somewhat like a kind of hawkweed: the tops of the stalks have some small long branches, which bear many small star-like yellowish flowers on them, which turn into small seed; the root is small and fibrous: the plant yieldeth a bitter mild like that of the sow-thistle.
2. The Austrian nipple-wort hath slender, smooth, and solid stalks, not easily broken, about two feet high; whereon stand, without order, somewhat long and narrow leaves, broadest in the middle, and sharp at the ends, waved a little about the edges, and compassing them at the bottom, yielding a little mild; from the upper joints, with the leaves, grow forth small firm branches, yet a little bending, bearing each of them four or five long green husks, and in them small purplish flowers of five leaves each, notched in at the broad ends, with some small threads in the middle, which turn into down, and are blown away by the wind: the root is small and shreddy, and lasteth many years.
5. The wild or wood bastard nipple-wort is like unto the first sort, but with somewhat broader leaves, and greater store of branches; but in the flowers and other parts not much different.
Place and Time. The first groweth common, almost every where, upon the banks of ditches and borders of fields: the second, Clusius saith, he found in Hungary and Saxony, and other places: the last is found near the sides of woods, and hedge-rows. They flower in summer, and the seed is ripe soon after.
Government and virtues. These are plants of Venus, and kindly endued with a peculiar faculty for the healing the sore nipples of womens' breasts; for which reason Camerarius saith, that in Prussia they call it papillaris, because of its excellent virtues in healing womens' sore breasts, as well as their nipples, when they are ulcerated, it having a singular healing quality therein; and is temperate in heat and dryness, with some tenuity of parts able to digest the virulency of sharp humours which break out in those parts.