The herball or Generall historie of plantes. Gathered by Iohn Gerarde of London Master in Chirurgerie very much enlarged and amended by Thomas Iohnson citizen and apothecarye of London

CHAP. 111. Of Fooles Stones.

¶ The Description.

1 THe male Foole stones hath fiue, sometimes six long broad and smooth leaues, not vn∣like to those of the Lilly, sauing that they are dasht and spotted in sundry places with blacke spots and streakes. The floures grow at the top, tuft or spike fashion, somewhat like the former, but thrust more thicke together, in shape like to a fooles hood, or cocks combe, wide open, or gaping before, and as it were crested aboue, with certaine eares standing vp by euery side, and a small taile or spur hanging downe, the backeside declining to a violet colour, of a pleasant sauour or smell.

[illustration]

† 1.1 1 Cynosorchis Morio mas. The male Foole stones.

[illustration]

2 Cynosorchis Morio foemina. The female Foole stones.

2 The Female Fooles stones haue also smooth narrow leaues, ribbed with nerues like those of Plantaine. The floures be likewise gaping, and like the former, as it were open hoods, with a little horne or heele hanging behinde euerie one of them, and small greene leaues sorted or mixed among them, resembling cockes combes, with little eares, not standing straight vp, but lying flat vpon the hooded floure, in such sort, that they cannot at the sudden view be perceiued. The roots are a paire of small stones like the former. The floures of this sort doe varie infinitely in colour, according to the soile or countrey where they do grow: some bring forth their floures of a deepe violet colour, some as white as snow; some of a flesh colour, and some garnished with spots of di∣uers colours, which are not possible to be distinguished.

‡ 3 This hath narrow spotted leaues, with a stalke some foot or more high, at the top wher∣of groweth a tuft of purple floures in shape much like those of the last described, each floure con∣sisting of a little hood, two small wings or side leaues, and a broad lippe or leafe hanging downe. ‡

[illustration]

‡ 3 Cynosorchis Morio minor. The lesser spotted Fooles stones.

¶ The Place.

These kindes of Fooles stones do grow natu∣rally to their best liking in pastures and fields that seldome or neuer are dunged or manured.

¶ The Time.

They floure in May and Iune. Their stones are to be gathered for medicine in September, as are those of the Dogs stones.

¶ The Names.

The first is called Cynosorchis Morio: of Fuch∣sius, Orchis mas angustifolia: of Apuleius, Satyrion: and also it is the Orchis Delphinia of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gemma.

‡ The second is Cynosorchis morio foemina of Lobel: Orchis angustifolia foemin. of Fuchsius: Te∣sticulus Morionis foemina of Dodonaeus.

3 This is Cynosorchis minimis & secundum caulem, &c. maculosis folijs, of Lobel. ‡

¶ The Temperature.

Fooles stones both male and female are hot and moist of nature.

¶ The Vertues.

These Fooles stones are thought to haue the vertues of Dogs stones, whereunto they are re∣ferred.

Notes

• † 1.1

  The first was of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, being the third in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 chapter.