Of the Æthiopian apple.
The description.
The apple of Æthiopia hath large leaues of a whitish greene colour, deeply indented about the edges, euen to the middle ribbe, the which middle ribbe is armed with a few sharpe prickles. The flowers be white, consisting of sixe small leaues, with a certaine yellowe pointell in the middle. The fruite is rounde, and bunched with vneuen lobes or bankes lesser then the golden apple, of colour red, and of a firme and solide substance, wherein are conteined small flat seedes. The roote is small and threddie.
The place.
This plant hath been brought vnto vs from out that part of Spain which is called Andalusia, and from other parts of the same countrey also sent into Fraunce and Flaunders: but to what perfection it hath come vnto in those parts I am ignorant. But mine perished at the first approch of winter. But his first originall was from Æthiopia whereof it tooke his name.
The time.
This plant must be sowen as muske Melons, and at the same time; they flower in Iuly, and the fruite is ripe in September.
The names.
In English wee haue thought good to call it the Æthiopian apple, for the reason before alledged: in Latine Mala Æthiopica: of some it hath been thought to be Malinathalla: but the apple of Loue better agreeth with the descriptiō of it.
The temperature.
The temperature agreeth with the apple of Loue.
The vertues.
These apples are not vsed in Phisicke that I can reade of, onely they are vsed for a sauce and seruice vnto rich mens tables to be eaten, being first boiled in the broth of fat flesh with pepper and salt, and haue a lesse hurtfull iuice then either madde apples or golden apples.
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.