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

¶ The Description.

† 1.1 1 SEa Spike-grasse hath many small hollow round leaues about six inches long, rising from a bushy threddy white fibrous root, which are very soft and smooth in hand∣ling. Among these leaues there doe spring vp many small rushy stalkes; alongst which are at the first diuers small flouring round buttons; the sides whereof falling away, the mid∣dle part growes into a longish seed-vessell standing vpright.

[illustration]

1 Gramen marinum spicatum. Sea Spike-grasse.

[illustration]

2 Gramen spicatum alterum. Saltmarsh Spike grasse.

† 1.2 2 Salt-marsh Spike-grasse hath a woody tough thicke root with some small hairy threds fastned thereunto; out of which arise long and thicke leaues very like those of that Sea-grasse we vulgarly call Thrift. And amongst these leaues grow vp slender naked rushy stalkes which haue on one side small knobs or buttons of a greenish colour hanging on them.

3 The third hath many rushy leaues tough and hard, of a browne colour, well resembling Ru∣shes: his root is compact of many small tough and long strings. His stalke is bare and naked of leaues vnto the top, on which it hath many small pretty chaffie buttons or heads.

4 The fourth is like the third, sauing that it is larger; the stalke also is thicker and taller than that of the former, bearing at the top such huskes as are in Rushes.

5 Great Cypresse Grasse hath diuers long three-square stalkes proceeding from a root com∣pact of many long and tough strings or threds. The leaues are long and broad, like vnto the sedge called Carex. The spike or eare of it is like the head of Plantaine, and very prickly, and commonly of a yellowish greene colour.

6 Small Cypresse Grasse is like vnto the other in root and leaues, sauing that it is smaller. His stalke is smooth and plaine, bearing at the top certaine tufts or pannicles, like to the last de∣scribed in roughnesse and colour.

[illustration]

3 Gramen junceum marinum. Sea Rush-grasse.

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4 Gramen junceum maritimum. Marish Rush-grasse.

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5 Gramen palustris Cyperoides. Great Cypresse Grasse.

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6 Gramen Cyperoides parvum. Small Cypresse Grasse.

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7 Gramen aquaticum Cyperoides vulgatius. Water Cypresse Grasse.

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† 1.3 8 Gramen Cyperoides spicatum. Spike Cypresse Grasse.

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9 Gramen 〈◊〉〈◊〉 syluaticum. Wood Rushy-grasse.

7 The first of these two kindes hath many crooked and crambling roots of awoody sub∣stance, very like vnto the right Cyperus, diffe∣ring from it onely in smell, because the right Cyperus roots haue a fragrant smell, and these none at all. His leaues are long and broad, rough, sharp or cutting at the edges like sedge. His stalke is long, big, and three square, like to Cyperus, and on his top a chaffie vmbel or tuft like vnto the true Cyperus.

‡ 8 The second kinde hath many broad leaues like vnto those of Gillouers, but of a fresher greene: amongst the which riseth vp a short stalke some handful or two high, bearing at the top three or foure short eares of a red∣dish murrey colour, and these eares grow com∣monly together at the top of the stalk, and not one vnder another. There is also another les∣ser sort hereof, with leaues and roots like the former, but the stalke is commonly shorter, and it hath but one single eare at the top thereof. You haue the figures of both these exprest in the same table or piece. This kinde of Grasse is the Gramen spicatum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Vetonicae of Lobel. ‡

9 This hath long tough and hairy strings growing deepe in the earth like a turfe, which make the root; from which rise many crooked tough and rushy stalks, hauing toward the top scaly and chaffie knobs or buttons. ‡ This

growes some halfe yard high, with round brownish heads, and the leaues are ioynted as you see them expressed in the figure we here giue you. ‡

Notes

• † 1.1

  Formerly in the eighth place (but very vnsitly) was the sigure of Gramen 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spica 〈◊〉〈◊〉. being the third in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 chapter. The ninth also is restored to his due place, being the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 chapter. The two Reed-grasses that were in the eleuenth and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 places are also before in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Chapter.
• † 1.2

  Formerly in the eighth place (but very vnsitly) was the sigure of Gramen 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spica 〈◊〉〈◊〉. being the third in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 chapter. The ninth also is restored to his due place, being the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 chapter. The two Reed-grasses that were in the eleuenth and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 places are also before in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Chapter.
• † 1.3

  Formerly in the eighth place (but very vnsitly) was the sigure of Gramen 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spica 〈◊〉〈◊〉. being the third in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 chapter. The ninth also is restored to his due place, being the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 chapter. The two Reed-grasses that were in the eleuenth and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 places are also before in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Chapter.