This first Flowerdeluce, which beareth the smaller flower of the two

white ones, that are here to bee described, springeth out of the ground

alwaies before Winter, which after breaketh forth into foure or fiue

small and narrow leaues, a foote long or more, of a whitish greene on

the inside, which is hollow and chanalled, and of a blewish greene

colour on the outside, and round withall: the stalke of this kinde is

longer and slenderer then the former, with some shorter leaues vpon

it, at the toppe whereof, out of short skinny leaues, stand one or

two flowers, smaller, shorter, and rounder then the flowers of the

former broad leafed Flowerdeluces, but made after the same proportion

with nine leaues, three falling downewards, with a yellow spot in the

middle, other three are made like a long arch, which couer the lower

part next the stalke of those falling leaues, and turne vp at the ends

of them, where they are diuided into two parts: the other three stand

vpright, betweene each of the three falling leaues, being somewhat long

and narrow: the flower is wholly, (sauing the yellow spot) of a pure

white colour, yet in some hauing a shew of some blew throughout, and

in others towards the bottome of the three vpright leaues: after the

flowers are past, there rise vp so many long cods or seede vessels, as

there were flowers, which are longer and smaller then in the former,

and a little bending like a Corner, with three round squares, and round

pointed also, which diuiding it selfe when the seede is ripe into three

parts, doe shew six seuerall cells or places, wherein is contained such

like round reddish yellow seedes, but smaller then the former: the

roote is smaller and shorter then the former, and without any haires

or threeds, couered with browne thin skinnes, and more plentifull in

giuing encrease.

_Iris bulbosa angustifolia alba flore maiore._

The greater white narrow leafed bulbous Flowerdeluce.

I shall not neede to make a seuerall description to euery one of

these Flowerdeluces that follow, for that were but to make often

repetition of one thing, which being once done, as it is, may well

serue to expresse all the rest, and but onely to adde the especiall

differences, either in leafe or flower, for bignesse, colour, or forme,

as is expedient to expresse and distinguish them seuerally. This

greater white bulbous Flowerdeluce is like vnto the last described in

all parts, sauing that it is a little larger and higher, both in leafe,

stalke, and flower, and much whiter then any of these mixed sorts that

follow, yet not so white as the former: the roote hereof is likewise a

little bigger and rounder in the middle.

_Albescens._ Milke white.

There is another, whose falling leaues haue a little shew of

yellownesse in them, and so are the middle ridges of the arched

leaues, but the vpright leaues are more white, not differing in

roote or leafe from the first white.

_Argentea._ Siluer colour.

And another, whose falls are of a yellowish white, like the

last, the arched leaues are whiter, and the vpright leaues of a

blewish white, which we call a siluer colour.

_Albida._ Whitish.

Another hath the fals yellowish, and sometimes with a little

edge of white about them, and sometimes without; the vpright

leaues are whitish, as the arched leaues are, yet the ridge

yellower.

_Albida labris luteis._ White with yellow fals.

Another hath his fals yellow, and the vpright leaues white,

all these flowers are about the same bignesse with the first.

_Albida angustior._ The narrow white.

But we haue another, whose flower is smaller, and almost as

white as the second, the lower leaues are small, and doe as

it were stand outright, not hauing almost any fal at all,

so that the yellow spot seemeth to be the whole leafe, the

arched leaues are not halfe so large as in the former, and

the vpright leaues bowe themselues in the middle, so that the

tops doe as it were meete together.

And another of the same, whose falling leaues are a little

more eminent and yellow, with a yellower spot.

_Aurea siue lutea Hispanica._ The Spanish yellow.

We haue another kinde that is called the Spanish yellow, which

riseth not vp so high, as ordinarily most of the rest doe, and

is wholly of a gold yellow colour.

_Pallide lutea._ Straw colour.

There is another, that vsually riseth higher then the former

yellow, and is wholly of a pale yellow, but deeper at the spot.

_Albida lutea._ Pale Straw colour.

There is also another like vnto the pale yellow, but that the

falling leaues are whiter then all the rest of the flower.

_Mauritanica flaua serotina minor._ The small Barbary yellow.

There is a smaller or dwarfe kinde, brought from the backe

parts of Barbary, neare the Sea, like vnto the yellow, but

smaller and lower, and in stead of vpright leaues, hath small

short leaues like haires: it flowreth very late, after all

others haue almost giuen their seede.

_Versicolor Hispanica cærulea labris albis._

The party coloured Spanish.

We haue another sort is called the party coloured Spanish

bulbous Flowerdeluce, whose falling leaues are white, the

arched leaues of a whitish siluer colour, and the vpright

leaues of a fine blewish purple.

_Diuersitas._ The diuersity or variation of this flower.

Yet sometimes this doth vary; for the falling leaues will haue

either an edge of blew, circling the white leaues, the arched

leaues being a little blewer, and the vpright leaues more

purple.

Or the fals will be almost wholly blew, edged with a blewer

colour, the arched leaues pale blew, and the vpright leaues of

a purplish blew Violet colour.

Or the fals white, the arched leaues pale white, as the vpright

leaues are.

Of not of so faire a blewish purple, as the first sort is.

Some of them also will haue larger flowers then others, and be

more liberall in bearing flowers: for the first sort, which

is the most ordinary, seldome beareth aboue one flower on a

stalke, yet sometimes two. And of the others there are some

that will beare vsually two and three flowers, yet some againe

will beare but one. All these kindes smell sweeter then many of

the other, although the most part are without sent.

_Cærulea siue purpurea minor Lusitanica præcox._

The small early purple Portugall.

There is another kinde, that is smaller in all the parts

thereof then the former, the stalke is slender, and not so

high, bearing at the toppe one or two small flowers, all wholly

of a faire, blewish purple, with a yellow spot in euery one

of the three falling leaues, this vsually flowreth early, euen

with the first bulbous Flowerdeluces.

_Purpurea maior._ The greater purple.

We haue another purple, whose flower is larger, and stalke

higher, and is of a very reddish purple colour, a little aboue

the ground, at the foote or bottome of the leaues and stalke:

this flowreth with the later sort of Flowerdeluces.

_Purpurea serotina._ The late purple.

There is another, whose flower is wholly purple, except the

yellow spot, and flowreth later then any of the other purples.

_Purpurea rubescens labris cæruleis._

A reddish purple with blew fals.

There is yet another purple, whose vpright leaues are of a

reddish purple, and the falling leaues of a blew colour.

_Purpurea rubescens labris albido cæruleis._

A reddish purple with whitish blew fals.

And another of a reddish purple, whose falling leaues are of a

whitish blew colour, in nothing else differing from the last.

_Purpurea labris luteis._ Party coloured purple & yellow.

Another hath his falling leaues of a faire gold yellow, without

any stripe, yet in some there are veines running through the

yellow leaues, and some haue an edge of a sullen darke colour

about them: the vpright leaues in euery of these, are a Violet

purple.

_Purpurea labris ex albido cærulea & luteo mixtis._

Party coloured purple with stript yellow fals.

Another is altogether like this last, but that the falling

leaues are of a pale blew and yellow, trauersing one the other,

and the arched leaues of a pale purplish colour.

_Subpurpurea labris luteis._ Pale purple with yellow fals.

Another hath his vpright leaues of a paler purple, and the

falling leaues yellow.

A paler purple.

And another little differing from it, but that the arched

leaues are whitish.

_Subcærulea labris luteis._ Party coloured blew and yellow.

Another whose vpright leaues are of a pale blew, and the

falling leaues yellow.

And another of the same sort, but of a little paler blew.

_Crinis coloris elegantioris._ A faire haire colour.

We haue another sort, whose vpright leaues are of a faire

brownish yellow colour, which some call a _Fuille mort_, and

others an haire colour; the falling leaues yellow.

_Altera obsoletior._ A dull haire colour.

And another of the same colour, but somewhat deader.

_Iris bulbosa Africana serpentriæ caule._

The purple or murrey bulbous Barbary Flowerdeluce.

This Flowerdeluce as it is more strange (that is, but lately knowne

and possessed by a few) so it is both more desired, and of more beauty

then others. It is in all respects, of roote, leafe, and flower, for

the forme like vnto the middle sort of these Flowerdeluces, onely the

lowest part of the leaues and stalke, for an inch or thereabouts, next

vnto the ground, are of a reddish colour, spotted with many spots, and

the flower, being of a meane size, is of a deepe purplish red or murrey

colour the whole flower throughout, except the yellow spot in the

middle of the three lower or falling leaues, as is in all others.

_Purpurea cærulea obsoleta labris fuscis._

The duskie party coloured purple.

And lastly, there is another sort, which is the greatest of

all these narrow leafed Flowerdeluces, in all the parts of it;

for the roote is greater then any of the other, being thicke

and short: the leaues are broader and longer, but of the same

colour: the stalke is stronger and higher then any of them,

bearing two or three flowers, larger also then any of the rest,

whose falling leaues are of a duskie yellow, and sometimes with

veines and borders about the brimmes, of another dunne colour,

yet hauing that yellow spot that is in all: the arched leaues

are of a sullen pale purplish yellow, and the vpright leaues of

a dull or duskie blewish purple colour: the heads or hornes for

seede are likewise greater, and so is the seede also a little.

The Place.

These Flowerdeluces haue had their originall out of Spaine and

Portugall, as it is thought, except those that haue risen by

the sowing, and those which are named of Africa.

The Time.

These flower in Iune, and sometimes abide vnto Iuly, but

vsually not so early as the former broad leafed kindes, and are

soone spoiled with wet in their flowring.

The Names.

The seuerall names, both in Latine and English, are sufficient

for them as they are set downe; for we know no better.

The Vertues.

There is not any thing extant or to be heard, that any of

these kindes of Flowerdeluces hath been vsed to any Physicall

purposes, and serue onely to decke vp the Gardens of the

curious.

And thus much for these sorts of bulbous Flowerdeluces, and yet I

doubt not, but that there are many differences, which haue risen by

the sowing of the seede, as many may obserue from their owne labours,

for that euery yeare doth shew forth some variety that is not seene

before. And now I will conuert my discourse a while likewise, to passe

through the seuerall rankes of the other kindes of tuberous rooted

Flowerdeluces, called Flagges.

CHAP. XX.

_Iris latifolia tuberosa._ The Flagge or Flowerdeluce.

There are two principall kindes of tuberous or knobby rooted

Flowerdeluces, that is, the tall and the dwarfe, or the greater and

the lesser; the former called _Iris maior_ or _latifolia_, and the

other _Iris minor_, or rather _Chamæiris_; and each of these haue their

lesser or narrow leafed kindes to bee comprehended vnder them: Of all

which in their order. And first of that Flowerdeluce, which for his

excellent beautie and raritie, deserueth the first place.

_Iris Chalcedonica siue Susiana maior._

The great Turkie Flowerdeluce.

The great Turkie Flowerdeluce, hath diuers heads of long and broad

fresh greene leaues, yet not so broad as many other of those that

follow, one folded within another at the bottome, as all other of these

Flowerdeluces are: from the middle of some one of those heads (for

euery head of leaues beareth not a flower) riseth vp a round stiffe

stalke, two foote high, at the toppe whereof standeth one flower (for I

neuer obserued it to beare two) the largest almost, but rarest of all

the rest, consisting of nine leaues, like the others that follow, but

of the colour almost of a Snakes skinne, it is so diuersly spotted;

for the three lower falling leaues are very large, of a deepe or darke

purple colour, almost blacke, full of grayish spots, strakes, and

lines through the whole leaues, with a blacke thrume or freeze in the

middle of each of them: the three arched leaues that couer them, are

of the same darke purple colour, yet a little paler at the sides, the

three vpper leaues are very large also, and of the same colour with the

lower leaues, but a little more liuely and fresh, being speckled and

straked with whiter spots and lines; which leaues being laid in water,

will colour the water into a Violet colour, but if a little Allome be

put therein, and then wrung or pressed, and the iuice of these leaues

dryed in the shadow, will giue a colour almost as deepe as Indico, and

may serue for shawdowes in limming excellent well: the flower hath no

sent that can be perceiued, but is onely commendable for the beauty

and rarity thereof: it seldome beareth seedes in these cold Countries,

but when it doth, it is contained in great heads, being brownish and

round, but not so flat as in other sorts, the roots are more browne on

the outside, and growing tuberous thicke, as all other that are kept in

Gardens.

_Iris Chalcedonica siue Susiana minor._

The lesser Turkie Flowerdeluce.

There is another hereof little differing, but that the leafe is of a

more yellowish greene colour, and the flower neither so large or faire,

nor of so perspicuous markes and spots, nor the colour of that liuely

(though darke) lustre.

The Place.

These haue been sent out of Turkie diuers times among other

things, and it should seeme, that they haue had their originall

from about Susis, a chiefe Citie of Persia.

The Time.

They flower in May most vsually, before any of the other kindes.

The Names.

They haue been sent vnto vs, and vnto diuers other in other

parts, from Constantinople vnder the name of _Alaia Susiana_,

and thereupon it hath been called, both of them and vs, either

_Iris Chalcedonica_, or _Susiana_, and for distinction _maior_

or _minor_: In English, The Turkie Flowerdeluce, or the Ginnie

Hen Flowerdeluce, the greater or the lesser.

_Iris alba Florentina._ The white Flowerdeluce.

The great white Flowerdeluce, hath many heads of very broad and flat

long leaues, enclosing or folding one within another at the bottome,

and after a little diuided one from another toward the top, thin edged,

like a sword on both sides, and thicker in the middle: from the middle

of some of these heads of leaues, riseth vp a round stiffe stalk,

two or three foot high, bearing at the top one, two, or three large

flowers, out of seuerall huskes or skins, consisting of nine leaues,

as all the other do, of a faire white colour, hauing in the middle of

each of the three falling leaues, a small long yellow frize or thrume,

as is most vsuall in all the sorts of the following Flowerdeluces, both

of the greater and smaller kindes: after the flowers are past, come

the seed, inclosed in thicke short pods, full fraught or stored with

red roundish and flat seede, lying close one vpon another: the roote

is tuberous or knobby, shooting out from euery side much like tuberous

heads, lying for the most part vpon or aboue the ground, and fastened

within the ground with long white strings or fibres, which hold them

[Sidenote: _Flore pallido._]

strongly, and encreaseth fast. There is another like vnto this last in

all things, sauing that the colour of the flower is of a more yellowish

white, which we vsually call a Straw colour.

