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.

DIoscorides and Pliny haue reckoned Smyrnium among the kindes of Parsley, whose iudgements while this plant is young, and not growne vp to a stalke, may stand with very good reason, for that the young leaues next the ground are like to Parsley, but somewhat thicker and lar∣ger: among which riseth vp a stalke a cubit high, and somewhat more, garnished with round leaues, farre different from those next the ground, inclosing the stalke about like Thorow wax, or Perfoliata; which leaues are of a yellow colour, and do rather resemble the leaues of Fole-foot than Parsley:

[illustration]

Smyrnium Creticum. Candy Alexander.

at the top of the stalkes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 grow round spo∣kie tufts of a yellow color, after which com∣meth round and blacke seed like Coleworts, of a sharpe and bitter taste like Myrrhe: the root is white and thicke, contrary to the o∣pinion of Dodonaeus, who saith it is blacke without, but I speake that which I haue seen and prooued.