The Description.

            1. The plant which is commonly called Olus album, or the white pot-herb (which of some hath been set out for a kind of Valerian, but unproperly, for that it doth very notably reserable the Lettuce, as well in form, as in meat to be eaten, which property is not to be found in Valerian, and therefore by reason and authority I place it as a kind of Lettuce) hath many slender weak stalks trailing upon the ground, with certain edges a foot high when it grows in most fertile ground; otherwise a hand or two high, with sundry joints or knees: out of every one whereof grow a couple of leaves narrow and long, not unlike to Lettuce at the first coming up, as well in tenderness as taste in eating; and on the top of the stalks stand upon a broad tuft as it were certain white flowers that be marvellous little, which can scarcely be known to be flowers, saving that they grow many together like a tuft or umbel: it hath instead of roots a few slender threads like unto hairs.

            2. The other kind of Lettuce, which Dodonæus in his last edition setteth forth under the name of Album olus: the Low Country men call it Witmoes, and use it for their meat called wermose; with us, loblolly. This plant hath small long leaves a finger broad, of a pale green colour; among which shooteth up a small cornered and slender stem half a foot high, jointed with two or three joints or knees, out of which proceed two leaves longer than the first, bearing at the top of the branches tufts of very small white flowers closely compact together, with a root like the former.

            Both these are of one plant, differing in the bigness and broadness of the leaf and the whole plant besides.

The Place.

            These herbs grow wild in the corn fields, and since it hath grown in use among the French and Dutch strangers in England, it hath been sown in gardens as a salad herb.

The Time.

            They are found green almost all winter and summer.

The Names.

            The Dutch-men do call it Wytmoes; that is to say, Album olus ["White vegetable"]: of some it is called Ueltcrop: the French term it Salade de Chanoine: it may be called in English, The White Pot-herb, but commonly, Corn Salad.

The Temperature and Virtues.

            This herb is cold and something moist, and not unlike in faculty and temperature to the garden Lettuce; in stead whereof, in winter and in the first months of the spring it serves for a salad herb, and is with pleasure eaten with vinegar, salt and oil, as other salads be, among which it is none of the worst.