Of Ribwoort.
| 1 Plantago quinqueneruia. Ribwoorte Plantaine. | 2 Plantago quinqueneruia rosea. Rose Ribwoorte. | |--------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------| | | |
The description.
Ribwoorte or small Plantaine, hath many leaues flat spred vpon the ground, narrow, sharpe pointed, and ribbed for the most part with fiue nerues or sinewes, & therefore it was called Quinqueneruia: in the middle of which leaues riseth vp a crested or ribbed stalk, bearing at the top a darke or duskie knap, set with a fewe such white flowers as are the flowers of Wheate. The roote and other parts are like the other Plantaines. 2 Rose Ribwoort hath many broade and long leaues, of a darke greene colour, sharpe pointed and ribbed with fiue nerues or sinewes, like the common Ribwoort: among which rise vp naked stalkes, furrowed, chamfered, or crested with certaine sharpe edges: at the toppe whereof groweth a great and large tuft of such leaues as those are that growe next the grounde, making one entire tuft or vmble, in shape resembling the rose, (whereof I thought good to giue it his surname rose) which is his flower.
The place.
Ribwoort groweth almost euerie where in the borders of path waies, and fertill fieldes. Rose Ribwoort is not very common in any place; notwithstanding it groweth in my garden, and wilde also in the north parts of Englande; and in a fielde neere London by a village called Hoggesdon founde by a learned marchant of London master Iames Cole, a louer of plants, and very skilfull in the knowledge of them.
The time.
They flower and flourish when the other Plantaines do.
The names.
Ribwoorte is called in Greeke πεντάνευρος: in Latin Quinqueneruia, and Lanceola, or Lanceolata: in high Dutch Spitziger wegritch: in French Lanceole: in lowe Dutch Hondts ribbe, that is to saie in Latine Costa canina, or Dogs rib: in English Ribwoort, and Ribwoort Plantaine. The second I haue thought meete to call Rose Ribwoort in English, and Quinqueneruia Rosea in Latine.
The temperature.
Ribwoort is colde and drie in the seconde degree, as are the Plantaines.
The vertues.
The vertues are referred to the kindes of Plantaine.
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.