_Iris alba maior versicolor._ The white party coloured Flowerdeluce.

This variable Flowerdeluce is like vnto the former, but that the leaues

are not so large and broad, the flower hereof is as large almost, and

as white as the former, but it hath a faire list or line of a blewish

purple downe the backe of euery one of the three vpright leaues, and

likewise round about the edges, both of the vpper and lower leaues, and

also a little more purplish vpon the ridge of the arched leaues, that

couer the falling leaues: the roote hereof is not so great as of the

former white, but a little slenderer and browner.

_Iris Dalmatica maior._ The great Dalmatian Flowerdeluce.

This greater Flowerdeluce of Dalmatia, hath his leaues as large and

broad as any of the Flowerdeluces whatsoeuer, his stalke and flower

doe equall his other proportion, onely the colour of the flower is

differing, being of a faire watchet or bleake blew colour wholly,

with the yellow frize or thrum downe the middle of the lower or

falling leaues, as before is said to be common to all these sorts of

Flowerdeluces; in all other parts it little differeth, sauing onely

this is obserued to haue a small shew of a purplish red about the

bottome of the greene leaues.

_Iris purpurea siue vulgaris._ The common purple Flowerdeluce.

This Flowerdeluce, which is most common in Gardens, differeth nothing

at all from those that are formerly described, either in roote, leafe,

or flower for the forme of them, but onely that the leaues of this

are not so large as the last, and the flower it selfe is of a deep

purple or Violet colour, and sometimes a little declining to rednesse,

especially in some places.

[Sidenote: _Purpurea pallidior versicolor._]

Sometimes this kinde of Flowerdeluce will haue flowers of a paler

purple colour, comming neare vnto a blew, and sometimes it will haue

veines or stripes of a deeper blew, or purple, or ash-colour, running

through all the vpper and lower leaues.

[Sidenote: _Cærulea labris purpureis._]

There is another like vnto this, but more purple in the fals, and more

pale in the vpright leaues.

_Iris Asiatica cærulea._ The blew Flowerdeluce of Asia.

This Flowerdeluce of Asia, is in largenesse of leaues like vnto the

Dalmatian, but beareth more store of flowers on seuerall branches,

which are of a deeper blew colour, and the arched leaues whitish on the

side, and purplish on the ridges, but in other things like vnto it.

[Sidenote: _Purpurea._]

There is another neare vnto this, but that his leaues are a little

narrower, and his flowers a little more purple, especially the vpper

leaues.

_Iris Damascena._ The Flowerdeluce of Damasco.

This is likewise altogether like the Flowerdeluce of Asia, but that it

hath some white veines in the vpright leaues.

_Iris Lusitanica biflora._ The Portugall Flowerdeluce.

This Portugall Flowerdeluce is very like the common purple

Flowerdeluce, but that this is not so large in leaues, or flowers,

and that it doth often flower twice in a yeare, that is, both in the

Spring, and in the Autumne againe, and besides, the flowers haue a

better or sweeter sent, but of the like purple or Violet colour as it

is, and comming forth out of purplish skins or huskes.

_Iris Camerarij siue purpurea versicolor maior._

The greater variable coloured purple Flowerdeluce.

The greater of the variable purple Flowerdeluces, hath very broad

leaues, like vnto the leaues of the common purple Flowerdeluce, and so

is the flower also, but differing in colour, for the three lower leaues

are of a deepe purple colour tending to rednesse, the three arched

leaues are of the colour with the vpper leaues, which are of a pale

or bleake colour tending to yellownesse, shadowed ouer with a smoakie

purplish colour, except the ridges of the arched leaues, which are of a

more liuely purple colour.

_Iris purpurea versicolor minor._

The lesser variable purple Flowerdeluce.

This Flowerdeluce differeth not in any thing from the last, but onely

that it hath narrower greene leaues, and smaller and narrower flowers,

else if they be both conferred together, the colours will not seeme to

varie the one from the other any whit at all.

[Sidenote: _Altera minus fuliginea._]

There is another somewhat neare vnto these two last kindes, whose

huskes from whence the flowers doe shoote forth, haue purple veines in

them, and so haue the falling purplish leaues, and the three vpright

leaues are not so smoakie, yet of a dun purple colour.

_Iris cærulea versicolor._ The blew party coloured Flowerdeluce.

This party coloured Flowerdeluce hath his leaues of the same

largenesse, with the lesser variable purple Flowerdeluce last

described, and his flowers diuersly marked: for some haue the fals

blew at the edges, and whitish at the bottome, the arched leaues of

a yellowish white, and the vpright leaues of a whitish blew, with

yellowish edges. Some againe are of a darker blew, with brownish spots

in them. And some are so pale a blew, that we may well call it an

ash-colour: And lastly, there is another of this sort, whose vpright

leaues are of a faire pale blew, with yellowish edges, and the falling

leaues parted into two colours, sometimes equally in the halfe, each

side sutable to the other in colour: And sometimes hauing the one leafe

in that manner: And sometimes but with a diuers coloured list in them;

in the other parts both of flower and leafe, like vnto the other.

_Iris lutea variegata._ The yellow variable Flowerdeluce.

This yellow variable Flowerdeluce loseth his leaues in Winter, contrary

to all the former Flowerdeluces, so that his roote remaineth vnder

ground without any shew of leafe vpon it: but in the beginning of the

Spring it shooteth out faire broad leaues, falling downwards at the

points or ends, but shorter many times then any of the former, and so

is the stalke likewise, not rising much aboue a foote high, whereon are

set two or three large flowers, whose falling leaues are of a reddish

purple colour, the three that stand vpright of a smoakie yellow, the

arched leaues hauing their ridges of a bleake colour tending to purple,

the sides being of the former smoakie yellow colour, with some purplish

veines at the foote or bottome of all the leaues: the roote groweth

somewhat more slender and long vnder ground, and of a darker colour

then manie of the other.

Another sort hath the vpright leaues of a reasonable faire yellow,

and stand more vpright, not bowing downe as most of the other, and

[Sidenote: _Varietas._]

the purple fals haue pale edges. Some haue their greene leaues party

coloured, white and greene, more or lesse, and so are the huskes of

the flowers, the arched leaues yellow, as the vpright leaues are,

with purplish veines at the bottome. And some haue both the arched

and vpright leaues of so pale a yellow, that we may almost call it a

straw colour, but yellower at the bottome, with purple veines, and the

falling leaues purple, with two purple spots in them.

And these are the sorts of the greater tuberous or Flagge Flowerdeluces

that haue come to our knowledge: the next hereunto are the lesser or

narrow leafed kindes to be described; and first of the greatest of them.

1. _Iris angustifolia Tripolitana aurea._

The yellow Flowerdeluce of Tripoly.

This Flowerdeluce I place in the forefront of the narrow leafed

Flowerdeluces, for the length of the leaues, compared with the breadth

of them; it may fitly bee called a narrow leafed Flowerdeluce, although

they be an inch broad, which is broader then any of them that follow,

or some of those are set downe before, but as I said, the length make

them seem narrow, and therefore let it take vp his roome in this place,

with the description that followeth. It beareth leaues a yard long, or

not much lesse, and an inch broad, as is said before, or more, of a sad

greene colour, but not shining: the stalke riseth vp to be foure of

fiue foote high, being strong and round, but not very great, bearing

at the toppe two or three long and narrow gold yellow flowers, of the

fashion of the bulbous Flowerdeluces, as the next to bee described is,

without any mixture or variation therein: the heads for seede are three

square, containing within them many flat cornered seedes: the roote

is long and blackish, like vnto the rest that follow, but greater and

fuller.

[Illustration:

1 _Iris Chalcedonica siue Susiana maior._ The great Turkie

Flowerdeluce.

2 _Iris alba Florentina._ The white Flowerdeluce.

3 _Iris latifolia variegata._ The variable Flowerdeluce.

4 _Chamæiris latifolia maior._ The greater dwarfe Flowerdeluce.

]

2. _Iris angustifolia maior cærulea._

The greater blew Flowerdeluce with narrow leaues.

This kinde of Flowerdeluce hath his leaues very long and narrow, of a

whitish greene colour, but neither so long or broad as the last, yet

broader, thicker and stiffer then any of the rest with narrow leaues

that follow: the stalke riseth sometimes no higher then the leaues,

and sometimes a little higher, bearing diuers flowers at the top,

successiuely flowring one after another, and are like vnto the flowers

of the bulbous Flowerdeluces, but of a light blew colour, and sometimes

deeper: after the flowers are past, rise vp six cornered heads, which

open into three parts, wherein is contained browne seede, almost round:

the roote is small, blackish and hard, spreading into many long heads,

and more closely growing or matting together.

3. _Iris angustifolia purpurea marina._

The purple narrow leafed Sea Flowerdeluce.

This Sea Flowerdeluce hath many narrow hard leaues as long as the

former, and of a darke greene colour, which doe smell a little strong:

the stalke beareth two or three flowers like the former, but somewhat

lesse, and of a darke purple or Violet colour: in seede and roote it is

like the former.

4. _Iris angustifolia purpurea versicolor._

The variable purple narrow leafed Flowerdeluce.

The leaues of this Flowerdeluce are very like the former Sea

Flowerdeluce, and do a little stinke like them; the flowers are

differing, in that the vpper leaues are wholly purple or violet, and

the lower leaues haue white veines, and purple running one among

another: the seede and rootes differ not from the former purple Sea

kinde.

5. _Iris angustifolia minor Pannonica siue versicolor Clusij._

The small variable Hungarian Flowerdeluce of Clusius.

This Hungarian Flowerdeluce (first found out by Clusius, by him

described, and of him tooke the name) riseth vp with diuers small tufts

of leaues, very long, narrow, and greene, growing thicke together,

especially if it abide any time in a place; among which riseth vp many

long round stalkes, higher then the leaues, bearing two or three, or

foure small flowers, one aboue another, like the former, but smaller

and of greater beauty: for the lower leaues are variably striped with

white and purple, without any thrume or fringe at all; the vpper leaues

are of a blewish fine purple or Violet colour, & so are the arched

leaues, yet hauing the edges a little paler: the heads for seede are

smaller, and not so cornered as the other, containing seedes much

like the former, but smaller: the roote is blacke and small, growing

thicker and closer together then any other, and strongly fastened in

the ground, with a number of hard stringie rootes: the flowers are of a

reasonable good sent.

6. _Iris angustifolia maior flore duplici._

The greater double blew Flowerdeluce.

This Flowerdeluce, differeth not either in roote or leafe from the

first great blew Flowerdeluce of Clusius, but onely in that the leaues

grow thicker together, and that the flowers of this kinde are as it

were double with many leaues confusedly set together, without any

distinct parts of a Flowerdeluce, and of a faire blew colour with many

white veines and lines running in the leaues; yet oftentimes the stalke

of flowers hath but two or three small flowers distinctly set together,

rising as it were out of one huske.

[Illustration:

1 _Iris angustifolia Tripolitana._ The yellow Flowerdeluce of

Tripoli.

2 _Iris angustifolia maior cærulea._ The greater blew Flowerdeluce

with narrow leaues.

3 _Iris angustifolia minor Pannonica siue versicolor Clusii._ The

small variable Hungarian Flowerdeluce of Clusius.

4 _Iris angustifolia maior flore duplici._ The greater double blew

Flowerdeluce.

5 _Chamæiris angustifolia minor._ The lesser Grasse Flowerdeluce.

6 _Iris tuberosa._ The veluet Flowerdeluce.

]

7. _Iris angustifolia minor alba Clusij._

The small white Flowerdeluce of Hungary.

This likewise differeth little from the former Hungarian Flowerdeluce

of Clusius, but that the leafe is of a little paler greene colour,

and the flower is of a faire whitish colour, with some purple at the

bottome of the leaues.

Next after these narrow leafed Flowerdeluces, are the greater and

smaller sorts of dwarfe kindes to follow; and lastly, the narrow

or grasse leafed dwarfe kindes, which will finish this Chapter of

Flowerdeluces.

1. _Chamæiris latifolia maior alba._

The greater white dwarfe Flowerdeluce.

This dwarfe Flowerdeluce hath his leaues as broad as some of the lesser

kindes last mentioned, but not shorter; the stalke is very short,

not aboue halfe a foote high or thereabouts, bearing most commonly

but one flower, seldome two, which are in some of a pure white, in

others paler, or somewhat yellowish through the whole flower, except

the yellow frize or thrume in the middle of euery one of the falling

leaues: after the flowers are past, come forth great heads, containing

within them round pale seed: the roote is small, according to the

proportion of the plant aboue ground, but made after the fashion of

the greater kindes, with tuberous peeces spreading from the sides, and

strong fibres or strings, whereby they are fastened in the ground.

2. _Chamæiris latifolia maior purpurea._

The greater purple dwarfe Flowerdeluce.

There is no difference either in roote, leafe, or forme of flower in

this from the former dwarfe kinde, but onely in the colour of the

flower, which in some is of a very deepe or blacke Violet purple, both

the toppes and the fals: in others the Violet purple is more liuely,

and in some the vpper leaues are blew, and the lower leaues purple,

yet all of them haue that yellow frize or thrume in the middle of the

falling leaues, that the other kindes haue.

[Sidenote: _Altera._]

There is another that beareth purple flowers, that might be reckoned,

for the smalnesse and shortnesse of his stalke, to the next kinde, but

that the flowers and leaues of this are as large as any of the former

kindes of the smaller Flowerdeluces.

