Theophrastus, Dioscorides and Pliny do much vary one from the other, in setting down the sorts of Origanum that were knowne to them in their times, for Theophrastus maketh but two sorts, a black that is barren, and a white that beareth seed. Dioscorides maketh 5. sorts, three of Origanum, and two of Tragoriganum.
Origanum Heracleoticum, Onitis, and Sylvestre, (which yet is not that which some with us call Sylvestre, and is set forth in the foregoing Chapter, for this beareth a white flower, and so doth not that) Pliny is more confused, therefore thought not to be without error, for in divers places of his 20. and 21. bookes, he mentioneth severall sorts of Origanum, and in one place maketh three sorts of Heracleoticum: but leaving these, I will shew you those sorts are knowne to us in these dayes.
1. Origanum Heracleoticum verius. Organie, or bastard Marjerome of Greece.
Origanum heracleoticum. -Henriette
This bastard Marjerome riseth up with divers hard, round, reddish greene stalkes, spreading forth into other smaller branches, whereon are set sundry leaves by couples at the joynts, being somewhat round, and of a whitish greene colour, very like unto Marjerome, but larger, whiter, and harder, or rougher in handling: at the toppes or the branches stand such like scaly heads or knots, as Marjerome hath, but longer, from whence come small whitish purple flowers, and afterwards small brownish seed. The whole plant riseth with us not much higher than Marjerome, but of a hotter and sharper scent and taste, yet somewhat pleasant withall.
2. Origanum Onitis Matthioli. White Organie of Greece.
Origanum onites? -Henriette
This Organy differeth somewhat from the former, for it hath whiter and narrower leaves: the flowers also are white, and the heads more divided or separated into smaller tuftes: this is rather more tender to keepe than the former, hardly abiding the sharpnesse of our winter, although it be as well defended.
3. Origanum Onitis aliudmajus. The greater White Organy.
Origanum onites. -Henriette
This hath larger and whiter leaves than the former, the umbels or tufts of heads are larger also, and more spread abroad than they, which beare white flowers in the like manner. This kind is somewhat more hardy, and will better abide a Winter, if there be any care used to preserve it. There is also another with somewhat longer leaves than this.
4. Origanum Sylvestre sive vulgare. Wilde Organy.
Origanum vulgare? -Henriette
This kind of wilde Organy (which is the ordinary kinde brought from Candy, and other places, and usually kept in our Apothecaries shops) riseth up with divers round hard stalkes, whereon are set somewhat broader, lesser, and rougher leaves than the former; the flowers stand at the toppes of the branches in manner of an umbell, that is in smaller heads, and more dispersed than the former, of a reddish purple colour, after which come small brownish seed: the root perisheth when it hath given seed, most especially with us.
The Place.
All these kindes of Bastard Marjeromes have come to us from divers places, but which of them is more proper to this or that place, hath not beene truely signified vnto us; for some have named that Creticum which others have Hispanicum, so that it is likely to be naturall in both those places.
The Time.
They flower or at least beare their toppes or heads about the end of August, or middle of September with us, so that their seed scarcely commeth to maturity in our Country.
The Names.
It is called in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉vel 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 montem & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 gaudium, quod clivosos montososque locos amat, vel 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 id est 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 quod visum illustret & acuat vel a 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & redundante o, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 per antiphrasim, natura enim caelidum est, in Latine Origanum.
The first is called Origanum Heraclioticum, by Matthiolus, Gesner, Castor Durantes, Lobel, Lugdunensis, Camerarius, Tabermontanus, and Dodonaeus, & hath been sent me by the name of Creticum, and also Hispanicum. Bauhinus saith it is the Cunila Gallinacea of Pliny, and Dioscorides calleth it Cunila.
The second Matthiolus calleth Onitis, and so doe Gesner, Castor Durantes, Bauhinus, and Lugdunensis, who saith also that some called it Marum, and came to me by the name Italicum.
The third Camerarius calleth Onites, whom Bauhinus followeth.
The fourth is the common Origanum as I said we have in shops, and is thought by Ruellius to be the Cunila Bubula of Pliny, whom Bauhinus followeth. Dioscorides saith that this (if it be his wild kinde) was called also in his time Cunila.
