Mayweed - The English Physitian

MAYWEED

Kinds and Names. There are three sorts: 1. Cotula fætid, or , stinking mayweed. 2. Cotula non fætida, mayweed with no scent. Stinking mayweed groweth more upright than that which hath no smell, or than common camomile; neither of them creep or run on the ground as camomile doth; the leaves are longer and larger than those of camomile, yet very like unto it, but of a paler green colour; the one sort hath a very strong smell, the other no scent at all; the flowers are like those of camomile, but larger; there is also a sort of mayweed found in various parts of the kingdom, which hath double flowers, almost as large as double camomile flowers, which is called Cotula flore pleno

Place.  The stinking mayweed groweth abundantly among corn, and will blister the hands of the reapers; that which stinketh not groweth also very plentifully. wild, in many places, and often amongst wild camomile.

Time.  They flower all summer-months, some earlier, some later.

Government and Virtues.  Mayweed is governed by Venus: yet Galen saith, the sophi of the persians consecrated camomile to the sun, which is much of the same temperature; but the stinking mayweed is more hot and dry, and is used for the same purposes as camomile, viz. to disolve tumours, expel wind, and to ease pains and aches in the joints and other parts: it is also good for women whose matrix is fallen down, or losened from one side to the other, by bathing their feet in a decoction thereof made in water. It is likewise good to be given to smell to by such as are troubled with the rising or suffocation of the matrix.

N.B. - Housenote: Anthemis cotula , European dog fennel, stinking daisy, Stinking Chamomile