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 MOuntaine Calamint is a low herbe, seldome aboue a foot high, parted into many branches: the stalkes are foure square, and haue ioynts as it were, out of euery one whereof grow forth leaues something round, lesser than those of Basill, couered with a very thinne hairy downe, as are also the stalkes, somwhat whitish, and of a sweet smell: the tops of the branches are gallantly deckt with 〈◊〉〈◊〉, somewhat of a purple colour; then groweth the seed which is blacke: the roots are full of strings, and continue.

2 This most excellent kinde of Calamint hath vpright stalkes a cubit high, couered ouer with a woolly mossinesse, beset with rough leaues like a Nettle, somewhat notched about the edges; among the leaues come forth blewish or sky-coloured floures: the root is wooddy, and the whole plant is of a very good smell.

3 There is another kinde of Calamint which hath hard square stalks, couered in like manner as the other with a certaine hoary or fine cotton. The leaues be in shape like Basill, but that they are rough; and the floures grow in roundles toward the tops of the branches, sometimes three or foure vpon a stemme, of a purplish colour. The root is threddy, and long lasting.

† 4 There is a kinde of strong smelling Calamint that hath also square stalks couered with soft cotton, and almost creeping by the ground, hauing euermore two leaues standing one against another, small and soft, not much vnlike the leaues of Penny-Royall, sauing that they are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and whiter: the floures grow about the stalks like wharles or garlands, of a blewish purple colour; the root is small and threddy: the whole plant hath the smell of Penny-Royal; whence it hath the addition of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 odore.

[illustration]

1 〈◊〉〈◊〉 montana vulgaris. Calamint, or Mountaine Mint.

[illustration]

† 1.1 2 Calamintha montana praestantior. The more excellent Calamint.

[illustration]

† 1.2 3 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Common Calamint.

[illustration]

† 1.3 3 Calamintha odore 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Field Calamint.

Notes

• † 1.1

  The figure which formerly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the second place belonged to the fourth description; and the figure that belonged 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was before falsly put for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or Wood-Sage. As also that which should haue beene put in the fourth place was put in the first place of the last chapter saue 〈◊〉〈◊〉, for the Red Garden 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• † 1.2

  The figure which formerly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the second place belonged to the fourth description; and the figure that belonged 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was before falsly put for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or Wood-Sage. As also that which should haue beene put in the fourth place was put in the first place of the last chapter saue 〈◊〉〈◊〉, for the Red Garden 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• † 1.3

  The figure which formerly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the second place belonged to the fourth description; and the figure that belonged 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was before falsly put for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or Wood-Sage. As also that which should haue beene put in the fourth place was put in the first place of the last chapter saue 〈◊〉〈◊〉, for the Red Garden 〈◊〉〈◊〉.