Chapter IX: Front Matter (9)

The two first (as is said) flower the earliest, sometimes
before Christmas, but more vsually after, and abide a great
while in flower, in great beauty, especially if the weather be
milde, when as few or no other flowers at that time are able to
match them. The other greatest kinde flowreth also earlier then
the rest that follow, for the most part. The ordinary kindes
flower some in March, and some in Aprill, and some sooner also;
and so doe the double ones likewise. The bushy stalked Iacinth
flowreth much about the same time.

The Names.

The former two sorts are called _Hyacinthus Orientalis
Brumalis_, and _Hyacinthus Orientalis præcox flore albo_, or
_cæruleo_. The third is called of many _Zumbul Indicum_, or
_Zumbul Indi_, and corruptly _Simboline_; of others, and that
more properly, _Hyacinthus Orientalis maior præcox_. The Turkes
doe call all Iacinths _Zumbul_, and by adding the name of
_Indi_, or _Arabi_, do shew from what place they are receiued.
In English, The greatest Orientall Iacinth; yet some doe call
it after the Turkish name _Zumbul Indi_, or _Simboline_, as
is said before. The rest haue their names set downe in their
titles, which are most fit for them.

_Hyacinthus Hispanicus minor Orientalis facie._ The little Summer Orientall Iacinth.

[Sidenote: _Flore cæruleo._]

This little Iacinth hath foure or fiue long narrow greene leaues, lying vpon the ground, among which riseth vp a slender smooth stalke, about a spanne high or more, bearing at the toppe many slender bleake blew flowers, with some white stripes and edges to be seene in most of them, fashioned very like vnto the flowers of the Orientall Iacinth, but much smaller: the flower hath no sent at all; the seede is like the seede of the English Iacinth, or Hares-bels: the roote is small and white.

[Sidenote: _Flore albo._]

There is another of this kinde, differing in nothing but in the colour of the flower, which is pure white.

[Sidenote: _Flore rubente._]

There is also another, whose flowers are of a fine delayed red colour, with some deeper coloured veines, running along the three outer leaues of the flower, differing in no other thing from the former.

The Place.

These plants haue been gathered on the Pyrenæan Mountaines,
which are next vnto Spaine, from whence, as is often said, many
rare plants haue likewise been gathered.

The Time.

They flower very late, euen after all or most of the Iacinths,
in May for the most part.

The Names.

They are called eyther _Hyacinthus Hispanicus minor Orientalis
facie_, as it is in the title, or _Hyacinthus Orientalis
facie_, that is to say, The lesser Spanish Iacinth, like
vnto the Orientall: yet some haue called them, _Hyacinthus
Orientalis serotinus minor_, The lesser late Orientall Iacinth,
that thereby they may be knowne from the rest.

1 _Hyacinthus Orientalis brumalis._ The Winter Orientall Iacinth.
2 _Zumbul Indi._ The greatest Orientall Iacinth.
3 _Hyacinthus Orientalis vulgaris._ The ordinary Orientall Iacinth.
4 _Hyacinthus Orientalis folioso caule._ The bushy stalked Orientall
Iacinth.
5 _Hyacinthus Orientalis flore duplici._ The Orientall Hyacinth once
double.
6 _Hyacinthus Orientalis flore pleno cæruleo._ The faire double blew
Orientall Iacinth.
]

_Hyacinthus Hispanicus obsoletus._ The Spanish dunne coloured Iacinth.

This Spanish Iacinth springeth very late out of the ground, bearing foure or fiue short, hollow, and soft whitish greene leaues, with a white line in the middle of euery one of them, among which rise vp one or more stalkes, bearing diuers flowers at the toppes of them, all looking one way, or standing on the one side, hanging downe their heads, consisting of six leaues, three whereof being the outermost, lay open their leaues, and turne back the ends a little again: the other three which are innermost, do as it were close together in the middle of the flower, without laying themselues open at all, being a little whitish at the edges: the whole flower is of a purplish yellow colour, with some white and green as it were mixed among it, of no sent at all: it beareth blacke and flat seede in three square, great, and bunched out heads: the roote is reasonable great, and white on the outside, with many strong white fibres at it, which perish not yearely, as the fibres of many other Iacinths doe, and as it springeth late, so it holdeth his greene leaues almost vntill Winter.

[Sidenote: _Mauritanicus._]

There hath been another hereof brought from about Fez and Marocco in Barbary, which in all respects was greater, but else differed little.

[Sidenote: _Maximus Æthiopicus._]

There was another also brought from the Cape of good Hope, whose leaues were stronger and greener then the former, the stalke also thicker, bearing diuers flowers, confusedly standing vpon longer foote-stalkes, yet made after the same fashion, but that the three inner leaues were whitish, and dented about the edges, otherwise the flowers were yellow and greenish on the inside.

The Place.

These plants grow in Spaine, Barbary, and Ethiopia, according
as their names and descriptions doe declare.

The Time.

The first flowreth not vntill Iune; for, as I said, it is very
late before it springeth vp out of the ground, and holdeth his
leaues as is said, vntill September, in the meane time the
seede thereof ripeneth.

The Names.

They haue their names according to the place of their growing;
for one is called _Hyacinthus Hispanicus obsoletioris coloris_.
The other is called also _Hyacinthus Mauritanicus_. And the
last, _Hyacinthus Æthiopicus obsoletus_. In English, The
Spanish, Barbary, or Ethiopian Iacinth, of a dunne or duskie
colour.

_Hyacinthus Anglicus Belgicus, vel Hispanicus._ English Hares-bels, or Spanish Iacinth.

Our English Iacinth or Hares-bels is so common euery where, that it scarce needeth any description. It beareth diuers long and narrow greene leaues, not standing vpright, nor yet fully lying vpon the ground, among which springeth vp the stalke, bearing at the toppe many long and hollow flowers, hanging downe their heads all forwards for the most part, parted at the brimmes into six parts, turning vp their points a little againe, of a sweetish, but heady sent, somewhat like vnto the Grape-flower: the heads for seede are long and square, wherein is much blacke seede; the colour of the flowers are in some of a deeper blew, tending to a purple; in others of a paler blew, or of a bleake blew, tending to an ash colour: Some are pure white, and some are party coloured, blew and white; and some are of a fine delayed purplish red or blush colour, which some call a peach colour. The rootes of all sorts agree, and are alike, being white and very slimie; some whereof will be great and round, others long and slender, and those that lye neare the toppe of the earth bare, will be greene.

