Herb. ? Obs. [perh. from its brown flowers.] A name of the Water-Betony (Scrophularia aquatica), and perhaps other species of Scrophularia.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 158. Genim þysse wyrte wyrttruman þe engle brunewyrt hatað. Ibid., 374. Wið lungen adle Genim … & bryse wyrt & brun wyrt.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 54. Brownworte, herbe [1499 brother wort], pulio, peruleium [1499 puleium].
1551. Turner, Herbal, I. L ij. The herbe whiche we call in Englyshe water betony or brown wurt.
1673. Grew, Anat. Roots, i. § 13. In Brownwort, the Basis of the Stalk sinking down by degrees … becomes the upper part of the Root.
1884. Miller, Plant-n., 248. Scrophularia aquatica, Bishop’s-leaves, Water-Betony, Brown-wort.
