DESCRIPTIONS OF PLANTS 159 



which quicklie groweth and sendeth forth such broad leaves as 

 aforesaid spread uppon the ground and remaine greene all the 

 winter, sendinge then forth such stalks as is aforesaid. The root 

 is hard woodie sometimes devided into branches yealowe without 

 & groweth deepe into the earth. The whole herbe and root 

 is full of clammie white iuyce like milk, and of a very loathsome 

 stinkinge smell, which on the stalks sometimes turneth into a 

 yealowish gummie matter. 



II This wild stinkinge lettice I found wild on the walls and dry 

 bancks of earth at Southampton. Anno 1618. — MS. f. 99. 



Lactitca agrestis L. 

 Lactuca agrestis. 13 Sept. 1621 



This hath not leaves spread abroad uppon the ground like the 

 former, but riseth uppe presentlie with a small round stiffe stalk 

 prickley only belowe 3, 4 or 5 foot high, devided into very manie 

 branches, whereon growe manie pale greene plaine smooth leaves with 

 many pricks on the midle ribbe on the lower side and also by the 

 edges, the sides or edges are somewhat indented but not at all 

 crisped gashed or devided, sometimes 6 or 7 ynches longe and 

 3 ynches broad or broader, broadest comonly in the midle and 

 narrowe towards the toppe. The flowers are also yealowe like 

 those of the lettice, and turne into a small grey seed with dowrie 

 at the toppe which is caried away by the wind, by the fallinge 

 whereof it encreaseth and sendeth forth other yonge plants, with 

 short tender stalks, which remaine greene all the winter, and in the 

 springe growe uppe as aforesaid. The root is hard threddie and 

 yealowe without. The whole herbe is also full of white, milk-like 

 iuyce and of little or no smell at all, and perisheth when the seed 

 is ripe. — MS. f. 100. 



Oenothera bietmis L. 

 Lysimachia virginiana. 13 Sept. 1621 



This riseth uppe with a stalk about 3 foot high, which is round 

 straked firme hard brittle full of pith within, reddish neare the root, 

 devided into manie branches, and spotted with very small purple 

 spots : whereon growe the leaves out of order without footstalks 

 5 or 6 ynches longe and above an ynch broad e, smooth sharpe 

 pointed verie bluntlie indented about the edges, with a whitish 

 midle ribbe, hott in tast and bitinge the tonge. The flowers are 

 yealowe and growe forth of the bosomes of the leaves neare the 

 topps of the stalk flowringe upwards by degrees, whereby it continueth 

 longe in flowringe, and growe uppon longe tender stems everie 



