The Description.
1 There hath beene among writers from time to time great contention about this plant Limonium, no one Author agreeing with another: for some have called this herbe Limonium; some another herbe by this name; and some in remooving the rocke, have mired themselves in the mud, as Matthiolus, who described two kindes, but made no distinction of them, nor yet expressed which was the true Limonium; but as a man herein ignorant, he speakes not a word of them. Now then to leave controversies and cavilling, the true Limonium is that which hath faire leaves, like the Limon or Orenge tree, but of a darke greene colour, somewhat fatter, and a little crumpled: amongst which leaves riseth up an hard and brittle naked stalke of a foot high, divided at the top into sundry other small branches, which grow for the most part upon one side, full of little blewish floures, in shew like Lavander, with long red seed, and a thicke root like unto the small Docke.
2 There is a kinde of Limonium like the first in each respect, but lesser, which groweth upon rockes and chalkie cliffes.
The Place.
1 The first groweth in great plenty upon the walls of the fort against Gravesend: but abundantly on the bankes of the River below the same towne, as also below the Kings Store-house at Chattam: and fast by the Kings Ferrey going into the Isle of Shepey: in the salt marshes by Lee in Essex: in the Marsh by Harwich, and many other places.
2 The small kind I could never find in any other place but upon the chalky cliffe going from the towne of Margate downe to the sea side, upon the left hand.
The Time.
They floure in June and July.
The Names.
It shall be needlesse to trouble you with any other Latine name than is exprest in their titles: The people neere the sea side where it growes do call it Marsh Lavander, and sea Lavander.
The Vertues.
The seed beaten into pouder and drunk in Wine, helpeth the Collique.