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¶ The Description.
1 PImpernell is like vnto Chickeweed; the stalkes are foure square, trailing here and there vpon the ground, whereupon do grow broad leaues, and sharpe pointed, set together by couples: from the bosome whereof come forth slender tendrells, whereupon doe grow small purple floures tending to rednesse: which being past there succeed fine round bullets, like vnto the seed of Corianders, wherein is conteined small dustie seed. The root consisteth of slender strings.
2 The female Pimpernell differeth not from the male in any one point, but in the colour of the floures; for like as the former hath reddish floures, this plant bringeth forth floures of a most perfect blew colour, wherein is the difference.
‡ 3 Of this there is another variety set forth by Clusius by the name of Anagallis tenuifolia Mo∣nelli, because he receiued the figure and History thereof from Iohn Monell of I ournay in France; it differs thus from the last mentioned, the leaues are longer and narrower, somewhat like those of Gratiola, and they now and then grow three at a joint, and out of the bosomes of the leaues come commonly as many little footstalkes as there are leaues, which carry floures of a blew colour with the middle purplish, and these are somewhat larger than them of the former, otherwise like. ‡
4 The yellow Pimpernell hath many weake and seeble branches trailing vpon the ground, beset with leaues one against another like the great Chickweed, not vnlike to Nummularia, or Money woort; betweene which and the stalkes, come forth two single and small tender foote∣stalkes, each bearing at their top one yellow floure and no more. The root is small and threddy.