Mattioli’s Dioscorides illustrated by Cibo (Discorsi by Mattioli and Cibo)

Thyme broomrape (Orobanche alba), ff. 69v-70r


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The broomrape is a shoot a foot-and-a-half tall, sometimes more, reddish, hairy, soft, fat and without leaves; it bears a whitish-red flower. Its root is one finger thick and decays completely when the stem dries up. It grows among legume plants, choking them, and takes its name from this effect. It is eaten both raw and cooked, like asparagus. It is believed that by adding it to legumes when cooking, it makes them cook more quickly (f. 69v).

Hierba tora (Orobanche alba), ff. 69v-70r

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Thyme broomrape (Orobanche alba), ff. 69v-70r

The broomrape is a shoot a foot-and-a-half tall, sometimes more, reddish, hairy, soft, fat and without leaves; it bears a whitish-red flower. Its root is one finger thick and decays completely when the stem dries up. It grows among legume plants, choking them, and takes its name from this effect. It is eaten both raw and cooked, like asparagus. It is believed that by adding it to legumes when cooking, it makes them cook more quickly (f. 69v).

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