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 WHoso will follow the variable opini∣ons of writers concerning the Ferne called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 verum, or Cipillus Veneris verus, must of necessitie be brought into a la∣byrinth of doubts, considering the diuers opinions thereof: but this I know that Venus-haire, or Maiden∣haire, is a low herb growing an hand high, smooth, of a darke crimson colour, and glittering withall: the leaues be smal, cut in sunder; and nicked in the edges something like those of Coriander, confusedly or without order placed, the middle rib whereof is of a blacke shining colour: the root consisteth of manie small threddie strings.

2 This Assyrian Maiden-haire is likewise a base or low herbe, hauing leaues, flat, smooth, and plaine, set vpon a blackish middle rib, like vnto that of the other Maiden-haire, cut or notched in the edges, na∣ture keeping no certaine forme, but making one leafe of this fashion, and another far different from it: the root is tough and threddie.

3 This plant which we haue inserted among the Adianthes as a kinde thereof, may without errour so passe, which is in great request in Flanders and Germanie, where the practitioners in Phy∣sicke do vse the same in stead of Capillus Veneris, and with better successe than any of the Capillare

herbs, although Matthiolus and Dioscorides himselfe hath made this wall Rue to be a kinde of Paro∣nychia, or Nailewoort: notwithstanding the Germanes wil not leaue the vse thereof, but receiue it as the true Adianth, esteeming it equal, if not far better, than either Ceterach, Capillus Veneris verus, or Tricomanes, called also Polytrichon: it bringeth forth very many leaues, round and slender, cut into two or three parts, very hard in handling, smooth and greene on the outside of an ill 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dead colour vnderneath, set with little fine spots, which euidently sheweth it to be a kinde of Ferne: the root is blacke and full of strings.

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2 Capillus Veneris Syriaca. Assyrian Maiden-haire.

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3 Ruta müraria, sive Saluia vitae. Wall Rue, or Rue Maiden-haire.