3. _Chamæiris latifolia minor alba._

The lesser white dwarfe Flowerdeluce.

There is also another sort of these Flowerdeluces, whose leaues and

flowers are lesse, and wherein there is much variety. The leaues of

this kinde, are all for the most part somewhat smaller, narrower, and

shorter then the former: the stalke with the flower vpon it scarce

riseth above the leaues, so that in most of them it may be rather

called a foote-stalke, such as the Saffron flowers haue, and are

therefore called of manie ἄκαυλοι, without stalkes; the flowers are

like vnto the first described of the dwarfe kindes, and of a whitish

colour, with a few purplish lines at the bottome of the vpper leaues,

and a list of greene in the falling leaues.

[Sidenote: _Straminea._]

Another hath the flowers of a pale yellow, called a Straw colour, with

whitish stripes and veines in the fals, and purplish lines at the

bottome of the vpper leaues.

4. _Chamæiris latifolia minor purpurea._

The lesser purple dwarfe Flowerdeluce.

The difference of this from the former, consisteth more in the colour

then forme of the flower, which is of a deep Violet purple, sometimes

paler, and sometimes so deep, that it almost seemeth blacke: And

sometimes the fals purplish, and the vpper leaues blew. Some of these

haue a sweete sent, and some none.

[Sidenote: _Cærulea._]

There is another of a fine pale or delayed blew colour throughout the

whole flower.

5. _Chamæiris latifolia minor suauerubens._

The lesser blush coloured dwarfe Flowerdeluce.

This Flowerdeluce hath the falling leaues of the flower of a reddish

colour, and the thrumes blew: the vpper and arched leaues of a fine

pale red or flesh colour, called a blush colour; in all other things it

differeth not, and smelleth little or nothing at all.

6. _Chamæiris latifolia minor lutea versicolor._

The lesser yellow variable dwarfe Flowerdeluce.

The falling leaues of this Flowerdeluce are yellowish, with purple

lines from the middle downewards, sometimes of a deeper, and sometimes

of a paler colour, and white thrumes in the middle, the vpper leaues

are likewise of a yellowish colour, with purple lines in them: And

sometimes the yellow colour is paler, and the lines both in the vpper

and lower leaues of a dull or dead purple colour.

7. _Chamæiris latifolia minor cærulea versicolor._

The lesser blew variable dwarfe Flowerdeluce.

The vpper leaues of this flower are of a blewish yellow colour, spotted

with purple in the broad part, and at the bottome very narrow: the

falling leaues are spread ouer with pale purplish lines, and a small

shew of blew about the brimmes: the thrume is yellow at the bottome,

and blewish aboue: the arched leaues are of a blewish white, being a

little deeper on the ridge.

And sometimes the vpper leaues are of a paler blew rather whitish, with

the yellow: both these haue no sent at all.

8. _Chamæiris marina purpurea._ The purple dwarfe Sea Flowerdeluce.

This small Flowerdeluce is like vnto the narrow leafed Sea Flowerdeluce

before described, both in roote, leafe, and flower, hauing no other

difference, but in the smalnesse and lownesse of the growing, being of

the same purple colour with it.

9. _Chamæiris angustifolia maior._ The greater Grasse Flowerdeluce.

This Grasse Flowerdeluce hath many long and narrow darke greene leaues,

not so stiffe as the former, but lither, and bending their ends downe

againe, among which rise vp diuers stalkes, bearing at the toppe two

or three sweete flowers, as small as any of them set downe before, of

a reddish purple colour, with whitish yellow and purple strakes downe

the middle of the falling leaues: the arched leaues are of a horse

flesh colour all along the edges, and purple vpon the ridges and tips

that turne vp againe: vnder these appeare three browne aglets, like

vnto birds tongues: the three vpper leaues are small and narrow, of a

perfect purple or Violet colour: the heads for seede haue sharper and

harder cornered edges then the former: the seedes are somewhat grayish

like the former, and so are the rootes, being small, blacke, and hard,

growing thicke together, fastened in the ground with small blackish

hard strings, which hardly shoote againe if the roote be remoued.

10. _Chamæiris angustifolia minor._ The lesser Grasse Flowerdeluce.

This Flowerdeluce is in leaues, flowers, and rootes so like the last

described, that but onely it is smaller and lower, it is not to be

distinguished from the other. And this may suffice for these sorts of

Flowerdeluces, that furnish the Gardens of the curious louers of these

varieties of nature, so farre forth as hath passed vnder our knowledge.

There are some other that may be referred hereunto, but they belong to

another history; and therefore I make no mention of them in this place.

The Place.

The places of most of these are set downe in their seuerall

titles; for some are out of Turkie, others out of Hungaria,

Dalmatia, Illyria, &c. as their names doe import. Those that

grow by the Sea, are found in Spaine and France.

The Time.

Some of these do flower in Aprill, some in May, and some not

vntill Iune.

The Names.

The names expressed are the fittest agreeing vnto them, and

therefore it is needlesse againe to repeate them. Many of the

rootes of the former or greater kindes, being dryed are sweete,

yet some more then other, and some haue no sent at all: but

aboue all the rest, that with the white flower, called of

Florence, is accounted of all to be the sweetest root, fit to

be vsed to make sweete powders, &c. calling it by the name of

_Orris_ rootes.

_Iris tuberosa._ The Veluet Flowerdeluce.

Vnto the Family of Flowerdeluces, I must needes ioyne this peculiar

kinde, because of the neare resemblance of the flower, although it

differ both in roote and leafe; lest therefore it should haue no place,

let it take vp a roome here in the end of the Flowerdeluces, with this

description following. It hath many small and foure square leaues, two

foote long and aboue sometimes, of a grayish greene colour, stiffe

at the first, but afterwards growing to their full length, they are

weak and bend downe to the ground: out of the middle, as it were of

one of these leaues, breaketh out the stalke, a foot high and better,

with some leaues thereon, at the toppe whereof, out of a huske riseth

one flower, (I neuer saw more on a stalke) consisting of nine leaues,

whereof the three that fall downe are of a yellowish greene colour

round about the edges, and in the middle of so deepe a purple, that

it seemeth to be blacke, resembling blacke Veluet: the three arched

leaues, that couer the lower leaues to the halfe, are of the same

greenish colour that the edges and backside of the lower leaues are:

the three vppermost leaues, if they may be called leaues, or rather

short peeces like eares, are green also, but wherein a glimpse of

purple may be seene in them: after the flower is past, there followeth

a round knob or whitish seede vessell, hanging downe by a small

foote-stalke, from betweene the huske, which is diuided as it were

into two leaues, wherein is contained round white seede. The roote

is bunched or knobbed out into long round rootes, like vnto fingers,

two or three from one peece, one distant from another, and one longer

then another, for the most part of a darkish gray colour, and reddish

withall on the outside, and somewhat yellowish within.

The Place.

It hath beene sent out of Turkie oftentimes (as growing

naturally thereabouts) and not knowne to grow naturally any

where else.

The Time.

It flowreth in Aprill or May, sometimes earlier or later, as

the Spring falleth out to be milde or sharpe.

The Names.

Matthiolus contendeth to make it the true _Hermodadactylus_,

rather from the shew of the rootes, which (as is said) are

like vnto fingers, then from any other good reason: for the

rootes hereof eyther dry or greene, do nothing resemble the

true _Hermodactyli_ that are vsed in Physicke, as any that

knoweth them may easily perceiue, either in forme or vertue. It

is more truely referred to the Flowerdeluces, and because of

the tuberous rootes, called _Iris tuberosa_, although all the

Flowerdeluces in this Chapter haue tuberous rootes, yet this

much differing from them all. In English it is vsually called,

The Veluet Flowerdeluce, because the three falling leaues seeme

to be like smooth blacke Veluet.

The Vertues.

Both the rootes and the flowers of the great Flowerdeluces,

are of great vse for the purging and cleansing of many inward,

as well as outward diseases, as all Authors in Physicke doe

record. Some haue vsed also the greene rootes to cleanse the

skinne, but they had neede to be carefull that vse them, lest

they take more harme then good by the vse of them. The dryed

rootes called _Orris_ (as is said) is of much vse to make

sweete powders, or other things to perfume apparrell or linnen.

The iuice or decoction of the green roots doth procure both

neezing to be snuft vp into the nostrils, and vomiting very

strongly being taken inwardly.

CHAP. XXI.

_Gladiolus._ Corne Flagge.

Next vnto the Flagges or Flowerdeluces, come the _Gladioli_ or Corne

Flagges to bee entreated of, for some resemblance of the leaues with

them. There are hereof diuers sorts, some bigger and some lesser, but

the chiefest difference is in the colour of the flowers, and one in the

order of the flowers. Of them all in their seuerall orders.

_Gladiolus narbonensis._ The French Corne Flagge.

The French Corne Flagge riseth vp with three or foure broad, long,

and stiffe greene leaues, one as it were out of the side of another,

being ioyned together at the bottome, somewhat like vnto the leaues

of Flowerdeluces, but stiffer, more full of ribbes, and longer then

many of them, and sharper pointed: the stalke riseth vp from among the

leaues, bearing them on it as it riseth, hauing at the toppe diuers

huskes, out of which come the flowers one aboue another, all of them

turning and opening themselues one way, which are long and gaping,

like vnto the flowers of Foxegloue, a little arched or bunching vp in

the middle, of a faire reddish purple colour, with two white spots

within the mouth thereof, one on each side, made like vnto a Lozenge

that is square and long pointed: after the flowers are past, come vp

round heads or seede vessels, wherein is contained reddish flat seede,

like vnto the seede of the Fritillaria, but thicker and fuller: the

roote is somewhat great, round, flat, and hard, with a shew as if it

were netted, hauing another short spongie one vnder it, which when it

hath done bearing, and the stalke dry, that the roote may be taken vp,

sticketh close to the bottome, but may be easily taken away, hauing

vsually a number of small rootes encreased about it, the least whereof

will quickly grow, so that if it be suffered any long time in a Garden,

it will rather choake and pester it, then be an ornament vnto it.

_Gladiolus Italicus binis florum ordinibus._

The Italian Corne Flagge.

The Italian Corne Flagge is like vnto the French in roote, leafe, and

flower, without any other difference, then that the roote is smaller

and browner, the leafe and stalke of a darker colour, and the flowers

(being of a little darker colour like the former, and somewhat smaller)

stand out on both sides of the stalke.

_Gladiolus Byzantinus._ Corne Flagge of Constantinople.

This Corne Flagge that came first from Constantinople, is in all

things like vnto the French Corne Flagge last described, but that it

is larger, both in rootes, leaues, and flowers, and likewise that the

Flowers of this, which stand not on both sides, are of a deeper red

colour, and flower later, after all the rest are past: the roote hereof

being netted as plainly as any of the former, is as plentifull also to

giue encrease, but is more tender and lesse able to abide our sharpe

cold Winters.

_Gladiolus flore rubente._ Blush Corne Flagge.

This blush kinde is like vnto the French Corne Flagge in all respects,

sauing onely that the flowers are of a pale red colour, tending to

whitenesse, which wee vsually call a blush colour.

_Gladiolus flore albo._ White Corne Flagge.

This white Corne Flagge also differeth not from the last, but onely

that the rootes are whiter on the outside, the leaues are greener,

without any brownesse or darknesse as in the former, and the flowers

are snow white.

_Gladiolus purpureus minor._ The small purple Corne Flagge.

This also differeth not from any of the former, but onely in the

smallnesse both of leafe, stalke, and flowers, which stand all on the

one side, like vnto the French kinde, and of the same colour: the roote

of this kinde is netted more then any other.

The Place.

They grow in France and Italy, the least in Spaine, and the

Byzantine, as it is thought, about Constantinople, being (as

is said) first sent from thence. Iohn Tradescante assured mee,

that hee saw many acres of ground in Barbary spread ouer with

them.

The Time.

They all flower in Iune and Iuly, and the Byzantine latest, as

is said before.

The Names.

It hath diuers names; for the Latines call it _Gladiolus_,

of the forme of a sword, which the leafe doth resemble. The

Romanes _Segetalis_, because it groweth in the Corne fields.

Some call it _Victorialis rotunda_, to put a difference between

it, and the _longa_, which is a kinde of Garlicke. Plinie

saith, that _Gladiolus_ is _Cypirus_, but to decide that

controuersie, and many others, belongeth to another discourse,

this being intended only for pleasure. Gerrard mistaketh the

French kinde for the Italian.

The Vertues.

The roote being bruised, and applyed with Frankinsense (and

often of it selfe without it) in the manner of a pultis or

plaister, is held of diuers to be singular good to draw out

splinters, thornes, and broken bones out of the flesh. Some

take it be effectuall to stirre vp Venerie, but I somewhat

doubt thereof: For Galen in his eighth Booke of Simples, giueth

vnto it a drawing, digesting and drawing faculty.

[Illustration:

1 _Gladiolus Narbonensis._ The French Corne Flagge.

2 _Gladiolus Italicus._ The Italian Corne Flagge.

3 _Gladiolus Byzantinus._ Corne Flagge of Constantinople.

4 _Palma Christi mas._ The great male handed Satyrion.

5 _Orchis Hermaphroditica candida._ The white Butterflie Orchis.

6 _Orchis Melitias siue apifera._ The Bee flower or Bee Orchis.

7 _Dens Caninus flore purpurante._ Dogges tooth Violet with a pale

purplish flower.

8 _Dens Caninus flore albo._ Dogges tooth Violet with a white

flower.

]

CHAP. XXII.

_Orchis siue Satyrium._ Bee flowers.

Although it is not my purpose in this place, to giue a generall history

of all the sorts of Orchides, Satyrions, and the rest of that kinde;

yet because many of them are very pleasant to behold, and, if they be

planted in a conuenient place, will abide some time in Gardens, so that

there is much pleasure taken in them: I shall intrude some of them

for curiosities sake, to make vp the prospect of natures beautifull

variety, and only entreate of a few, leauing the rest to a more ample

declaration.

