HERB - Charlemagne's list

[Rooscc@aol.com]

Raisya asked me about this weeks ago, and here it is 
at last. The list of plants from the Capitulare de Villis, 
ca. 800. While the decree is what should be grown on the estates throughout
the empire, the general understanding
is that the list is sort of a model garden since not all the
plants would be hardy in all areas.

The list I am using is from John Harvey, *Medieval
Gardens* (Beaverton, Ore.: Timber Press) and is a list
of his identifications (not the original Latin). In the 
text he discusses the pros and cons of some of the more
dubious ones. I will give only brief notes here to save
space, but if anyone wants more discussion, just ask!
Alysoun de Ros

1. lily; 2. roses; 3. fenugreek; 4. costmary; 5. sage;
6. rue; 7. southernwood; 8. cucumber; 9. melon; 
10. gourd; 11. "Kidney bean" (Dolichos or Vigna);
12. cumin; 13. rosemary; 14. caraway; 15. chickpea;
16. squill; 17. flag iris; 18. dragons; 19. anise;
20. colocynth (bitter gourd, but maybe watermelon);
21. chicory; 22. ammi; 23. skirret; 24. lettuce;
25. black cumin (Nigella sativa L.); 26. rocket;
27. cress; 28. burdock; 29. pennyroyal; 30. alexanders;
31. parsley; 32. celery; 33. lovage; 34. savin; 35. dill;
36. fennel; 37. endive; 38 dittander; 39. mustard;
40. savory; 41. horsemint; 42. mint; 43. wild mint; 
44. tansy; 45. catmint; 46. centaury; 47. poppy; 
48. beet; 49. asarabacca; 50. marsh mallow; 51. mallow;
 52. carrot; 53. parsnip; 54. orach; 55. blite; 56. kohl-rabi; 
57. colewort; 58. "welsh" onion (?); 59. chives; 60. leek; 
61. radish; 62. shallot (?); 63. onion (?); 64. garlic;
65. madder; 66. teasel; 67. broad bean; 68. pea; 
69. coriander; 70. chervil; 71. caper spurge; 71. clary;
73. houseleek; 74. apple; 75. pear; 76. plum; 77. service;
78. medlar; 79. chestnut; 80. peach; 81. quince; 
82. hazel; 83. almond; 84. mulberry; 85. sweet bay; 
86. pine (Pinus pinea L.); 87. fig; 88. walnut; 89. cherry.

Harvey also notes from other sources such as
inventories of specific imperial gardens or other
official documents of Charlemagne's administration, 
that the following unlisted plants were grown:
betony, agrimony, turnips, flax, hemp, and seven cereals
--wheat, spelt (Triticum spelta L.), barley, oats, rye,
and two types of millet, Panicum miliaceum L. and Setaria italica Beauv.
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