Poley Mountain, call'd Polium Montanum, is a Plant of the Height of half a Foot, having small thick indented Leaves, garnish'd above and below with a fine yellow Down, inclining to a gold Colour, and the Flowers around, which blow in little Stars, of a gold Colour, very fine to look upon. This little Plant grows plentifully upon the Mountains and high Hills about Provence and Languedoc; it is brought to us in little Bunches with that which grows in the Plains, or along the Lanes, chiefly in sandy and other dry Places, being, notwithstanding, very different from the other, in that the Leaves of this are much less, and more woolly, bitterer, and altogether white: They are used in several Compositions of Treacle, and are counted alexipharmick and cordial.
Polium Montanum, or Poley Mountain, is a Plant whereof there are two Sorts, one yellow, and the other white. The first is call'd Polium Montanum luteum, by Tournefort; or Polium Montanum vulgare, by Parkinson. It is of a small Height, very hairy and woolly, bearing a great many slender, round, hard, woody Stalks; the Leaves are small, oblong, thick, and indented; the Flowers, says Mr. Tournefort, are divided into five Leaves, as the Germander Flower; when that is dropp'd, small round Seeds follow, that are enclos'd in a Covering, which serves as a Cup to the Flower: This Plant grows on mountainous and rocky Places in Languedoc, Provence, and Dauphine.
The second Sort is call'd Polium Montanum album, by Tournefort, &c. and the Poley Mountain of Montpellier, by others. It differs from the former, in that the Stalks lie upon the Ground; the Leaves are less, and not so full of Cotton; the Flowers are whiter, and less scented. This Plant grows not only on the Mountains and hilly Places, but likewise in the sandy dry Plains, by the Road Sides, in Languedoc and Provence. The yellow is the best and most valued in Physick. This Plant yields a great deal of exalted Oil and volatile Salt. The Tops are chiefly that which they call in Latin, Coma Polii, seu Polium Comatum, or Poley-Hair.
They are aperitive, cephalick, sudorifick, vulnerary, provoke Urine and the Terms, resist Putrefaction, fortify the Brain, and expel malignant Vapours from the Head and Heart.