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.

THough Dioscorides hath not expressed the Oxalides by that name, yet none ought to doubt but that they were taken and accounted as the fourth kinde of Lapathum. For though some

like it not well that the seed should be said to be Drimus; yet that is to be vnderstood according to the common phrase, when acride things are confounded with those which be sharpe and soure; else we might accuse him of such ignorance as is not amongst the simplest women. Moreouer, the word Oxys doth not onely signifie the leafe, but the sauour and tartnesse, which by a figure drawne from the sharpnesse of kniues edges is therefore called sharpe: for 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifieth a sharpe or sourc iuyce which pierceth the tongue like a sharpe knife: whereupon also Lapathum may be cal∣led Oxalis, as it is indeed. The leaues of this are thinner, tenderer, and more vnctuous than those of Lapatium acutum, broader next to the stem, horned and crested like Spinage and Atriplex. The stalke is much streaked, reddish, and full of iuyce: the root is yellow and 〈◊〉〈◊〉; the seed sharpe, cornered and shining, growing in chaffie huskes like the other Docks.

2 The second kinde of Oxalis or Sorrell hath large leaues like Patience, confusedly growing together vpon a great tall stalke, at the top whereof grow tufts of a chaffie substance. The root is tuberous, much like the Peonie, or rather Filipendula, fastned to the lower part of the stem with small long strings and laces.

3 The third kinde of Sorrell groweth very small, branching hither and thither, taking hold (by new shoots) of the ground where it groweth, whereby it disperseth it selfe far abroad. The leaues are little and thin, hauing two small leaues like eares fastned thereto, in shew like the herbe Sagittaria: the seed in taste is like the other of his kinde.

4 The fourth kinde of Sorrell hath leaues somewhat round and cornered, of a whiter colour than the ordinarie, and hauing two short eares anexed vnto the same. The seed and root in taste is like the other Sorrels.

[illustration]

3 Oxalis tenuifolia. Sheepes Sorrell.

[illustration]

4 Oxalis Franca seu Romana. Round leaued, or French Sorrel.

5 This kinde of curled Sorrell is a stranger in England, and hath very long leaues, in shape like the garden Sorrell, but curled and crumpled about the edges as is the curled Colewort. The stalke riseth vp among the leaues, set here and there with the like leaues, but lesser. The floures, seeds, and roots are like the common Sorrell or soure Docke.

6 The small Sorrell that groweth vpon dry barren sandy ditch-banks, hath small grassy leaues somewhat forked or crossed ouer like the crosse hilt of a rapier. The stalkes rise vp amongst the leaues, small, weake, and tender, of the same soure taste that the leaues are of. The floure, seed, and root is like the other Sorrels, but altogether lesser.

[illustration]

6 Oxalis minor. Small Sorrell.

7 The smallest sort of Sorrell is like vnto the pre∣cedent, sauing that the lowest leaues that ly vpon the ground be somewhat round, and without the little eares that the other hath, which setteth forth the diffe∣rence.

‡ 8 There is also kept in some gardens a verie large sorrel, hauing leaues thicke, whitish, and as large as an ordinarie Docke, yet shaped like Sorrell, and of the same acide taste. The stalkes and seed are like those of the ordinary, yet whiter coloured. ‡