Yes, I think the VMS You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. root might represent a snake, the shape and eyes are very clear, but I'm not convinced that the plant is bistort. Bistort is usually drawn with this kind of root in herbal manuscripts, but it does not have trifoliate leaves and the VMS illustrator made a point of grouping the leaves in threes.
Bistort is not the only plant with a serpent root and is not the only plant drawn with a serpent root and there are many plants with serpentine roots and names like snake-root, serpentina, viperina, etc. Sometimes it reflects the actual shape of the root and sometimes the root is drawn as a mnemonic if the plant is good for snake bite.
As examples of possible plants that resemble the VMS plant more than bistort, Laserpitium is a plant with trifoliate leaves that has a wiggly carrot-like root that was sometimes drawn in the middle ages with many root hairs. It is included in at least 5 of the old herbals, so the plant was known in the 15th century. Alpine clover also has a long slightly-wavy root and trifoliate leaves, as do some species of Dentaria.
I think the VMS illustrator was exposed to a number of sources and put ideas together as desired and may have taken the snake-root idea from bistort but applied it to a different plant with a similar root.
BTW, I think the VMS plant to the right of the snake-root plant is small teasel. I have a couple of other possibilities on my list, but my first choice is small teasel.
Bistort is not the only plant with a serpent root and is not the only plant drawn with a serpent root and there are many plants with serpentine roots and names like snake-root, serpentina, viperina, etc. Sometimes it reflects the actual shape of the root and sometimes the root is drawn as a mnemonic if the plant is good for snake bite.
As examples of possible plants that resemble the VMS plant more than bistort, Laserpitium is a plant with trifoliate leaves that has a wiggly carrot-like root that was sometimes drawn in the middle ages with many root hairs. It is included in at least 5 of the old herbals, so the plant was known in the 15th century. Alpine clover also has a long slightly-wavy root and trifoliate leaves, as do some species of Dentaria.
I think the VMS illustrator was exposed to a number of sources and put ideas together as desired and may have taken the snake-root idea from bistort but applied it to a different plant with a similar root.
BTW, I think the VMS plant to the right of the snake-root plant is small teasel. I have a couple of other possibilities on my list, but my first choice is small teasel.