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Herbals, Their Origin and Evolution: a Chapter in the History of Botany 1470-1670

by Agnes Robertson Arber

By Agnes Robertson Arber · Science · Public domain

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Herbals, Their Origin and Evolution: a Chapter in the History of Botany 1470-1670 is a public-domain classic of science by Agnes Robertson Arber.

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Agnes Robertson Arber
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Book 241

INDEX 247

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

FRONTISPIECE

Leonhard Fuchs (1501-1566) [Engraving by Speckle in De historia stirpium, 1542]

PLATES

PLATE Face page

I. “Sonchos” [Dioscorides. Codex Aniciæ Julianæ. circa A.D. 500]. Reduced 4

II. “Stratiotes” [Dioscorides. Codex Aniciæ Julianæ. circa A.D. 500]. Reduced 8

III. Wood-cut of Plants [Konrad von Megenberg. Das půch der natur. 1475]. Reduced 10

IV. “Orbicularis” [Herbarium Apuleii Platonici. ? 1484]. (The tint represents colouring, which was probably contemporary) 12

V. “Mandragora” = Mandrake [Herbarium Apuleii Platonici. ? 1484]. (The tint represents colouring, which was probably contemporary) 34

VI. Joachim Camerarius, the younger (1534-1598) [Engraving by Bartholomæus Kilian. Probably between 1650 and 1700. Department of Prints and Drawings, British Museum] 68

VII. Charles de l’Écluse (1526-1609) [Print in the Botany School, Cambridge] 74

VIII. Mathias de l’Obel (1538-1616) [Engraving by François Dellarame. 1615. Department of Prints and Drawings, British Museum] 78

IX. Fabio Colonna (1567-1650) [Ekphrasis. 1606] 88

X. Konrad Gesner (1516-1565) [Print in the Botany School, Cambridge] 92

XI. Gaspard Bauhin (1560-1624) [Theatrum Anatomicum. 1605] 94

XII. John Gerard (1545-1607) [The Herball. 1636] 108

XIII. John Parkinson (1567-1650) [Theatrum botanicum. 1640] 114

XIV. Andrea Cesalpino (1519-1603) [Drawn by G. Zocchi and engraved by F. Allegrini, 1765, after an old portrait in the Museum of the Botanic Garden at Pisa. Print in the Botany School, Cambridge] 116

XV. “Phasiolos” = Bean [Dioscorides. Codex Aniciæ Julianæ. circa A.D. 500]. Reduced 154

XVI. “Dracontea” [Herbarium Apuleii Platonici. ? 1484]. (The tint represents colouring, which was probably contemporary) 156

XVII. Study of Aquilegia vulgaris L., Columbine [Albrecht Dürer, 1526. Drawing in the Albertina, Vienna]. Reduced 168

XVIII. Study of Ornithogalum umbellatum L., Star of Bethlehem, and other plants [Leonardo da Vinci. 1452-1519. Drawing in the Royal Library, Windsor]. Reduced 170

XIX. “Crocus Byzantinus” and “Crocus Montanus hispan.” [Part of a plate from Crispian de Passe. Hortus Floridus. 1614] 202

XX. “Cervaria fœmina” [Thurneisser. Historia sive Descriptio Plantarum. 1587] 216

XXI. Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1654) [A Physicall Directory. 1649. Engraving by Cross] 218

FIGURES IN THE TEXT

TEXT-FIG. PAGE

1. “Plantago” = Plantain [Herbarium Apuleii Platonici, ? 1484] 12

2. “Artemisia” [Herbarium Apuleii Platonici, ? 1484] 13

3. “Lilium” [Herbarius Moguntinus, 1484] 14

4. “Aristolochia longa” [Herbarius Moguntinus, 1484] 15

5. “Serpentaria” [Herbarius Moguntinus, 1484] 16

6. “Brionia” [Arnaldus de Villa Nova, Tractatus de virtutibus herbarum, 1499] 17

7. “Acorus” = Iris [Herbarius zu Teutsch, Mainz, 1485] 23

8. “Leopardus” [Ortus Sanitatis, Mainz, 1491] 25

9. “Daucus” = Carrot [Ortus Sanitatis, Mainz, 1491] 26

10. “Passer” = Sparrow [Ortus Sanitatis, Mainz, 1491] 27

11. “Pavo” = Peacock [Ortus Sanitatis, Mainz, 1491] 27

12. “Arbor vel lignum vite paradisi” [Ortus Sanitatis, Mainz, 1491] 28

13. “Narcissus” [Ortus Sanitatis, Mainz, 1491] 29

14. “Bauser vel Bausor” [Ortus Sanitatis, Mainz, 1491] 30

15. “Panis” = Bread [Ortus Sanitatis, Mainz, 1491] 31

16. “Ambra” = Amber [Ortus Sanitatis, Mainz, 1491] 32

17. “Unicornus” [Ortus Sanitatis, Mainz, 1491] 33

18. A Herbalist’s Garden [Le Jardin de Santé, ? 1539] 34

19. Wood-cut of Plants [Bartholomæus Anglicus, Liber de proprietatibus rerum, Wynkyn de Worde, ? 1495]. Reduced 37

20. “Yvery” = Ivory [The Grete Herball, 1529] 42

21. “Nenufar” = Waterlily [The Grete Herball, 1529] 44

22. “Walwurtz männlin” = Symphytum, Comfrey [Brunfels, Herbarum vivæ eicones, Vol. I. 1530]. Reduced 48

