Of Tarragon.
The description (la descripción).
TArragon the sallade herbe, hath long and narrowe leaues, of a deepe greene colour, greater and longer than those of common Hyssope, with slender brittle rounde stalkes, two cubites high: about the branches whereof, hang little rounde flowers, neuer perfectly opened, of a yellowe colour mixed with blacke, like those of common Wormewoode. The roote is long and fibrous, creeping farre abroad vnder the earth, as doe the rootes of Couch-grasse, by which sprouting foorth it increaseth, yeelding no seede at all, but as it were a certaine chaffie or dustie matter that flieth away with the winde.
The place (el lugar).
Tarragon is cherished in gardens, and is encreased by the yoong shootes: Ruellius and such others haue reported many strange tales hereof, scarse worth the noting, saying that the seede of flaxe put into a radish roote or sea Onion, and so set doth bring foorth that herbe Tarragon.
The time (la época).
It is greene all summer long, and a great part of Autumne, and flowreth in Iulie.
The names (los nombres).
It is named in Latine Draco: of the Italians Dragoncellum: in French Dragon: in English Tarragon. It is thought to be that Tarcon which Auicenne mentioneth in his 686. chapter, but he writeth so little thereof, as that nothing can certainly be affirmed of it. Moreouer it is written, that with Tarragon, which is also named in Greeke ταρχών, wherewith Glaucus was restored to life.
The temperature (el temperamento).
Tarragon is hot and drie in the thirde degree.
The vertues (las virtudes).
Tarragon is not to be eaten alone in sallades, but ioyned with other herbes, as lettuce, purslaine, and such like, that it may also temper the coldnes of them, like as Rocket doth, neither do we knowe what other vse this herbe hath.
Texto en la ortografía original de Gerard, en inglés de 1597 (la s larga se imprime como s), transcrito por la Source Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). Un capítulo puede continuar en páginas aún no transcritas. Gerard escribía dentro de la medicina galénica; nada de esto es un consejo.