_Hyacinthus Hispanicus maior flore campanulæ instar._ The greater Spanish bell-flowred Iacinth.

This Spanish bell-flowred Iacinth, is very like the former English or Spanish Iacinth, but greater in all parts, as well of leaues as flowers, many growing together at the toppe of the stalke, with many short greene leaues among them, hanging downe their heads, with larger, greater, and wider open mouths, like vnto bels, of a darke blew colour, and no good sent.

The Place.

The first groweth in many places of England, the
Lowe-Countries, as we call them, and Spaine, but the last
chiefly in Spaine.

The Time.

They flower in Aprill for the most part, and sometimes in May.

The Names.

Because the first is more frequent in England, then in Spaine
or the Lowe-Countries, it is called with vs _Hyacinthus
Anglicus_, The English Iacinth; but it is also called as
well _Belgicus_, as _Hispanicus_: yet Dodonæus calleth it
_Hyacinthus non scriptus_, because it was not written of by any
Authour before himselfe. It is generally knowne in England by
the name of Hare-bels. The other Spanish Iacinth beareth his
name in his title.

_Hyacinthus Eriophorus._ The Woolly Iacinth.

This Woolly Iacinth hath many broad, long, and faire greene leaues, very like vnto some of the Iacinths, but stiffer, or standing more vpright, which being broken, doe yeeld many threeds, as if a little fine cotton wooll were drawne out: among these leaues riseth vp a long greene round stalke, a foote and a halfe high or more, whereon is set a great long bush of flowers, which blowing open by degrees, first below, and so vpwards, are very long in flowring: the toppe of the stalke, with the flowers, and their little footstalkes, are all blew, euery flower standing outright with his stalke, and spreading like a starre, diuided into six leaues, hauing many small blew threeds, standing about the middle head, which neuer gaue ripe seede, as farre as I can heare of: the root is white, somewhat like the root of a Muscari, but as full of wooll or threeds, or rather more, then the leaues, or any other part of it.

The Place.

This hath been sent diuers times out of Turkie into England,
where it continued a long time as well in my Garden as in
others, but some hard frosty Winters caused it to perish with
me, and diuers others, yet I haue had it againe from a friend,
and doth abide fresh and greene euery yeare in my Garden.

The Time.

This flowred in the Garden of Mʳ. Richard Barnesley at Lambeth,
onely once in the moneth of May, in the yeare 1606, after hee
had there preserued it a long time: but neither he, nor any
else in England that I know, but those that saw it at that
time, euer saw it beare flower, either before or since.

The Names.

It is called by diuers _Bulbus Eriophorus_, or _Laniferus_,
that is, Woolly Bulbous; but because it is a Iacinth, both in
roote, leafe, and flower, and not a _Narcissus_, or Daffodill,
it is called _Hyacinthus Eriophorus_, or _Laniferus_, The
Woolly Iacinth. It is very likely, that Theophrastus in his
seuenth Book & thirteenth Chapter, did meane this plant, where
hee declareth, that garments were made of the woolly substance
of a bulbous roote, that was taken from between the core or
heart of the roote (which, as he saith, was vsed to be eaten)
and the outermost shels or peelings; yet Clusius seemeth to
fasten this woolly bulbous of Theophrastus, vpon the next
Iacinth of Spaine.

_Hyacinthus Stellatus Bæticus maior, vulgò Perüanus._ The great Spanish Starry Iacinth, or of Peru.

This Iacinth (the greatest of those, whose flowers are spread like a starre, except the two first Indians) hath fiue or six, or more, very broad, and long greene leaues, spread vpon the ground, round about the roote, which being broken are woolly, or full of threeds, like the former: in the middle of these leaues riseth vp a round short stalke, in comparison of the greatnesse of the plant (for the stalke of the Orientall Iacinth is sometimes twice so high, whose roote is not so great) bearing at the toppe a great head or bush of flowers, fashioned in the beginning, before they bee blowne or separated, very like to a Cone or Pineapple, and begin to flower belowe, and so vpwards by degrees, euery flower standing vpon a long blackish blew foote-stalke, which when they are blowne open, are of a perfect blew colour, tending to a Violet, and made of six small leaues, laid open like a starre; the threeds likewise are blewish, tipt with yellow pendents, standing about the middle head, which is of a deeper blew, not hauing any good sent to be perceiued in it, but commendable only for the beauty of the flowers: after the flowers are past, there come three square heads, containing round blacke seede: the roote is great, and somewhat yellowish on the outside, with a knobbe or bunch at the lower end of the roote, (which is called the seate of the roote) like vnto the Muscari, Scylla, and many other bulbous rootes, at which hang diuers white, thicke, and long fibres, whereby it is fastened in the ground, which perish not euery yeare, but abide continually, and therefore doth not desire much remouing.

_Hyacinthus Stellatus Bæticus, siue Perüanus flore albo._ The great white Spanish starry Iacinth.

This other Spanish Iacinth is in most parts like vnto the former, but that his leaues are not so large, nor so deep a greene: the stalks of flowers likewise hath not so thicke a head, or bush on it, but fewer and thinner set: the flowers themselues also are whitish, yet hauing a small dash of blush in them: the threeds are whitish, tipt with yellow pendents: the seede and rootes are like vnto the former, and herein consisteth the difference betweene this and the other sorts.

_Hyacinthus Stellatus Bæticus, siue Perüanus flore carneo._ The great blush coloured Spanish Starry Iacinth.

This likewise differeth little from the two former, but onely in the colour of the flowers; for this being found growing among both the other, hath his head of flowers as great and large as the first, but the buds of his flowers, before they are open, are of a deepe blush colour, which being open, are more delayed, and of a pleasant pale purple, or blush colour, standing vpon purplish stalkes: the heads in the middle are whitish, and so are the threeds compassing it, tipt with yellow.

