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

LIB. 2. 31. The Turnip was certainly cultivated in England during the sixteenth century. The author of the "Haven of Health," published in the same year as this Herbal, remarks that although men do love to eat Turnips, yet do swine abhor them. 32. Tarragon and Draco herba are the old names for Artemisia Dracunculus. 33. With respect to our Author's opinion it must be remarked that the Nasturtium (Tropaeolum) is wrongly named with the name of the Cresses, and wrongly described as a kind of Cress; and it is a native of South America, not India. (Gerard sometimes referred to America as the West Indies.) 34. "Lady-smockes" are old favourites, witness Shakespeare's lines about them, and the perfect description "all silver white," also references by Chatterton ("a Ladie-smock soe white") and by Izaak Walton. Cardamine impatiens, referred to by Johnson, is so named from the sudden bursting of the ripe seed-pods when touched. 36. Groundsel appears under the name Erigerum now belonging to another genus, but the name Senecio is mentioned, that of the genus to which Groundsel (S. vulgaris) belongs. The Asarabacca referred to (Asarum europaeum) has leaves which act as an emetic. 37. "St. James his wort" (Senecio Jacobaea) may have been named from blooming about the day of the patron saint of horses. The plant was reputed to cure the disease "staggers." 38. Dandelion has lost the suggestive Latin name Gerard gave it in Taraxacum officinale. His figure happily shows the flowers in various stages. 39. Garden Lettuce seems to have been introduced in Gerard's time. 40. "Wilde Colewort" (Brassica oleracea) is the mother of all Cabbages; in few instances has one plant produced such marked varieties. The "Fennugreeke" (Trigonella Faenum-graecum) was a crop cultivated by the Romans, but never in general use in England. 41. Beta has more uses than those with which it is credited in the Herbal, as forming a varnish, a pickle, a comfiture, and a substitute for coffee, also as yielding sugar. 42. "Floure-gentle" excited delight when introduced from the East Indies, as "very brave to look upon." The Amaranth described as Floramor is Amaranthus tricolor. The "Purple Floure-gentle" first described is identified with Celosia cristata. 43. Few English plants smell more disgustingly than Chenopodium Vulvaria. 44. The "Scorpion grasse" first described and illustrated is Scorpiurus sulcatus. The British Water Forget-me-not now bears the name Myosotis scorpioides; its three possible varieties include the true Forget-me-not, the sentimental plant which this generation would hardly recognise under its old name of Water Mouse-ear Scorpion-grass. 45. Atropa Belladonna grows wild in places in England. It may have sprung from plants cultivated for the sake of that kind of potion which quietened the unneighbourly neighbour. Old-time poets often mention the plant: Arise, quod she; what, have ye dronken Dwale? 46. "Marvel of Peru" deserves its name, Mirabilis, for its fragrance. A species is the "Four o'Clock Flower" of the West Indies. The Hemerocallis referred to is the Day Lily. 47. The baneful Nightshade represents the Solanum Family to which belongs the Mad-Apple (Solanum insanum). 48. The Love Apple we know as the Tomato, Lycopersicum esculentum. The old specific name, with its reference to a wolf and a peach, alludes to the beauty of the fruit and its deceptive worth. It may be observed that the plant figured has been judiciously pruned. 49. This chapter has the special interest that Thorn-Apple (Datura Stramonium) is an instance of a South American plant which has in a short time made itself more or less at home in southern England (though it can scarcely be considered as naturalized), the seeds having been introduced from Constantinople and dispersed through the land by Gerard. (Some botanists say the seeds came more probably from Italy or Spain.) In Virginia it is named Fire-weed, from springing up after fires. A name given in the Herbal is "Thorny apples of Peru." The plant first described in this chapter is Datura Metel; the names are from the Arabic, the specific one expressing the narcotic effect of the plant. Large shrubby Daturas from South America are distinguished as Brugmansias on account of their smooth capsules. Johnson's promised note on Ficus infernalis is referred to in the note on Chapter 174. 50. The popular name Bittersweet conveys the idea that the stems or roots when bitten give a sharp taste which changes to a sweet one, as in the old name Amaradulcis, but the reverse sensations are indicated by Solanum Dulcamara. 