Paradisi in sole paradisus terrestris, or, A garden of all sorts of pleasant flowers which our English ayre will permitt to be noursed vp / a kitchen garden of all manner of herbes, rootes & fruites for meate or sauce vsed with vs, and, an orchard of all sorte of fruitbearing trees and shrubbes fit for our land, together with the right orderinge, planting & preseruing of them and their vses & vertues

Chap. XI.
Hyacinthus. The Hyacinth or Iacinth.

The Iacinths are next to be entreated of, whereof there are many more kindes found out in these later times, then formerly were knowne, which for order and method sake, I will digest vnder seuerall sorts, as neare as I can, that auoiding confusion, by enterlacing one among another, I may the better put euery sort vnder his owne kinde.

{Indian knobbed Iacinth}

Hyacinthus Indicus maior tuberosa radice. The greater Indian knobbed Iacinth.

I haue thought fittest to begin with this Iacinth, both because it is the greatest and highest, and also because the flowers hereof are in some likenesse neare vnto a Daffodill, although his roote be tuberous, and not bulbous as all the rest are. This Indian Iacinth hath a thicke knobbed roote (yet formed into seuerall heads, somewhat like vnto bulbous rootes) with many thicke fibres at the bottome of them; from the diuers heads of this roote arise diuers strong and very tall stalkes, beset with diuers faire, long, and broad leaues, ioyned at the bottome close vnto the stalke, where they are greatest, and grow smaller to the very end, and those that grow higher to the toppe, being smaller and smaller, which being broken, there appeare many threeds like wooll in them: the toppes of the stalkes are garnished with many faire large white flowers, each whereof is composed of six leaues, lying spread open, as the flowers of the white Daffodill, with some short threeds in the middle, and of a very sweete sent, or rather strong and headie.

Hyacinthus Indicus minor tuberosa radice. The smaller Indian knobbed Iacinth.

The roote of this Iacinth is knobbed, like the roote of Arum or Wake Robin, from whence doe spring many leaues, lying vpon the ground, and compassing one another at the bottome, being long and narrow, and hollow guttered to the end, which is small and pointed, no lesse woolly, or full of threeds then the former: from the middle of these leaues riseth vp the stalke, being very long and slender, three or foure foot long, so that without it be propped vp, it will bend downe, and lye vpon the ground, whereon are set at certaine distances many short leaues, being broad at the bottome, where they doe almost compasse the stalke, and are smaller toward the end where it is sharpe pointed: at the top of the stalke stand many flowers, with a small peece of a green leafe at the bottome of euery foot-stalke, which seeme to bee like so many white Orientall Iacinths, being composed of six leaues, which are much thicker then the former, with six chiues or threeds in the middle, tipt with pale yellow pendents.

{Muske Grape-flower}

1. Hyacinthus Botroides maior Moschatus, siue Muscari flore flauo. The great yellow Muske Grape-flower, or yellow Muscari.

This Muske Iacinth or Grape-flower, hath fiue or six leaues spread vpon the ground in two or three heads, which at the first budding or shooting forth out of the ground, are of a reddish purple colour, and after become long, thicke, hollow, or guttered on the vpper side, of a whitish greene colour, and round and darke coloured vnderneath: in the middle of these heads of leaues, rise vp one or two hollow weake brownish stalkes, sometimes lying on the ground with the weight of the flowers, (but especially of the seede) yet for the most part standing vpright, when they are laden towards the toppe, with many bottle-like flowers, which at their first appearing, and vntill the flowers begin to blow open, are of a browne red colour, and when they are blowne, of a faire yellow colour, flowring first below, and so vpwards by degrees, euery one of these flowers is made like vnto a little pitcher or bottle, being bigge in the belly, and small at the mouth, which is round, and a little turned vp, very sweete in smell, like vnto Muske, whereof it tooke the name Muscari; after the flowers are past, there come three square thicke heads, puffed vp as if it were bladders, made of a spongie substance, wherein are here and there placed blacke round seed: the roote is long, round, and very thicke, and white on the outside, with a little woollinesse on them, being broken, and full of a slimie iuice, whereunto are annexed thicke, fat, and long fibres, which perish not as most of the other Iacinths; and therefore desireth not to bee often remoued, as the other sorts may.