1 _Hyacinthus Orientalis facie._ The little Summer Orientall Iacinth.
2 _Hyacinthus Mauritanicus._ The Barbary Iacinth.
3 _Hyacinthus obsoletus Hispanicus._ The Spanish duskie Iacinth.
4 _Hyacinthus Hispanicus flore campanula._ The greater Spanish
bel-flowred Iacinth.
5 _Hyacinthus Anglicus._ The English Iacinth or Harebels.
6 _Hyacinthus Eriophorus._ The Woolly Iacinth.
7 _Hyacinthus Stellaris Bæticus maior, siue Peruanus._ The great
Spanish Starry Iacinth, or of Peru.
]

The Place.

These doe naturally grow in Spaine, in the Medowes a little
off from the Sea, as well in the Island Gades, vsually called
Cales, as likewise in other parts along the Sea side, as one
goeth from thence to Porto Santa Maria, which when they be
in flower, growing so thicke together, seeme to couer the
ground, like vnto a tapistry of diuers colours, as I haue beene
credibly enformed by Guillaume Boel, a Freeze-lander borne,
often before and hereafter remembred, who being in search of
rare plants in Spaine, in the yeare of our Lord 1607, after
that most violent frosty Winter, which perished both the rootes
of this, and many other fine plants with vs, sent mee ouer some
of these rootes for my Garden, and affirmed this for a truth,
which is here formerly set downe, and that himselfe gathered
those he sent mee, and many others in the places named, with
his owne hands; but hee saith, that both that with the white,
and with the blush flowers, are farre more rare then the other.

The Time.

They flower in May, the seede is ripe in Iuly.

The Names.

This hath beene formerly named _Eriophorus Peruanus_, and
_Hyacinthus Stellatus Peruanus_, The Starry Iacinth of Peru,
being thought to haue grown in Peru, a Prouince of the West
Indies; but he that gaue that name first vnto it, eyther knew
not his naturall place, or willingly imposed that name, to
conceale it, or to make it the better esteemed. It is most
generally receiued by the name _Hyacinthus Peruanus_, from the
first imposer thereof, that is, the Iacinth of Peru: but I had
rather giue the name agreeing most fitly vnto it, and call it
as it is indeede _Hyacinthus Stellatus Bæticus_, The Spanish
Starry Iacinth; and because it is the greatest that I know
hath come from thence, I call it, The great Starry Iacinth of
Spaine, or Spanish Iacinth.

_Hyacinthus Stellatus vulgaris, siue Bifolius Fuchsij._ The common blew Starry Iacinth.

This Starry Iacinth (being longest knowne, and therefore most common) riseth out of the ground, vsually but with two browne leaues, yet sometimes with three, inclosing within them the stalke of flowers, the buds appearing of a darke whitish colour, as soone as the leaues open themselues, which leaues being growne, are long, and hollow, of a whitish greene on the vpper side, and browne on the vnder side, and halfe round, the browne stalke rising vp higher, beareth fiue or sixe small starre-like flowers thereon, consisting of six leaues, of a faire deepe blew, tending to a purple. The seede is yellowish, and round, contained in round pointed heads, which by reason of their heauinesse, and the weaknesse of the stalke, lye vpon the ground, and often perish with wet and frosts, &c. The roote is somewhat long, and couered with a yellowish coate.

_Hyacinthus stellatus flore albo._ The white Starry Iacinth.

The white Starry Iacinth hath his leaues like the former, but greene and fresh, not browne, and a little narrower also: the buddes for flowers at the first appeare a little blush, which when they are blowne, are white, but yet retaine in them a small shew of that blush colour.

[Sidenote: _Flore niueo._]

We haue another, whose flowers are pure white, and smaller then the other, the leaues whereof are of a pale fresh greene, and somewhat narrower.

_Hyacinthus Stellatus flore rubente._ The blush coloured Starry Iacinth.

The difference in this from the former, is onely in the flowers, which are of a faire blush colour, much more eminent then in the others, in all things else alike.

_Hyacinthus Stellatus Martius, siue præcox cæruleus._ The early blew Starry Iacinth.

This Iacinth hath his leaues a little broader, of a fresher greene, and not browne at all, as the first blew Iacinth of Fuchsius last remembred: the buds of the flowers, while they are enclosed within the leaues, and after, when the stalke is growne vp, doe remaine more blew then the buds of the former: the flowers, when they are blowne open, are like the former, but somewhat larger, and of a more liuely blew colour: the roote also is a little whiter on the outside. This doth more seldome beare seede then the former.

_Hyacinthus Stellatus præcox flore albo._ The white early Starry Iacinth.

There is also one other of this kinde, that beareth pure white flowers, the green leafe thereof being a little narrower then the former, and no other difference.

_Hyacinthus Stellatus præcox flore suaue rubente._ The early blush coloured Starry Iacinth.

This blush coloured Iacinth is very rare, but very pleasant, his flowers being as large as the first of this last kinde, and somewhat larger then the blush of the other kinde: the leaues and rootes differ not from the last recited Iacinth.

The Place.

All these Iacinths haue beene found in the Woods and Mountaines
of Germany, Bohemia, and Austria, as Fuchsius and Gesner doe
report, and in Naples, as Imperatus and others doe testifie.
Wee cherish them all with great care in our Gardens, but
especially the white and the blush of both kindes, for that
they are more tender, and often perish for want of due regard.

The Time.

The common kindes, which are first expressed, flower about the
middle of February, if the weather bee milde, and the other
kindes sometimes a fortnight after, that is, in March, but
ordinarily much about the same time with the former.

The Names.

The first is called in Latine _Hyacinthus Stellatus vulgaris_,
and _Hyacinthus Stellatus bifolius_, and _Hyacinthus Stellaris
Fuchsij_ and of some _Hyacinthus Stellatus Germanicus_; wee
might very well call the other kinde, _Hyacinthus Stellatus
vulgaris alter_, but diuers call it _Præcox_, and some
_Martius_, as it is in the title. In English they may bee
seuerally called: the first, The common; and the other, The
early Starry Iacinth (notwithstanding the first flowreth before
the other) for distinction sake.