51. The roots of Mandragora officinalis were supposed by the old herbalists to resemble the human figure, and they pictured the male Mandrake with a long beard, the female with long hair. 52-53. Common Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) is the well-known foetid weed; others described were introduced to Britain. 54. Tobacco plants, said to have been first brought from America in 1570, were named Nicotiana in honour of John Nicot, French Ambassador in Portugal, who procured the seeds. 55. Gerard cultivated several Poppies in his garden, including Papaver Rhaeas and P. somniferum, and the Horned Poppy (Glaucium flavum). 56. The first kind of Anemone described, which Gerard named Purple Windflower, is Anemone coronaria; the second and third described, "Double Skarlet Windflower," and "The great double Windflower of Bithynia," are varieties of the same. He gave four different styles and titles to this Anemone. Parkinson in his "Paradisus" wrote of Windflowers as being so delightsome that the sight of them enforces an earnest longing desire to be a possessor, but it passed his abilities to describe their infinite varieties: "I think it would gravell the best experienced in Europe." Gerard cultivated twelve sorts, and described about thirty according to his ideas of distinction. 57. In writing "Of Dockes" our author enters on a large subject, considering the many species of Rumex, and Johnson complained of his descriptions, and that these did not tally with his figures. We recognise the Great Water Dock (R. Hydrolapathum), the largest of the numerous British species. A Dock which grows everywhere and is one of the most common and troublesome weeds is R. obtusifolius, the leaves of which being used for wrapping butter earned in some parts the name Butter-dock. The famous Dock of Monastery gardens, R. Patientia, came from Italy in Gerard's day, and may have been named derisively from the patience needed by those who would be cured of the stinging of serpents with this medicine. "Bloudwort" suggests R. sanguineus, having leaves veined with bright red; a plant formerly cultivated for food. An old writer remarked of Blood-wort that if boiled with meat it makes it boil the sooner, and lamented that such was the nicety of his time that women would not put it in the pot as it made the pottage black, and thus they preferred nicety before health. 58. Two plants make strange bed-fellows in this plot, Paris quadrifolia and Botrychium Lunaria. Two other ferns referred to are Hart's-tongue and Ceterach. 59. Lily of the Valley still grows wild in the village called Hampstead, in Ken Wood. 60. Statice Limonium inhabits English salt-marshes. S. binervosa was long regarded as a variety but is distinct according to the decision of Gerard and Ray. 61. Aster Tripolium, known as Sea Starwort or Michaelmas Daisy, is allied to that Michaelmas Daisy brought to England from North America by the elder John Tradescant, gardener to Charles I. 62. There are five British species of Plantago, of which Gerard describes the greater (P. major) and Hoary Plaintain (P. media). 63. There is but one British species of Golden Rod (Solidago Virgaurea), but numbers from North America are cultivated. 64. "White Hellebor" is Veratrum album, a sixteenth-century introduction to England, cultivated by Gerard, who named "Wilde white Hellebor" after the plant. 65. Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium Calceolus) is the most beautiful of European Orchids. Johnson notes: "It is also reported to grow in the North parts of this kingdome. I saw it in floure with Mr. Tradescant," but it seems now to be almost extinct in the northern counties, and is found if anywhere only in Durham and Yorkshire. 66. Gerard cultivated "divers sorts of Marian Violets, or Coventrie bels" identified with Campanula Medium. 67. Honesty's old name, White Satin, is an allusion, like that of the generic name Lunaria, to the silvery silicles. 68. The "Yellow-herb" first described is Lysimachia vulgaris. The "bastard kinde" is Rose-bay (Epilobium angustifolium), and "Codlins-and-cream" (E. hirsutum) is also described. Johnson gives a note of the Evening Primrose (OEnothera biennis), an importation of his time from America. 69. Alpine Barrenwort (Epimedium alpinum) is a doubtful native, growing about old castles, etc., in the North of England. 70. The various "Starworts" described are not easily identified, and Johnson by changing Gerard's figures and by his notes added confusion. In Mr. Daydon Jackson's edition of Gerard's Catalogue "Aster Atticus flore luteo-Yellow Starwoort" is identified with "Pallenis spinosa, Cass." and Gerard's "Blew Starwoort" with "Aster Amellus, L." The plant given in the Catalogue as A. inguinalis is probably one of those Michaelmas Daisies mentioned by Johnson as cultivated by Mr. Tradescant. 