23. “Helleborus Niger” = Helleborus viridis L., Green Hellebore [Brunfels, Herbarum vivæ eicones, Vol. I. 1530]. Reduced 49

24. “Synnaw” = Alchemilla, Ladies’ Mantle [Brunfels, Herbarum vivæ eicones, Vol. ii. 1531]. Reduced 51

25. “Caryophyllata” = Geum, Avens [Brunfels, Herbarum vivæ eicones, Vol. iii. 1540]. Reduced 52

26. Hieronymus Bock or Tragus (1498-1554) [Kreuter Bůch, 1551] 53

27. “Erdberen” = Fragaria, Strawberry [Bock, Kreuter Bůch, 1546] 54

28. “Pimpernuss” = Pistacia, Pistachio-nut [Bock, Kreuter Bůch, 1546] 56

29. “Tribulus aquaticus” = Trapa natans L., Bull-nut [Bock, De stirpium, 1552] 57

30. “Brassicæ quartum genus” = Cabbage [Fuchs, De historia stirpium, 1542]. Reduced 59

31. “Polygonatum latifolium” = Solomon’s Seal [Fuchs, De historia stirpium, 1542]. Reduced 61

32. “Cucumis turcicus” = Cucurbita maxima Duch., Giant Pumpkin [Fuchs, De historia stirpium, 1542]. Reduced 63

33. “Erdöpffel” = Ranunculus ficaria L., Lesser Celandine [Rhodion, Kreutterbůch, 1533] 65

34. “Ocimoides fruticosum” = Silene fruticosa L. [Camerarius, Hortus medicus, 1588] 67

35. “Palma” = Seedlings of Phœnix dactylifera L., Date Palm [Camerarius, Hortus medicus, 1588] 69

36. Rembert Dodoens (1517-1585) [A Niewe Herball. Translated by Lyte, 1578] 71

37. “Capparis” = Capparis ovata L. [Dodoens, Pemptades, 1583] 73

38. “Anemone trifolia” [Dodoens, Pemptades, 1583] 75

39. “Lacryma Iob” = Coix lachryma-Jobi L., Job’s Tears [de l’Écluse, Rariorum ... per Hispanias, 1576] 77

40. Pierandrea Mattioli (1501-1577) [Engraving by Philippe Galle, Virorum Doctorum Effigies, Antwerp, 1572] 80

41. “Pyra” = Pyrus communis L., Pear [Mattioli, Commentarii, 1560] 81

42. “Avena” = Oats [Mattioli, Commentarii, 1560] 82

43. “Trifolium acetosum” = Oxalis [Mattioli, Commentarii, 1565]. Reduced 83

44. “Malus” = Pyrus malus L., Apple [Mattioli, Commentarii, 1565]. Reduced 84

45. “Arbor Malenconico” or “Arbor tristis” = Tree of Sorrow [Durante, Herbario Nuovo, 1585] 86

46. “Apocynum” [Colonna, Phytobasanos, 1592] 87

47. “Kalli” = Salicornia, Glasswort [Prospero Alpino, De plantis Ægypti, 1592] 89

48. “Lachryma Iob” = Coix lachryma-Jobi L., Job’s Tears [Simler, Vita Conradi Gesneri, 1566] 91

49. “Solanum tuberosum esculentum” = Potato [Bauhin, Prodromos, 1620] 95

50. Jacques d’Aléchamps (1513-1588) [Wood-cut, circa 1600, Department of Prints and Drawings, British Museum]. Enlarged 97

51. “Ornithogalum magnum” [d’Aléchamps, Historia generalis plantarum, 1586] 99

52. “Tabaco” = Nicotiana, Tobacco [Monardes, Joyfull newes out of the newe founde worlde, 1580] 105

53. “Reubarbe” = Centaurea rhaponticum L. [Lyte, A Niewe Herball, 1578] 107

54. “The breede of Barnakles” [Gerard, The Herball, 1597] 111

55. “Barberry” = Berberis [Part of a large wood-cut from Parkinson, Paradisus Terrestris, 1629] 114

56. “Cardamomum” = (?) Solanum dulcamara L., Bittersweet [Ortus Sanitatis, Mainz, 1491] 121

57. “Pionia” = Peony [Arnaldus de Villa Nova, Tractatus de virtutibus herbarum, 1499] 123

58. “Petasites” = Butterbur [Fuchs, De historia stirpium, 1542]. Reduced 126

59. “Sedum majus” [de l’Écluse, Rariorum per Hispanias, 1576] 128

60. “Battata Virginiana” = Solanum tuberosum L., Potato [Gerard, The Herball, 1597] 129

