Theatrum Botanicum 
T RIB E 8; 
946 Chap.41. 
mcn t and vet in this have failed much, as you may underhand by this that hath beene (aid: now whether the 
manured or wilde Parfneppe fhould be ‘Diofcorides his EUphebofcum, I incline to thinke rather the wilde than 
the tame, although he faith, it is fweete and fit to be eaten; for as I faid before, evcnthe wilde might begood 
with them, as We have fhewed it to grow wilde with us. Another controverfie there is among many learned 
men whether thisbe the true Sifarum oCSiofcorides or no, in regard that neither he nor any other of the ancients, 
have’given altnofl any touch of forme or leafeor rooteit had, becaufeit was fo familiar and well knowne in 
their time, and fo it falleth out in many other things that were fo common with them, that they thought it need- 
lefih to deferibe them, that they are now moll unknovvnc to the liiccevding times, and to us yet in our time : the 
greateft propability that we have, is that, as Diofcorides faith, Sifarum is pleafant to the pallate, profitable to the 
ilomacke provoking urine, and procuring an appetite if it be boyled (for he doth not fay eaten raw as divers 0- 
t'rer rootes are ) all which agree to the ikirret: but Pliny in fitting forth his Sifer,which affuredly is all one with 
Diofcoridn his Sifarum (heweth plainely that it hath a nerve or firing in the roote, which is to be taken away af¬ 
ter the boylin", that the red may be eaten with the more plealure, and luchhath this Skirrcc and no other roote, 
that either then was or now is edible but it: and therefore there is no doubt but that it is the true Sifarum or Sifer 
of the ancients : the other Ranmlfiw faith is called in Egypt by the Arabians there Secacul as Seerapio did, and 
therefore this may ceafe all controverfies concerning it, that our Parfneppe roote is not Sifer, as it formerly was 
taken, nor our ordinary Sifer neither to be Secacul: the Arabians caWhFifarumauASeifarem: the Italians Sifaro: 
the Spaniards Climb as-, \\',t French Cherny, the Germans Gierlin: 1'ne‘Dmcb Swycherwortclen, that is Sugar roote; 
and we in Englifh Skirtet. 
The Vertues. 
Skirret rootes (for no other part is in ule as 1 know ) being dreffed according to every ones liking doe nourifh 
well but not fo much as the Parfneppe, it being of a ftronger taile, and this more delicate and plealant, and is al- 
fo very wholefomc, yet engendreth a little winde, and provoketh to venery : it doth fomewhat refpeft the Kid- 
nies and bladder by moving to urine, and a little to confume the Hone and gravell in them : and this is all that we 
have learned it to be available: for thole herbes and roots that arc temperate and meftnfed to be eaten,are thelefle 
piiy'fically applied for any difeafe; the other as Rtmwolfiw faith, is uled to be eaten alfo by the (gyptians, as other 
rootes are and is common with cheir. 
Chap. X L I. 
Saxifrnga Pimpinella. Burnet Saxifrage. 
SSMSgagE have foure or five forts of this burner Saxifrage, to (hew you here,fome being ofourownc countrey, 
ffPal anc * lomc °* others, and fome greater or leffer than others. 
(boy A 4*1 1, Pimpinella Saxifrapa hircina major. Great Germane Burnet Saxifrage. 
Vtyr syyn-fi Tills great Burnet Saxifrage ot Germany hath divers large and long ftalkesof winged leaves, one 
awodt.sE j iretf 1 y oppofitc to another on both fides, each being fomewhat broad, alitrle pointed and dented 
about the edges (omewbat deepely, of a frefh grecne colour alrnoit fhining, from among which rife up one or 
more round hollow ftalkes. three lootehigh or more, fit at the joynts, with the like, but leffer leaves, and hea- 
rin atthetoppcsfmallumbells of fmall white flowers, after which come frr.all_blackifh round feede like unto 
Parfley feede,but much hotter in tafte, and fliarper upon the tongue, the roote is fmall long and white, verylike 
unto a Parfley roote, but much hotter in tafle, and perilheth not alter (cede time, but endureth long. 
2. Pimpinella Saxifrage* major flore rubentc, Great Burnet Saxifrage of Germany with a redd ifh flower. 
This fort ditfereth little from the former, either in forme or greatneffe ol leaves or tallneffeof the ilalkes, the 
chiefeft difference confifteth in the flowers whichaiereddifliorofablufh colour. 
3. Pimpinella Saxifrngamajor noflras. Tire greater Englijb Burnet Saxifrage. 
Thegreatcr fort dour Englijb Burnet Saxifrage groweth up in the fame manner that the former dee, the 
forme of w'nofe leaves is all onelikewife, but that they areuiuallynot more than halfe fobiggeor large, and not 
fo deepely dented about the edges, but of a ladder greenc colour; the ftalkes likewife are finalier and flioiter 
than the other, the umbells of flowers are white alfo and the feede lrnall and blackifh, but (harper than the for¬ 
mer : the roote is long and whitifh enduring long. 
4. ‘Pimpinella Saxifrnga hircina minor. The fmaller Burnet Saxifrage of Cjermany, 
This leffer Burnet Saxifrage of Germany hathlikevvilefundry fhorter ftalkes of finer cut leaves by much than the 
former, every one fet againft othcr.being very narrow and much cut in or deepely'dented about the edges, which 
maketh the leafe feemeasif ir were made of many fine cut and jagged leaves fet on both fides of a foote fhlkc, 
which fometimes groweth reddifh, and is veryncere of the fame frefh greene colour that is inthefirft : the 
ftalkes rife as high.almoft, and the umbells of flowers white like the former; the feede alfo is blackifh bu; finalier 
than the former.- the roote is long and white but fmaller, but more hot, quicke and fharpe as the (eede hereof is 
alio. 
5. Pimpinella Saxifraga miner nojlras. The leffer Englijb Burnet Saxifrage. 
Our leffer Eaglifb Burnet Saxifrage hath much finer cut leaves than the laft.fo chat there is not halfe that breadth 
to be feene in them that there is in the leaves of the former, but yet divided after the fame manner, and of as 
darke a greene colour as the greater EngUfh foit; the umbells of flowers arc white, and the leede that folioweth 
fmaller chan of the laft, the roote likewife is fmaller, bur as hot and quicke in tafte as it. 
The Place and Time. 
The Germane kir.des grow as well in their fields, as on the mountaines, and in rockie grounds, and as it is affir- 
rmed unto me by divers in our owne land likewife; the other of our owne land, areufually growing in mod me- 
dowes of this land tobeeafily found of them that know them, and will looke for them, for they lie hid among 
the graffe oftentimes fcarfely to be difeerned : they doe all flower about Inly, and their feede is ripe about the 
end oiAuguft- The Names. 
The ancient Writers neither Greckes nor Latineshadany knowledge of any of thefe plants, but are called of 
the 
