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

CHAP. 367. Of Crow-feet.

¶ The Kindes.

THere be diuers sorts or kinds of these pernitious herbes comprehended vnder the name of Ra∣nunculus, or Crowfoot, whereof most are very dangerous to be taken into the body, and there∣fore they require a very exquisite moderation, with a most exact and due manner of tempering, not any of them are to be taken alone by themselues, because they are of most violent force, and there∣fore haue the greater need of correction.

The knowledge of these plants is as necessarie to the Physitian as of other herbes, to the end they may shun the same, as Scribonius Largus saith, and not take them ignorantly: or also, if neces∣sitie at any time require, that they may vse them, and that with some deliberation and speciall choice, and with their proper correctiues. For these dangerous Simples are likewise many times of themselues beneficiall, and oftentimes profitable: for some of them are not so dangerous, but that they may in some sort, and oftentimes in fit and due season profit and do good, if temperature and moderation be vsed: of which there be foure kindes, as Dioscorides writeth; one with broad leaues, another that is downy, the third very small, and the fourth with a white floure: the later her∣barists haue obserued also many moe: all these may be brought into two principall kindes, so that one be a garden or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 one, and the other wilde; and of these some are common, and others rare, or forreigne. Moreouer, there is a difference both in the roots and in the leaues; for one hath a bumped or knobby root, another a long leafe as Speare-wort: and first of the wilde or field Crow∣seet, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Reader vnto the end of the stocke and kindred of the same, for the temperature and vertues.

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1 Ranunculus pratensis, etiamque hortensis. Common Crow-foot.

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2 Ranunculus surrectis cauliculis. Right Crow-foot.

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3 Ranunculus aruorum. Crow foot of the fallowed field.

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4 Ranunculus Alpinus albus. White mountaine Crow-foot.

¶ The Description.

1 THe common Crow-foot hath leaues diuided into many parts, commonly three, some∣times fiue, cut here and there in the edges, of a deepe greene colour, in which stand diuers white spots: the stalkes be round, something hairie, some of them bow downe toward the ground, and put forth many little roots, whereby it taketh hold of the ground as it trai∣leth along: some of them stand vpright, a foot high or higher; on the tops whereof grow small floures with fiue leaues apiece, of a yellow glittering colour like gold: in the middle part of these floures stand certaine small threds of like colour: which being past, the seeds follow, made vp in a rough ball: the roots are white and threddy.

2 The second kinde of Crow-foot is like vnto the precedent, sauing that his leaues are fatter, thicker, and greener, and his small twiggy stalkes stand vpright, otherwise it is like: of which kind it chanced, that walking in the field next to the Theatre by London, in the company of a worship∣full merchant named M^r. Nicolas Lete, I found one of this kinde there with double floures, which before that time I had not seene.

¶ The Place.

They grow of themselues in pastures and medowes almost euery where.

¶ The Time.

They floure in May and many moneths after.

¶ The Names.

Crow-foot is called of Lobel, Ranunculus pratensis: of Dodonaeus, Ranunculus hortensis, but vnpro∣perly: of Pliny, Polyanthemum, which he saith diuers name Batrachion: in high-Dutch, 〈◊〉〈◊〉: in low Dutch, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉: in English, King Kob, Gold cups, Gold knobs, Crowfoot, and Butter-floures.

¶ The Description.

3 The third kinde of Crow-foot, called in Latine Ranunculus aruorum, because it growes com∣monly in fallow fields where corne hath beene lately sowne, and may be called Corne Crow-foot, hath for the most part an vpright stalke of a foot high, which diuides it selfe into other branches: whereon do grow fat thicke leaues very much cut or iagged, resembling the leaues of Sampire, but nothing so greene, but rather of an ouerworne colour. The floures grow at the top of the branches, compact of fiue small leaues of a faint yellow colour: after which come in place clusters of rough and sharpe pointed seeds. The root is small and threddy.