1. _Satyrium Basilicum siue Palma Christi mas._

The greater male handed Satyrion.

This handed Satyrion hath for the most part but three faire large

greene leaues, neare vnto the ground, spotted with small blackish

markes: from among which riseth vp a stalke, with some smaller leaues

thereon, bearing at the toppe a bush or spike of flowers, thicke set

together, euery one whereof is made like a body, with the belly broader

belowe then aboue, where it hath small peeces adioyned vnto it: the

flower is of a faire purple colour, spotted with deeper purple spots,

and hauing small peeces like hornes hanging at the backes of the

flowers, and a small leafe at the bottome of the foote-stalke of euery

flower: the rootes are not round, like the other Orchides, but somewhat

long and flat, like a hand, with small diuisions belowe, hanging downe

like the fingers of a hand, cut short off by the knockles, two alwayes

growing together, with some small fibres or strings aboue the heads of

these rootes, at the bottome of the stalke.

2. _Satyrium Basilicum siue Palma Christi fæmina._

The female handed Satyrion.

This female Satyrion hath longer and narrower leaues then the former,

and spotted with more and greater spots, compassing the stalke at the

bottome like the other: this beareth likewise a bush of flowers, like

vnto the other, but that each of these haue heads like hoods, whereas

the former haue none: in some they are white with purple spots, and in

others of a reddish purple, with deepe or darke coloured spots: the

roots are alike.

3. _Orchis Hermaphroditica candida._ The white Butterflie Orchis.

The rootes of this kinde take part with both the sorts of _Orchis_

and _Satyrium_, being neither altogether round, nor fully handed, and

thereupon it tooke the name, to signifie both kindes: the leaues are

two in number, seldome more, being faire and broad, like vnto the

leaues of Lillies, without any spot at all in them: at the toppe of

the stalke stand many white flowers, not so thicke set as the first or

second, euery one being fashioned like vnto a white Butterflie, with

the wings spread abroad.

4. _Orchis Melitias siue apifera._ The Bee flower or Bee Orchis.

This is a small and lowe plant for the most part, with three or foure

small narrow leaues at the bottome: the stalke is seldome above halfe

a foote high, with foure or fiue flowers thereon one aboue another,

hauing round bodies, and somewhat flat, of a kind of yellowish colour,

with purple wings aboue them, so like vnto an honey Bee, that it might

soone deceiue one that neuer had seene such a flower before: the roots

are two together, round and white, hauing a certaine _muccilaginesse_

or clamminesse within them, without any taste almost at all, as all or

the most part of these kindes haue.

5. _Orchis Sphegodes._ Gnats Satyrion.

The leaues of this Orchis are somewhat larger then of the Bee flower,

the stalke also somewhat higher: the flowers are fewer on the toppe,

but somewhat larger then of the Bee flowers, made to the resemblance

of a Gnat or great long Flie: the rootes are two round bulbes, as the

other are.

6. _Orchis Myodes._ Flie Orchis.

The Flie Orchis is like vnto the last described, both in leafe and

roote, the difference is in the flower, which is neither so long as the

Gnat Satyrion, nor so great as the Bee Orchis, but the neather part of

the Flie is blacke, with a list of ash-colour crossing the backe, with

a shew of legges hanging at it: the naturall Flie seemeth so to bee in

loue with it, that you shall seldome come in the heate of the day, but

you shall finde one sitting close thereon.

The Place.

These grow in many places of England, some in the Woods, as the

Butterflie, and the two former handed Satyrions: others on dry

bankes and barren balkes in Kent, and many other places.

The Time.

They flower for the most part in the beginning or middle of

May, or thereabouts.

The Names.

Their seuerall names are expressed in their titles, so much as

may suffice for this discourse.

The Vertues.

All the kindes of Orchis are accounted to procure bodily lust,

as well the flowers distilled, as the rootes prepared.

The rootes boyled in red Wine, and afterwards dryed, are held

to bee a singular good remedie against the bloody Flixe.

CHAP. XXIII.

_Dens Caninus._ Dogs tooth Violet.

Vnto the kindes of Orchides, may fitly be ioyned another plant, which

by many is reckoned to be a _Satyrium_, both from the forme of roote

and leafe, and from the efficacy or vertue correspondent thereunto. And

although it cannot be the _Satyrium Erythronium_ of Dioscorides, as

some would entitle it, for that as I haue shewed before, his _Satyrium

tryphillum_ is the Tulipa without all doubt; yet because it differeth

very notably, and carrieth more beauty and respect in his flower then

they, I shall entreate thereof in a Chapter by it selfe, and set it

next vnto them.

_Dens Caninus flore albo._ Dogs tooth Violet with a white flower.

The white Dogs tooth hath for his roote a white bulbe, long and small,

yet vsually greater then either of the other that follow, bigger belowe

then aboue, with a small peece adioyning to the bottome of it, from

whence rise vp in the beginning of the Spring, after the Winter frosts

are past, two leaues for the most part (when it will flower, or else

but one, and neuer three together that euer I saw) closed together

when they first come vp out of the ground, which inclose the flower

betweene them: the leaues when they are opened do lay themselues flat

on the ground, or not much aboue it, one opposite vnto the other, with

the stalke and the flower on it standing betweene them, which leaues

are of a whitish greene colour, long and narrow, yet broader in the

middle then at both ends, growing lesse by degrees each way, spotted

and striped all ouer the leaues with white lines and spots: the stalke

riseth vp halfe a foote high or more, bearing at the toppe one flower

and no more, hanging downe the head, larger then any of the other of

this kinde that follow, made or consisting of six white long and narrow

leaues, turning themselues vp againe, after it hath felt the comfort of

the Sunne, that they doe almost touch the stalke againe, very like vnto

the flowers of _Cyclamen_ or Sowebread: it hath in the middle of the

flower six white chiues, tipt with darke purple pendents, and a white

three forked stile in the middle of them: the flower hath no sent at

all, but commendable onely for the beauty and forme thereof: after the

flower is past, commeth in the place a round head seeming three square,

containing therein small and yellowish seede.

_Dens Caninus flore purpurascente._

Dogs tooth with a pale purple flower.

This other Dogs tooth is like vnto the former, but lesser in all parts,

the leafe whereof is not so long, but broad and short, spotted with

darker lines and spots: the flower is like the other, but smaller, and

of a delayed purple colour, very pale sometimes, and sometimes a little

deeper, turning it selfe as the other, with a circle round about the

vmbone or middle, the chiues hereof are not white, but declining to

purple: the roote is white, and like vnto the former, but lesser, as is

said before.

_Dens Caninus flore rubro._ Dogs tooth with a red flower.

This is in all things like vnto the last, both for forme and bignesse

of flower and leafe: the chiefe difference consisteth in this, that

the leaues hereof are of a yellowish mealy greene colour, spotted and

streaked with redder spots and stripes, and the flower of a deeper

reddish purple colour, and the chiues also more purplish then the last,

in all other things it is alike.

The Place.

The sorts _Dens Caninus_ doe growe in diuers places; some

in Italy on the Euganean Hils, others on the Apenine, and

some about Gratz, the chiefe Citie of Stiria, and also about

Bayonne, and in other places.

The Time.

They flower in March most vsually, and many times in Aprill,

according to the seasonablenesse of the yeare.

The Names.

Clusius did call it first _Dentali_, and Lobel, and from him

some others _Satyrium_, and _Erythronium_, but I haue said

enough hereof in the beginning of the Chapter. It is most

commonly called _Dens Caninus_, and we in English, either Dogs

tooth, or Dogs tooth Violet. Gesner called it _Hermodactylus_,

and Matthiolus _Pseudohermodactylus_.

The Vertues.

The roote hereof is held to bee of more efficacy for venerous

effects, then any of the Orchides and Satyrions.

They of Stiria vse the rootes for the falling sicknesse.

Wee haue had from Virginia a roote sent vnto vs, that wee might

well iudge, by the forme and colour thereof being dry, to be

either the roote of this, or of an Orchis, which the naturall

people hold not onely to be singular to procure lust, but hold

it as a secret, loth to reueale it.

CHAP. XXIIII.

_Cyclamen._ Sowebread.

The likenesse of the flowers, and the spotting of the leaues of the

_Dens Caninus_, with these of the _Cyclamen_ or Sowebread, maketh mee

ioyne it next thereunto: as also that after the bulbous rooted plants

I might begin with the tuberous that remaine, and make this plant the

beginning of them. Of this kinde there are diuers sorts, differing

both in forme of leaues and time of flowring: for some doe flower in

the Spring of the yeare, others afterwards in the beginning of Summer:

but the most number in the end of Summer, or beginning of Autumne or

Haruest, whereof some haue round leaues, others cornered like vnto

Iuie, longer or shorter, greater or smaller. Of them all in order, and

first of those that come in the Spring.

1. _Cyclamen Vernum flore purpureo._

Purple flowred Sowebread of the Spring.

This Sowebread hath a smaller roote then most of the others, yet round

and blackish on the outside, as all or most of the rest are (I speake

of them that I haue seene; for Clusius and others doe report to haue

had very great ones) from whence rise vp diuers round, yet pointed

leaues, and somewhat cornered withall, greene aboue, and spotted with

white spots circlewise about the leafe, and reddish vnderneath, which

at their first comming vp are folded together; among which come the

flowers, of a reddish purple colour and very sweete, euery one vpon

a small, long, and slender reddish foote-stalke, which hanging downe

their heads, turne vp their leaues againe: after the flowers are past,

the head or seede vessel shrinketh downe, winding his footestalke, and

coyling it selfe like a cable, which when it toucheth the ground, there

abideth hid among the leaues, till it be growne great and ripe, wherein

are contained a few small round seedes, which being presently sowne,

will growe first into round rootes, and afterwards from them shoote

forth leaues.

2. _Cyclamen Vernum flore albo._

White flowred Sowebread of the Spring.

The white flowring Sowebread hath his leaues like the former, but not

fully so much cornered, bearing small snow white flowers, as sweete as

the other: and herein consisteth the chiefest difference, in all other

things it is alike.

3. _Cyclamen Vernum Creticum flore albo._

White Candy Sowebread of the Spring.

This Sowebread is somewhat like the former white kinde, but that the

leaues grow much larger and longer, with more corners at the edges,

and more eminent spots on them: the flowers also somewhat longer and

larger, and herein consisteth the whole difference.

4. _Cyclamen Æstivum._ Summer Sowebread.

Summer Sowebread hath round leaues like vnto the Romane Sowebread,

but somewhat cornered, yet with shorter corners then the Iuie leafed

Sowebread, full of white spots on the vpperside of the leaues, and very

purple vnderneath, sometimes they haue fewer spots, and little or no

purple vnderneath: the flowers hereof are as small, as purple, and as

sweete, as the purple Sowebread of the Spring time: the roote hereof is

likewise small, blacke, and round.

5. _Cyclamen Romanum rotundifolium._

Romane Sowebread with round leaues.

The Romane Sowebread hath round leaues, somewhat like vnto the common

Sowebread, but not fully so round pointed at the ends, a little

cornered sometimes also, or as it were indented, with white spots round

about the middle of the leaues, and very conspicuous, which make it

seeme the more beautifull: the flowers appeare in Autumne, and are

shorter, and of a deeper purplish red colour then the Iuie Sowebread,

rising vp before the leaues for the most part, or at least with them,

and little or nothing sweete: the roote is round and blacke, vsually

not so flat as it, but growing sometimes to bee greater then any other

kinde of Sowebread. There is sometimes some variety to be seene, both

[Sidenote: _Varietas._]

in the leaues and flowers of this kinde; for that sometime the leaues

haue more corners, and either more or lesse spotted with white; the

flowers likewise of some are larger or lesser, longer or rounder,

paler or deeper coloured one then another. This happeneth most likely

from the sowing of the seede, causing the like variety as is seene in

the Iuie leafed Sowebread. It doth also many times happen from the

diuersity of soyles and countries where they grow: the seed of this, as

of all the rest, is small and round, contained in such like heads as

the former, standing almost like the head of a Snake that is twined or

folded within the body thereof. This and the other Autumnall kindes,

presently after their sowing in Autumne, shoote forth leaues, and so

abide all the Winter, according to their kinde.

6. _Cyclamen folio hederæ autumnale._ Iuie leafed Sowebread.

The Iuie leafed Sowebread groweth in the same manner that the former

doth, that is, bringeth forth flowers with the leaues sometimes, or

most commonly before them, whose flowers are greater then the common

round leafed Sowebread, somewhat longer then the former Romane or

Italian Sowebreads, and of a paler purple colour, almost bluish,

without that sweete sent as is in the first kinde of the Spring: the

greene leaues hereof are more long then round, pointed at the ends, and

hauing also one or two corners on each side, sometimes much spotted on

the vpperside with white spots and marks, and sometimes but a little or

not at all; and so likewise sometimes more or lesse purple vnderneath:

all the leaues and flowers doe stand vsually euery one seuerally by

themselues, vpon their owne slender foote-stalkes, as most of all the

[Sidenote: _Varietas._]

other kindes doe: but sometimes it happeneth, that both leaues and

flowers are found growing from one and the same stalke, which I rather

take to be accidentall, then naturall so to continue: the seede hereof

is like the former kindes, which being sowne produceth variety, both

in the forme of the leaues, and colour and smell of the flowers: some

being paler or deeper, and some more or lesse sweete then others: the

leaues also, some more or lesse cornered then others: the root groweth

to be great, being round and flat, and of a blackish browne colour on

the outside.

7. _Cyclamen autumnale hederæ folio flore albo._

Iuie leafed Sowebread with white flowers.

There is one of this kinde, whose leaues are rounder, and not so much

cornered as the former, flowring in Autumne as the last doth, and whose

flowers are wholly white, not hauing any other notable difference

therein.

8. _Cyclamen autumnale angustifolium._ Long leafed Sowebread.

