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 THe tame or garden Mallow bringeth forth broad round leaues of a whitish greene co∣lour, rough, and greater than those of the wilde Mallow. The stalke is straight, of the height of foure or six cubits; whereon do grow vpon slender foot-stalks single floures not much vnlike to the wilde Mallow, but greater, consisting only of fiue leaues, sometimes white or red, now and then of a deepe purple colour, varying diuersly, as Nature list to play with it: in their places groweth vp a round knop like a little cake, compact or made vp of a multitude of flat seeds like little cheeses. The root is long, white, tough, easily bowed, and groweth deepe in the ground.

[illustration]

3 Malua purpurea multiplex. Double purple Hollihocke.

2 The second being a strange kinde of Hol∣lihocke hath likewise broad leaues, rough and hoarie, or of an ouerworne russet colour, cut into diuers sections euen to the middle ribbe, like those of Palma Christi. The floures are very single, but of a perfect red colour, wherein con∣sisteth the greatest difference. ‡ And this may be called Malua rosea simplex peregrina folio Ficus. Iagged strange Hollihocke. ‡

3 The double Hollihocke with purple floures hath great broad leaues, confusedly in∣dented about the edges, and likewise toothed like a saw. The stalke groweth to the height of foure or fiue cubits. The floures are double, and of a bright purple colour.

4 The Garden Hollihocke with double floures of the colour of scarlet, groweth to the height of fiue or six cubits, hauing many broad leaues cut about the edges. The stalke and root is like the precedent. ‡ This may be called Multea bortensis rubra multiplex, Double red Hol∣lihockes, or Rose mallow. ‡

5 The tree mallow is likewise one of the Hollihockes; it bringeth forth a great stalke of the height of ten or twelue foot, growing to the forme of a small tree, whereon are placed diuers great broad leaues of a russet greene colour, not vnlike to those of the great Clot Burre Docke, deepely indented about the edges. The floures are very great and double as the greatest Rose, or double Peiony, of a deep red colour tending to blacknesse. The roote is great, thicke, aud of a wooddy substance, as is the rest of the plant. ‡ This may be called Malua hortensis atrorubente multi∣plici flore. ‡