2. Hyacinthus Botroides maior Moschatus, seu Muscari flore cineritio. The Ashcoloured Muske Grape-flower, or Muscari.

This Muscari differeth not in rootes, or forme of leaues or flowers from the former, the chiefe differences are these: the leaues hereof do not appeare so red at the first budding out of the ground, nor are so darke when they are fully growne; the stalke also most vsually hath more store of flowers thereon, the colour whereof at the first budding is a little duskie, and when they are full blowne, are of a bleake, yet bright ash-colour, with a little shew of purple in them, and by long standing change a little more gray; being as sweete, or as some thinke, more sweete then the former: the roote (as I said) is like the former, yet yeeldeth more encrease, and will better endure our cold clymate, although it doth more seldome giue ripe seede.

3. Hyacinthus Botroides maior Moschatus, siue Muscari flore rubro. The red Muske Grape-flower.

This kinde (if there be any such, for I am in some doubt thereof) doth chiefly differ in the colour of the flower from the first, in that this should beare flowers when they are blowne, of a red colour tending to yellownesse.

4. Hyacinthus Botroides maior Moschatus, siue Muscari flore albo. The white Muske Grape-flower.

This also is said to haue (if there bee such an one) his leaues like vnto the second kinde, but of a little whiter greene, and the flowers pale, tending to a white: the roots of these two last are said vsually not to grow to be so great as of the former two.

{Grape-flower}

Hyacinthus Botroides minor cæruleus obscurus. The darke blew Grape-flower.

This Grape-flower hath many small, fat, and weake leaues lying vpon the ground, which are somewhat brownish at their first comming vp, and of a sad greene afterwards, hollow on the vpperside, and round vnderneath, among which rise vp round, smooth, weake stalkes, bearing at the toppe many small heauie bottle-like flowers, in shape like the former Muscari, but very thicke thrust together, smaller, and of a very darke or blackish blew colour, of a very strong smell, like vnto Starch when it is new made, and hot: the root is round, and blackish without, being compassed with a number of small rootes, or of-sets round about it, so that it will quickly choke a ground, if it be suffered long in it. For which cause, most men doe cast it into some by-corner, if they meane to preserue it, or cast it out of the Garden quite.

There is another of this kinde that is greater, both in leafe and flower, and differeth not in colour or any thing else.

Hyacinthus Botroides cæruleus amænus. The skie coloured Grape-flower.

This Iacinth springeth vp with fewer leaues then the first, and not reddish, but green at his first appearing; the leaues, when they are full growne, are long and hollow, like the former, but greener, shorter, and broader, standing vpright, and not lying along vpon the ground as they doe: the flowers grow at the toppe of the stalke, more sparsedly set thereon, and not so thicke together, but like a thinne bunch of grapes, and bottle-like as the former, of a perfect blew or skie colour, euery flower hauing some white spots about the brimmes of them: this hath a very sweete smell, nothing like the former: this roote is whiter, and doth not so much encrease as the former, yet plentifull enough.

Hyacinthus Botroides ramosus. The branched Grape-flower.

Of this kinde, there is another found to grow with many branches of flowers, breaking out from the sides of the greater stalkes or branches: the leaues as all the rest of the plant is greater then the former.

Hyacinthus Botroides flore albo. The white Grape-flower.

The white Grape-flower hath his green leaues a little whiter, then the blew or skie coloured Grape-flower, his flowers are very pure white, alike sparsedly set on the stalkes, but a little lower and smaller then it, in all other things there is no difference.

Hyacinthus Botroides flore albo rubente. The blush Grape-flower.

The roote of this Grape-flower groweth greater, then either the skie coloured, or white Grape-flower, and seldome hath any small rootes or of-sets, as the other haue: his leaues also are larger, and somewhat broader; the flowers are of a pale, or bleake blush colour out of a white, and are a little larger, and grow a little higher and fuller of flowers then the white.

