¶ The Description.
THe wilde Cucumber hath many fat hairie branches, very rough and full of iuice, cree∣ping or trailing vpon the ground, wherupon are set very rough leaues, hairy, sharp pointed, & of an ouerworne grayish greene colour: from the bosome of which come forth long tender foot∣stalkes: on the ends whereof doe grow small floures composed of fiue small leaues of a pale yellow colour: after which commeth forth the fruit, of the bignes of the smallest pullets egge, but somewhat longer, verie rough and hairy on the outside, and of the colour and substance of the stalkes, wherein is contained very much wa∣ter and smalhard blackish seeds also, of the big∣nesse of tares; which being come to maturitie and ripenesse, it casteth or squirteth forth his water with the seeds, either of it owne accord, or being touched with the most tender or delicate hand neuer so gently, and oftentimes striketh so hard against those that touch it (especially if it chance to hit against the face) that the place smarteth long after: whereupon of some it hath been called Noli me tangere, Touch me not. The root is thicke, white and long lasting.