The Description.
1 Water Caltrops have long slender stalks growing up and rising from the bottom of the water, and mounting above the same: the root is long, having here & there under the water certaine tassels full of small strings or threddy haires: the stem towards the top of the water is very great in respect of that which is lower; the leaves are large and somewhat round, not unlike those of the Poplar or Elme tree leaves, a little crevised or notched about the edges: amongst or under the leaves grow the fruit, which is triangled, hard, sharp pointed and prickly, in shape like those hurtfull engins in the wars, cast in the passage of the enemy to annoy the feet of their horses, called Caltrops, whereof this tooke it's name: within these heads or Nuts is contained a white kernell in taste almost like the Chesnut, which is reported to bee eaten green, and being dried and ground to serve in stead of bread.
The Place.
Cordus saith that it groweth in Germanie in myrie lakes, and in city ditches that have mud in them: in Brabanc and other places of the Low countries it is found oftentimes in standing waters and springs. Mathiolus writeth, that it growes not only in lakes of sweet water, but also in certain ditches by the sea neere unto Venice.