{Faire haired Iacinth}

1. Hyacinthus Comosus albus. The white haired Iacinth.

This Iacinth doth more neerly resemble the Grape-flowers, then the faire haired Iacinths that follow, whereof it beareth the name, in that it hath no haire or threeds at the toppe of the stalke or sides, as they: and therefore I haue placed it next vnto them, and the other to follow it, as being of another kinde. The root hereof is blackish, a little long and round, from whence rise vp three or foure leaues, being smooth and whitish, long, narrow, and hollow, like a trough or gutter on the vpperside: among which the stalke riseth vp a foote high or more, bearing at the toppe diuers small flowers, somewhat like the former, but not so thicke set together, being a little longer, and larger, and wider at the mouth, and as it were diuided into six edges, of a darke whitish colour, with some blacker spots about the brimmes on the inside: the heads or seede-vessels are three square, and somewhat larger, then the heads of any of the former lesser Grape-flowers, wherein is contained round blacke seede.

2. Hyacinthus Comosus Byzantinus. The Turkie faire haired Iacinth.

This other Iacinth which came from Constantinople, is somewhat like the former, but that it is bigger, both in roote, and leafe, and flower, and bearing greater store of flowers on the head of the stalke: the lower flowers, although they haue short stalkes at their first flowring, yet afterwards the stalkes grow longer, and those that are lower, stand out further then those that are highest, whose foot-stalkes are short, and almost close to the stemme, and of a more perfect purple then any below, which are of a duskie greenish purple colour: the whole stalke of flowers seem like a Pyramis, broad belowe, and small aboue, or as other compare it, to a water sprinkle; yet neither of both these Iacinths haue any threeds at the tops of the stalkes, as the other following haue.

3. Hyacinthus Comosus maior purpureus. The great purple faire haired Iacinth.

This faire haired Iacinth hath his leaues softer, longer, broader, and lesse hollow then the former, lying for the most part vpon the ground: the stalke riseth vp in the midst of the leaues, being stronger, higher, and bearing a greater and longer head of flowers also then they: the flowers of this stand not vpon such long foote-stalkes, but are shorter below, and close almost to the stalke aboue, hauing many bright purplish blew threeds, growing highest aboue the flowers, as it were in a bush together, euery one of these threeds hauing a little head at the end of them, somewhat like vnto one of the flowers, but much smaller: the red of the flowers below this bush, are of a sadder or deader purple, and not so bright a colour, and the lowest worst of all, rather enclining to a greene, like vnto the last Turkie kinde: the whole stalke with the flowers vpon it, doth somewhat resemble a long Purse tassel, and thereupon diuers Gentlewomen haue so named it: the heads and seede are like vnto the former, but greater: the roote is great and white with some rednesse on the outside.

4. Hyacinthus Comosus ramosus purpureus. The faire haired branched Iacinth.

The leaues of this Iacinth are broader, shorter, and greener then of the last, not lying so weakly on the ground, but standing somewhat more vpright: the stalke riseth vp as high as the former, but branched out on euery side into many tufts of threeds, with knappes, as it were heads of flowers, at the ends of them, like vnto the head of threeds at the toppe of the former Iacinth, but of a little darker, and not so faire a blewish purple colour: this Iacinth doth somewhat resemble the next Curld haire Iacinth, but that the branches are not so fairely composed altogether of curled threeds, nor of so excellent a faire purple or Doue colour, but more duskie by much: the roote is greater and shorter then of the next, and encreaseth faster.

5. Hyacinthus Pennatus, siue Comosus ramosus elegantior. The faire Curld-haire Iacinth.

This admirable Iacinth riseth vp with three or foure leaues, somewhat like vnto the leaues of the Muske Grape-flower, but lesser; betweene which riseth vp the stalke about a foote high, or somewhat more, bearing at the toppe a bush or tuft of flowers, which at the first appearing, is like vnto a Cone or Pineapple, and afterwards opening it selfe, spreadeth into many branches, yet still retaining the forme of a Pyramis, being broad spread below, and narrow vp aboue: each of these branches is againe diuided into many tufts of threeds or strings, twisted or curled at the ends, and of an excellent purple or Doue colour, both stalkes and haires. This abideth a great while in his beauty, but afterwards all these flowers (if you will so call them) do fall away without any seede at all, spending it selfe as it should seeme in the aboundance of the flowers: the roote is not so great as the last, but white on the outside.