4 The fourth Crow-foot, which is called Ranunculus Alpinus, because those that haue first writ∣ten thereof haue not found it elsewhere but vpon the Alpish mountains (notwithstanding it grow∣eth in England plentifully wilde, especially in a wood called Hampsted Wood, and is planted in gardens) hath diuers great fat branches two cub its high, set with large leaues like the common Crow-foot, but greater, of a deepe greene colour, much like to those of the yellow Aconite, called Aconitum luteum Ponticum. The floures consist of fiue white leaues, with small yellow chiues in the middle, smelling like the floures of May or Haw-thorne, but more pleasant. The roots are grea∣ter than any of the stocke of Crow-feet.

¶ The Place and Time.

Their place of growing is touched in their description: their time of flouring and seeding an∣swereth the other of their kindes.

¶ The Names.

The white Crow-foot of the Alps and French mountaines is the fourth of Dioscorides his description; for he describeth his fourth to haue a white floure: more hath not bin said touching the names, yet Tabern. calls it Batrachium album: in English, white Crow-foot.

¶ The Description.

5 Among the wilde Crow-feet there is one that is syrnamed Illyricus, which brings forth slen∣der stalks, round, and of a meane length: whereupon doe grow long narrow leaues cut into many long gashes, somthing white, and couered with a certaine downinesse: the floures be of a pale yel∣low colour: the root consisteth of many small bumpes as it were graines of corne, or little long bulbes growing close together like those of Pilewort. It is reported, that it was first brought out of Illyria into Italy, and from thence into the Low-Countries: notwithstanding we haue it grow∣ing very common in England. ‡ But only in gardens that I haue seene. ‡

6 The sixth kinde of Crow-foot, called Ranunculus bulbosus, or Onion rooted Crow-foot, and round rooted Crow-foot, hath a round knobby or onion-fashioned root, like vnto a small Turnep, and of the bignesse of a great Oliue: from the which rises vp many leaues spred vpon the ground, like those of the field Crow-foot, but smaller, and of an ouerworne greene colour: amongst which rise vp slender stalkes of the height of a foot: whereupon do grow floures of a feint yellow colour. ‡ This growes wilde in most places, and floures at the beginning of May. ‡

¶ The Place.

It is also reported to be found not only in Illyria and Sclauonia, but also in the Island Sardinia, standing in the Midland, or Mediteranian sea.

¶ The Names.

This Illyrian Crow foot is named in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, Apium syluestre, or wilde Smallage: also Herba Sardoa: it may be, saith my Author, that kinde of Crowfoot called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 risus, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; and this is thought to be that Golotophillis, of which Pliny maketh mention in his 24. booke, 17. chap. which being drunke, saith he, with wine and myrrh, causeth a man to see diuers 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sights, and not to cease laughing till he hath drunke Pine apple kernells with Pepper in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Date tree, (I thinke he would haue said vntill he be dead) because the nature of laughing Crow∣foot is thought to kill laughing, but without doubt the thing is cleane contrary; for it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 such convulsions, cramps and wringings of the mouth and jawes, that it hath seemed to some that the partyes haue dyed laughing, whereas in truth they haue died in great torment.

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5 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Illyricus. Crowfoot of Illyria.

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6 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Roundrooted Crowfoot.

¶ The Description.

7 The seuenth kinde of Crowfoot, called Auricomus of the golden lockes wherewith the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is thrummed, hath for his root a great bush of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hairy strings; from which shoote sorth small jagged leaues, not much vnlike to Sanicle, but diuided onely into three parts, yet some∣times into fiue; among which rise vp branched stalkes of a foot high, whereon are placed the like leaues but smaller, set about the top of the stalkes, whereon do grow yellow floures, sweet smel∣ling, of which it hath been called Ranunculus 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Tragi, or Tragus his sweet Crowsoot. ‡ It growes in medowes and about the sides of woods, and floures in Aprill. ‡

† 8 Frogge Crowfoot, called of Pena, Aconitum Batrachioides: of Dodonaeus, Batrachion Apulei, is that formerly described in the fourth place, whereto this is much alike, but that the stalkes and leaues are larger, as also the floures, which are white: the root is tough and threddy.

