Greater plantain (Plantago major) (f11v)
Plantain, called Greater plantain, is a medicinal herb prepared in portions for its better use. Its leaves, when pressed, possess an astringent virtue and are good for drying and healing ulcers. When pounded, they may be kept and mixed with oils to make beneficial ointments. When the flower spikes open, they are gathered, ground, and their juice expressed; likewise, the leaves are spread out and pressed so that their strength may be drawn forth. Cooked in fat and applied warm, they are useful against tumors and other swellings. The leaves are cut and crushed, and their juice serves against inflammation. Their vapor may also be inhaled when heated, which brings comfort. Applied upon a wound, they dry it gently, repair it, and promote healing. Taken inwardly, they aid digestion, strengthen the tissues, and help to staunch bleeding. They also disperse accumulations and relieve oppression and heaviness of the chest and inward parts.
[Complete Translation]
The plant illustrations in this manuscript do not necessarily represent the exact morphology of the identified species, but rather highlight the parts of medicinal interest and their therapeutic uses. The shapes and arrangements are stylized conventions typical of medieval manuscript tradition.
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