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Gerard's Herbal Vol. 1

Gerard's Herbal V1 - CHAP. 111. Of Fool's Stones.

CHAP. 111. Of Fool's Stones.


Fig. 354. Male Fool's Stones (1)

Fig. 355. Female Fool's Stones (2)

 

The Description.

            1. The male Fool's Stones hath five, sometimes six long broad and smooth leaves, not unlike to those of the Lily, saving that they are dashed and spotted in sundry places with black spots and streaks. The flowers grow at the top, tuft or spike fashion, somewhat like the former, but thrust more thick together, in shape like to a fool's hood, or cock's comb, wide open, or gaping before, and as it were crested above, with certain ears standing up by every side, and a small tail or spur hanging down, the backside declining to a violet colour, of a pleasant savour or smell.

            2. The female Fool's Stones have also smooth narrow leaves ribbed with nerves like those of Plantain. The flowers be likewise gaping, and like the former, as it were open hoods, with a little horn or heel hanging behind every one of them, and small green leaves sorted or mixed among them, resembling cock's combs, with little ears, not standing straight up, but lying flat upon the hooded flower, in such sort, that they cannot at the sudden view be perceived. The roots are a pair of small stones like the former. The flowers of this sort do vary infinitely in colour, according to the soil or country where they do grow: some bring forth their flowers of a deep violet colour, some as white as snow; some of a flesh colour, and some garnished with spots of divers colours, which are not possible to be distinguished.

Fig. 356. Lesser Spotted Fool's Stones (3)

            3. This hath narrow spotted leaves, with a stalk some foot or more high, at the top wherof groweth a tuft of purple flowers in shape much like those of the last described, each flower consisting of a little hood, two small wings or side leaves, and a broad lip or leaf hanging down.

The Place.

            These kinds of Fool's Stones do grow naturally to their best liking in pastures and fields that seldom or never are dunged or manured.

The Time.

            They flower in May and June. Their stones are to be gathered for medicine in September, as are those of the Dog's Stones.

The Names.

            1. The first is called Cynosorchis Morio: of Fuchsius, Orchis mas angustifolia: of Apuleius, Satyrion: and also it is the Orchis Delphinia of Cornelius Gemma.

            2. The second is Cynosorchis morio fœmina of Lobel: Orchis angustifolia foemin. of Fuchsius: Testiculus Morionis foemina of Dodonĉus.

            3. This is Cynosorchis minimis & secundum caulem, &c. maculosis foliis, of Lobel.

The Temperature.

            Fool's Stones both male and female are hot and moist of nature.

The Virtues.

            These Fool's Stones are thought to have the virtues of Dog's stones, whereunto they are referred.

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