Of Onion Asphodill.
The description.
The bulbed Asphodill hath a round bulbus or Onion roote, with some fibres hanging thereat: from the which come vp many grassie leaues, very wel resembling the Leeke, amongst the which leaues there riseth vp a naked or smooth stem, garnished toward the top with many starlike flowers, white of colour, consisting of sixe little leaues sharpe pointed, with certaine chiues or threds in the middle. After the flower is past, there succeedeth small knops or heads three square, wherein lieth the seede.
The place.
It groweth in the gardens of herbarists in London, and not elsewhere that I know of: for it is not very common.
The time.
It flowreth in Iune and Iuly, and somwhat after.
The names.
The stalke and flowers being like to those of the Asphodill before mentioned, doe shewe it to be Asphodeli species, or a kinde of Asphodill: for which cause also it seemeth to be that Asphodill, of which Galen hath made mention in his seconde booke of the Faculties of nourishments in these words. The roote of Asphodill is in a maner like to the roote of Squill or sea Onion, as well in in shape as in bitternesse. Notwithstanding saith Galen, my selfe haue knowen certaine countrie men, who in time of famine could not with many boilings and steepings make it fit to be eaten. It is called of Dodoneus Asphodelus fœmina, and Asphodelus Bulbosus: of Galen Hyacintho-Asphodelus, and Asphodelus Hyacinthinus, and that rightly; for that the roote is like the Hyacinth and the flowers like Asphodelus: and therefore as it doth participate of both kindes, so likewise doth the name: in English we may call it, Bulbed Asphodill.
The temperature.
The round rooted Asphodill according to Galen, hath the same temperature and vertue, that Aron, Arisarum, and Dracontium haue, namely, an abstersiue and clensing qualitie.
The vertues.
The yoong sprouts or springs thereof is a singular medicine against the yellow Iaunders, for that the roote is of power to make thin and open. The rootes hereof, as Galen writeth in his booke of the Faculties of simple medicines, are like in vertues to wake Robin or Aron, and Plinies cowkowpintle, and likewise to Dragons as aforesaid. Galen saith that the ashes of this Bulbe mixed with oile or hens grease, cureth the pilling or falling of the haire in spots, as Alopecia doth.
Text in Gerard's own spelling (the long s is printed as s), transcribed by the Source Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). A chapter may run onto pages not yet transcribed. Gerard wrote within Galenic medicine; nothing here is advice.