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 first kinde of Hatchet Fetch hath many small branches trailing here and there vp∣on the ground: vpon which grow small leaues spred abroad like the leaues of the wilde Fetch; among which come forth clusters of small yellow floures, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 away, and turne into little flat thin and browne cods, wherein is contained small reddish seed of a bitter taste.

2 The second kinde of hatchet Fetch hath many round tough and flexible branches, trailing vpon the ground: whereupon do grow leaues like the former, but more like the leaues of Liquo∣rice, and hauing the taste of the Liquorice root; which hath giuen occasion to some to deeme it a kinde of Liquorice: among these leaues come forth pale yellow floures, after which there succeed small crooked cods, turning their points inwardly, one answering another like little hornes, con∣taining small flat seeds soure cornered, and fashioned like a little wedge: the root is tough, of a wooddy 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and doth continue fruitfull a very long time.

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† 1.1 1 Hedysarum maius. Hatchet Fetch.

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‡ 2 Hedysarum Glycyrhizatum. Liquorice hatchet Fetch.

3 There is another kind of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or hatchet 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which hath branches, leaues, and roots like the last before remembred, and differeth in that, that the floures of this plant are mixed, and do vary into sundry colours, being on the vpper part of a flesh colour, and on the lower of a white or snowie colour, with a purple Storks bill in the middle: the leaues are in taste bitter: the cods are small like those of Birds foot, and not much vnlike the cods of Orobus.

4 There is likewise another kinde of Securidaca or hatchet Fetch, which is dedicated vnto Ca∣rolus Clusius by the aforenamed D^r. Penny, who found it in the North parts of England, hauing leaues, roots, and branches like vnto the former: but the floures of this are white, and mixed with some purple, and bitter also in taste 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the cods are like the claw of a 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or (as Clusius saith) like the knife which shoo-makers do vse in Flanders; in which cods are contained small reddish seed: this root also is of long continuance. ‡ Clusius doth not say that D^r. Penny found this in the North of England, but in the territorie of Geneua not far from Pontetremile, amongst the bushes, and no where else. ‡

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‡ 3 Hedysarum maius siliquis 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Hatchet Fetch with ioynted cods.

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‡ 4 Securidaca minor pallide caerulea. Small blew floured hatchet Fetch.

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‡ 5 Securidaca minor lutea. Small yellow hatchet Fetch.

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‡ 6 Securidaca siliquis planis 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Indented hatchet Fetch.

‡ 5 This in the stalks, leaues, colour, and shape of the floures is like, yet lesse than the first described; the cods are also smaller, lesser, and more crooked: and herein onely consists the chiefe 〈◊〉〈◊〉, it is an annuall plant, and grows onely in some gardens. Matthiolus, Lobel, Dodonaeus, and other, make this their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or Securidaca minor.

6 This hath many crested branches, whereon great winged leaues, that is, some twentie or more 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to one rib: the floures are like those of the other plants of this kinde; but the cods are of an inch long 〈◊〉〈◊〉, or indented or toothed on their sides. But of what colour the floures and seeds are of it is not exprest by Clusius, who onely set this forth by a picture, and some pieces of a dried plant thereof, which he receiued from Cortusus, by the name of Scolopendria leguminosa, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had it from Honorius Bellus, who obserued it growing vpon the Rocks at 〈◊〉〈◊〉, a citie of Illyria. ‡

7 There is also another sort of Hatchet Fetch, which hath very long and tough branches trai∣ling vpon the ground beset with leaues like the former, but much greater: the floures do grow at the top of the branches, of a pale colour, and turne into rough round and flat cods, fashioned like little bucklers: the root of this (as of the first) dieth at the first approch of winter, as soone as the seed is ripe: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 The stalks of this are stiffe and crested, growing to the height of two cubits, with leaues as large as those of Liquorice: the floures are of a faire bright red colour: the cods are made as it were of many rough buckler-like seeds, or rather seed vessels wherein are contained smal brown seeds. ‡

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‡ 7 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉. French Honysuckle.

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8 Ferrum Equinum. Horse-shoo.

8 Horse-shoo hath many stalks slender and lying vpon the ground: the leaues be thinne, and lesser than those of Axseed: the floures along the stalks are little: after which come vp long 〈◊〉〈◊〉 something broad, and a little bowing; which haue vpon the one side deepe round and indented cuts, like after a sort to an Horse-shoo: the root is somewhat long.

Notes

• † 1.1

  The figure which formerly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the first place, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with the third description that which was in the second place was of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, beeing a kinde of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the cods many together on the tops of the branches, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Germanie: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉〈◊〉.