Of Goates stones.
The kindes.
There be three sorts or kinds of Goates stones, which differ from the others before mentioned, as well in shape of flowers, as also in the ranknes or lothsomnes of smell. The last of the three is thought to be the true and right Tragorchis, according to the best approued opinions: notwithstanding among themselues there is great contention for senioritie, as also for stature and personage; some hauing leaues like vnto the Lillie; others resembling those of the great Plantaine; some bringing foorth flowers of a perfect purple colour; others white, and some of mixt colours: the which to distinguish particularly were too small purpose, considering the great haruest we haue in hand. | 1 Tragorchis maximus. | 2 Tragorchis. | | :--- | :--- | | The greatest Goates stones. | The male Goate stones. |
The description.
1 THe greatest of the Goates stones, bringeth foorth narrow leaues, ribbed in some sort like vnto the broad leafed Plantaine, but larger. The stalke groweth to the height of halfe a cubit, set with such great leaues euen to the top of the stalke by equall distances. The tuft or bush of flowers be small and flat open, with many tender strings or laces comming from the middle part of those small flowers, crookedly tangling one with another, like the small tendrels of the vine, or rather the laces or strings that growe vpon the herbe Sauorie. The whole flower consisteth of a purple colour. The roots are like the rest of the Orchides, but greater. 2 The male Goate stones hath leaues like to those of the garden Lillie, with a stalke a foote long, wrapped about euen to the tuft of the flowers with those his leaues. The flowers which growe in this bush or tuft be very small, in forme like vnto a lizard, bicause of the twisted or writhen tailes and spotted heads: euery of these small flowers is at the first like a round close huske, of the bignes of a pease, which when it openeth there commeth out of it a little long and tender spur or taile, white toward the setting of it to the flower, the rest spotted with red dashes, hauing vpon ech side a small thing adioined vnto it, like to a little legge or foote; the rest of the said taile is twisted crookedly about, and hangeth downwarde. The whole plant hath a rancke and stinking smell or sauor like the smell of a goate, whereof it tooke his name. 3 The female Goate stones hath leaues like the male kind, sauing that they be much smaller, hauing many flowers on the tuft, resembling flies that feede vpon flesh. The stones or rootes are like the former. 3 Tragorchis fœmina. The female Goate stones.
The place.
These kinds of Goates stones delight to grow in fat clay grounds, and seldom in any other soile to be found.
The time.
They flower in Maie and Iune, with the other kinds of Orchis.
The names.
The Grecians haue named these kindes of Goate stones τραγόρχις: in Latine Testiculus Hircinus, and also Orchis Saurodes, or Scincophora: in English great Goate stones. The second Tragorchis mas, male Goates stones. The third Tragorchis fœmina, or Coriosmites, and of some Coriophora: in English female Gotes stones.
The vertues.
The temperature and vertues of these are referred to the Foole stones, notwithstanding they are seldome or neuer vsed in phisick, in regarde of the stinking and lothsome smell and sauour they are possessed with.
Text in Gerard's own spelling (the long s is printed as s), transcribed by the Source Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). A chapter may run onto pages not yet transcribed. Gerard wrote within Galenic medicine; nothing here is advice.