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 THis plant, called Viscaria, or Lymewoort, is likewise of the stocke and kindred of the wilde Gillofloures: notwithstanding Clusius hath ioined it with the wilde Campions, making it a kinde thereof, but not 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Lobel among the Sweet Williams, wher∣of doubtlesse it is a kinde. It hath many leaues rising immediately from the root like those of the Crow floure, or wilde sweet VVilliam: among which rise vp many reddish stalkes iointed or kneed at certaine spaces, set with leaues by couples one against another: at the top whereof come foorth prettie red floures which being past there commeth in place small blackish seed. The root is large with many fibres. The whole plant, as well leaues and stalkes, as also the floures, are here and there couered ouer with a most thick and clammie matter like vnto Bird-lime, which if you take in your

[illustration]

† 1.1 1 Viscaria, siue Muscipula. Limewoort.

[illustration]

2 Muscipula Lobelij. Catch Flie.

[illustration]

‡ 3 Muscipula angustifolia. Narrow leaued Catch-flie.

hands, the sliminesse is such, that your fingers will stick and cleaue together, as if your hand touched Bird-lime: and furthermore, if flies do light vpon the same, they will be so intan∣gled with the liminesse, that they cannot flie away; insomuch that in some hot day or other you shal see many flies caught by that means. VVhereupon I haue called it Catch Flie, or Limewoort. ‡ This is Lychnissyl. 3. of Clusius; Viscago of Camerarius; and Muscipula siue Visca∣ria of Lobel. ‡

2 This plant hath many broad leaues like the great sweet VVilliam, but shorter (where∣of it is likewise a kinde) set vpon a stiffe and brittle stalk; from the bosom of which leaues, spring forth smaller branches, clothed with the like leaues, but much lesser. The floures grow at the top of the stalkes many together tuft fashion, of a bright red colour. The whole plant is also possessed with the like liminesse as the other is, but lesse in quantitie. ‡ This is Lychissyl. 1. of Clusius; and Muscipula sive Ar∣moraria altera of Lobel: Dodonaeus calls it Ar∣merius flos 3. in his first Edition: but makes it his fourth in the last Edition in Folio. ‡

‡ 3. There is also belonging vnto this kindred another plant which Clusius makes his Lychnissyl. 4. It comes vp commonly with one stalke a foot or more high, of a green pur∣plish

colour, with two long sharpe pointed thicke greene leaues, set at each ioint: from the mid∣dle to the top of the stalke grow little branches, which vpon pretty long stalkes carry floures consi∣sting of fiue little round leaues, yet diuided at the tops; they are of a faire incarnate colour, with a deepe purple ring in their middles, without smell: after the floures are past succeede skinny and hard heads, smaller towards the stalkes, and thicker aboue; and in these are contained verie small darke red seeds. The root is thicke and blacke, with many fibers, putting vp new shootes and stalks after the first yeare, and not dying euery yeare like as the two last described.

Notes

• † 1.1

  Our Authour certainly intended in this first place to figure and describe the Muscipula or Viscaria of Lobel, but the figure he here 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the first place 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that plant which I haue giuen you in the last Chapter saue one by the name of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The figure which belonged to this place was in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of wilde Campions, vnder the title of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.