The _Hyacinthus_, seemeth to be called _Vacinium_ of Virgil in
his Eclogues; for hee alwayes reckoneth it among the flowers
that were vsed to decke Garlands, and neuer among fruits,
as some would haue it. But in that hee calleth it _Vacinium
nigrum_, in seuerall places, that doth very fitly answer the
common receiued custome of those times, that called all deepe
blew colours, such as are purples, and the like, blacke; for
the Violet it selfe is likewise called blacke in the same
place, where he calleth the _Vacinium_ blacke; so that it
seemeth thereby, that he reckoned them to be both of one
colour, and we know the colour of the Violet is not blacke, as
we doe distinguish of blacke in these dayes. But the colour of
this Starry Iacinth, being both of so deepe a purple sometimes,
so neare vnto a Violet colour, and also more frequent, then any
other Iacinth with them, in those places where Virgil liued,
perswadeth me to thinke, that Virgil vnderstood this Starry
Iacinth by _Vacinium_: Let others iudge otherwise, if they can
shew greater probabilitie.

1. _Hyacinthus Stellatus Byzantinus nigra radice._ The Starry Iacinth of Turkie with the blacke roote.

This Starry Iacinth of Constantinople hath three or foure fresh greene, thinne, and long leaues, of the bignesse of the English Iacinth, but not so long, betweene which riseth vp a slender lowe stalke, bearing fiue or six small flowers, dispersedly set thereon, spreading open like a starre, of a pale or bleake blew colour: the leaues of the flowers are somewhat long, and stand as it were somewhat loosly, one off from another, and not so compactly together, as the flowers of other kindes: it seldome beareth ripe seede with vs, because the heads are so heauie, that lying vpon the ground, they rotte with the wet, or are bitten with the frosts, or both, so that they seldome come to good: the roote is small in some, and reasonable bigge in others, round, and long, white within, but couered with deepe reddish or purplish peelings, next vnto it, and darker and blacker purple on the outside, with some long and thicke white fibres, like fingers hanging at the bottome of them, as is to be seene in many other Iacinths: the roote it selfe for the most part doth runne downewards, somewhat deep into the ground.

2. _Hyacinthus Stellatus Byzantinus maior._ The greater Starry Iacinth of Constantinople.

This Iacinth may rightly be referred to the former Iacinth of Constantinople, and called the greater, it is so like thereunto, that any one that knoweth that, will soone say, that this is another of that sort, but greater as it is in all his parts, bearing larger leaues by much, and more store, lying vpon the ground round about the roote: it beareth many lowe stalkes of flowers, as bleake, and standing as loosly as the former: onely the roote of this, is not black on the outside, as the other, but three times bigger.

3. _Hyacinthus Stellatus Byzantinus alter, siue flore boraginis._ The other Starry Iacinth of Constantinople.

This other Iacinth hath for the most part onely foure leaues, broader and greener then the first, but not so large or long as the second: the stalke hath fiue or six flowers vpon it, bigger and rounder set, like other starry Iacinths, of a more perfect or deeper blew then either of the former, hauing a whitish greene head or vmbone in the middle, beset with six blew chiues or threeds, tipt with blacke, so closly compassing the vmbone, that the threeds seeme so many prickes stucke into a clubbe or head; some therefore haue likened it to the flower of Borage, and so haue called it: after the flowers are past, come vp round white heads, wherein is contained round and white seede: the roote is of a darke whitish colour on the outside, and sometimes a little reddish withall.

The Place.

The first and the last haue beene brought from Constantinople;
the first among many other rootes, and the last by the Lord
Zouch, as Lobel witnesseth. The second hath been sent vs out
of the Lowe-Countries, but from whence they had it, we do not
certainly know. They growe with vs in our Gardens sufficiently.

The Time.

These flower in Aprill, but the first is the earliest of
the rest, and is in flower presently after the early Starry
Iacinth, before described.

The Names.

The former haue their names in their titles, and are not knowne
vnto vs by any other names that I know; but as I said before,
the last is called by some, _Hyacinthus Boraginis flore_. The
first was sent out of Turkie, by the name of _Susamgiul_, by
which name likewise diuers other things haue beene sent, so
barren and barbarous is the Turkish tongue.

_Hyacinthus Stellatus Æstivus maior._ The greater Summer Starry Iacinth.

This late Iacinth hath diuers narrow greene leaues, lying vpon the ground, somewhat like the leaues of the English Iacinth, but stiffer and stronger; among which riseth vp a round stiffe stalke, bearing many flowers at the toppe thereof, and at euery foote-stalke of the flowers a small short leafe, of a purplish colour: the flowers are starre-like, of a fine delayed purplish colour, tending to a pale blew or ash colour, striped on the backe of euery leafe, and hauing a pointed vmbone in the middle, with some whitish purple threeds about it, tipt with blew: the seede is blacke, round, and shining, like vnto the seede of the English Iacinth, but not so bigge: the roote is round and white, hauing some long thicke rootes vnder it, besides the fibres, as is vsuall in many other Iacinths.

_Hyacinthus Stellatus Æstivus minor._ The lesser Summer Starry Iacinth.

This lesser Iacinth hath diuers very long, narrow, and shining greene leaues, spread vpon the ground round about the roote, among which riseth vp a very short round stalke, not aboue two inches high, carrying six or seuen small flowers thereon, on each side of the stalke, like both in forme and colour vnto the greater before described, but lesser by farre: the seede is blacke, contained in three square heads: the roote is small and white, couered with a browne coate, and hauing some such thicke rootes among the fibres, as are among the other.

The Place.

Both these Iacinths grow naturally in Portugall, and from
thence haue been brought, by such as seeke out for rare plants,
to make a gaine and profit by them.

The Time.

They both flower in May, and not before: and their seed is ripe
in Iuly.

The Names.

Some doe call these _Hyacinthus Lusitanicus_, The Portugall
Iacinth. Clusius, who first set out the descriptions of them,
called them as is expressed in their titles; and therefore we
haue after the Latine name giuen their English, according as is
set downe. Or if you please, you may call them, The greater and
the lesser Portugall Iacinth.

