Of Flote grasse.
| 1 Gramen fluviatile. | 2 Gramen fluviatile spicatum. | | :--- | :--- | | Flote grasse. | Spiked Flote grasse. |
The description.
Flote grasse hath a long and round roote, somewhat thicke like vnto Dogs grasse, set on euery ioint with small strings or threds: from the which riseth vp long and crooked stalks, crossing, winding and folding one within another, with many flaggie leaues, which horses eate greedily of. At the top of these stalks and somewhat lower, there do thrust foorth many tufts or tassels, of an ouerworne reddish colour. 2 Spike Flote grasse, or spiked Flote grasse, beareth at the top of each slender stalke, one spiked eare and no more, and the other many, which maketh a difference betweene them; otherwise they are like one the other. His roote is compact and tufted, and made of many thrummie threds.
The place.
The place and time in which they growe, differeth not from the other Water grasses.
The names.
The first is called Gramen fluviatile, and also Gramen aquis innatans: in English Flote grasse. The second is called Gramen fluviatile spicatum: likewise Flote grasse and Floter grasse, bicause they swim and flote in the water.
The vertues.
Their natures and vertues are as vnprofitable as the rest.
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.