The Herbal or General History of Plants, one of the first and most famous English language herbals, was written by John Gerard in 1597. At this time, plants were held in high esteem not only for their natural and aesthetic qualities but also for their medicinal and culinary uses. Gerard's book includes over 1800 illustrations of plants with their various names, physical description, geographic location, virtues, and temper. However, the origins of Gerard's research are somewhat controversial since he includes material gleaned from other sources in his text, without acknowledgment. Nevertheless, the book has retained its popularity from the Tudor period to today. This ongoing relevance can be attributed to the combination of simple descriptions, personal anecdotes, folklore, and charming prose. submitted by Deborah deArechaga
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