_Hyacinthus Stellaris flore cinereo._ The ash coloured Starry Iacinth.

This ash coloured Iacinth, hath his leaues very like vnto the leaues of the English Iacinth, and spreading vpon the ground in the same manner, among which rise vp one or two stalkes, set at the toppe with a number of small starre-like flowers, bushing bigger below then aboue, of a very pale or white blew, tending to an ash colour, and very sweete in smell: the seede is blacke and round, like vnto the seede of the English Iacinth, and so is the roote, being great, round, and white; so like, I say, that it is hard to know the one from the other.

The Place.

The certaine originall place of growing thereof, is not knowne
to vs.

The Time.

It flowreth in Aprill.

The Names.

Some doe call this _Hyacinthus Someri_, Somers Iacinth, because
as Lobel saith, he brought it first into the Lowe-Countries,
eyther from Constantinople, or out of Italy.

_Hyacinthus Stellatus Lilifolio & radice cæruleo._ The blew Lilly leafed Starre Iacinth.

This Iacinth hath six or seuen broad greene leaues, somewhat like vnto Lilly leaues, but shorter (whereof it tooke his name as well as from the roote) spread vpon the ground, and lying close and round: before the stalke riseth out from the middle of these leaues, there doth appeare a deepe hollow place, like a hole, to bee seene a good while, which at length is filled vp with the stalke, rising thence vnto a foote or more high, bearing many starre-like flowers at the toppe, of a perfect blew colour, neare vnto a Violet, and sometimes of paler or bleake blew colour, hauing as it were a small cuppe in the middle, diuided into six peeces, without any threeds therein: the seede is blacke and round, but not shining: the roote is somewhat long, bigge belowe, and small aboue, like vnto the small roote of a Lilly, and composed of yellow scales, as a Lilly, but the scales are greater, and fewer in number.

_Hyacinthus Stellatus Lilifolius albus._ The white Lilly leafed Starre Iacinth.

The likenesse of this Iacinth with the former, causeth me to be briefe, and not to repeate the same things againe, that haue already been expressed: You may therefore vnderstand, that except in the colour of the flower, which in this is white, there is no difference betweene them.

[Sidenote: _Flore carneo._]

I heare of one that should beare blush coloured flowers, but I haue not yet seene any such.

The Place.

These Iacinths haue been gathered on the Pyrenæan Hils, in that
part of France that is called Aquitaine, and in some other
places.

The Time.

These flower in Aprill, and sometimes later.

The Names.

Because the roote is so like vnto a Lilly, as the leafe is
also, it hath most properly beene called _Hyacinthus Stellatus
Lilifolio & radice_, or for breuity _Lilifolius_, that is, The
Starry Lilly leafed Iacinth. It is called _Sarahug_ by the
Inhabitants where it groweth, as Clusius maketh the report from
Venerius, who further saith, that by experience they haue found
the cattell to swell and dye, that haue eaten of the leaues
thereof.

1 _Hyacinthus stellatus præcox cæruleus._ The early blew starry
Iacinth.
2 _Hyacinthus stellatus præcox albus._ The early white starry
Iacinth.
3 _Hyacinthus stellatus Byzantinus nigra radice._ The Turkie starry
Iacinth with a blacke roote.
4 _Hyacinthus Byzantinus alter siue flore Boraginis._ The other
starry Iacinth of Constantinople.
5 _Hyacinthus æstivus maior._ The greater Summer starry
Iacinth.
6 _Hyacinthus stellatus flore cinereo._ The ash coloured starry
Iacinth.
7 _Hyacinthus stellatus Lilifolius._ The Lilly leafed starre Iacinth.
8 _Hyacinthus Autumnalis._ The Autumne Iacinth.
9 _Scilla alba siue Hyacinthus marinus._ The Sea Onion or Squill.
]

_Hyacinthus Autumnalis maior._ The greater Autumne Iacinth.

The greater Autumne Iacinth hath fiue or six very long and narrow greene leaues, lying vpon the ground; the stalkes are set at the toppe with many starre-like flowers, of a pale blewish purple colour, with some pale coloured threeds, tipt with blew, standing about the head in the middle, which in time growing ripe, containeth therein small blacke seede, and roundish: the roote is great and white on the outside.

_Hyacinthus Autumnalis minor._ The lesser Autumne Iacinth.

This lesser Iacinth hath such like long and small leaues, but narrower then the former: the stalke is not full so high, but beareth as many flowers on it as the other, which are of a pale or bleake purple colour, very like vnto it also: the roote and seed are like the former, but smaller. These both for the most part, beare their flowers and seede before the greene leaues rise vp much aboue the ground.

[Sidenote: _Flore albo._]

There is a kinde hereof found that beareth white flowers, not differing in any other thing from the smaller purple kinde last mentioned.

The Place.

The first and last are onely kept in Gardens, and not knowne to
vs where their naturall place of growing wilde may be.

The second groweth wilde in many places of England. I gathered
diuers rootes for my Garden, from the foote of a high banke by
the Thames side, at the hither end of Chelsey, before you come
at the Kings Barge-house.

The Time.

The greatest flowreth in the end of Iuly, and in August.

The other in August and September, you shall seldome see this
plant with flowers and greene leaues at one time together.

The Names.

They haue their names giuen them, as they are expressed in
their titles, by all former Writers, except Daleschampius,
or hee that set forth that great worke printed at Lyons; for
hee contendeth with many words, that these plants can bee no
Iacinths, because their flowers appeare before their leaues
in Autumne, contrary to the true Iacinth, as he saith: and
therefore he would faine haue it referred to _Theophrastus
bulbus in libro primo cap. 12._ and calleth it his _Tiphyum_
mentioned in that place, as also _Bulbus astivus Dalechampij_.
Howsoeuer these things may carry some probability in them, yet
the likenesse both of rootes, and flowers especially, hath
caused very learned Writers to entitle them as is set downe,
and therefore I may not but let them passe in the like manner.

The Vertues.