71. Woad (Isatis tinctoria) is considered not to be truly wild in Britain, but grows in various places; this is the one British species. 72. Sea Spurge (Euphorbia Paralias) is found on some sandy English shores. Sun Spurge, an annual herb of waste places, retains Gerard's name (E. Helioscopia). The figure illustrates the Wood Spurge (E. amygdaloides). 73. Various plants are grouped in the Herbal as Pennywort, of which there is one recognised British native, Cotyledon Umbilicus. Marsh Penny-wort is Hydrocotyle vulgaris, named also Sheep's-bane. No. 2 described is Sedum roseum. 74. There is but one British species of Samphire (Crithmum maritimum); another species belongs to the Canaries. The Sea Parsnep referred to (Echinophora spinosa) is a singular prickly plant, with the popular name Prickly Samphire, which formerly grew on some English sandy shores. The roots were said to taste like those of Parsnep. 75. Glassworts (Salicornia) were formerly used in the manufacture of glass. 78. Gerard cultivated Linum angustifolium and the L. maritimum of Southern Europe. He dwelt much on the virtues of the oil expressed from the seed-linseed-but no more than hinted at the use of Flax for making fine linen. 79. Five British species of Polygala (or three with two varieties of one of them) are now generally recognised. The small plants and flowers would hardly seem to lend themselves for garlands. The three plants described, white, blue and red, are all P. vulgaris. The illustration shows Illecebrum verticillatum. 80. Thymus is a genus of several variable species, chiefly from the Mediterranean region. The pot-herb, Garden Thyme, is T. vulgaris from southern Europe. Besides the British Wild Thyme proper (T. Serpyllum), having flowering branches ascending from trailing shoots, a distinct form (T. ovatus) has branches all ascending from the rootstock. White Thyme was among the rarities of Gerard's garden, with its thousand and one different herbs. 81. The Herbal describes many kinds of Hyssop, all probably garden varieties of the exotic potherb Hyssopus officinalis. 82. Lavender was considered of old as of "especial good use," as Parkinson said, for grief of the head and a comfort to the brain. 83. The plants described are identified with Plantago Psyllium and P. Cynops, introductions to English gardens from southern Europe. 84, 85. Some thirty Carnations, Gillofloures, Pinkes, Sweet-Johns, Sweet-Williams, and Crow floures or Wilde Williams are described in the Herbal. The "Gillofloure with yellow flours," procured from Poland, was a variety of Dianthus caryophyllus (ancestor of the garden Carnation), as were many others described. References are made in this Herbal as in Parkinson's to Master Ralph Tuggie, a famed grower of Gillyflowers, of Westminster. Parkinson named one variety "Master Tuggies Princesse," a flower "exceedingly delightsome." Others he named "Daintie Ladie," "The Red Hulo," and "Lustie Gallant." 86. Some of the Sweet Johns and Sweet Williams of the Herbal have been identified with Dianthus Carthusianorum, others with D. barbatus or D. superbus. The last is the plant referred to by Gerard as the Pride of Austria. 87. Armeria maritima still bears Gerard's name, Sea Gillyflower, and still borders cottage gardens, "for the which it serveth very fitly." Another Thrift known to Gerard was A. plantaginea, which figures in the British flora only as belonging to Jersey. 88. The small Sneezewort described is Achillea Ptarmica, of which the double-flowered is a variety. The third described is given a figure entitled "Sneesewort of Austrich." 89. Old-time herbalists termed the Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) the Male, and the more precious blue variety (A. caerulea) the Female. Yellow Pimpernel still bears that popular name, and that of Wood Loosestrife; botanically, Lysimachia nemorum. The plant illustrated is Anagallis monelli. 90. Herb Two-pence (Lysimachia Nummularia) still has the popular name Money-wort, and those of Creeping Loosestrife and Creeping Jenny. 91. Gerard cultivated as a garden flower a white variety of Ajuga reptans. 92. Besides Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) Gerard described a favourite cottage-garden plant, a native of the continent of Europe, P. grandiflora, which he also cultivated. 93. Bellis perennis is the one British species of a small genus happily deriving its name from bellus. 