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 SPleene-woort being that kinde of Ferne called Asplenium, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and the true Scolopen∣dria, hath leaues a span long, iagged or cut vpon both sides, euen hard to the middle ribbe; euery cut or incisure being as it were cut halfe round (whereby it is knowne from the rough Spleene-woort) not one cut right against another, but one besides the other, set in seuerall order, being slipperie and greene on the vpper side, soft and downie vnderneath; which when they be withered are folded vp together like a scrole, and hairie without, much like to the rough Beare∣worme wherewith men bait their hookes to catch fish: the root is small, blacke, and rough, much platted or interlaced, hauing neither stalke, floure, nor seeds.

[illustration]

1 Asplenium sive Ceterach. Spleenewoort or Miltwaste.

[illustration]

2 Lonchitis aspera. Rough Spleenewoort.

[illustration]

† 1.1 3 Lonchitis aspera maior. Great rough Spleene-woort.

[illustration]

† 1.2 4 Lonchitis 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Bastard Spleene-woort.

2 Rough Spleenewoort is partly like the other Fernes in shew, and beareth neither stalke nor seed, hauing narrow leaues a foot long, and somewhat longer, slashed on the edges euen to the mid∣dle rib, smooth on the vpper side, and of a swart greene colour; vnderneath rough, as is the leaues of Polypodie: the root is blacke, and set with a number of slender strings.

‡ 3 This greater Spleenwoort hath leaues like Ceterach, of a spanne long, somewhat resem∣bling those of Polypodie, but that they are more diuided, snipt about the edges, and sharpe poin∣ted: the root is fibrous and stringie. This growes on the rockes and mountainous places of Italy, and is the Lonchitis asperamaior of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and others. ‡

4 This kinde of Spleenewoort is not onely barren of stalks and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but also of those spots and marks wherewith the others are spotted: the leaues are few in number, growing pyramidis or steeplewise, great and broad below, and sharper toward the top by degrees: the root is thick, black, and bushie, as it were a Crowes nest.

Notes

• † 1.1

  Formerly vnder the title of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 put the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 now in the third place, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the figure which should haue beene there, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the third 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the next chapter, vnder the title of Filicula 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• † 1.2

  Formerly vnder the title of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 put the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 now in the third place, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the figure which should haue beene there, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the third 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the next chapter, vnder the title of Filicula 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉.