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 THe first kinde of Willow-herbe hath long and narrow leaues of a grayish greene co∣lour, in shape like the Willow or Sallow leaues, standing three or foure one against another at seuerall distances round about the stalke; which toward the top diuideth it selfe into many other branches, on the tops whereof grow tufts of faire yellow floures, consi∣sting of fiue leaues apiece, without smell: which being past, there commeth forth seed like Cori∣ander. The root is long and slender.

‡ 2 This lesser of Clusius his description hath a stalke a cubit high, and sometimes higher sirme, hard, and downy; about which at certaine distances grow commonly foure leaues together, yet sometimes but three, and they are soft and somewhat downy, lesser than those of the former, being first of an acide taste, and then of an acride; and they are vsually marked on their lower sides with blacke spots. About the top of the stalke, out of the bosomes of each leafe come forth little branches bearing some few floures, or else foot-stalkes carrying single floures, which is more vsuall towards the top of the stalke. The floures are yellow, with somewhat a strong smell, consisting of fiue sharpe pointed yellow leaues, with so many yellow threds in their middle. The root is ioyn∣ted, or creeping here and there, putting vp new shouts.

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‡ 3 Lysimachia lutea flore globoso. Yellow Willow-herbe with bunched floures.

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‡ 4 Lysimachia lutea 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Tree Primrose.

3 This also may fitly be referred to the former. The stalke is a cubit high, straight, and as it were ioynted, naked oft times below by the falling away of the leaues; but from the middle to the top set with two leaues at a ioynt, like those of the former; and out of their bosoms on short stalks grow round tufts of small yellow floures as in bunches: the root which creepes sends forth many small fibres at each ioynt. This was set forth by Lobel vnder the title of Lysimachia lutea altera, or Lysimachia 〈◊〉〈◊〉: Dodonaeus hath it by the name of Lysimachium aquatile: and Clusius calls it Ly∣simachia lutea tertia, siue minor.

4 This Virginian hath beene described and figured onely by Prosper Alpinus, vnder the title of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Virginianus: and by M^r. Parkinson, by the name of Lysimachia lutea siliquosa Virginiana: Also 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the Appendix of his Pinax hath a large description thereof, by the name of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lutea corniculata. The root hereof is longish, white, about the thicknesse of ones thumbe, from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 growes vp a tall stalke diuided into many branches of an ouerworne colour, and a little hai∣rie: the leaues are like those of the former, but somewhat sinuated alongst their edges, and hauing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 middle veine of a whitish colour: toward the tops of the branches amongst the leaues come 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thicke cods, which growing smaller on their tops sustaine pretty large yellow floures 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of foure leaues, with a pestill in the middle vpon which stand foure yellowish thrums

in fashion of a crosse; and there are also eight threds with their pointals in the middles of them. These floures haue somewhat the smell of a Primrose (whence M^r. Parkinson gaue it the English name, which I haue also here giuen you:) after the floures are fallen, the cods grow to be some two inches long, being thicker below, and sharper at the top, and somwhat twined, which in fine open themselues into foure parts to shatter their seed, which is blacke and small; and sowne, it growes not the first yeare into a stalke, but sends vp many large leaues lying handsomely one vpon another Rose-fashion. It floures in Iune, and ripens the seed in August. ‡

5 The second kinde of Willow-herbe in stalks and leaues is like the first, but that the leaues are longer, narrower, and greener. The floures grow along the stalke toward the top, spike-fashi∣on, of a faire purple colour: which being withered turne into downe, which is carried away with the winde.

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5 Lysimachia purpurea spicata. Spiked Willow-herbe.

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6 Lysimachia siliquosa. Codded Willow-herbe.

6 This Lysimachia hath leaues and stalkes like vnto the former. The floure groweth at the top of the stalke, comming out of the end of a small long cod, of a purple colour, in shape like a stocke Gillofloure, and is called of many Filius ante Patrem (that is, The Sonne before the Fa∣ther) because that the cod commeth forth first, hauing seeds therein, before the floure doth shew it selfe 〈◊〉〈◊〉. ‡ The leaues of this are more soft, large, and hairy than any of the former: they are also snipt about the edges, and the floure is large, wherein it differs from the twelfth, hereafter described; and from the eleuenth in the hairinesse of the leaues, and largenesse of the floures also, as you shall finde hereafter. ‡

7 This being thought by some to be a bastard kinde, is (as I do esteeme it) of all the rest the most goodly and stately plant, hauing leaues like the greatest Willow or Ozier. The branches come out of the ground in great numbers, growing to the height of six foot, garnished with braue floures of great beauty, consisting of foure leaues a piece, of an orient purple colour, hauing some threds in the middle of a yellow colour. The cod is long like the last spoken of, and full of downy matter, which flieth away with the winde when the cod is opened.