94. Mouse-ear Hawkweed (Hieracium Pilosella) is no doubt one of the Hawkweeds Gerard described, but it is small wonder that he was in difficulties with his descriptions and figures (giving some trouble to Johnson) considering that some modern botanists have split the various forms into 247 species for Britain. ("The difficulty of distinguishing them appears only to increase with their subdivision." Bentham and Hooker.) 95. "English Cudweed" is Gnaphalium sylvaticum, one of the four species of this British genus of Everlasting Flowers. The Cotton-weed which English women have called Live-for-ever is Antennaria margaritacea. The small Cudweed and the Wicked Cudweed described are given in the Herbal the name Filago, now a genus of a few species formerly included in Gnaphalium. William Turner relates in his Herbal (1551) that in Northumberland Cudweed is named "Chafwede," as being good for "chafying any man's fleshe." 96. A species of Golden Moth-wort (G. orientale) hails from Africa, and has the gardener's name, Everlasting Love, in French, La fleur immortelle. From Parkinson's Herbal it appears to have been well known in England some twenty years after Gerard's work was issued. 97. The Feverfew and its double variety described (and cultivated by Gerard) are identified with Chrysanthemum Parthenium, a plant also named Featherfew from the feathery leaves. 98. Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) has an age-old reputation for taking away "darknesse and dimnesse of the eyes." Culpeper remarked in his Herbal, "If the herb was but as much used as it is neglected, it would half spoil the spectacle-maker's trade." Milton caused the Archangel to clear the vision of Adam with Euphrasy: "For he had much to see." 99. The year 1597 was about the time when "Marjoram of Candy" (Origanum creticum) was introduced to Britain from southern Europe. "Origanum" signifies "brightness of the hill," or "joy of the mountain," and Gerard's note that it easeth such as are given to overmuch sighing is supported by Parkinson, who dwells on the way the herb pleases the outward senses, in nosegays, powders and washing waters, and comforts the outward parts of the body, the inward also. Wild Marjoram (O. vulgare) is spread over England and Ireland but rare in Scotland. 100. A remarkable secret about Pennyroyal (Mentha Pulegium) is given in "The Boke of Secretes of Albertus Magnus," that drowning bees and flies may be revived if placed in warm ashes thereof: "they shall recover their lyfe after a little tyme." Gerard has the old name Pudding-grass; speaking of which Parkinson remarked that the former age had these hot herbs in familiar use, for meats and medicines, but his own delicate age wholly refused them (almost) and therefore could not be partakers of the benefit thereof. 101. In Gerard's day many species of Mint were cultivated, by such names as Crosse, Browne, Mackerel, Holy, Heart, Cat, Horse or Brook Mints. Spearmint (M. spicata) is occasionally found in Britain where it has been cultivated. Parkinson tells how it would be boiled in his time with mackerel and put into puddings, and how bruised Mint was a good help against stings by bees and such like. Gerard, in saying that the savour of mint rejoices the heart of man, echoed Pliny's remark that it stirred up the mind and taste to a greedy desire of meat. 102. Water Mint (Mentha aquatica) is a streamside plant throughout Europe and Russian Asia, and is now naturalized in many other countries. 104. Gerard cultivated "White Archangell" (Lamium album) and "Yellow Archangell" (L. Galeobdolon) describing them in the Herbal, also describing the Red Deadnettle (L. purpureum). 105. The Roman Nettle (Urtica pilulifera) is first described, then the Common Nettle. It is an old story that the former was cultivated by Caesar's soldiers with the idea that by rubbing their limbs with the stinging leaves they might obtain some warmth in an unendurable climate. It is a rare plant of eastern English counties. Parkinson said that it grew in his time at Lidde by Romney. 106. Except for Vervain, no plant was more esteemed by old-time herbalists than Betony (Stachys officinalis), whence the Italian proverb, "Sell your coat and buy Betony." Gerard refers to Betony with white flowers which he found in a village called Hampstead, and we find him carrying home all manner of wildings. Finding "Venus Looking-glasse" in cornfields in Kent, he sowed the seeds in his garden where they sowed themselves from year to year. In the "Grete Herball" (1526) a powder of Betony was recommended "for them that be fearful." 