But to discusse how fitly each of these sorts answere unto those of Dioscorides, I think it fittest to prefixe the text of Dioscorides, by which they may be compared. Origanum, Heracleoticum, (saith Dioscorides) which is also called Cunila, hath leaves like unto Hysope, the toppes or umbels are not fashioned round, but as it were divided into many parts: the seed in the toppe branches is not great.
That Origanum that is called Onitis, hath whiter leaves, and doth more resemble Hisope: it beareth seed in tusts, as it were joyned together, the force or vertue although it be like, yet is lesse effectuall by much. Wilde Origanum, which some call Panax, Heracleum, and others Cunila, (as Nicander Colephonius) hath leaves like Origanum, and small branches not a foot high, bearing white flowers at the toppes in umbels, like unto Dill: the root is small, and of no use. These bee the words of Dioscorides, whereby comparing his first two sorts, we verily thinke, that howsoever some Authors doe vary in their judgements concerning them, the first of them here set downe is the true (at least the truest hath beene knowne to be) Origanum Heracleoticum of Dioscorides.
The two next that follow, the one of Matthiolus, the other of Camerarius, are both in resemblance so neere his Onitis, that we may truely say, that either of them are the same, and that both of them differing but in largnesse of leaves, (which the fertility of the soyle wherein it grew might bee the cause) are but one Onitis.
But that wild Origanum of Dioscorides, that hath an umbell like unto Dill is not to be found, unlesse the wilde Origanum, that is to be had at the Druggists and Apothecaries be his for it is the neerest thereunto, being the strangest and quickest in taste, which by Galeus judgement is the best.
The Arabians call it Fandenigi, or Fandenegi: the Italians Origano; the Spaniards, Oreganos: the French Origan, and Marjolaine, bastarde: the Germanes Volgemuth, quasi dicas animi bonitatem vel laetitiam & Rott Dosten, or Costent: the Dutch Orega: and we in English, Organy, or bastard Marjerome.
The Vertues.
The decoction of Organy or bastard Marjerome with wine, is good for those that are bitten with Serpents, or venemous beasts, and to be taken with sodden wine, for such as have taken Hemlocke, or Opium:
with Oxymel it is good for those that have taken poison, or the root of Colchicum Ephemerum.
It is given with Figges to those that are bursten, or have a rupture, convulsions or cramps, or have the Dropsie.
The dryed hearbe taken in honyed water, purgeth downwards, blacke or melancholick humors.
It helpeth to procure womens courses, and taken with Honey, is helpfull to those that have a cough.
It profiteth those that have an itch, or are scabbed and mangy, and those that have the Iaundise, are much holpen by a decoction thereof taken when they are in a bath.
The juyce of the greene hearbe healeth the swellings of the almonds of the throat, and the ulcers of the mouth;
it draweth forth fleagme by the nostrils, if it be infused in the oyle of Flower-de-luces.
It easeth the paines of the eares, being used with milke.
A medicine purging by vomit is made with it, Onions, and Sumach, (such as is used to be eaten) being set in the Sunne for 40. dayes, in a copper vessell, whilst the Dogge-starre lasteth.
All Serpents will avoide the place where the hearbe is strowed.
The wild kinde especially, healeth all bytings of venemous beasts, if the heads and flowers be taken in wine.
And to this purpose Antigonus an ancient Greeke Author, in his Rhapsody or huddle of memorable reports, relateth a pretty fable of a Tortois eating Origanum, when hee goes to fight with the Serpent, which when one had heedfully observed, he cut up the Origanum where it grew, and took it away; whereof when the Tortoise was deprived, he perished by the venemous force of the Serpent; which fable Plutarch in his naturall questions, relateth somewhat otherwise: that is, that the Tortoise having eaten of the flesh of a Viper, by eating the hearbe Origanum, was free from the danger.
The same Antigonus setteth downe there also another fable of Ring-doves, who by putting Origanum into their wounds, were thereby cured.
As also that if the hills of Ants were stopped up with Origanum and Brimstone, they would quickly flie away: which thing also Palladius reporteth.
Galen saith all the sorts are of a cutting, rarefying, or thinning faculty, and that in the third degree, and that the Heracleoticum is of more efficacy than Onitis, and the wild stronger than either.
The decoction of Origanum with a few Cloves and Sugar, helpeth those that have the Hickock exceedingly.
The powder thereof mixed with a little Salt-peter and honey, made into the manner of a thin Electuary, and therewith the teeth being rubbed for sundry times, will make them whiter and firmer.