This kinde of Sowebread may easily be knowne from all the other kindes,

because his leafe is longer and narrower then others, fashioned at the

bottome thereof with points, somewhat like vnto _Arum_ or Wake Robin

leaues: the flowers are like the former sorts for forme, but of a

purple colour. There is also another of this kinde in all things like

the former, but that the flowers are white.

[Illustration:

1 _Cyclamen Vernum flore purpureo._ Purple flowred Sowebread of the

Spring.

2 _Cyclamen astivum._ Summer Sowebread.

3 _Folium Cyclaminis Cretici vernalis flore candido._ A leafe of

Candie Sowebread.

4 _Cyclamen Romanum Autumnale._ Romane Sowebread of the Autumne.

5 _Cyclamen hederæfolio Autumnale._ Iuie leafed Autumne Sowebread.

6 _Folium Cyclaminis Autumnalis flore albo._ A leafe of the Autumne

Sowebread with a white flower.

7 _Folium Cyclaminis angustifolij Autumnalis._ A leafe of the long

leafed Sowebread.

8 _Cyclamen Antiochenum Autumnale flore amplo purpureo duplici._ The

double flowred Sowebread of Antioch.

9 _Cyclamen vulgare folio rotundo._ The common round leafed

Sowebread.

]

9. _Cyclamen Antiochenum Autumnale flore purpureo duplici._

Double flowred Sowebread of Antioch.

This Sowebread of Antioch with double flowers, hath his leaues somewhat

round, like vnto the leaues of the Summer Sowebread, but with lesse

notches or corners, & full of white spots on them: it beareth flowers

on stalks, like vnto others, & likewise some stalks that haue two or

three flowers on them, which are very large, with ten or twelue

leaues a peece, of a faire Peach colour, like vnto the flowers of

purple Sowebread of the Spring, and deeper at the bottome.

There are of this kinde some, whose flowers appeare in the Spring, and

are as large and double as the former, but of a pure white colour.

There are of these Sowebreads of Antioch, that haue but single flowers,

some appearing in the Spring, and others in Autumne.

10. _Cyclamen vulgare folio rotundo._ The common Sowebread.

The common Sowebread (which is most vsed in the Apothecaries Shops)

hath many leaues spread vpon the ground, rising from certaine small

long heads, that are on the greater round rootes, as vsually most of

the former sorts doe, being in the like manner folded together, and

after spread themselues into round greene leaues, somewhat like vnto

the leaues of _Asarum_, but not shining, without any white spots on

the vpperside for the most part, or but very seldome, and reddish or

purplish vnderneath, and very seldome greener: the flowers stand vpon

small foot-stalkes, and shew themselues open for the most part, before

any leaues doe appeare, being smaller and shorter then those with Iuie

leaues, and of a pale purple colour, yet sometimes deeper, hanging

downe their heads, and turning vp their leaues againe, as all others

doe, but more sweete then many other of the Autumne flowers: after the

flowers are past, come the heads turning or winding themselues downe

in like manner as the other doe, hauing such like seede, but somewhat

larger, and more vneuen, or not so round at the least: the roote is

round, and not flat, of a browner colour, and not so blacke on the

outside as many of the others.

The Place.

The Sowebreads of the Spring doe both grow on the Pyrenæan

Mountaines in Italy, and in Candy, and about Mompelier in

France; Antioch in Syria also hath yeelded some both of the

Spring and Autumne. Those with round and Iuie leaues grow in

diuers places both of France and Italy: and the common in

Germany, and the Lowe-Countries. But that Autumne Sowebread

with white flowers, is reported to grow in the Kingdome of

Naples. I haue very curiously enquired of many, if euer they

found them in any parts of England, neare or further off from

the places where they dwell: but they haue all affirmed, that

they neuer found, or euer heard of any that haue found of any

of them. This onely they haue assured, that there groweth none

in the places, where some haue reported them to grow.

The Time.

Those of the Spring doe flower about the end of Aprill, or

beginning of May. The other of the Summer, about the end of

Iune or in Iuly. The rest some in August, and September, others

in October.

The Names.

The Common Sowebread is called by most Writers in Latine,

_Panis Porcinus_, and by that name it is knowne in the

Apothecaries shops, as also by the name _Arthanita_, according

to which name, they haue an ointment so called, which is to be

made with the iuice hereof. It is also called by diuers other

names, not pertinent for this discourse. The most vsuall name,

whereby it is knowne to most Herbarists, is _Cyclamen_ (which

is the Greeke word) or as some call it _Cyclaminus_ adding

thereunto their other seuerall titles. In English, Sowebread.

The Vertues.

The leaues and rootes are very effectuall for the spleene, as

the Ointment before remembred plainly proueth, being vsed for

the same purpose, and that to good effect. It is vsed also

for women in long and hard trauels, where there is danger,

to accelerate the birth, either the roote or the leafe being

applyed. But for any amorous effects, I hold it meere fabulous.

CHAP. XXV.

_Anemone._ Windeflower and his kindes.

The next tuberous rooted plants that are to follow (of right in my

opinion) are the _Anemones_ or Windeflowers, and although some tuberous

rooted plants, that is, the Asphodils, Spiderworts, and Flowerdeluces

haue beene before inserted, it was, both because they were in name

or forme of flowers sutable to them whom they were ioyned vnto, and

also that they should not be seuered and entreated of in two seuerall

places: the rest are now to follow, at the least so many of them as

be beautifull flowers, fit to furnish a Florists Garden, for natures

delightsome varieties and excellencies. To distinguish the Family of

_Anemones_ I may, that is, into the wilde kindes, and into the tame or

mannured, as they are called, and both of them noursed vp in Gardens;

and of them into those that haue broader leaues, and into those that

haue thinner or more iagged leaues: and of each of them, into those

that beare single flowers, and those that beare double flowers. But to

describe the infinite (as I may so say) variety of the colours of the

flowers, and to giue to each his true distinction and denomination,

_Hic labor, hoc opus est_, it farre passeth my ability I confesse, and

I thinke would grauell the best experienced this day in Europe (and

the like I said concerning Tulipas, it being as contingent to this

plant, as is before said of the Tulipa, to be without end in yeelding

varieties:) for who can see all the varieties that haue sprung from the

sowing of the seede in all places, seeing the variety of colours risen

from thence, is according to the variety of ayres & grounds wherein

they are sowne, skill also helping nature in ordering them aright. For

the seede of one and the same plant sowne in diuers ayres and grounds,

doe produce that variety of colours that is much differing one from

another; who then can display all the mixtures of colours in them, to

set them downe in so small a roome as this Book? Yet as I haue done

(in the former part of this Treatise) my good will, to expresse as

many of each kinde haue come to my knowledge, so if I endeauour the

like in this, I hope the courteous wil accept it, and hold me excused

for the rest: otherwise, if I were or could be absolute, I should take

from my self and others the hope of future augmentation, or addition

of any new, which neuer will be wanting. To begin therefore with the

wilde kinds (as they are so accounted) I shall first entreate of the

_Pulsatillas_ or Pasque flowers, which are certainly kindes of wilde

_Anemones_, both in leafe and flower, as may well be discerned by them

that are iudicious (although some learned men haue not so thought, as

appeareth by their writings) the rootes of them making one speciall

note of difference, from the other sorts of wilde _Anemones_.

1. _Pulsatilla Anglica purpurea._ The purple Pasque flower.

The Pasque or Passe flower which is of our owne Country, hath many

leaues lying on the ground, somewhat rough or hairie, hard in feeling,

and finely cut into many small leaues, of a darke greene colour, almost

like the leaues of Carrets, but finer and smaller, from among which

rise vp naked stalkes, rough or hairie also, set about the middle

thereof with some small diuided leaues compassing them, and rising

aboue these leaues about a spanne, bearing euery one of them one

pendulous flower, made of six leaues, of a fine Violet purple colour,

but somewhat deepe withall, in the middle whereof stand many yellow

threads, set about a middle purple pointell: after the flower is past,

there commeth vp in the stead thereof a bushie head of long seedes,

which are small and hoarie, hauing at the end of euery one a small

haire, which is gray likewise: the roote is small and long, growing

downewards into the ground, with a tuft of haire at the head thereof,

and not lying or running vnder the vpper crust thereof, as the other

wilde _Anemones_ doe.

2. _Pulsatilla Danica._ The Passe flower of Denmarke.

There is another that was brought out of Denmarke, very like vnto the

former, but that it is larger both in roote and leafe, and flower also,

which is of a fairer purple colour, not so deepe, and besides, will

better abide to bee mannured then our English kinde will, as my selfe

haue often proued.

[Sidenote: _Viriusque flore albo & flore duplici._]

Of both these sorts it is said, that some plants haue bin found, that

haue borne white flowers. And likewise one that bore double flowers,

that is, with two rowes of leaues.

3. _Pulsatilla flore rubro._ The red Passe flower.

Lobel, as I take it, did first set forth this kinde, being brought him

from Syria, the leaues whereof are finer cut, the flower smaller, and

with longer leaues, and of a red colour.

4. _Pulsatilla flore luteo._ The yellow Passe flower.

The yellow Passe flower hath his leaues cut and diuided, very like vnto

the leaues of the first kinde, but somewhat more hairie, greene on

the vpperside, and hairie vnderneath: the stalke is round and hoary,

the middle whereof is beset with some small leaues, as in the other,

from among which riseth vp the stalke of the flower, consisting of six

leaues of a very faire yellow colour on the inside, and of a hoary pale

yellow on the outside; after which followeth such an head of hairie

thrummes as in the former: the roote is of the bignesse of a mans

finger.

5. _Pulsatilla flore albo._ The white Passe flower.

The white Passe flower (which Clusius maketh a kinde of _Anemone_, and

yet as hee saith himselfe, doth more nearely resemble the _Pulsatilla_)

hath, from amongst a tuft or head of haires, which grow at the toppe

of a long blacke roote, many leaues standing vpon long stalkes, which

are diuided as it were into three wings or parts, and each part finely

cut and diuided, like vnto the Passe flower of Denmarke, but somewhat

harder in handling, greenish on the vpperside, and somewhat gray

vnderneath, and very hairie all ouer: among these leaues rise vp the

stalkes, beset at the middle of them with three leaues, as finely cut

and diuided as those belowe, from aboue which standeth the flower,

being smaller, and not so pendulous as the former, but in the like

manner consisting of six leaues, of a snow white colour on the inside,

and a little browner on the outside, with many yellow thrums in the

middle: after the flower is past, riseth vp such a like hoary head,

composed as it were of many haires, each whereof hath a small seede

fastened vnto it, like as the former Passe flowers haue.

The Place.

The first is found in many places of England, vpon dry bankes

that lye open to the Sunne.

The second was first brought, as I take it, by Doctor Lobel

from Denmarke, & is one of the two kinds, that Clusius saith

are common in Germanie, this bearing a paler purple flower, and

more early then the other, which is the same with our English,

whose flower is so darke, that it almost seemeth blacke.

The red kinde, as Lobel saith, came from Syria.

The yellow Passe flower, which Clusius maketh his third wilde

_Anemone_, was found very plentifully growing at the foote of

St. Bernards Hill, neare vnto the Cantons of the Switzers.

The white one groweth on the Alpes neare Austria, in France

likewise and other places.

[Illustration:

1 _Pulsatilla purpurea cum folio, semine, & radice._ The purple

Pasque flower with leafe, seed, and root.

2 _Pulsatilla luteo flore._ The yellow Pasque flower.

3 _Pulsatilla rubra Syriaca Lobelij._ Red Pasque flower of Lobel.

4 _Pulsatilla rubra Swertij._ Swertz his red Pasque flower.

5 _Pulsatilla flore albo._ White Pasque flower.

6 _Anemone siluestris albo Matthioli._ The wilde white broad leafed

Windflower.

7 _Anemone siluestris tenuifolia alba._ The wilde single white

Windflower.

8 _Anemone siluestris tenuifolia luteo._ The yellow wilde thin

leafed Windflower.

9 _Anemone siluestris trifolia Dodonæi._ The three-leafed wilde

Windflower.

10 _Anemone siluestris flore pleno albo._ The double white wilde

Windflower.

11 _Anemone siluestris flore pleno purpureo._ The double purple

wilde Windeflower.

* _Semen seperatim divulsum._ The seed separated.

† _Radice cum folio inferiore._ The roote with a lower leafe.

]

The Time.

All of them doe flower early in the yeare, that is, in the

beginning of Aprill, about which time most commonly Easter doth

fall.

The Names.

Their proper names are giuen to each in their seuerall titles,

being all of them kindes of wilde _Anemones_, as I said in the

beginning of the Chapter, and so for the most part all Authors

doe acknowledge them. We call them in English, because they

flower about Easter, Pasque flower, which is the French name

for Easter, or _Euphoniæ gratia_, Pasque flower, which may

passe currant, without any further descant on the name, or else

_Pulsatilla_, if you will, being growne old by custome.

The Vertues.

The sharpe biting and exulcerating quality of this plant,

causeth it to be of little vse, notwithstanding Ioachimus

Camerarius saith in his _Hortus Medicus_, that in Borussia,

which is a place in Italy, as I take it, the distilled water

hereof is vsed with good successe, to be giuen to them that

are troubled with a Tertian Ague; for he saith that it is

_medicamentum_ ὀκφρακτικὸν, that is, a medicine of force to

helpe obstructions.

_Anemone siluestris latifolia alba siue tertia Matthioli._

The white wilde broad leafed Windflower.

This Windflower hath diuers broad greene leaues, cut into diuisions,

and dented, about, very like vnto a broad leafed Crowfoote, among which

riseth vp a stalke, hauing some such like cut leaues in the middle

thereof, as growe below, but smaller; on the toppe whereof standeth one

large white flower, consisting of fiue leaues for the most part, with

some yellow threads in the middle, standing about such a greene head

as is in the tame or garden _Anemones_, which growing greater after

the flower is past, is composed of many small seedes, wrapped in white

wooll, which as soone as they are ripe, raise themselues vp from the

bottome of the head, and flye away with the winde, as the other tame

or garden kindes doe: the roote is made of a number of long blacke

strings, encreasing very much by running vnder ground, and shooting vp

in diuers places.

