Gerard's Herbal - Part 3
Fig. 1018. Kinds of Horse or Water-Mint (1-4)
The Description.
1. Water-Mint is a kind of wild Mint, it is like to the first garden Mint, the leaves thereof are round, the stalks cornered, both the leaves and stalks are of a dark red colour: the roots creep far abroad, but every part is greater, and the herb itself is of a stronger smell: the flowers in the tops of the branches are gathered together into a round ear, of a purple colour.
2. The second kind of Water-Mint in each respect is like the others, saving that the same hath a more odoriferous savour being lightly touched with the hand: otherwise being hardly touched, the savour is over hot to smell unto: it beareth his flowers in sundry tufts or roundels engirting the stalks in many places; and they are of a light purple colour: the leaves are also less than those of the former, and of n hoary grey colour.
3. This common Horse-Mint hath creeping roots like as the other Mints, from which proceed stalks partly leaning, and partly growing upright: the leaves are pretty large, thick, wrinkled, hoary and rough both above and below, and lightly snipped about the edges; the flowers grow in thick compact ears at the tops of the stalks, and are like those of common Mint. The whole plant is of a more unpleasant scent than any of the other Mints. It grows in divers wet and moist grounds, and flowers in June and July. This by most writers is called only Mentastrum, without any other attribute.
4. In some of our English gardens (as Pena and Lobel observed) grows another Horse-Mint, much less, and better smelling than the last mentioned, having the leaves partly green, and partly milk white; yet sometimes the leaves are some of them wholly white, but more, and more commonly all green: the stalks, flowers, and other parts are like those of the former, but less. This is the Mentastrum niveum anglicum, of Lobel; and Mentastrum alterum of Dodonĉus.
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| Fig. 1019. Small Horse-Mint (5) |
Fig. 1020. Mountain Horse-Mint (6) |
5. This grows in watery places, having a stalk of a cubit or cubit and half high, set with longish hoary leaves like those of Horse-Mint: the flowers grow in spoky tufts at the tops of the stalks, of a dusky purple colour, and in shape like those of the common Mint: the smell of this comes near to that of the Water-Mint. This is the Mentastrifolia aquatica hirsuta sive Calamintha 3 dioscoridis, of Lobel: in the Historia Lugdunensis it is called Mentastrum minus spicatum.
6. The stalk of this is some cubit and half high, square, and full of pith: the leaves are like in shape to those of Catmint, but not hoary, but rather green: the tops of the branches are set with roundels of such white flowers as those of the Catmint: the smell of this plant is like to that of the Horse-Mint; whence Clusius calls it Mentastrum montanum primum. It flowers in August, and grows in the mountainous places of Austria.
Fig. 1021. Turnip-Rooted Horse-Mint (7)
7. The same author hath also set forth another by the name of Mentastrum tuberosa radice. It hath roughish stalks like the former, and longish crumpled leaves somewhat snipped about the edges like those of the last described: the flowers grow in roundels alongst the tops of the branches, and are white of colour, and like those of Catmint. The root of this (which, as also the leaves, is not well expressed in the figure) is like a Radish, and blackish on the outside, sending forth many suckers like to little Turnips, and also divers fibres: these suckers taken from the main root will also take root and grow. It flowers in June. Clusius received the seed of it from Spain.
The Place.
They grow in moist and watery places, as in meadows near unto ditches that have water in them, and by rivers.
The Time.
They flower when the other Mints do, and revive in the spring.
The Names.
It is called in Latin, Sisymbrium: in High Dutch, Roszmuntz, Wasser-Muntz: in French, Menthe sauvage: in English, Water-Mint, Fish-Mint, Brook-Mint, and Horse-Mint.
The Temperature.
Water-Mint is hot and dry as is the garden Mint, and is of a stronger smell and operation.
The Virtues.
A. It is commended to have the like virtues that the garden Mint hath; and also to be good against the stinging of Bees and Wasps, if the place be rubbed therewith.
B. The savour or smell of the Water-Mint rejoyceth the heart of man; for which cause they use to strew it in chambers and places of recreation, pleasure, and repose, and where feasts and banquets are made.
C. There is no use hereof in physic whilst we have the garden Mint, which is sweeter, and more agreeing to the nature of man.
