VMS -- Botany (f21r) Rupturewort

["Dana F. Scott" <dfscott@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I believe that I have finally managed to identify the herb in f21r as
Herniaria glabra, commonly known as Rupturewort. This plant is also
known as Smooth Rupturewort, Green Carpet, Flax Weed, and Herniary.
Additional common references (which may or may not be accurate) include
Sand Spurry and Hawkweed. I feel that this was a very lucky find. It
does not seem to appear in any of the standard references that I have
been using. I found it in a small book titled "Culpeper's English
Physician and Complete Herbal, Arranged for use as a First Aid Herbal",
by Mrs. C.F. Leyel (Melvin Powers Wilshire Book Company, Hollywood, CA,
1971, ISBN 0-87980-025-9, p.100). Culpeper' astrological reference to
Saturn may be of interest. I wonder where Culpeper learned about the
association of this herb to Saturn?

"Under The Dominion of Saturn: They say Saturn cause ruptures: if he do,
he doth no more than he can cure: if you want wit, he will teach you,
though to your cost. This herb is Saturn's own, and is a noble
antivenerean. Rupturewort hath not its name in vain: for it is found by
experience to cure the rupture, not only in children but also in elder
persons, if the disease be not too inveterate, by taking a dram of the
powder of the dried for certain days together. The juice or distilled
water of the green herb taken in the same manner helps fluxes and
vomiting."

Illustration:
http://www.antirrhinum.org/~stueber/thome/band2/tafel_045_small.jpg

Photo:
http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/herglabra.htm
http://www.hinternetcafe.de/imgGalabau/Pflanzenlexikon/H/Herniaria-glabra.htm

http://www.quansettnurseries.com/Herniaria.jpg
http://www.terra.hu/novkorny/htm/hernglab.htm

Description:
http://www.healthtouch.com/bin/medizine/mz_display.asp?urn=urn:content:mec:althealth:102440

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/r/ruptur23.html
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/3187.13352
http://www.herbal-center.com/products/simples/0118.htm
http://www.theherbdoc.com/search_result.asp?PRODUCT_ID=PH-0825
http://www.fitoterapia.net/vademecum/plantas/279.html
http://www.dijon.inra.fr/malherbo/hyppa/hyppa-f/heqgl_fh.htm#Description

http://lanaturaleza.hypermart.net/arenaria.htm

Scientific Classification:
http://www.bf.uni-lj.si/ag/fito/sistemat/rastline/8Herniaria.htm

Regards,
Dana Scott