64
HISTORY OF ESSEX BOTANY.
There is also an elm, probably Ulmus montana Stokes, what
is probably Angelica sylvestris L., two or three species of Flax,
and "five kindes of Cuckowe flowers or Ladie smockes."
About 17 of Gerard's Essex records seem to be the first
British notices of the species, viz. :—
Mathiola sinuata R.Br. Populus alba L.
Althaea officinalis L. Cephalanthera ensifolia Rich.
Melilotus officinalis Lam. C. pallens Rich.
Potentilla palustris Scop. Asparagus officinalis L.
Rosa spinosissima L. Convallaria majalis L.
Diotis candidissima Desf. Poa annua L.
Statice limonium L. Asplenium marinum L.
Cynoglossom germanicum Jacq. A. ruta-muraria L.
Atriplex laciniata L.
Nearly all the species are illustrated by figures, some quite
indistinguishable, others wrongly assigned, but some remarkably
good. As Gerard's Herball is now a rare work, and a good deal
of interest attaches to these early records and the identification
of the species intended, I propose transcribing all the passages
referring to Essex plants, adding modern names and a few notes.
They run as follows :—
p. 4. " Gramen minimum album. The white Dwarfe grasse ....
doth grow very plentifully among the hop gardens in Essex." [Poa annua L.]
Hops are still much grown in the Colne valley, and Poa annua
is still a common weed.
p. 100. " Hyacinthus albus Anglicus. White English Hare-bels or Iacint
and . , another sort which hath flowers of a faire carnation colour . .
grow in the woods by Colchester in Essex." [Scilla festalis Salisb.]
p. 124. " Common, or the best knowne Saffron groweth plentifully in
Cambridgeshire, Saffron Walden and other places thereabout, as corne in the
fieldes." [Crocus sativus L.]
p. 168. " Orchis Frisia & Orchis Leodinensis, Friezland Ladie traces and
Liege Ladie traces . . . The yellow kinds growe in barren pastures and
borders of fields about Ouenden and Clare in Essex. Likewise neere unto
Muche Dunmowe in Essex, where they were shewed me by a learned gentleman
master James Twaights, excellently well seene in the knowledge of plants."
Gyrostachis autumnalis Dum.]
p. 187. " Dittander is planted in gardens, and is to be found wild also in
England in sundrie places, as at Clare by Ouenden in Essex." [Lepidium
latifolium L.]