Abstract
THE earliest mention of the word 'shamrock' in English literature as given by the Oxford Dictionary (8, 622-23 ; 1914) is in Campion's “History of Ireland”, 1571. Other early occurrences of 'shamrock' given by the same authority are in the writing? of Stonyhurst, 1577 ; Spenser, 1596 ; Holland, 1610; Withers, 1613 and 1633 ; and Moryson, 1617. From these authors it is clear that the plant designated by them 'shamrock': (1) grew in the woods of Ireland ; (2) grew in association with water-cress ; (3) had a sour taste ; and (4) was commonly eaten by man.
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O'NEILL, H. WHAT IS THE TRUE SHAMROCK?. Nature 157, 704–706 (1946). https://doi.org/10.1038/157704a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/157704a0