107. Verbena officinalis is the solitary British representative of the important genus, so that Johnson had cause to doubt if Creeping or Holy Vervain grew wild. The Vervain held sacred to the Druids has not been identified. In the "Grete Herball" it is written that wine in which Vervain has been steeped, if sprinkled about the house, will "make folke mery at ye table" as Gerard noted. 108. Gerard and Johnson described and illustrated eighteen plants as Scabious. Among the kinds cultivated by Gerard was "Scabious of the Sea," Scabiosa maritima, a south European species naturalized on the cliffs at Folkestone. The British species are S. Succisa, described in the next chapter, S. Columbaria, and S. arvensis. Parkinson related that Scabious was powerful to draw splinters from the flesh. 109. This plant was among those found by Gerard at the village called Hampstead, along with Lilies of the Valley, Sawwort, Whortleberries, Dwarf Willows and many others. 110. Gerard cultivated in his garden the "Great Blew-Bottle" (Centaurea montana, from central and southern Europe) and the Bluebottle of the cornfields (C. Cyanus) apparently of south European or west Asiatic origin; and divers sorts which by cunning he made to bloom in divers colours. 111. "Purple Goats-beard" is Salsify, Tragopogon porrifolius, established in some localities of southern England, and cultivated before the introduction of the vegetable Scorzonera hispanica. "Yellow Goats-beard" is T. pratensis. 112. "Divers sorts of Marigoldes" flourished in our Author's garden, representatives of Calendula officinalis. Turner in his Herbal referred scathingly to those who use Marigold to make their hair yellow, not being content with the natural colour God hath given them. 113. Gerard cultivated and described several sorts of Tagetes, some of which are still popular. 114. Helianthus annuus was introduced to England at about Gerard's time. His observation that he could never observe it to turn with the sun agrees with the opinion of others, and four flowers on one stem have been seen to point to the four cardinal points. 115. Gerard was puzzled by the popular name of Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)-Jerusalem is often traced, but incorrectly, to the Italian Girasole. 116. Leopard's-bane (Doronicum Pardalianches) is an outcast from gardens in Britain. Gerard cultivated it, and recorded that it had been found in the cold mountains of Northumberland. Despite Gerard's story of Conrad Gesner it is recorded in "Historia Plantarum" that the botanist poisoned and killed himself in the end by the use of the plant. History records that he died of the plague. 117. Several varieties of Mullein (Verbascum) were ornaments of Gerard's garden. Parkinson in his Theatrum Botanicum recommended the yellow ("male") flower for dyeing the hairs of the head and making them fair and smooth. The rare Moth Mullein (V. Blattaria) occasionally bears white flowers, while those of V. Lychnitis are pale yellow or nearly white. 118. Among the plants grouped in Gerard's Cowslip-bed we recognise in "Birdeyne" Primula farinosa, in the twin-like Cowslip a variety of P. veris, in the "Double Paigle" a variety of P. vulgaris, and in the "Primrose with greenish floures" still another variety. Turner in his Herbal expressed indignation with "some weomen" in that they sprinkled the flowers of Cowslip with white wine wherewith to wash their faces, to make them fair in the eyes of the world rather than in the eyes of God. 120. Among the Foxgloves we recognise Digitalis purpurea and its white variety, and D. lutea. It is remarkable that Gerard should accord the plants no place in medicine, considering that Digitalis ranks to-day as one of the most valuable of British "official herbs," of which about two dozen find a place in the British Pharmacopoeia. 121. Baccharis is Inula Conyza. 122. "Dittanie of Candie" is Origanum Dictamnus. 123. Johnson interjects a note on "Never dying Borage, Semper virens," but this is an evergreen Anchusa. 124. Dyer's Bugloss (Anchusa tinctoria) is a native of Italy. The Echium mentioned is Viper's Bugloss. 125. Colt's-foot's high reputation of old as a cure for coughs is remembered in its generic name, Tussilago, but it is no longer "official" in the Materia Medica. The dried leaves keep their reputation for making a sort of tobacco. 127. All species of Tribulus are attractive, but are rarely cultivated. Gerard has a later chapter on T. terrestris, an introduction from southern Europe, and relates that he carried specimens from a meadow near Croydon. 128. Of "Ducks meat"-Lemna-five British species comprise the genus, of which L. minor is the commonest. 