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 CAt Mint or Nep groweth high; it bringeth forth stalks aboue a cubit long, cornered, chamfered, and full of branches: the leaues are broad, nicked in the edges like 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Bawme, or of Horehound, but longer. The floures are of a whitish colour, they partly compasse about the vppermost sprigs, and partly grow on the very top, they are set in a manner like an eare or catkin: the root is diuersly parted, and ful of strings, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a long time. The whole herbe together with the leaues and stalks is soft, and couered with a white downe, but lesser than Horse-mint; it is of a sharpe smel, and pearceth into the head: it hath a hot taste with a certaine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nesse.

‡ 2 Our Authour figured this and described the next in the second place of this Chapter. This hath pretty large square stalks, set at each ioint with two leaues like those of Costmary, but of a gray or ouerworn colour: the floures grow at the tops of the stalks in long spokie tufts like those of the last described, and of a whitish colour, the smel is pleasanter than that of the last described. ‡

[illustration]

1 Mentha Felina, seu Cattaria. Nep or Cat-mint.

[illustration]

2 Mentha Cattaria altera. Great Cat-mint.

3 There is also another kind hereof that hath a longer and narrower lease, and not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so white a colour: the stalkes hereof are foure square: the floures be more plentifull, of a red light purple colour inclining to blew, sprinkled with little fine purple specks: the smell hereof is stronger, but the taste is more biting. ‡ The figure of this was formerly in the third place of the last chapter. ‡

[illustration]

† 3 Mentha Cattaria angustifolia. Small Cat-Mint.