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Of Water Crow-Foot

The Description.

WAter Crow-foot hath slender branches trailing far abroad, whereupon grow leaves under the water, most finely cut and jagged like those of Cammomill: those above the water are somwhat round, indented about the edges, in forme not unlike the smal tender leaves of the Mallow, but lesser: among which doe grow the floures, small, and white of colour, made of fine little leaves, with some yellownesse in the middle like the floures of the Strawberry, and of a sweet smell: after which there come round rough and prickly knaps like those of the field Crowfoot. The roots be very small hairy strings. The Place.

Water Crowfoot growes by ditches and shallow springs, and in other moist and plashy places.

The Time.

It floureth in Aprill and May, and somtimes in June. The Names.

Water Crow-foot is called in Latine Ranunculus aquatilis, and Polyanthemum aquatile: in English, water Crow-foot, and white water Crow-foot. Most Apothecaries and Herbarists doe erroniously name it Hepatica aquatica, and Hepatica alba; and with greater error they mix it in medicines in stead of Hepatica alba or grasse of Parnassus. Dagger I know none that commit this great error here mentioned, neither have I knowne either the one or the other ever used or appointed in medicine with us in England; though Dodonaeus (from whom our Author had this and most else) blame his countrymen for this mistake and error.