[Herbalist] : Vegetable sheep _What are they?

[T Smith]

--- Jenne Heise <jenne at mail.browser.net> wrote:
> > MY next Question -Vegetable Sheep apparently a
> myth
> > like Barnacle Geese and Beavers being fish and
> > therefore permissable lenten feast food
> >
> > Reference to Gerard
> >
>
> Do you want more references or are you looking for
> more information? My personal speculation
> is that the vegetable sheep was based on a very
> muddled account of cotton growing in Egypt.
>
> --

I have also heard this & have seen old illustrations
from herbals (perhaps late period - check Culpepper?)
showing the so-called vegetable lamb looking like a
fleecy critter growing from a stalk or tree-like trunk
in it's belly area. I don't remember the references
though; I ran across it a long time ago while looking
for something else!

But for goodness sake, don't eat your cotton tunic!

Lady Una

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