129. Ranunculus aquatilis has puzzled many botanists besides Gerard; eleven forms have been described as distinct species. 130. Arum maculatum yielded a starch for the great lawn ruffs such as our Author wore. A. Dracunculus of southern Europe was known by such names as Great Dragon and Nedder's Tongue. An old English manuscript asserts that if hands be washed in its juice you shall Nedderis (Adders) withoutyn peryle gaderyn and handelyn hem at thi wylle. John Ray (1686) mentioned that Arum roots served as soap. 132. Various "Birthwoorts"-Aristolochia-were cultivated in Gerard's garden. The Birthwort described is A. longa, of southern Europe. The North American A. serpentaria carries the fable that snakes flee from the traveller who bears the plant. 134. Nepeta hederacea earned various names from an old-time use in clearing thick beer, and Tune or Tun Hoof is thus explained by an old writer: "It is good to tun up with new drink, for it will clarify it any night." The expression, "Pinne and web" is an old phrase for any "grief" in the eyes of cattle. 136, 137. Smilax Sarsaparilla was brought to Europe in the middle of the sixteenth century as a medicine of virtue. The Smilax of southern Europe still bears Gerard's name, Rough Bindweed, S. aspera. He mentioned several kinds of Bindweed, named indifferently Smilax and Convolvulus, all of which he said grew plentifully in most parts of England, a remark to which Johnson took exception; and he cultivated Convolvulus arvensis and C. scammonia, this last an importation from the Levant yielding the gummy resin, Scammony. 139. Humulus Lupulus is the sole British species. 140. "And therefore have I called it Travellers-Joy"-for that "right pleasant name" generations of travellers by ways and hedges have been in debt to our worthy Master in Chirurgerie. He objected to the title Vitis alba, though referring to vine-like branches and white flowers, and it remains the botanical name of the one British species. Viorna is a North American species. 141. Besides the Common Honeysuckle, Gerard described also the Perfoliate, which he grew in his garden, with its "fair, beautifull, and well smelling floures, shining with a whitish purple colour, and somewhat dasht with yellow, by little and little stretched out like the nose of an elephant." 142. The "kinde of Asclepias" of Virginia still bears the name of AEsculapius. A. syriaca is very fragrant, its scent in the evening charming the traveller in Canadian woods. It was introduced to Britain in the seventeenth century. Parkinson named it Virginian Silk. 144. Gerard cultivated divers sorts of Cucumbers, Gourds and Melons. Of a variety of Melon he remarked that he had seen many nourished at the Queen's house at St. James's, and at the house of the Lord of Sussex at Bermondsey. His credulous nature is again revealed by his story of the "long Cucumbers." Writing "Of Gourds" he quotes a statement that "A long Gourd or Cucumber being laid in the cradle or bed by the young infant whilest it is asleep and sicke of an ague, it shall be very quickly made whole," a popular tradition, though not recorded in other herbals. 145, 146. Gerard gave the world the first published picture of the so-called Virginian Potato (not a native of that country) supposed to have been brought from Virginia by colonists sent out by Sir Walter Raleigh. The name long remained to distinguish this from "Battatas," or Sweet Potatoes, used in England as a delicacy before the introduction of the other. Shakespeare has references to the Sweet Potato, which Gerard confusingly calls the common Potato. He and Parkinson mention the Potato as a delicacy of the confectioner rather than as common food. Gerard having been among the first to grow Potatoes, it is fitting that in his portrait in the Herbal he is seen holding a branch of the plant. 147. He described and cultivated the Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris) and its relative, the Hollyhock (Althaea rosea). 148. Besides Geranium molle Gerard cultivated and described many other members of a charming family, including one sent from Jean Robin which our Author listed as G. nondum descriptum; this was G. lucidum. 149. Thirty-five illustrations appear in the Herbal of a variety of plants classed as Ranunculus. The name Butter-flowers is given, but not Buttercup. 150-152. Divers sorts of Wolfes-banes (Delphinium and Aconitum) were cultivated by Gerard and described in the Herbal: his "Yellow Wolfes-bane" is Aconitum Lycoctonum. The plant illustrated as Thora Valdensis is Ranunculus Thora. 153. "Of Hellebores" he described H. niger and H. foetidus. 