_Anemone siluestris tenuifolia lutea._

The yellow wilde thin leafed Windflower.

The yellow wilde _Anemone_ riseth vp with one or two small round

naked stalkes, bearing about the middle of them, small, soft, and

tender iagged leaues, deeply cut in and indented on the edges about,

from aboue which, doth grow the stalke, bearing small yellow flowers,

standing vpon weake foote-stalks, like vnto a small Crowfoot, with some

threads in the middle: the roote is long and small, somewhat like vnto

the roote of Pollipodie, creeping vnder the vpper crust of the earth:

this kinde is lower, and springeth somewhat earlier then the other

wilde kindes that follow.

_Anemone siluestris tenuifolia alba simplex._

The single white thin leafed wilde Windflower.

This white wilde _Anemone_ riseth vp with diuers leaues vpon seuerall

long stalkes; which are somewhat like vnto the former, but that they

are somewhat harder, and not so long, nor the diuisions of the leaues

so finely snipt about the edges, but a little broader, and deeper cut

in on euery side: the flowers hereof are larger and broader then the

former, white on the inside, and a little purplish on the outside,

especially at the bottome of the flower next vnto the stalke: the

roote of this is very like vnto the last.

[Sidenote: _Purpurea._]

There is another of this kinde, whose flowers are purple, in all other

things it is like vnto the white.

[Sidenote: _Coccinea siue suave rubens._]

And likewise another, with a blush or carnation coloured flower.

[Sidenote: _Peregrina alba._]

There is one that is onely nursed vp with vs in Gardens, that is

somewhat like vnto these former wilde _Anemones_ in roote and leafe,

but that the flower of this, being pure white within, and a little

purplish without, consisting of eight or nine small round pointed

leaues, hath sometimes some leaues vnder the flower, party coloured

white and greene: the flower hath likewise a greene head, like a

Strawberry, compassed about with white threads, tipt with yellow

pendents.

[Sidenote: _Peregrina viridis._]

And another of the same kinde with the last, whose flower consisting

of eight or nine leaues, is of a greenish colour, except the foure

outermost leaues, which are a little purplish, and diuided at the

points into three parts; the middle part is of a greenish white colour,

with a greene head in the middle as the other.

_Anemone siluestris trifolia Dodonæi._

The three leafed wilde Windflower.

This wilde _Anemone_ hath his rootes very like vnto the former kindes;

the leaues are alwaies three set together at the toppe of slender

stalkes, being small and indented about, very like vnto a three leafed

Grasse, but smaller: the flower consisteth of eight small leaues,

somewhat like vnto a Crowfoote, but of a whitish purple or blush

colour, with some white threads, and a greene rough head in the middle.

_Anemone siluestris flore pleno albo._

The double white wilde Windflower.

This double kinde is very like vnto the single white kinde before

described, both in his long running rootes, and thin leaues, but

somewhat larger: the flowers hereof are very thicke and double,

although they be small, and of a faint sweete sent, very white after

it is full blowne for fiue or six dayes, but afterwards it becommeth

a little purplish on the inside, but more on the outside: this neuer

giueth seede (although it haue a small head in the middle) like as many

other double flowers doe.

_Anemone siluestris flore pleno purpureo._

The double purple wilde Windflower.

This double purple kinde hath such like iagged leaues as the last

described hath, but more hoarie vnderneath: the flower is of a fine

light purple toward the points of the leaues, the bottomes being of a

deeper purple, but as thicke, and full of leaues as the former, with a

greene head in the middle, like vnto the former: this kinde hath small

greene leaues on the stalkes vnder the flowers, cut and diuided like

the lower leaues.

The Place.

The first broad leafed _Anemone_ groweth in diuers places of

Austria and Hungary. The yellow in diuers woods in Germany,

but not in this Countrey that euer I could learne. The other

single wilde kindes, some of them are very frequent throughout

the most places of England, in Woods, Groues, and Orchards.

The double kindes were found, as Clusius saith, in the

Lowe-Countries, in a Wood neare Louaine.

The Time.

They flower from the end of March (that is the earliest) and

the beginning of Aprill, vntill May, and the double kindes

begin within a while after the single kinds are past.

The Names.

They are called _Ranunculi siluarum_, and _Ranunculi nemorum_,

and as Clusius would haue them, _Leimonia_ of Theophrastus;

they are generally called of most Herbarists _Anemones

siluestres_, Wilde _Anemones_ or Windflowers. The Italians

call them _Gengeuo saluatico_, that is, Wilde Ginger, because

the rootes are, besides the forme, being somewhat like small

Ginger, of a biting hot and sharpe taste.

_Anemone Lusitanica siue hortensis latifolia flore simplici luteo._

The single Garden yellow Windflower or Anemone.

This single yellow Anemone or Windflower hath diuers broad round

leaues, somewhat diuided and endented withall on the edges, brownish at

the first rising vp out of the ground, and almost folded together, and

after of a sad greene on the vpperside, and reddish vnderneath; among

which rise vp small slender stalkes, beset at the middle of them with

two or three leaues, more cut and diuided then those belowe, with small

yellow flowers at the toppe of them, consisting of ten or twelue leaues

a peece, hauing a few yellow threads in the middle of them, standing

about a small greene head, which in time growing ripe hath small flat

seede, inclosed within a soft wooll or downe, which is easily blowne

away with the winde: the roote groweth downeward into the ground,

diuersly spread with branches here and there, of a brownish yellow on

the outside, and whitish within, so brittle, that it can hardly bee

touched without breaking.

_Anemone latifolia flore luteo duplici._

The double yellow Anemone or Windflower.

This double yellow Anemone hath such broad round leaues as the single

kinde hath, but somewhat larger or ranker: the stalkes are beset with

larger leaues, more deeply cut in on the edges: the flowers are of

a more pale yellow, with some purplish veines on the outside, and a

little round pointed; but they are all on the inside of a faire yellow

colour, consisting of two rowes of leaues, whereof the innermost is the

narrower, with a small greene head in the middle, compassed with yellow

threads as in the former: the roote is like the roote of the single;

neither of these haue any good sent, and this springeth vp and flowreth

later then the single kinde.

_Anemone latifolia purpurea stellata siue papaveracea._

The purple Starre Anemone or Windflower.

The first leaues of this purple Anemone, which alwayes spring vp before

Winter, (if the roote be not kept too long out of the ground,) are

somewhat like the leaues of _Sanicle_ or Selfe-heale, but the rest

that follow are more deeply cut in and iagged; among which rise vp

diuers round stalkes, beset with iagged leaues as all other Anemones

are, aboue which leaues, the stalkes rising two or three inches high,

beare one flower a peece, composed of twelue leaues or more, narrow and

pointed, of a bleake purple or whitish ash-colour, somewhat shining on

the outside, and of a fine purple colour tending to a murrey on the

inside, with many blackish blew threads or thrummes in the middle of

the flower, set about a head, whereon groweth the seede, which is small

and blacke, inclosed in soft wooll or downe, which flieth away with the

winde, carrying the seede with it, if it be not carefully gathered: the

roote is blackish on the outside, and white within, tuberous or knobby,

with many fibres growing at it.

_Anemone purpurea Stellata altera._ Another purple Starre Anemone.

There is so great diuersity in the colours of the flowers of these

broad leafed kinds of Anemones or Windflowers, that they can very

hardly be expressed, although in their leaues there is but little or no

difference. I shall not neede therefore to make seuerall descriptions

of euery one that shall be set downe; but it will be sufficient, I

thinke, to giue you the distinctions of the flowers: for as I said,

therein is the greatest and chiefest difference. This other Starre

Anemone differeth not from the former in leafe or flower, but onely

that this is of a more pale sullen colour on the outside, and of a

paler purple colour on the inside.

[Illustration:

1 _Anemone latifolia flore luteo simplici._ The single yellow

Anemone.

2 _Anemone latifolia flore luteo duplici._ The double yellow

Anemone.

3 _Anemone latifolia flore purpureo Stellato._ The purple Starre

Anemone.

4 _Anemone latifolia purpurea dilutior._ The pale purple Starre

Anemone.

5 _Anemone latifolia flore miniato diluto._ The pale red Anemone.

6 _Anemone latifolia coccinea Cardinalis dicta._ The Cardinall

Anemone.

7 _Anemone latifolia incarnata Hispanica._ The Spanish incarnate

Anemone.

8 _Anemone latifolia Pauo simplex dicta._ The lesser Orenge tawney

Anemone.

9 _Anemone latifolia flore carneo._ The carnation Anemone.

10 _Anemone latifolia Arantiaca siue Pauo maior._ The double Orenge

tawney Anemone.

11 _Anemone Superitica siue Cyparissia._ The double Anemone of Cyprus.

12 _Anemone latifolia flore pleno albicante._ The double pale blush

Anemone.

13 _Anemone Chalcedonica maxima._ The great Spanish Marigold Anemone.

14 _Anemone Cacumeni siue Persica._ The double Persian Anemone.

† _Anemonis latifoliæ radice._ The roote of a great Anemone.

]

_Viola purpurea._

There is another, whose flower hath eight leaues, as many of

them that follow haue (although diuers sorts haue but six

leaues in a flower) and is of a Violet purple, and therefore is

called, The Violet purple Anemone.

_Varietas._

Of all these three sorts last described, there be other that

differ only in hauing white bottomes, some smaller and some

larger.

_Purpurea striata._

There is also another of the same Violet purple colour with the

former, but a little paler, tending more to rednesse, whose

flowers haue many white lines and stripes through the leaues,

and is called, The purple stript Anemone.

_Carnea vivacissima simplex._

There is another, whose greene leaues are somewhat larger, and

so is the flower likewise, consisting of eight leaues, and

sometimes of more, of the colour of Carnation silke, sometimes

pale and sometimes deeper, with a whitish circle about the

bottome of the leaues, which circle in some is larger, and more

to be seene then in others, when the flower layeth it selfe

open with the heate of the Sunne, hauing blewish threads in the

middle. This may be called, the Carnation Anemone.

_Persiciviolacea._

We haue another, whose flower is betweene a Peach colour and a

Violet, which is vsually called a Gredeline colour.

_Cochenille._

And another of a fine reddish Violet or purple, which we call,

The Cochenille Anemone.

_Cardinalis._

And another of a rich crimson red colour, and may be called,

The Cardinall Anemone.

_Sanguinea._

Another of a deeper, but not so liuely a red, called, The bloud

red Anemone.

_Cramesina._

Another of an ordinary crimson colour, called, The crimson

Anemone.

_Coccinea._

Another of a Stamell colour, neare vnto a Scarlet.

_Incarnata._

Another of a fine delayed red or flesh colour, and may bee

called, The Incarnidine Anemone.

_Incarnata Hispanica._

Another whose flower is of a liuely flesh colour, shadowed with

yellow, and may be called, The Spanish Incarnate Anemone.

_Rubescens._

Another of a faire whitish red, which we call, The Blush

Anemone.

_Moschutella._

Another whose flower consisteth of eight leaues, of a darke

whitish colour, stript all ouer with veines of a fine blush

colour, the bottomes being white, this may be called, The

Nutmegge Anemone.

_Enfumata._

Another whose flower is of a pale whitish colour, tending to a

gray, such as the Monkes and Friers were wont to weare with vs,

and is called, A Monkes gray.

_Pauo maior simplici flore._

There is another, whose leafe is somewhat broader then many or

most of the Anemones, comming neare vnto the leafe of the great

double Orenge coloured Anemone; the flower whereof is single,

consisting of eight large or broad leaues, very neare vnto the

same Orenge colour, that is in the double flower hereafter

described, but somewhat deeper. This is vsually called in

Latine, _Pauo maior simplici flore_, and we in English, The

great single Orenge tawnie Anemone.

_Pauo minor._

There is likewise of this kinde another, whose flower is

lesser, and called, The lesser Orenge tawnie Anemone.

_Varietas magna ex seminio._

There is besides these expressed, so great a variety of mixt

colours in the flowers of this kinde of Anemone with broad

leaues, arising euery yeare from the sowing of the seede of

some of the choisest and fittest for that purpose, that it is

wonderfull to obserue, not onely the variety of single colours,

but the mixture of two or three colours in one flower, besides

the diuersity of the bottomes of the flowers, some hauing white

or yellowish bottomes, and some none, and yet both of the same

colour; and likewise in the thrums or threads in the middle:

But the greatest wonder of beauty is in variety of double

flowers, that arise from among the other single ones, some

hauing two or three rowes of leaues in the flowers, and some so

thicke of leaues as a double Marigold, or double Crowfoote, and

of the same seuerall colours that are in the single flowers,

that it is almost impossible to expresse them seuerally, and

(as is said before) some falling out to bee double in one

yeare, which will proue single or lesse double in another,

yet very many abiding constant double as at the first; and

therefore let this briefe recitall be sufficient in stead of a

particular of all the colours.

_Anemone Chalcedonica maxima versicolor._

The great double Windflower of Constantinople.

This great Anemone of Constantinople hath broader and greener leaues

then any of the former kindes, and not so much diuided or cut in at

the edges, among which rise vp one or two stalkes, (seldome more from

one roote) hauing some leaues about the middle of the stalke, as other

Anemones haue, and bearing at the toppes of the stalkes one large

flower a peece, very double, whose outermost leaues being broadest,

are greenish at the first, but afterwards red, hauing sometimes some

greene abiding still in the leaues, and the red striped through it: the

other leaues which are within these are smaller, and of a perfect red

colour; the innermost being smallest, are of the same red colour but

turned somewhat inward, hauing no thrummes or threads in the middle,

as the former haue, and bearing no seede: the roote is blackish on the

outside, and white within, thicke and tuberous as the other kindes, but

thicker set and close together, not shooting any long slender rootes as

others doe. Some Gentlewomen call this Anemone, The Spanish Marigold.

