1534 
Of the Hiftoric of Plants. L i b. 
thereof from all herbes, trees, and floures,and the inhabitants of that country, do as diligently fcek 
for this Lacca,as we in England and other countries feeke in the woods for home- which Lacca af 
ter they haue found, they take from the tree, and dry it intoa Iump ; among which fometimes there 
come ouer fomc flicks and pieces of the tree with the wings of the Ants, which haue fallen among- 
ic,as we daily fee. ° 
* The Indian Lacke or Lake which is the rich colour vfed by Painters, is none of that which is 
vfed in fliops, nor here figured or deferibed by Cltiput, wherefore our Author was much miftaken in 
that he here confounds together things fo different ; for this is of a refinous fubftance, anda faint 
red colour, and wholly vnfit for Painters, but vfed alone and in compofition to make the beft hard 
fealingwax. The other feemes to be an artificial! thing, andisofanexquifire crimfon colour 
but of what it is, or how made, I haue not as yet found any thing that carries any probability of 
truth, i 
V The Place. 
The tree which beareth Laccagroweth in Zeilanand Malauar, and in other parts of the Eaft 
Indies. 
The Time. 
Of the time we haue no certaine knowledge. 
f The Names. 
Indian Lacke is called in fhops Lacca : in Italian, Lachetta : Auicen calleth it Luch ■ Paul ns and 
Diefcorides, as feme haue thought, Cancamum ■ the other names are exprefled in die deferiptio*. ' 
The Temperature and Venues. 
A Lack or Lacca is hr|C in the fecond degree.it comforteth the heart and liuer, openeth obftruAi: 
ons,expellethvrine,and preuailethagainftthedropfie. * 
B There is an artificiall Lack made of the ferapings of Brafill and Saffron, which is vfed of Pain-' 
ers,and not to be vfed in Phyficke as the other naturall Lacca. 
Chap. 1451. Of the Indian leafe. 
Tamalapatra, 
The Indian leafe. 
% The Dejcription. 
T Amalapatra , or the Indian leafe grows vpori 
a great tree like the Orenge tree, with like 
leaues alfo, but broader, a little fharp pointed, 
ofagreene gliftering colour, and three fmall 
ribs running through each leafe, after the man- 
ner of Ribwort, wherby it is eafie to be known : 
it fmelleth fomewhat like vnto Cloues, but 
notfb ftrongas Spikenard or Mace (as Ibme 
haue deemed)nor yet of fo fub till and quick a 
fent as Cinnamon. There was fent or added 
vnto this figure by Cortufus a certaine fruit like 
vnto a fmall Acorn, with this infeription, Fru- 
Buf CanclU, the fruit of the Canell tree, which 
may be doubted of, confidering the deferipti- 
on of the forenamed tree holden generally of 
moft to be perfeft. 
The Place. 
The Indian leafe groweth not fleeting vpon 
the water like vnto Lenspaluftris, as Diofcsndes 
and Pliny do fet downe, ( though learned and 
painfull writers) but is the leafe of a great tree, 
a branch whereof wee haue fet forth vnto your 
view, which groweth in Arabia and Cambaya, 
from the water fide. 
The Time* 
Ofthe time we haue no certain knowledge, 
but it is fuppofed to be green winter and forti- 
mer. 
f The 
