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 common kinde of Harts-tongue, called 〈◊〉〈◊〉, that is to say, a plant consisting on∣ly of leaues, bearing neither stalke, floure, nor seed, resembling in shew a long tongue, whereof it hath been and is called in shops Lingua ceruina, that is, Harts tongue: these leaues are a foot long, smooth and plaine vpon one side, but vpon that side next the ground straked ouerthwart with certaine long rough markes like small wormes, hanging on the backside thereof. The root is blacke, hairy, and twisted, or so growing as though it were wound together.

2 The other kind of Ferne, called Phyllit is multisida, or Laciniata, that is, iagged Harts tongue, is very like vnto the former, sauing that the leaues thereof are cut or iagged like a mans hand, or the palme and browantles of a Deare, bearing neither stalke, floure, nor seed.

3 There is another kinde of Harts-tongue called Hemionitis, which hath bred some controuer∣sie among writers: for some haue tooke it for a kinde of Harts-tongue, as it is indeed; others de∣scribe it as a proper plant by it selfe, called Hemionitis, of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, Mulus, a Mule, because Mules do delight to feed thereon: it is barren in seeds, stalkes, and floures, and in shape it agreeth very well with our Harts-tongue: the roots are compact of many blackish haires: the leaues are spot∣ted on the backside like the common Harts-tongue, and differ in that, that this Hemionitis in the base or lowest parts of the leaues is arched after the manner of a new Moone, or a forked arrow, the yongest and smallest leaues being like vnto the great Binde-weed, called Volubilis.

4 There is a kinde of Ferne called likewise Hemionitis sterilis, which is a very small and basc herbe not aboue a finger high, hauing fourc or fiue small leaues of the same substance and colour, spotted on the backe part, and in taste like Harts-tongue; but the leaues beare the shape of them of Totabona, or good Henry, which many of our Apothecaries do abusiuely take for Mercurie: The roots are very many, smooth, blacke, and threddie, bearing neither stalke, floure, nor seed: this plant

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1 Phyllitis. Harts-tongue.

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2 Phylliiis 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Finger Harts-tongue.

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‡ 3 Hemionitis maior. Mules Ferne, or Moone-Ferne.

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‡ 4 Hemionitis minor. Small Moone-Ferne.

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‡ 5 Hemionitis perigrina. Handed Moone-Ferne.

my very good friend M^r. Nicholas 〈◊〉〈◊〉 found in a grauelly lane in the way leading to Oxey parke neere vnto Watford, fifteene miles from London: it growes likewise on the stone walls of Hampton Court, in the garden of M^r. Hug∣gens, keeper of the said house or pallace.

5 There is a kinde of Ferne called also He∣mionitis, but with this addition Peregrina, that is very seldome found, and hath leaues very like to Harts-tongue, but that it is palmed or branched in the part next the ground, almost in manner of the second Phyllitis, at the top of the leaues; o∣therwise they resemble one another in nature and forme.