_Anemone Chalcedonica altera siue Pauo maior flore duplici._

The great double Orenge tawney Anemone.

This other great Anemone of Constantinople hath his large leaues so

like vnto the last, that one can hardly distinguish them asunder; the

stalke hath also such like leaues set vpon it, bearing at the toppe a

faire large flower, consisting of many leaues set in two or three rowes

at the most, but not so thicke or double as the last, yet seeming to

be but one thicke rowe of many small and long leaues, of an excellent

red or crimson colour, wherein some yellow is mixed, which maketh that

colour is called an Orenge tawney; the bottomes of the leaues are red,

compassed with a whitish circle, the thrummie head in the middle being

beset with many darke blackish threads: the roote is like the former.

_Anemone Superitica siue Cyparissia._ The double Anemone of Cyprus.

This Anemone (which the Dutchmen call Superitz, and as I haue beene

enformed, came from the Isle of Cyprus) hath leaues very like the last

double Anemone, but not altogether so large: the flower consisteth

of smaller leaues, of colour very neare vnto the last double Orenge

coloured Anemone, but more thicke of leaues, and as double as the

first, although not so great a flower, without any head in the middle,

or thrums about it as is in the last, and differeth not in the roote

from either of them both.

Somewhat like vnto this kinde, or as it were betweene this and the

first kinde of these great double Anemones, we haue diuers other sorts,

bearing flowers very thicke and double; some of them being white,

or whitish, or purple, deepe or paler, and some of a reddish colour

tending to Scarlet or a Carnation colour, and some also of a blush

or flesh colour, and diuers other colours, and all of them continue

constant in their colours.

_Anemone Cacumeni Maringi siue Persica._ The double Persian Anemone.

This rare Anemone, which is said to come out of Persia to

Constantinople, and from thence to vs, is in leafe and roote very like

vnto the former double Anemones before described; onely the flower

hereof is rather like vnto the second great double Orenge coloured

Anemone, vsually called _Pauo maior flore pleno_, being composed of

three rowes of leaues, the outermost rowe consisting of ten or twelue

larger leaues, and those more inward lesser and more in number, but all

of them variably mixed with white, red, and yellow, having the bottomes

of the leaues white: but instead of a middle head with thrums about it,

as the other hath, this hath a few narrow leaues, or a deepe yellow

colour in the middle of the flower, standing vpright.

Hauing thus farre proceeded in the two parts of the kindes of Anemones

or Windflowers, it remaineth to entreate of the rest, which is those

Anemones which haue thin cut leaues, whereof some haue reckoned vp

thirty sorts with single flowers, which I confesse I haue not seene;

but so many as haue come to my knowledge, I shall here set downe.

_Anemone tenuifolia siue Geranifolia cærulea._

The Watchet Anemone or Storkes bill leafed Windflower.

This first Windflower with thin cut leaues, riseth not out of the

ground vntil the great Winter frosts be past, that is, about the middle

or end of February, and are somewhat brownish at their first appearing,

but afterwards spread into wings of greene leaues, somewhat broader

then the rest that follow, diuided into three parts, & each part into

three leaues, euery one cut in about the edges, one standing against

another vpon a long slender foote-stalke, and the end leafe by it

selfe: among these riseth vp two or three greene stalkes, garnished

with such like thin leaues as are at the bottome, from aboue which rise

the flowers, but one vpon a stalke, consisting of fourteene or fifteene

small pale blew or watchet leaues, lesser then any of the single kindes

that follow, compassing many whitish threads, and a small greene head

in the middle, somewhat like the head of the wilde Crowfoote, wherein

is contained such like seede: the roote is blackish without, thrusting

out into long tuberous peeces, somewhat like vnto some of the broad

leafed Anemones.

[Sidenote: _Alba._]

Of this kinde there is another, whose leaues are not browne at their

first rising, but greene, and the flowers are white, in other things

not differing.

_Anemone tenuifolia purpurea vulgaris._

The ordinary purple Anemone with thin leaues.

This purple Anemone which is most common, and therefore the lesse

regarded, hath many winged leaues standing vpon seuerall stalkes, cut

and diuided into diuers leaues, much like vnto the leaues of a Carrot;

among which rise vp stalkes with some leaues thereon (as is vsuall

to the whole Family of Anemones, both wilde and tame, as is before

said;) at the toppes whereof stand the flowers, made of six leaues

most vsually, but sometimes they will haue seuen or eight, being very

large, and of a perfect purple Violet colour, very faire and liuely:

the middle head hath many blackish thrums or threads about it, which I

could neuer obserue in my Gardens to beare seed: the roote is smaller,

and more spreading euery way into small long flat tuberous parts, then

any other kindes of single or double Anemones.

_Carneapallida._

There is another very like in leafe and roote vnto the former,

but the flower is nothing so large, and is whitish, tending to

a blush colour, and of a deeper blush colour toward the bottome

of the flower, with blackish blew thrums in the middle, and

giueth no seede that I could euer obserue.

_Carnea viuida vnguibus albis._

There is likewise another like vnto the last in leafe and

flower, but that the flower is larger then it, and is a of

liuely blush colour, the leaues hauing white bottomes.

_Alba venis purpureis._

And another, whose flower is white, with purple coloured veines

and stripes through euery leafe, and is a lesser flower then

the other.

_Anemone tenuifolia coccinea simplex._

The single Scarlet Anemone with thin leaues.

The leaues of this Scarlet Windflower are somewhat like vnto the

former, but a little broader, and not so finely cut and diuided: the

flower consisteth of six reasonable large leaues, of an excellent

red colour, which we call a Scarlet; the bottomes of the leaues are

large and white, and the thrums or threads in the middle of a blackish

purple colour: the roote is tuberous, but consisting of thicker peeces,

somewhat like vnto the rootes of the broad leafed Anemones, but

somewhat browne and not so blacke, and most like vnto the roote of the

double Scarlet Anemone.

_Coccinea absq; vnguibus._

There is another of this kinde, whose flower is neare vnto the

same colour, but this hath no white bottomes at all in his

leaues.

_Flore holosericeo._

We haue another which hath as large a flower as any single, and

is of an Orient deepe red crimson Veluet colour.

_Sanguinea._

There is another of a deeper red colour, and is called, The

bloud red single Anemone.

_Rubra fundo luteo._

And another, whose flower is red with the bottome yellow.

_Coccinea dilutior._

Another of a perfect crimson colour, whereof some haue round

pointed leaues, and others sharpe pointed, and some a little

lighter or deeper then others.

_Alba staminibus purpureis._

There is also one, whose flower is pure white with blewish

purple thrums in the middle.

_Carnea Hispanica._

And another, whose flower is very great, of a kinde of sullen

blush colour, but yet pleasant, with blewish threads in the

middle.

_Alba carneis venis._

And another with blush veines in euery leafe of the white

flower.

_Alba purpureis vnguibus._

And another, the flower whereof is white, the bottomes of the

leaues being purple.

_Purpurascens._

Another whose flower consisteth of many small narrow leaues,

of a pale purple or blush colour on the outside, and somewhat

deeper within.

_Facie florum pomi simplex._

There is another like in leafe and roote vnto the first Scarlet

Anemone, but the flower hereof consisteth of seuen large leaues

without any bottomes, of a white colour, hauing edges, and some

large stripes also of a carnation or flesh colour to bee seene

in them, marked somewhat like an Apple blossome, and thereupon

it is called in Latine, _Anemone tenuifolia simplex alba

instar florum pomi_, or _facie florum pomi_, that is to say in

English, The single thin leafed Anemone with Apple blossome

flowers.

_Multiplex._

I haue heard that there is one of this kinde with double

flowers.

1. _Anemone tenuifolia flore coccineo pleno vulgaris._

The common double red or Scarlet Anemone.

The leaues of this double Anemone are very like vnto the leaues of the

single Scarlet Anemone, but not so thin cut and diuided as that with

the purple flower: the flower hereof when it first openeth it selfe,

consisteth of six and sometimes of seuen or eight broad leaues, of a

deepe red, or excellent Scarlet colour, the middle head being thick

closed, and of a greenish colour, which after the flower hath stood

blowne some time, doth gather colour, and openeth it selfe into many

small leaues, very thicke, of a more pale red colour, and more Stamell

like then the outer leaues: the root of this is thicke and tuberous,

very like vnto the root of the single Scarlet Anemone.

2. _Anemone tenuifolia flore coccineo pleno variegata._

The party coloured double Crimson Anemone.

We haue a kinde hereof, varying neither in roote, leafe, or forme of

flower from the former, but in the colour, in that this will haue

sometimes the outer broad leaues party coloured, with whitish or blush

coloured great streakes in the red leaues both inside and outside; as

also diuers of the middle or inner leaues striped in the same manner:

the roote hereof giueth fairer flowers in some yeares then in others,

and sometimes giue flowers all red againe.

3. _Anemone tenuifolia flore coccineo saturo pleno._

The double crimson Veluet Anemone.

Wee haue another also, whose flower is of a deepe Orenge tawny crimson

colour, neare vnto the colour of the outer leaues, of the lesser French

Marigold, and not differing from the former in any thing else.

4. _Anemone tenuifolia flore pleno suauerubente._

The greater double blush Anemone.

There is small difference to be discerned, either in the roote or

leaues of this from the former double Scarlet Anemone, sauing that

the leaues hereof are a little broader, and seeme to bee of a little

fresher greene colour: the flower of this is as large almost, and as

double as the former, and the inner leaues likewise almost as large as

they, being of a whitish or flesh colour at the first opening of them,

but afterwards become of a most liuely blush colour; the bottomes of

the leaues abiding of a deeper blush, and with long standing, the tops

of the leaues will turne almost wholly white againe.

5. _Anemone tenuifolia flore albo pleno._ The double white Anemone.

This double white Anemone differeth little from the former blush

Anemone, but in that it is smaller in all the parts thereof, and also

that the flower hereof being wholly of a pure white colour, without

any shew of blush therein, hath the middle thrummes much smaller and

shorter then it, and not rising vp so high, but seeme as if they were

chipped off euen at the toppes.

6. _Anemone tenuifolia flore pleno albicante._

The lesser double blush Anemone.

This small double blush Anemone differeth very little from the double

white last recited, but onely in the colour of the flower: for they are

both much about the bignesse one of another, the middle thrums likewise

being as small and short, and as euen aboue, onely the flower at the

first opening is almost white, but afterwards the outer leaues haue a

more shew of blush in them, and the middle part a little deeper then

they.

7. _Anemone tenuifolia flore pleno purpureo violaceo._

The double purple Anemone.

This double purple Anemone is also of the same kindred with the first

double red or Scarlet Anemone for the form or doublenesse of the

flower, consisting but of six or seuen leaues at the most in this our

Country, although in the hotter it hath ten or twelue, or more as large

leaues for the outer border, and as large small leaues for the inner

middle also, and almost as double, but of a deepe purple tending toward

a Violet colour, the outer leaues being not so deepe as the inner: the

roote and leafe commeth neare vnto the single purple Anemone before

described, but that the roote spreadeth not so small and so much.

8. _Anemone tenuifolia flore pleno purpureo cæruleo._

The double blew Anemone.

This Anemone differeth not in any thing from the former double purple,

but onely that the flower is paler, and more tending to a blew colour.

9. _Anemone tenuifolia flore pleno roseo._

The double Rose coloured Anemone.

The double Rose coloured Anemone differeth also in nothing from the

former double purple, but onely in the flower, which is somewhat

smaller, and not so thicke and double, and that it is of a reddish

colour, neare vnto the colour of a pale red Rose, or of a deepe

coloured Damaske.

10. _Anemone tenuifolia flore pleno carneo viuacissimo._

The double Carnation Anemone.

This Anemone, both in roote, leafe, and flower, commeth nearest vnto

the former double white Anemone, for the largenesse and doublenesse of

the flower, and in the smalnesse of the middle thrums, and euennesse at

the toppes of them, being not so large and great a flower as the double

purple, either in the inner or outer leaues, but yet is very faire,

thicke and double, and of a most liuely Carnation silke colour, very

deepe, both the outer leaues and middle thrums also so bright, that it

doth as it were amaze, and yet delight the minde of the beholder, but

by long standing in the Sun, waxe a little paler, and so passe away as

all the most beautifull flowers doe.

[Illustration:

1 _Anemone tenuifolia simplex purpurea._ The single purple Anemone

with thin cut leaues.

2 _Anemone tenuifolia simplex alba pura._ The single pure white

Anemone.

3 _Anemone tenuifolia simplex chermesina._ The single bright Crimson

Anemone.

4 _Anemone tenuifolia simplex sanguinea._ The single bloud red

Anemone.

5 _Anemone tenuifolia simplex facie florum pomi._ The single Apple

bloome Anemone.

6 _Anemone tenuifolia simplex purpurascens._ The single purplish

blush Anemone.

7 _Anemone tenuifolia simplex alba vnguibus carneis._ The single

white Anemone with blush bottomes.

8 _Anemone tenuifolia flore pleno coccineo._ The double red or

ordinary Scarlet Anemone.

9 _Anemone tenuifolia flore pleno rubrofusca coma Amarantina._

The double purple Veluet Anemone.

10 _Anemone tenuifolia flore pleno purpura violaceo._ The double

blewish purple Anemone.

11 _Anemone tenuifolia flore pleno incarnedini coloris sericei

vivacissimi._ The double Carnation Anemone, or of a liuely

Carnation silke colour.

]

11. _Anemone tenuifolia flore rubrofusco pleno coma Amarantina._

The double purple Veluet Anemone.

This double Veluet Anemone is in all things like the last described

Carnation Anemone, but somewhat larger, the difference consisteth in

the colour of the flower, which in this is of a deep or sad crimson

red colour for the outer leaues and of a deep purple Veluet colour in

the middle thrums, resembling the colour of the lesser _Amaranthus

purpureus_, or Purple flower gentle hereafter described, whereof it

tooke the name, which middle thrums are as fine and small, and as euen

at the toppes as the white or last Carnation Anemones.

