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Of the Goose Tree, Barnacle Tree, or the Tree Bearing Geese: Common

The figures refer to the chapters as numbered for this edition. 3. Several pieces of Cotton-grass (Eriophorum) grow on British moors and bogs and Scottish mountains. "Water Gladiole" is the Flowering Rush (Butomus umbellatus). 4. The Common Reed mentioned (Arundo Phragmites) is that "growing almost everywhere," and used for thatching in the Eastern counties. Gerard's "Cypress Canes" (A. Donax) commonly serve as screens in Italian gardens. 5. Common Sugar-Cane (Saccharum officinarum) is supposed to have been brought to England in 1597. 7. "Branched Burre-Reed" retains the names given in the Herbal, botanic and popular. "Great Water-Burre" is Unbranched Bur-reed (Sparganium simplex). 8. "Cats-taile" is that Reedmace more usually associated in rustic plant lore with the cradle of Moses than Papyrus. 9. Our Author did not know Stitchwort by its pretty name Stellaria, though describing its floral leaves as star-like. 10. He cultivated in his garden a dozen sorts of Iris, and described about as many more, including Yellow Water Flag (Iris Pseudacorus) and the Chalcedonian (I. susiana) introduced from the Levant, 1596. This chapter brings to mind Shakespeare's line, "Lilies of all kinds, the flower-de-luce being one." 11. Zingiber is the original Indian name of Ginger, a plant little known in Elizabethan times, but at home in the herbalist's garden. 12. Several varieties of red and white Wheat (Triticum) are described in the Herbal, including one named "Flat Wheat," on which Johnson remarks, "I know not what our Author means." 13. Like other botanists, Gerard could assign no place of origin to the Common Oat (Avena sativa). He gives a pleasant note on the Naked Oat (A. nuda) in his time commonly cultivated on account of the clean way in which the ripe grains are shed from the husks, and associated with the old cottage "quern mills" of Scotland. 14. Indian Corn (Zea Mays) was introduced to Britain from N. America, 1562. 15. "Blew Hare-Bell," says Dodoens, was so named by Parkinson because no other before him had written thereof; the name distinguishes it from the Poets' Hyacinth, with leaves marked AI, emblem of woe. 16. Tigridis flos, Gerard's "feigned plant," at once suggests the splendid Tigridia Pavonia. We owe to the Director of Kew Gardens the suggestion that the plant first described may be a species of Hypoxis. 17. Of Daffodils "or Narcisses" Gerard and Johnson describe some forty sorts, with such pleasant names as Nonpareille, King's-chalice, Camel's-neck, and Longshanks. Johnson gave a figure of one "vulgarly called Gerrard's Narcisse," since he was the first observer thereof. We reproduce a figure of Narcissus Jonquilla. Others described are N. poeticus. 18. Of "Dalmatian Caps" the Author and his Editor give illustrations of thirty varieties, but grew weary of describing the infinite numbers. Johnson commended those in love with flowers to find somewhat more about Tulips in the Florilegies of Robin and Parkinson. 19. Fritillaria Meleagris does not seem to have been recognized as an English wild flower until the middle of the nineteenth century. The description of the flowers as surpassing the "curiosest painting" is often remembered, and how they beautify the bosoms of the beautiful. 20. The Saffron Crocus (Crocus sativus) was cultivated in our Author's garden (his C. Anglicus) also C. nudiflorus (his C. montanus) C. vernus, and C. luteus referred to in this chapter, which he received from the curious searcher of Simples, Robin of Paris. 21. The three sorts of Meadow Saffron here described are all Colchicum autumnale. To his cultivated specimens of this Gerard gave various names, as "White Meadow Saffron," "Hungarie Meade Saffron," and "Deadly Meade Saffron." Johnson remarked that in naming the plant "Our Author was of many mindes." "Hermodactylus" was a name he gave to an Iris. 22. The Common Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum umbellatum) is a doubtful native of England. "The yellow kinde" is the rare Gagea lutea, formerly included in the genus Ornithogalum. 24. Gerard's "White Lilly" and "Lilly of Constantinople" are both Lilium candidum, stated to have been introduced from the Levant in 1596. If the date were correct, this Lily would not have been a popular garden plant until after Shakespeare's day, and it seems probable that the "unsullied Lily" came earlier to England. 25. Johnson was dissatisfied with the original description of "Lilium rubrum" and its figure, and substituted a figure of L. bulbiferum. 26. "Mountaine Lillies" are Lilium Martagon, of the cottage garden. 27. "Persian Lilly" is Fritillaria persica. 28. "Crowne Imperiall" is F. Imperialis: these Fritillaries are stated to have been introduced 1596. 29, 30. Sixteen Orchids are described in this chapter. "Waspe Satyrion" may be Ophrys arachnites. Gerard himself found a plant of Neottia Nidus-avis, but the figure he gave originally was at fault.