¶ The Names.
It is called in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Asarum: in Latine, Nardus rustica: and of diuers, Perpensa: Perpensa is also Baccharis in Pliny, lib. 21. cap. 21. Macer saith, That Asarum is called Vulgago, in these words:
Est Asaron Graecè, Vulgago 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Latinè.
This herbe, Asaron do the Grecians name; Whereas the Latines Vulgago clepe the same.
It is found also amongst the bastard names, that it was called of the great learned Philosophers 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: that is, Martis sanguis, or the bloud of Mars: and of the French men Baccar; and thereup∣on it seemeth that the word Asarabacca came, which the Apothecaries vse, and likewise the com∣mon people: but there is another Baccharis differing from Asarum, yet notwithstanding Crateuas doth also call Baccharis, Asarum.
This confusion of both the names hath been the cause, that most could not sufficiently expound themselues concerning Asarum and Baccharis; and that many things haue beene written amisse in many copies of Dioscorides, in the chapter of Asarum: for when it is set downe in the Greek copies a sweet smelling garden herbe, it belongeth not to the description of this Asarum, but to that of Baccharis: for Asarum (as Pliny saith) is so called, because it is not put into garlands: and so by that meanes it came to passe, that oftentimes the descriptions of the old Writers were found cor∣rupted and confused: which thing, as it is in this place manifest, so oftentimes it cannot so easily be marked in other places. Furthermore, Asarum is called in French Cabaret: in high-Dutch, Ha∣zelwurtz: in low-Dutch, Mansooren: in English, Asarabacca, Fole-foot, and Hazel-wort.