The Description.

1. Laurus tinus, or the wild Bay tree, groweth like a shrub or hedge bush, having many tough and pliant branches, set full of leaves very like to the Bay leaves, but smaller and more crumpled, of a deep and shining green colour: among which come forth tufts of whitish flowers, turning at the edges into a light purple: after which follow small berries of a blue colour, containing a few grains or seeds like the stones or seeds of grapes: the leaves and all the parts of the plant are altogether without smell or savour.

2. Tinus lusitanica groweth very like to Cornus fœmina, or the Dog-berry tree, but the branches be thicker, and more stiff, covered with a reddish bark mixed with green: the leaves are like the former, but larger, having many sinews or veins running through the same like as in the leaves of Sage: the flowers hereof grow in tufts like the precedent, but they are of colour more declining to purple: the small branches are likewise of a purple colour: the leaves have no smell at all, either good or bad: the berries are smaller than the former, of a blue colour declining to blackness.

The Place.

The Wild Bay groweth plentifully in every field of Italy, Spain, and other regions, which differ according to the nature and situation of those countries: they grow in my garden and prosper very well.

The Time.

The wild Laurel is evergreen, and may oftentimes be seen most part of the winter, and the beginning of the spring, with the flowers and ripe berries growing both at one season.

The Names.

It is called in Latin Tinus, and Laurus sylvestris: Cato nameth it Laurus sylvatica: in Italian, Lauro sylvatico: in Spanish, Uva de Perro, otherwise Follado; and of divers, Durillo: in English Wild Bay.

The Temperature and Virtues.

Pliny nor any other of the ancients have touched the faculties of this Wild Bay, neither have we any understanding thereof by the later writers, or by our own experience.