154. Of Paeonies he cultivated and described the "Male," Paeonia mascula, and the "Female"-"Single," "Double," "Misbegotten," and "Whitish"-P. officinalis. The terms male and female referred to stronger or weaker varieties. 155. He cultivated, described and illustrated a variety of plants named "Cinkefoile, Tormentill, and Silver-weed." "Wall Cinkfole" is Potentilla argentea. 156. He cultivated under the names red, white and green strawberries Fragaria virginiana, introduced from North America, and the "Barren Strawberrie" Potentilla sterilis. 157. Herba Gerardi is unfortunately now written AEgopodium Podagraria. Culpeper in "The English Physician" names the plant Herb Gerard, declaring that the very bearing of it about one's person eases the pains of gout. 158. Johnson gave the plant which Gerard christened "Clownes Wound-wort" its present name Stachys palustris. 159. Skirrets, the Water Parsnip (Sium Sisarum) came to England from China, and was cultivated by Gerard; now rare, it may linger in cottage gardens. 160. Slight differences exist between the Common Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and the Garden Fennel (F. dulce) associated with boiled mackerel. Parkinson says that the leaves serve to trim up many fish meats, that Cowcumbers are pickled with it, and the seeds are put for a relish in Pippin-pies. 161. "Sweet Chervill" was not missing from Gerard's herb-garden, or the Garden Chervil (Anthriscus Cerefolium), a once-famous pot-herb. 162. "Mede-Sweet" has lost its old name Regina prati in Spiraea Ulmaria. 163. Earth-nut (Conopodium denudatum) is still known to country children by the popular names Gerard gives; it is the one British species. The tuberous rootstock when roasted much resembles a Chestnut. 164. With respect to our Author we may remark that Chelidonium majus might well have been named from its habit of blossoming when the swallows come and continuing to blossom until they go. 165. In addition to Garden Valerian (Valeriana Phu) and the Wild (V. officinalis) Gerard grouped various distinct plants as Valerians. The old name, Setwall, was known to Chaucer: "He himself was swete as any Setewall." 166. As "Divers sort of Larks heele" our Author grouped and cultivated Delphinium Consolida. 167. The Herbal does not mention the name "Love-in-a-mist." 168. Corn Cockle (Lychnis Githago) has the name Gith applied by Gerard to Nigella, which name with the adjective "bastard" he gave the Corn Cockle. 170. Artemisia mater Herbarum is Gerard's happy name for Artemisia vulgaris. 172. He cultivated and described Rubia tinctoria, and R. peregrina which yields the one reliable red dye among British plants, and is very scarce in England. 173. The Cotton or Scotch Thistle (Onopordon Acanthium) is that thistle usually chosen to represent the Scotsman's badge, with its motto, "Ye maunna meddle wi' me," but the plant is not wild in Scotland. 174. Gerard's Golden Thistle is Scolymus hispanicus. As to his "Thistle of Peru" Johnson relates that he himself had already described and figured this among the Poppies, as Prickly Poppy. He confesses that it should have been omitted from the former chapter, being here set forth, "whereof indeed I had a little remembrance, and therefore at that time sought his Index by all the names I could remember, but not making it a Carduus, I at that time missed thereof." 175. Gerard cultivated Erygium maritimum, from which was made the confection, Kissing Comfits. 176. Three Teasels grow in Britain as the Herbal teaches, Dipsacus sylvestris, D. fullonum, the famed Fuller's Teasel, possibly a cultivated variety, and D. pilosus. 178. Gerard's notes on the names and virtues of Wood Sorrel (Oxalis Acetosella) are often quoted. The plant is believed to be the original Shamrock, though Trifolium repens now stands for that emblem. 179. This chapter was added by Johnson, who relates the story mentioned by Stowe and others of a miraculous appearance of the Sea Pea, Lathyrus maritimus, on the Suffolk coast, supposed to have sprung from seeds from a wrecked ship, but doubtless it is a native. 180. Gerard cultivated and described several Rues not represented in Britain, as "Garden Rue"-Ruta graveolens-and "Wild Rue"-R. montana, and he described the Common Meadow Rue, Thalictrum flavum.

With these Herbs of Grace our Author concludes his treatise of plants serving for meat, medicine, or sweet smelling use, "Onely some few omitted for want of perfect instruction"; some amends are made in the third Book, which is concerned mainly with Trees.

The Trees are omitted from the present edition, but a few extracts are taken from Book III. to give its savour.