12. _Anemone tenuifolia flore pleno tricolor._

The double purple Veluet Anemone of three colours.

This double Anemone also is very like the last described Anemone, but

that in the middle of the purple thrums, there thrusteth forth a tuft

of threads or leaues of a more light crimson colour.

And thus much for the kindes of Anemones or Windflowers, so farre forth

as haue hitherto come to our knowledge; yet I doubt not, but that more

varieties haue beene elsewhere collected, and will be also in our

Countrey daily and yearly obserued by diuers, that raise them vp from

sowing the seede, wherein lyeth a pretty art, not yet familiarly knowne

to our Nation, although it be very frequent in the Lowe-Countries,

where their industry hath bred and nourished vp such diuersities and

varieties, that they haue valued some Anemones at such high rates,

as most would wonder at, and none of our Nation would purchase, as I

thinke. And I doubt not, if wee would be as curious as they, but that

both our ayre and soyle would produce as great variety, as euer hath

been seene in the Lowe-Countries; which to procure, if any of our

Nation will take so much paines in sowing the seedes of Anemones, as

diuers haue done of Tulipas: I will set them downe the best directions

for that purpose that I haue learned, or could by much search and

tryall attaine vnto; yet I must let them vnderstand thus much also,

that there is not so great variety of double flowers raised from the

seede of the thin leafed Anemones, as from the broad leafed ones.

First therefore (as I said before) concerning Tulipas, there is some

speciall choice to be made of such flowers, whose seed is fittest to be

taken. Of the _Latifolias_, the double Orenge tawney seede being sowne,

yeeldeth pretty varieties, but the purples, and reds, or crimsons,

either _Latifolias_ or _Tenuifolias_, yeeld small variety, but such as

draw nearest to their originall, although some be a little deeper or

lighter then others. But the light colours be they which are the chiefe

for choice, as white, ash-colour, blush or carnation, light orenge,

simple or party coloured, single or double, if they beare seede, which

must bee carefully gathered, and that not before it bee thorough

ripe, which you shall know by the head; for when the seede with the

wollinesse beginneth to rise a little of it selfe at the lower end, it

must bee then quickly gathered, lest the winde carry it all away. After

it is thus carefully gathered, it must be laid to dry for a weeke or

more, which then being gently rubbed with a little dry sand or earth,

will cause the seede to be somewhat better separated, although not

thoroughly from the woollinesse or downe that compasseth it.

Within a moneth at the most after the seede is thus gathered and

prepared, it must be sowne; for by that meanes you shall gaine a yeare

in the growing, ouer that you should doe if you sowed it in the next

Spring.

If there remaine any woollinesse in the seede, pull it in sunder as

well as you can, and then sowe your seede reasonable thin, and not too

thicke, vpon a plaine smooth bed of fine earth, or rather in pots or

tubbes, and after the sowing, sift or gently straw ouer them some fine

good fresh mould, about one fingers thicknesse at the most for the

first time: And about a moneth after their first springing vp, sift

or straw ouer them in like manner another fingers thicknesse of fine

earth, and in the meane time if the weather proue dry, you must water

them gently and often, but not to ouerglut them with moisture; and thus

doing, you shall haue them spring vp before Winter, and grow pretty

strong, able to abide the sharpe Winter in their nonage, in vsing some

little care to couer them loosely with some fearne, or furse, or beane

hame, or straw, or any such, which yet must not lye close vpon them,

nor too farre from them neither.

The next Spring after the sowing, if you will, but it is better if you

stay vntill August, you may then remoue them, and set them in order by

rowes, with sufficient distance one from another, where they may abide,

vntill you see what manner of flower each plant will beare, which you

may dispose of according to your minde.

Many of them being thus ordered (if your mould be fine, loose, and

fresh, not stonie, clayish, or from a middin) will beare flowers the

second yeare after the sowing, and most or all of them the third yeare,

if the place where you sowe them, be not annoyed with the smoake of

Brewers, Dyers, or Maultkils, which if it be, then will they neuer

thriue well.

Thus much haue I thought good to set downe, to incite some of our owne

Nation to be industrious; and to helpe them forward, haue giuen such

rules of directions, that I doubt not, but they will vpon the tryall

and view of the variety, proceede as well in the sowing of Anemones as

of Tulipas.

I cannot (Gentlewomen) withold one other secret from you, which is

to informe you how you may so order Anemones, that after all others

ordinarily are past, you may haue them in flower for two or three

moneths longer then are to be seene with any other, that vseth not this

course I direct you.

The ordinary time to plant Anemones, is most commonly in August, which

will beare flower some peraduenture before Winter, but most vsually in

February, March, and Aprill, few or none of them abiding vntill May;

but it you will keepe some roots out of the ground vnplanted, vntill

February, March, and Aprill, and plant some at one time, and some at

another, you shall haue them beare flower according to their planting,

those that shall be planted in February, will flower about the middle

or end of May, and so the rest accordingly after that manner: And

thus may you haue the pleasure of these plants out of their naturall

seasons, which is not permitted to be enioyed in any other that I know,

Nature being not so prone to bee furthered by art in other things as in

this. Yet regard, that in keeping your Anemone rootes out of the ground

for this purpose, you neither keep them too dry, nor yet too moist, for

sprouting or rotting; and in planting them, that you set them not in

too open a sunny place, but where they may be somewhat shadowed.

The Place.

I shall not need to spend much time in relating the seuerall

places of these Anemones, but onely to declare that the

most of them that haue not beene raised from seed, haue

come from Constantinople to vs; yet the first broad leafed

or yellow Anemone, was first found in Portugall, and from

thence brought into these parts. And the first purple Starre

Anemone in Germanie, yet was the same sent among others from

Constantinople also. And the first thin cut leafed Anemone

came first out of Italy, although many of that sort haue come

likewise from Constantinople. And so haue the double red or

Scarlet Anemones, and the great double blush, which I first

had by the gift of Mʳ. Humfrey Packington of Worcestershire

Esquire, at Haruington.

The Time.

The times of their flowring are sufficiently expressed in the

descriptions, or in the rules for planting.

The Names.

The Turkish names whereby the great double broad leafed kindes

haue beene sent vnto vs, were _Giul Catamer_, and _Giul Catamer

lale_; And _Binizade_, _Binizante_, and _Galipoli lale_ for

the thinne cut leafed Anemones. All Authors haue called them

_Anemones_, and are the true _Herbæ venti_. Wee call them in

English eyther Anemones, after the Greeke name, or Windflowers,

after the Latine.

The Vertues.

There is little vse of these in Physicke in our dayes, eyther

for inward or outward diseases; onely the leaues are vsed in

the Ointment called _Marciatum_, which is composed of many

other hot herbes, and is vsed in cold griefes, to warme and

comfort the parts. The roote, by reason of the sharpenesse, is

apt to drawe downe rheume, if it be tasted or chewed in the

mouth.

CHAP. XXVI.

_Aconitum._ Wolfebane.

There be diuers sorts of Wolfebanes which are not fit for this booke,

but are reserued for a generall History or Garden of Simples, yet among

them there are some, that notwithstanding their euill quality, may for

the beauty of their flowers take vp a roome in this Garden, of whom I

meane to entreate in this place: And first of the Winter Wolfesbane,

which for the beauty, as well as the earlinesse of his flowers, being

the first of all other, that shew themselues after Christmas, deserueth

a prime place; and therefore for the likenesse of the rootes vnto the

Anemones, I ioyne it next vnto them.

1. _Aconitum Hyemale._ The Winters Wolfesbane.

This little plant thrusteth vp diuers leaues out of the ground, in the

deepe of Winter oftentimes, if there be any milde weather in Ianuary,

but most commonly after the deepe frosts, bearing vp many times the

snow vpon the heads of the leaues, which like vnto the Anemone, doe

euery leafe rise from the roote vpon seuerall short foote-stalkes,

not aboue foure fingers high, some hauing flowers in the middle of

them, (which come vp first most vsually) and some none, which leaues

stand as it were round, the stalke rising vp vnder the middle of the

leafe, deeply cut in and gashed to the middle stalke almost, of a

very faire deepe greene colour, in the middle whereof, close vnto the

leafe, standeth a small yellow flower, made of six leaues, very like

a Crowfoote, with yellow threads in the middle: after the flower is

fallen, there rise vp diuers small hornes or cods set together, wherein

are contained whitish yellow round seede. The roote is tuberous, so

like both for shape and colour vnto the rootes of Anemones, that they

will easily deceiue one not well experienced, but that it is browner

and smooth without, and yellow within, if it be broken.

2. _Aconitum flore albido, siue Aconitum luteum Ponticum._

The whitish yellow Wolfesbane.

This Wolfesbane shooteth not out of the ground vntill the Spring be

well begun, and then it sendeth forth great broad greene leaues, deeply

cut in about the edges, not much vnlike the leaues of the great wilde

Crowfoote, but much greater; from among which leaues riseth vp a strong

stiffe stalke, three foote high, hauing here and there leaues set

vpon it, like vnto the lowest, but smaller; the toppe of the stalke

is diuided into three or foure branches, whereon are set diuers pale

yellow flowers, which turne at the last to be almost white, in fashion

like almost vnto the flowers of the Helmet flower, but much smaller,

and not gaping so wide open: after the flowers are past come vp diuers

short poddes, wherein is contained blacke seede: the roote is made of

a number of darke browne strings, which spread and fasten themselues

strongly in the ground.

3. _Napellus verus flore cæruleo._ Blew Helmet flower or Monkes hood.

The Helmet flower hath diuers leaues of a fresh greene colour on the

vpperside, and grayish vnderneath, much spread abroad and cut into many

slits and notches, more then any of the Wolfebanes; the stalke riseth

vp two or three foot high, beset to the top with the like leaues, but

smaller: the toppe is sometimes diuided into two or three branches,

but more vsually without, whereon stand many large flowers one aboue

another, in forme very like vnto a Hood or open Helmet, being composed

of fiue leaues, the vppermost of which and the greatest, is hollow,

like vnto an Helmet or Headpeece, two other small leaues are at the

sides of the Helmet, closing it like cheekes, and come somewhat vnder,

and two other which are the smallest hang down like labels, or as if

a close Helmet were opened, and some peeces hung by, of a perfect or

faire blew colour, (but grow darker, hauing stood long) which causeth

it be so nourished vp in Gardens, that their flowers, as was vsuall in

former times, and yet is in many Countrey places, may be laid among

greene herbes in windowes and roomes for the Summer time: but although

their beauty may be entertained for the vses aforesaid, yet beware they

come not neare your tongue or lippes, lest they tell you to your cost,

they are not so good as they seeme to be: in the middest of the flower,

when it is open and gapeth wide, are seene certaine small threads like

beards, standing about a middle head, which when the flower is past,

groweth into three or foure, or more small blackish pods, containing in

them blacke seede: the rootes are brownish on the outside, and white

within, somewhat bigge and round aboue, and small downewards, somewhat

like vnto a small short Carrot roote, sometimes two being ioyned at the

head together. But the name _Napellus_ anciently giuen vnto it, doth

shew they referred the forme of the roote vnto a small Turnep.

_Anthora._ The wholsome Helmet flower, or counterpoison Monkes hood.

This wholsome plant I thought good to insert, not onely for the forme

of the flower, but also for the excellent properties thereof, as you

shall haue them related hereafter. The rootes hereof are small and

tuberous, round and somewhat long, ending for the most part in a long

fibre, and with some other small threads from the head downeward: from

the head whereof riseth vp diuers greene leaues, euery one seuerally

vpon a stalke, very much diuided, as finely almost as the leaues of

Larkes heeles or spurres: among which riseth vp a hard round stalke, a

foote high and better, with some such leaues thereon as grow belowe, at

the toppe whereof stand many small yellowish flowers, formed very like

vnto the former whitish Wolfesbane, bearing many blacke seedes in pods

afterwards in the like manner.

Many more sorts of varieties of these kindes there are, but these

onely, as the most specious, are noursed vp in Florists Gardens for

pleasure; the other are kept by such as are Catholicke obseruers of all

natures store.

The Place.

All these grow naturally on Mountaines, in many shadowie places

of the Alpes, in Germany, and elsewhere.

The Time.

The first flowreth (as is said) in Ianuary, and February, and

sometimes vntill March be well spent, and the seede soone ripe

after.

The other three flower not vntill Iune and Iuly.

The Names.

The first is vsually called _Aconitum hyemale Belgarum_.

Lobelius, calleth it _Bulbosus vnifolius Batrachoides_,

_Aconitum Elleboraceum_, and _Ranunculus Monophyllos_, and some

by other names. Most Herbarists call it _Aconitum hyemale_,

and we in English thereafter, Winters Wolfesbane; and of some,

Yellow Aconite.

The second is called by most Writers, _Aconitum luteum

Ponticum_: Some also _Lupicida_, _Luparia_ and _Canicida_, of

the effect in killing Wolues and Dogs: And some, because the

flower is more white then yellow, doe call it _Aconitum flore

albido_, we call it in English, The whitish yellow Aconite,

or Wolfesbane, but some after the Latine name, The yellow

Wolfesbane.

The third is called generally _Napellus_, and _Verus_, because

it is the true _Napellus_ of the ancient Writers, which they so

termed from the forme of a Turnep, called _Napus_ in Latine.

The fourth is called _Aconitum Salutiferum_, _Napellus Moysis_,

_Antora_ and _Anthora, quasi Antithora_, that is, the remedy

against the poisonfull herbe _Thora_, in English according to

the title, eyther wholsome Helmet flower, or counterpoison

Monkes hood.

The Vertues.

Although the first three sorts of plants be very poisonfull

and deadly, yet there may bee very good vse made of them for

sore eyes (being carefully applyed, yet not to all sorts of

sore eyes neither without discretion) if the distilled water be

dropped therein.