‡ 8 This also, which is the Chamaenerion of Gesner, as also his Epilobion, quasi 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a Vio∣let or floure vpon a cod, may iustly challenge the next place. Dodonaeus calls it Pseudolysimachium

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† 7 Chamaenerion. Rose bay Willow-herbe.

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‡ 8 〈◊〉〈◊〉 alterum angastifolium. Narrow leaued Willow-floure.

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‡ 9 Lysimachia coerulea. Blew Loose-strife.

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‡ 10 Lysimachiagalericulata. Hoodéd Loose-strife.

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11 Lysimachia campestris. Wilde Willow-herbe.

purpureum minus: and it is in the Histor Lugdun. vnder the name of Linaria rubra. It groweth vp with stalkes some foot high, set with many nar∣row leaues like those of Toad-flax, of a grayish colour, and the stalke is parted into diuers bran∣ches, which at their tops vpon long cods carrie purple floures consisting of foure leaues apiece. The root is long, yellowish, and wooddy. ‡

9 There is another bastard Loose-strife or Willow-herbe hauing stalkes like the other of his kinde. whereon are placed long leaues snipt about the edges, in shape like the great Veronica or herbe Fluellen. The floures grow along the stalkes, spike-fashion, of a blew colour; after which succeed small cods or pouches. The root is small and fibrous: it may be called Lysima∣chia coerulea, or blew Willow-herbe.

10 We haue likewise another Willow∣herbe that groweth neere vnto the bankes of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and water-courses. This I found in a wa∣terie lane leading from the Lord Treasurer his house called Theobalds, vnto the backeside of his slaughter-house, and in other places, as shall be declared hereafter. Which Lobel hath cal∣led Lysimachia galericulata, or hooded Willow∣herbe. It hath many small tender stalkes trai∣ling vpon the ground, beset with diuers leaues somwhat snipt about the edges, of a deep green colour, like to the leaues of Scordium or water Germander: among which are placed sundrie small blew floures fashioned like a little hood; in shape resembling those of Ale-hoofe. The root is small and fibrous, dispersing it selfe vn∣der the earth farre abroad, whereby it greatly increaseth.

11 The wilde Willow-Herbe hath fraile and very brittle stalkes, slender, commonly a∣bout the height of a cubit, and sometimes higher; whereupon doe grow sharpe pointed leaues somewhat snipt about the edges, and set together by couples. There come forth at the first long slender coddes, wherein is contained small seed, wrapped in a cottony or downy wooll, which is carried away with the winde when the seed is ripe: at the end of which commeth forth a small floure of a purplish colour; whereupon it was called Filius ante Patrem, because the floure doth not appeare vntill the cod be filled with his seed. But there is another Sonne before the Fa∣ther, as hath beene declared in the Chapter of Medow-Saffron. The root is small and thred∣die. ‡ This differeth from the sixth onely in that the leaues are lesse, and lesse hairy, and the floure is smaller. ‡

12 The Wood VVillow-hearbe hath a slender stalke diuided into other smaller bran∣ches, whereon are set long leaues rough and sharpe pointed, of an ouerworne greene colour. The floures grow at the tops of the branches, consisting of foure or fiue small leaues, of a pale purplish colour tending to whitenesse: after which come long cods, wherein are little seeds wrapped in a certaine white Downe that is carried away with the winde. The root is threddie. ‡ This differs from the sixth in that it hath lesser floures. There is also a lesser sort of this hairie Lysimachia with small floures.

There are two more varieties of these codded Willow-herbes; the one of which is of a mid∣dle growth, somewhat like to that which is described in the eleuenth place, but lesse, with the leaues also snipped about the edges, smooth, and not hairie: and it may fitly be called Lysima∣chia siliquosa glabra media, or minor, The lesser smooth-leaued Willow-herbe. The other is also smooth leaued, but they are lesser and narrower: wherefore it may in Latine be termed, Lysimachia siliquosa glabra minor angustifolia: in English, The lesser smooth and narrow leaued Willow-herbe.

‡ 13 This lesser purple Loose-strife of Clusius, hath stalkes seldome exceeding the height of a cubit, they are also slender, weake and quadrangular, towards the top, diuided into branches

growing one against another, the leaues are lesse and narrower than the common 〈◊〉〈◊〉 kinde, and growing by couples, vnlesse at the top of the stalkes and branches, whereas they keepe no cer∣taine order; and amongst these come here and there cornered cups containing floures composed of six little red leaues with threds in their middles. The root is hard, woody, and not creeping, as in others of this kinde, yet it endures all the yeere, and sends forth new shoots. It floures in lune and Iuly, and was found by Clusius in diuers wet medowes in Austria. ‡