The Medieval Church · c. 1150–1158
The Natural History
Physica
Hildegard of Bingen · 1098–1179
What it is
Nine books on plants, elements, trees, stones, fish, birds, animals, and metals, giving the properties and medicinal uses of each.
Why it lasted
The most extensive medieval work of natural history by a single author, and notable for using German plant names alongside Latin.
Where to read it
This work is in the public domain and can be read in full, free, at the archives below. The Library catalogues it; it does not host the text.
These open a search on each archive rather than a direct link, which is the honest way to point at an edition nobody here has checked line by line.
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