Of Spinach.
The description (la descripción).
1 Spinach is a kind of Blite after some, notwithstanding I rather take it for a kind of Orach. It bringeth foorth soft and tender leaues of a darke greene colour, full of iuice, sharpe pointed, and in the largest part, or neather end square; parted oftentimes with a deepe gash on either side, next to the stemme or foote stalke: the stalke is rounde, a foote high, hollowe within: on the tops of the braunches stande little flowers in clusters, in whose places doth growe a prickly seede. The roote consisteth of many small threds. 2 There is another sort found in our gardens like vnto the former in goodnesse, as also in shape, sauing that the leaues are not so great nor so deeply gasht or indented: and the seede hath no prickels at all, for which cause it is called round Spinach.
The place (el lugar).
It is sowen in gardens without any great labour or industrie, and forsaketh not any grounde being but indifferent fertill.
The time (la época).
It may be sowen almost at any time of the yeere, but being sowen in the spring it quickly groweth vp; & commeth to perfection within two moneths: but that which is sowen in the fall of the leafe groweth not so soone to perfection, yet continueth all winter and seedeth presently vpon the first spring.
The names (los nombres).
It is called in these daies Spinachia, of some Spinacheum olus: of others Hispanicum olus: Fuchsius nameth it Σπινάκια: the Arabians and Serapio call it Hispane: the Germaines Spinet; in English Spinage and Spinach: in French Espinas.
The temperature (el temperamento).
Spinach is euidently colde and moist, almost in the seconde degree, but rather moist. It is one of the potherbes whose substance is waterie, and almost without taste: and therefore quickly descendeth and looseth the belly.
The vertues (las virtudes).
It is eaten boiled, but it yeeldeth little or no nourishment at all: it is something windie, and easily causeth a desire to vomite, it is vsed in sallades when it is yoong and tender. This herbe of all other pot herbes and sallade herbes, maketh the greatest diuersitie of meates and sallades.
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.