61. “Rose Ribwoorte” = an abnormal Plantain [Gerard, The Herball, 1597] 131

62. “Beta Cretica semine aculeato” [Bauhin, Prodromos, 1620] 132

63. “Carui” [Ortus Sanitatis, Mainz, 1491] 135

64. “Buglossa” [Ortus Sanitatis, Mainz, 1491] 137

65. “Nenufar” = Waterlily [Arnaldus de Villa Nova, Tractatus de virtutibus herbarum, 1499] 139

66. “Nenuphar” = Nymphæa alba L., White Waterlily [Brunfels, Herbarum vivæ eicones, Vol. I. 1530]. Reduced 141

67. “Gele Plompen” = Nuphar luteum Sm., Yellow Waterlily [de l’Obel, Kruydtbœck, 1581] 142

68. “Ninfea” = Waterlily [Durante, Herbario Nuovo, 1585] 144

69. “Tussilago” = Tussilago farfara L., Coltsfoot [Fuchs, De historia stirpium, 1542]. Reduced 147

70. “Plantago major” = Plantain [Fuchs, De historia stirpium, 1542]. Reduced 149

71. “Althæa Thuringica” = Lavatera thuringiaca L. [Camerarius, Hortus medicus, 1588] 150

72. “Pulsatilla” = Anemone pulsatilla L., Pasque-flower [Camerarius, De plantis Epitome Matthioli, 1586] 152

73. “Brionia” [Herbarius Moguntinus, 1484] 158

74. “Ireos vel Iris” [Arnaldus de Villa Nova, Tractatus de virtutibus herbarum, 1499] 159

75. “Capillus Veneris” = Maidenhair Fern [Arnaldus de Villa Nova, Tractatus de virtutibus herbarum, 1499] 160

76. “Cuscuta” = Dodder [Arnaldus de Villa Nova, Tractatus de virtutibus herbarum, 1499] 161

77. “Cuscuta” = Dodder [Herbarius zu Teutsch, Mainz, 1485] 163

78. “Alkekengi” = Physalis, Winter Cherry [Herbarius zu Teutsch, Mainz, 1485] 164

79. “Alkekengi” = Physalis, Winter Cherry [Ortus Sanitatis, Mainz, 1491] 165

80. “Cuscuta” = Dodder [Ortus Sanitatis, Mainz, 1491] 166

81. “Botris” [Ortus Sanitatis, Mainz, 1491] 167

82. “Asarum” = Asarabacca [Brunfels, Herbarum vivæ eicones, Vol. I. 1530]. Reduced 169

83. “Kuchenschell” = Anemone pulsatilla L., Pasque-flower [Brunfels, Herbarum vivæ eicones, Vol. I. 1530]. Reduced 171

84. “Lappa” = Arctium, Burdock [Brunfels, Herbarum vivæ eicones, Vol. II. 1531]. Reduced 173

85. “Scolopendria” = Hart’s-tongue Fern [Rhodion, Kreutterbůch, 1533] 174

86. “Dipsacus albus” = Teasle [Fuchs, De historia stirpium, 1542]. Reduced 176

87. “Apios” = Lathyrus tuberosus L., Earth-nut Pea [Fuchs, De historia stirpium, 1542]. Reduced 178

88. “Arum” = Arum maculatum L., Wild Arum [Fuchs, De historia stirpium, 1542]. Reduced 179

89. The Draughtsmen and Engraver employed by Leonhard Fuchs [De historia stirpium, 1542]. Reduced 181

90. “Wintergrün” = Pyrola, Wintergreen [Bock, Kreuter Bůch, 1546] 182

91. “Rautten” = Botrychium, Moonwort [Bock, Kreuter Bůch, 1546] 183

92. “Castanum nuss” = Castanea, Chestnut [Bock, Kreuter Bůch, 1546] 184

93. “Fungi” = Toadstools [Mattioli, Commentarii, 1560]. Reduced 185

94. “Rosaceum” [Mattioli, Commentarii, 1560]. Reduced 186

95. “Suber primus” [Mattioli, Commentarii, 1565]. Reduced 187

96. “Tragorchis” = Orchis hircina L., Lizard Orchis [Dodoens, Pemptades, 1583] 188

97. “Aconitum luteum minus” = Eranthis hiemalis L., Winter Aconite [Dodoens, Pemptades, 1583] 189

98. “Draco arbor” = Dracæna, Dragon Tree [de l’Écluse, Rariorum ... per Hispanias, 1576] 191

99. “Cyclaminus” [Camerarius, De plantis Epitome ... Matthioli, 1586] 192

100. “Rosa Hierichuntica” = Anastatica hierochuntica L., Rose of Jericho [Camerarius, Hortus medicus, 1588] 193

101. “Piper Nigrum” = Pepper [d’Aléchamps, Historia generalis plantarum, Vol. II. 1587] 194

102. “Cedrus” = Cedar [Belon, De arboribus, 1553] 195

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