John Gerard, also spelt
John Gerarde, (c. 1545–1612) was a botanist and
herbalist. He maintained a large
herbal garden in London. His chief notability is as the author of a big – 1484 pages – and heavily illustrated
Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes. First published in 1597, it was the most widely circulated botany book in English in the 17th century.