Both the rootes and the leaues of the Iacinths are somewhat
cold and drying, but the seede much more. It stayeth the
loosnesse of the belly. It is likewise said to hinder young
persons from growing ripe too soone, the roote being drunke
in wine. It helpeth them also whose vrine is stopt, and is
auaileable for the yellow Iaundise; but as you heare some are
deadly to cattell, I therefore wish all to bee well aduised
which of these they will vse in any inward physicke.

_Scilla alba._ The Sea Onion or Squill.

As I ended the discourse of both the true and the bastard Daffodils, with the Sea kindes of both sorts; so I thinke it not amisse, to finish this of the Iacinths with the description of a Sea Iacinth, which (as you see) I take to be the _Scilla_, or Sea Onion, all his parts so nearely resembling a Iacinth, that I know not where to ranke him better then in this place, or rather not any where but here. You shall haue the description thereof, and then let the iudicious passe their sentence, as they thinke meetest.

The Squill or Sea Onion (as many doe call it) hath diuers thicke leaues, broad, long, greene, and hollowish in the middle, and with an eminent or swelling ribbe all along the backe of the leafe, (I relate it as I haue seene it, hauing shot forth his leaues in the ship by the way, as the Mariners that brought diuers rootes from out of the Straights, did sell them to mee and others for our vse) lying vpon the ground, somewhat like vnto the leaues of a Lilly: these spring vp after the flowers are past, and the seed ripe, they abiding all the Winter, and the next Spring, vntill the heate of the Summer hath spent and consumed them, and then about the end of August, or beginning of September, the stalke with flowers ariseth out of the ground a foote and a halfe high, bearing many starre-like flowers on the toppe, in a long spike one aboue another, flowring by degrees, the lowest first, and so vpwards, whereby it is long in flowring, very like, as well in forme as bignesse, to the flowers of the great Starre of Bethlehem (these flowers I haue likewise seene shooting out of some of the rootes, that haue been brought in the like manner:) after the flowers are past, there come vp in their places thicke and three square heads, wherin is contained such like flat, black, and round seed, as the Spanish duskie Iacinth before described did beare, but greater: the root is great & white, couered with many peelings or couerings, as is plainly enough seen to any that know them, and that sometimes wee haue had rootes, that haue beene as bigge as a pretty childes head, and sometimes two growing together, each whereof was no lesse then is said of the other.

_Scilla rubra siue Pancratium verum._ The red Sea Onion.

The roote of this Squill, is greater oftentimes then of the former, the outer coates or peelings being reddish, bearing greater, longer, stiffer, and more hollow leaues, in a manner vpright: this bringeth such a like stalke and flowers, as the former doth, as Fabianus Ilges, Apothecary to the Duke of Briga, did signifie by the figure thereof drawne and sent to Clusius.

The Place.

They grow alwayes neare the Sea, and neuer farre off from it,
but often on the very baich of the Sea, where it washeth ouer
them all along the coasts of Spaine, Portugal, and Italy, and
within the Straights in many places: it will not abide in any
Garden farre from the Sea, no not in Italy, as it is related.

The Time.

The time wherein they flower, is expressed to be in August and
September: this seede to be ripe in October and Nouember, and
the greene leaues to spring vp in Nouember and December.

The Names.

These are certainly the true kindes of _Scilla_ that should
bee vsed in medicines, although (as Clusius reporteth) the
Spaniards forbade him to taste of the red Squill, as of a
most strong and present poison. Pliny hath made more sorts
then can be found out yet to this day with vs: that _Scilla_
that is called _Epimenidia_, because it might be eaten, is
thought to be the great _Ornithogalum_, or Starre of Bethlehem.
_Pancratium_ is, I know, and as I said before, referred to that
kinde of bastard Sea Daffodill, which is set forth before in
the end of the history of the bastard Daffodils; and diuers
also would make the _Narcissus tertius Matthioli_, which I
call the true Sea Daffodill, to be a _Pancratium_; but seeing
Dioscorides (and no other is against him) maketh _Pancratium_
to be a kinde of Squill with reddish rootes, I dare not vphold
their opinion against such manifest truth.

The Vertues.

The Squill or Sea Onion is wholly vsed physically with vs,
because wee can receiue no pleasure from the sight of the
flowers. Pliny writeth, that Pithagoras wrote a volume or booke
of the properties thereof, for the singular effects it wrought;
which booke is lost, yet the diuers vertues it hath is recorded
by others, to be effectual for the spleene, lungs, stomach,
liuer, head and heart; and for dropsies, old coughs, Iaundise,
and the wormes; that it cleareth the sight, helpeth the
tooth-ache, cleanseth the head of scurfe, and running sores;
and is an especiall Antidote against poison: and therefore is
vsed as a principall ingredient into the _Theriaca Andromachi_,
which we vsually call Venice Treakle. The Apothecaries prepare
hereof, both Wine, Vinegar, and Oxymel or Syrupe, which is
singular to extenuate and expectorate tough flegme, which is
the cause of much disquiet in the body, and an hinderer of
concoction, or digestion in the stomach, besides diuers other
wayes, wherein the scales of the rootes, being dryed, are
vsed. And Galen hath sufficiently explained the qualities and
properties thereof, in his eight Booke of Simples.

CHAP. XII.

_Ornithogalum._ Starre of Bethlehem.

After the Family of the Iacinths, must needes follow the kindes of Starre-flowers, or Starres of Bethlehem, as they are called, for that they doe so nearely resemble them, that diuers haue named some of them Iacinths, and referred them to that kindred: all of them, both in roote, leafe, and flower, come nearer vnto the Iacinths, then vnto any other plant. They shall therefore bee next described, euery one in their order, the greatest first, and the rest following.

_Ornithogalum Arabicum._ The great Starre-flower of Arabia.

