¶ The Description.
1 THe great Bistort hath long leaues much like Patience, but smaller, and more wrinkled or crumpled, on the vpper side of a darke greene, and vnderneath of a blewish greene colour, much like Woad. The stalke is long, smooth, and tender, hauing at the top a spiked knap or eare, set full of small whitish floures declining to carnation. The root is all in a lumpe, without fashion; within of a reddish colour like vnto flesh, in taste like the kernell of an Acorne.
2 The small Bistort hath leaues about three inches long, and of the bredth of a mans naile; the vpper side is of a greene colour, and vnderneath of an ouerworne greenish colour: amongst the which riseth vp a stalke of the height of a spanne, full of ioynts or knees, bearing at the top such floures as the great Bistort beareth; which being fallen, the seeds appeare of the bignes of a tare, reddish of colour, euery seed hauing one small greene leafe fastned thereunto, with many such leaues thrust in among the whole bunch of floures and seed. The root is tuberous like the other, but smaller, and not so much crooked.
3 Broad leaued Snake-weed hath many large vneuen leaues, smooth and very greene; among which rise vp small brittle stalkes of two hands high, bearing at the top a faire spike of floures like vnto the great Bistort. The root is knobby or bunched, crookedly turned or wrythed this way and that way, whereof it tooke his name Bistorta. ‡ It differs from the first onely in that the root is somewhat more twined in, and the leaues broader and more crumpled. ‡