9 The ninth Crowfoote hath many grassie leaues, of a deepe greene tending to blewnesse, somewhat long, narrow and smooth, very like vnto those of the small Bistort, or Snakeweed:

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7 Ranunculus auricomus. Golden-haired Crow-foot.

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† 8 Ranunculus Aconiti folio. Frog Crow-foot.

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9 Ranunculus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Grassie Crow-〈◊〉〈◊〉.

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10 Ranunculus Autumnalis 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Winter Crow-foot.

among which rise vp slender stalkes, bearing at the top small yellow floures like the other Crow∣feet: the root is small and threddy. ‡ There is a variety of this hauing double floures; and I haue giuen you the figure thereof in stead of the single that was formerly in this place. ‡

10 The Autumne or Winter Crow-foot hath diuers broad leaues spred 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the ground, snipt about the edges, of a bright shining greene colour on the vpper side, and hoary vnderneath, full of ribs or sinewes as are those of Plantaine, of an vnpleasant taste at the first, afterward nipping the tongue: among which leaues rise vp sundry tender foot-stalkes, on the tops whereof stand yellow floures consisting of six small leaues apiece: after which succeed little knaps of seed like to a dry or withered straw-berry. The root is compact of a number of limber roots, rudely thrust together in manner of the Asphodill.

11 The Portugall Crow-foot hath many thicke clogged roots fastned vnto one head, very like those of the yellow Asphodill: from which rise vp three leaues, seldome more, broad, thicke, and pusfed vp in diuers places, as if it were a thing that were blistered, by meanes whereof it is very vn∣euen. From the middle of which leaues riseth vp a naked stalke, thicke, fat, very tender, but yet fragile, or easie to breake: on the end whereof standeth a faire single yellow floure, hauing in the middle a naked rundle of a gold yellow tending to a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 colour.

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11 Ranunculus Lusitanicus Clusij. Portugall Crow-foot.

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12 Ranunculus globosus. Locker Gowlons, or Globe Crow foot.

12 The Globe Crow-foot hath very many leaues deepely cut and iagged, of a bright greene colour like those of the field Crow-foot: among which riseth vp a stalke, diuided toward the top into other branches, furnished with the like leaues of those next the ground, but smaller: on the tops of which branches grow very faire yellow floures, consisting of a few leaues folded or rolled vp together like a round ball or globe: whereupon it was called Ranunculus globosus, or the Globe Crow-foot, or Globe floure: which being past, there succeed round knaps, wherein is blackish seed. The root is small and threddy.

‡ 13 This hath large leaues like those of the last described, but rough and hairy: the stalk is some foot high: the floures are pretty large, composed of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 white sharpish pointed leaues. It floures in Iuly, and growes in the Alps: it is the Ranunculi montani 2. species altera of Clusius.

14 This other hath leaues not vnlike those of the precedent, and such stalkes also; but the floures consist of 5 round leaues, purplish beneath; the edges of the vpper side are of a whitish pur∣ple, & the residue wholly white, with many yellow threds in the middle: it grows in the mountain

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‡ 13 Ranunculus hirsutus Alpinus flo. albo. Rough white floured mountaine Crow-foot.

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‡ 14 Ranunculus montanus hirsutus purpureus. Rough purple floured mountain Crowfoot.

Iura, against the city of Geneua, whereas it floures in Iune, and ripens the seed in August. Clusius had the figure and description hereof from D^r. Penny, and he calls it Ranunculus montanus 3. ‡

¶ The Place.

The twelfth kind of Crowfoot groweth in most places of York-shire and Lancashire, and other bordering shires of the North countrey, almost in euery medow, but not found wilde in these Sou∣therly or Westerly parts of England that I could euer vnderstand of.

¶ The Time.

It floureth in May and Iune: the seed is ripe in August.

¶ The Names.

The Globe floure is called generally Ranunculus globosus: of some, Flos Trollius, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Alpinus: in English, Globe Crow-foot, Troll floures, and Lockron gowlons.