This Arabian Starre-flower hath many broad, and long greene leaues, very like vnto the leaues of the Orientall Iacinth, but lying for the most part vpon the ground, among which riseth vp a round greene stalke, almost two foote high, bearing at the toppe diuers large flowers, standing vpon long foote-stalkes, and at the bottome of euery one of them a small short pointed greene leafe: these flowers are made of six pure white leaues a peece, laid open as large as an ordinary Daffodill, but of the forme of a Starre Iacinth, or Starre of Bethlehem, which close as they doe euery night, and open themselues in the day time, especially in the Sunne, the smell whereof is pretty sweete, but weake: in the middle of the flower is a blackish head, compassed with six white threeds, tipt with yellow pendents: the seede hath not beene obserued with vs: the roote is great and white, with a flat bottome, very impatient of our cold Winters, so that it seldome prospereth or abideth with vs; for although sometimes it doe abide a Winter in the ground, yet it often lyeth without springing blade, or any thing else a whole yeare, and then perisheth: or if it doe spring, yet many doe not beare, and most after their first bearing doe decay and perish. But if any be desirous, to know how to preserue the roote of this plant, or of many other bulbous rootes that are tender, such as the great double white Daffodill of Constantinople, and other fine Daffodils, that come from hot Countries; let them keepe this rule: Let either the roote be planted in a large pot, or tubbe of earth, and housed all the Winter, that so it may bee defended from the frosts; Or else (which is the easier way) keepe the roote out of the ground euery yeare, from September, after the leaues and stalkes are past, vntill February, in some dry, but not hot or windy place, and then plant it in the ground vnder a South wall, or such like defended place, which will spring, and no doubt prosper well there, in regard the greatest and deepest frosts are past after February, so that seldome any great frosts come after, to pierce so deepe as the roote is to be set, or thereby to doe any great harme to it in such a place.

The Place.

This hath been often sent out of Turkie, and likewise out
of Italy; I had likewise two rootes sent mee out of Spaine
by Guillaume Boel before remembred, which (as hee said) hee
gathered there, but they prospered not with me, for want of the
knowledge of the former rule. It may be likely that Arabia is
the place, from whence they of Constantinople receiue it.

The Time.

It flowreth in May, if it be of the first yeares bringing; or
in Iune, if it haue been ordered after the manner before set
downe.

The Names.

It hath been sent out of Italy by the name of _Lilium
Alexandrinum_, The Lilly of Alexandria, but it hath no affinity
with any Lilly. Others call it _Hyacinthus Arabicus_; and the
Italians, _Iacintho del pater nostro_; but it is no Iacinth
neither, although the flowers be like some of them. Some
also would referre it to a _Narcissus_ or Daffodill, and it
doth as little agree with it, as with a Lilly, although his
flowers in largenesse and whitenesse resemble a Daffodill.
Clusius hath most fitly referred it to the stocke or kindred
of _Ornithogala_, or Starres of Bethlehem, as wee call them in
English, and from the Turkish name, _Zumbul Arabi_, entituled
it _Ornithogalum Arabicum_, although _Zumbul_, as I haue before
declared, is with them, a Iacinth, wee may call it in English,
The Arabian Starre-flower, or Starre of Bethlehem, or the great
Starre-flower of Arabia.

1. _Ornithogalum maximum album._ The greatest white Starre-flower, or Starre of Bethlehem.

This great Starre-flower hath many faire, broad, long, and very fresh green leaues, rising vp very early, and are greater, longer, and greener then the leaues of any Orientall Iacinth, which doe abide greene, from the beginning or middle of Ianuary, or before sometimes, vntill the end of May, at which time they begin to fade, and the stalke with the head of flowers beginneth to rise, so that it will haue either few or no leaues at all, when the flowers are blowne: the stalke is strong, round, and firme, rising two foote high or more, bearing at the toppe a great bush of flowers, seeming at the first to be a great greene eare of corne, for it is made spike-fashion, which when the flowers are blowne, doth rise to be very high, slender or small at the head aboue, and broad spread and bushing below, so that it is long in flowring; for they flower below first, and so vpwards by degrees: these flowers are snow white, without any line on the backside, and is therein like vnto the former, as also in whitenesse, but nothing so large, with a white vmbone or head in the middle, beset with many white threeds, tipt with yellow: the seede is blacke and round, contained in three square heads: the roote is great, thicke, and short, and somewhat yellowish on the outside, with a flat bottome, both like the former, and next that followeth.

2. _Ornithogalum maius spicatum album._ The great white spiked Starre-flower.

This spiked Starre-flower in his growing, is somewhat like vnto the last described, but springeth not vp so early, nor hath his leaues so greene, or large, but hath broad, long, whitish greene hollow leaues, pointed at the end, among which riseth vp the stalke, which is strong and high, as the former, hauing a great bush of flowers at the toppe, standing spike-fashion, somewhat like the former, flowring in the same maner by degrees, first below, and so vpwards; but it is not so thicke set with flowers, nor so farre spread at the bottome as it, the flowers also are not so white, and each of the leaues of them haue a greene line downe the backe, leauing the edges on both sides white: after the flowers are past, the heads for seede grow three square, like the other, bearing such like blacke seede therein: the roote hereof is vsually bigger then the last, and whiter on the outside.

3. _Ornithogalum Pannonicum._ The Hungarian Starre-flower.

This Hungarian Starre-flower shooteth out diuers narrow, long, whitish greene leaues, spread vpon the ground before Winter, which are very like vnto the leaues of Gilloflowers, and so abide aboue the ground, hauing a stalke rising in the middle of them the next Spring, about halfe a foote high or thereabouts, bearing many white flowers at the toppe, with greene lines downe the backe of them, very like vnto the ordinary Starres of Bethlehem: the roote is greater, thicker, and longer then the ordinary Starres, and for the most part, two ioyned together, somewhat grayish on the outside.

4. _Ornithogalum vulgare._ The Starre of Bethlehem.

The ordinary Starre of Bethlehem is so common, and well knowne in all countries and places, that it is almost needlesse to describe it, hauing many greene leaues with white lines therein, and a few white flowers set about the toppe of the stalke, with greenish lines downe the backe: the roote is whitish, and encreaseth aboundantly.

5. _Asphodelus bulbosus Galeni, siue Ornithogalum maius flore subuirescente._ The bulbous Asphodill, or greene Starre-flower.

