Gerard's Herbal - Part 2
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| Fig. 498. Garden Lettuce (1) |
Fig. 499. Curled Lettuce (2) |
The Kinds.
There be according to the opinion of the ancients, of Lettuce two sorts; the one wild, or of the field; the other tame, or of the garden: but time, with the industry of later writers have found out others both wild and tame, as also artificial, which I purpose to lay down.
The Description.
1. Garden Lettuce hath a long broad leaf, smooth, and of a light green colour: the stalk is round, thick set with leaves full of milky juice, bushed or branched at the top: whereupon do grow yellowish flowers, which turn into down that is carried away with the wind. The seed sticketh fast unto the cottony down, and flieth away likewise, white of colour, and somewhat long: the root hath hanging on it many long tough strings, which being cut or broken, do yield forth in like manner as doth the stalk and leaves, a juice like to milk. And this is the true description of the natural Lettuce, and not of the artificial; for by manuring, transplanting, and having a regard to the moon and other circumstances, the leaves of the artificial Lettuce are oftentimes transformed into another shape: for either they are curled, or else so drawn together, as they seem to be like a Cabbage or headed Colewort, and the leaves which be within and in the midst are something white, tending to a very light yellow.
2. The curled Lettuce hath great and large leaves deeply cut or gashed on both the sides, not plain or smooth as the former, but intricately curled and cut into many sections.The flowers are small, of a bleak colour, the which do turn into down, and is carried away with the wind.The seed is like the former, saving that it changeth sometime into blackness, with a root like unto the former.
3. This small sort of curled Lettuce hath many leaves hacked and torn in pieces very confusedly, and withal curled in such an admirable sort, that every great leaf seemeth to be made of many small leaves set upon one middle rib, resembling a fan of curled feathers used among gentlewomen: the flowers, roots, and seeds agree with the former.
4. The Savoy Lettuce hath very large leaves spread upon the ground, at the first coming up broad, cut or gashed about the edges, crisping or curling lightly this or that way, not unlike to the leaves of Garden Endive, with stalks, flowers and seeds like the former, as well in shape, as yielding that milky juice wherewith they do all abound.
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| Fig. 500. Cabbage Lettuce (5) |
Fig. 501. Lombard Lettuce (6) |
5. Cabbage Lettuce hath many plain and smooth leaves at his first growing up, which for the most part lie flat still upon the ground: the next that do appear are those leaves in the midst, which turn themselves together, embracing each other so closely, that it is formed into that globe or round head, whereof the simplest is not ignorant. The seed hereof is black, contrary to all the rest; which may be as it were a rule whereby ye may know the seed of Cabbage Lettuce from the other sorts.
6. The Lombard Lettuce hath many great leaves spread upon the ground like unto those of the garden Endive, but lesser. The stalks rise up to the height of three foot: the flowers be yellowish, which turn into down and fly away with the wind: the seed is white as snow.
The Place.
Lettuce delighteth to grow, as Palladius saith, in a manured, fat, moist, and dunged ground: it must be sown in fair weather in places where there is plenty of water, as Columella saith, and prospereth best if it be sown very thin.
The Time.
It is certain, saith Palladius, that Lettuce may well be sown at any time or the year, but especially at every first spring, and so soon as winter is done, till summer be well nigh spent.
The Names.
Garden Lettuce is called in Latin, Lactuca sativa: some judge it to be Lactuca, à Lacteo succo, called of the milky juice which issueth forth of the wounded stalks and roots: the Germans name it Lattich: the low Duch, Latouwe: the Spaniards, Lechuga, and Alface: the English, Lettuce: and the French, Laictue. When the leaves of this kind are curled or crumpled, it is named of Pliny, Lactuca crispa: and of Columella, Lactuca Ceciliana: in English, curled or crumpled Lettuce.
The Cabbage Lettuce is commonly called Lactuca capitata, and Lactuca sessilis: Pliny nameth it Lactuca Laconica: Columella, Lactuca bætica: Petrus Crescentius, lactuca Romana: in English, Cabbage Lettuce, and Loved Lettuce.
There is another sort with reddish leaves, called of Columella, Lactuca cypria: in English, Red Lettuce.
The Temperature.
Lettuce is a cold and moist pot-herb, yet not in the extreme degree of cold or moisture, but altogether moderately; for otherwise it were not to be eaten.
The Virtues.
A. Lettuce cooleth the heat of the stomach, called the heart-burning; and helpeth it when it is troubled with choler: it quencheth thirst, causeth sleep, maketh plenty of milk in nurses, who through heat and dryness grow barren and dry of milk: for it breedeth milk by tempering the driness and heat. But in bodies that be naturally cold, it doth not engender milk at all, but is rather an hindrance thereunto.
B. Lettuce maketh a pleasant salad, being eaten raw with vinegar, oil, and a little salt: but if it be boiled it is sooner digested, and nourisheth more.
C. It is served in these days, and in these countries in the beginning of supper, and eaten first before any other meat: which also Martial testifieth to be done in his time, marvelling why some did use it for a service at the end of supper, in these verses.
Claudere quæ cenas Lactucæ solebat avorum,
Dic mihi, cur nostras incohat illa dapes?
Tell me why Lettuce, which our grandsires last did eat,
Is now of late become, to be the first of meat?
[Martial, Epigrams book XIII. Ep.14]
D. Notwithstanding it may now and then be eaten at both those times to the health of the body: for being taken before meat it doth many times stir up appetite: and eaten after supper it keepeth away drunkenness which cometh by the wine; and that is by reason that it stayeth the vapors from rising up into the head.
E. The juice which is made in the veins by Lettuce is moist and cold, yet not ill, nor much in quantity: Galen affirmeth that it doth neither bind the belly nor loose it, for it hath in it no harshness nor styptic quality by which the belly is stayed, neither is there in it any sharp or biting faculty, which scoureth and provoketh to the stool.
F. But howsoever Galen writeth this, and howsoever the same wanteth these qualities, yet it is found by experience, that it maketh the body soluble, especially if it be boiled; for by moistening of the belly it maketh it the more slippery: which Martial very well knew, writing in his 11th book of Epigrams in this manner:
Prima tibi dabitur; ventri Lactuca movendo
Utilis.
First you will be given letuce useful for moving the bowels.
[Martial, Epigrams book XI. Ep. 52]
G. Lettuce being outwardly applied mitigateth all inflammations; it is good for burnings and scaldings, if it be laid thereon with salt before the blisters do appear, as Pliny writeth.
H. The juice of Lettuce cooleth and quencheth the natural seed if it be too much used, but procureth sleep.
