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 Names.

Hollow root is called in high Dutch Holwurtz: in low Dutch, Hoolewortele, that is, Radix ca∣va: in English, Hollow root, and Holewoort: it is vsed in shops in steed of Aristolochia, or round Birthwoort; which errour is better knowne than needfull to be confuted: and likewise their errour is apparant, who rashly iudge it to be Pistolochia, or little Birthwoort. It should seem the old Wri∣ters knew it not; wherefore some of our later Authors haue made it Leontopetali species, or a kinde of Lions Turnep: others, Eriphium: and othersome, Thesium: most men, Capnos Chelidonia: it see∣meth to agree with Leontopetalon in bulbed roots, and somewhat in leaues, but in no other respects, as may be perceiued by Dioscorides and Plinies description of Leontopetalon. And if Eriphium haue his name 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is to say of the Spring, then this root may be not vnproperly Eriphium, and Veris Planta: or the Plant of the Spring: for it is euident that it appeareth and is greene in the Spring onely: some thinke it hath beene called Eriphium, ab Hoedo, or of the Goat: but this Eriphion is quite another plant, as both Apuleius writeth, and that booke also mentioneth which is attribu∣ted to Galen, and dedicated to Paternianus. In the booke which is dedicated to Paternianus, there be read these words; [Eriphion is an herbe which is found vpon high mountaines, it hath leaues like 〈◊〉〈◊〉, a fine floure like the Violet, and a root as great as an Onion: it hath likewise other roots

which send forth roots after roots. Whereby it is euident that this root whereof we intreat is not this kinde of Eriphium. Concerning Thesium the old Writers haue written but little: Theophra 〈◊〉〈◊〉 saith, that the root thereof is bitter, and being stamped purgeth the belly. Pliny in his 21. booke, chap. 17. sheweth, that the root which is called Thesium is like the bulbed plants, and is rough in taste: Athenaeus citing Timachida for an Authour, saith, that Thesium is called a floure, of which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 garland was made. These things seeme well to agree with Hollow root; for it is bumped or bulbous, of taste bitter and austere, or something rough, which is also thought to purge: but what certaintie can be affirmed, seeing the old writers are so briefe? what manner of herbe Capnos Cheli∣donia is, which groweth by hedges, and hereupon is surnamed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Aetius doth not expound, onely the name thereof is found in his second Tetrab, the third booke, chap. 110. in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his Collyri∣um, and in his Tetrab. 3. booke, 2. chap. among such things as strengthen the liuer. But if Capnos Che∣lidonia be that which Pliny in his 25. booke, chap. 13. doth call Prima Capnos, or the first Capnos, and commendeth it for the dimnesse of the sight, it is plain enough that Radix caua, or the Hollow root, is not Capnos Chelidonia: for Plinies first Capnos is branched, and foldeth it selfe vpon hedges: but Hol∣low root hath no such branches growing on it, and is a low herbe, and is not held vp with props, nor needeth them. But if Aetius his Capnos Chelidonia be another herb differing from that of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (which thing perchance was the cause why it should bee surnamed Chelidonia) there is some reason why it should be called Capnos Chelidonia; for it is somewhat like Fumitorie in leaues, though greater, and commeth vp at the first spring, which is about the time when the Swallowes do come in; neuerthe∣lesse it doth not follow, that it is true and right Capnos Chelidonia, for there be also other herbs com∣ming vp at the same season, and perish in short time after, which notwithstanding are not called Chelidonia.