Diuers haue referred this plant vnto the Asphodils, because (as I thinke) the flowers hereof are straked on the backe, and the leaues long and narrow, like vnto the Asphodils; but the roote of this being bulbous, I rather (as some others doe) ioyne it with the _Ornithogala_, for they also haue strakes on the backe of the flowers. It hath many whitish greene leaues, long and narrow, spread vpon the ground, which spring vp in the beginning of the yeare, and abide vntill May, and then they withering, the stalke springeth vp almost as high as the first, hauing many pale yellowish greene flowers, but smaller, and growing more sparsedly about the stalke vpon short foot-stalkes, but in a reasonable long head spike-fashion: the seede is like vnto the second kinde, but smaller: the roote is somewhat yellowish, like the first great white kinde.

1 _Ornithogalum Arabicum._ The great starre-flower of Arabia.
2 _Ornithogalum maximum album._ The greatest white starre-flower.
3 _Ornithogalum maius spicatum album._ The great white spiked
starre-flower.
4 _Ornithogalum Pannonicum album._ The Hungarian starre-flower.
5 _Asphodelus bulbosus Galeni, siue Ornithogalum maius subuirescente
flore._ The bulbed Asphodill, or greene starre-flower.
6 _Ornithogalum Hispanicum minus._ The little starre-flower of
Spaine.
7 _Ornithogalum luteum._ The yellow starre-flower of Bethlehem.
8 _Ornithogalum Neapolitanum._ The starre-flower of Naples.
]

The Place.

The first is onely nursed in Gardens, his originall being not
well knowne, yet some attribute it vnto _Pannonia_ or Hungary.
The second hath been found neare vnto Barcinone, and Toledo in
Spaine. The third was found in Hungary by Clusius. Our ordinary
euery where in the fields of Italy and France, and (as it is
said) in England also. And the last groweth likewise by the
corne fields in the vpper Hungary.

The Time.

They flower in Aprill and May, and sometimes in Iune.

The Names.

The first is called by Clusius _Ornithogalum maximum album_,
because it is greater then the next, which hee tooke formerly
for the greatest: but it might more fitly, in my iudgement, bee
called _Asphodelus bulbosus albus_ (if there be any _Asphodelus
bulbosus_ at all) because this do so nearly resemble that, both
in the early springing, and the decay of the greene leaues,
when the stalkes of flowers doe rise vp. Diuers also doe call
it _Ornithogalum Pannonicum maximum album_.

The second hath his name in his title, as most authors doe set
it downe, yet in the great Herball referred to Dalechampius, it
is called _Ornithogalum magnum Myconi_.

The third hath his name from the place of his birth, and the
other from his popularity, yet Dodonæus calleth it _Bulbus
Leucanthemos_.

The last is called by diuers _Asphodelo-hyacinthinus_, and
_Hyacintho-asphodelus Galeni_. Dodonæus calleth it _Asphodelus
fæmina_, and _Asphodelus bulbosus_. But Lobel, and Gerrard
from him, and Dodonæus, doe make this to haue white flowers,
whereas all that I haue seene, both in mine owne, and in
others Gardens, bore greenish flowers, as Clusius setteth it
truely downe. Lobel seemeth in the description of this, to
confound the _Ornithogalum_ of Mompelier with it, and calleth
it _Asphodelus hyacinthinus forte Galeni_, and saith that
some would call it _Pancratium Monspeliense_, and _Asphodelus
Galeni_. But as I haue shewed, the _Ornithogalum spicatum_ and
this, doe plainly differ the one from the other, and are not
both to be called by one name, nor to be reckoned one, but two
distinct plants.

_Ornithogalum Æthiopicum._ The Starre-flower of Æthiopia.

The leaues of this plant are a foote long, and at the least an inch broad, which being broken, are no lesse woolly then the woolly Iacinth: the stalke is a cubit high, strong and greene; from the middle whereof vnto the toppe, stand large snow white flowers, vpon long, greene, thicke foot-stalkes, and yellowish at the bottome of the flower; in the middle whereof stand six white threeds, tipt with yellow chiues, compassing the head, which is three square, and long containing the seede: the roote is thicke and round, somewhat like the _Asphodelus Galeni_.

The Place.

This plant was gathered by some Hollanders, on the West side of
the Cape of good Hope.

The Time.

It flowred about the end of August with those that had it.

The Names.

Because it came from that part of the continent beyond the
line, which is reckoned a part of Æthiopia, it is thereupon so
called as it is set downe.

_Ornithogalum Neapolitanum._ The Starre-flower of Naples.

This beautifull plant riseth out of the ground very early, with foure or fiue hollow pointed leaues, standing round together, of a whitish greene colour, with a white line downe the middle of euery leafe on the inside, somewhat narrow, but long, (Fabius Columna saith, three foot long in Italy, but it is not so with vs) in the middle of these leaues riseth vp the stalke, a foote and a halfe high, bearing diuers flowers at the toppe, euery one standing in a little cuppe or huske, which is diuided into three or foure parts, hanging downe very long about the heads for seede: after the flower is past, these flowers doe all hang downe their heads, and open one way, although their little foot-stalkes come forth on all sides of the greater stalke, being large, and composed of six long leaues, of a pure white on the inside, and of a blewish or whitish greene colour on the outside, leauing the edges of euery leafe white on both sides: in the middle of these flowers stand other small flowers, each of them also made of six small white leaues a peece, which meeting together, seeme to make the shew of a cuppe, within which are contained six white threeds, tipt with yellow, and a long white pointell in the middle of them, being without any sent at all: after the flowers are past, come vp great round heads, which are too heauie for the stalke to beare; and therefore lye downe vpon the leaues or ground, hauing certaine lines or stripes on the outside, wherein is contained round, blacke, rough seede: the roote is great and white, and somewhat flat at the bottome, as diuers of these kindes are, and doe multiply as plentifully into small bulbes as the common or any other.

The Place.

This Starre-flower groweth in the Medowes in diuers places
of Naples, as Fabius Columna, and Ferrantes Imperatus doe
testifie, from whence they haue been sent. And Matthiolus, who
setteth out the figure thereof among his Daffodills, had (it
should seeme) seene it grow with him.

The Time.