{Orientall Iacinth}

1. Hyacinthus Orientalis Brumalis, siue præcox flore albo. The white Winter Orientall Iacinth.

This early Iacinth riseth vp with his greene leaues (which are in all respects like to the ordinary Orientall Iacinths, but somewhat narrower) before Winter, and sometimes it is in flower also before Winter, and is in forme and colour a plaine white Orientall Iacinth, but somewhat lesser, differing onely in no other thing, then the time of his flowring, which is alwayes certaine to be long before the other sorts.

2. Hyacinthus Orientalis Brumalis, siue præcox flore purpureo. The purple Winter Orientall Iacinth.

The difference of colour in this flower causeth it to bee distinguished, for else it is of the kindred of the Orientall Iacinths, and is, as the former, more early then the rest that follow: Vnderstand then, that this is the same with the former, but hauing fine blewish purple flowers.

3. Hyacinthus Orientalis maior præcox, dictus Zumbul Indi. The greatest Orientall Iacinth, or Zumbul Indi.

The roote of this Orientall Iacinth, is vsually greater then any other of his kinde, and most commonly white on the outside, from whence rise vp one or two great round stalkes, spotted from within the ground, with the lower part of the leaues also vpward to the middle of the stalkes, or rather higher, like vnto the stalkes of Dragons, but darker; being set among a number of broad, long, and somewhat hollow greene leaues, almost as large as the leaues of the white Lilly: at the toppe of the stalkes stand more store of flowers, then in any other of this kinde, euery flower being as great as the greatest sort of Orientall Iacinths, ending in six leaues, which turne at the points, of a faire blewish purple colour, and all standing many times on one side of the stalkes, and many times on both sides.

4. Hyacinthus Orientalis vulgaris diuersorum colorum. The ordinary Orientall Iacinth.

The common Orientall Iacinth (I call it common, because it is now so plentifull in all Gardens, that it is almost not esteemed) hath many greene leaues, long, somewhat broad and hollow, among which riseth vp a long greene round stalke, beset from the middle thereof almost, with diuers flowers, standing on both sides of the stalkes, one aboue another vnto the toppe, each whereof next vnto the foote-stalke is long, hollow, round, and close, ending in six small leaues laid open, and a little turning at the points, of a very sweete smell: the colours of these flowers are diuers, for some are pure white, without any shew of other colour in them: another is almost white, but hauing a shew of blewnesse, especially at the brims and bottomes of the flowers. Others againe are of a very faint blush, tending towards a white: Some are of as deepe a purple as a Violet; others of a purple tending to rednesse, and some of a paler purple. Some againe are of a faire blew, others more watchet, and some so pale a blew, as if it were more white then blew: after the flowers are past, there rise vp great three square heads, bearing round blacke seede, great and shining: the roote is great, and white on the outside, and oftentimes purplish also, flat at the bottome, and small at the head.

There is a kinde of these Iacinths, whose flowers are of a deepe purplish Violet colour, hauing whitish lines downe the backe of euery leafe of the flower, which turne themselues a little backwards at the points.

There is another, whose flowers stand all opening one way, and not on all sides, but are herein like the great Zumbul Indi, before set out.

There is againe another kinde which flowreth later then all the rest, and the flowers are smaller, standing more vpright, which are either white or blew, or mixt with white and purple.

5. Hyacinthus Orientalis folioso caule. The bushy stalked Orientall Iacinth.

This strange Iacinth hath his rootes, leaues, and flowers, like vnto the former Orientall Iacinths: the onely difference in this is, that his stalke is not bare or naked, but hath very narrow long leaues, growing dispersedly, and without order, with the flowers thereon, which are blew, and hauing for the most part one leafe, and sometimes two at the foote, or setting on of euery flower, yet sometimes it happeneth, some flowers to be without any leafe at the bottome, as nature, that is very variable in this plant, listeth to play: the heads and seede are blacke and round, like the other also.

6. Hyacinthus Orientalis flore duplici. The bleake Orientall Iacinth once double.

This double Iacinth hath diuers long leaues, like vnto the other Orientall Iacinths, almost standing vpright, among which riseth vp a stalke, brownish at the first, but growing greene afterwards, bearing many flowers at the toppe, made like the flowers of the former Iacinths, and ending in six leaues, greene at the first, and of a blewish white when they are open, yet retaining some shew of greenesse in them, the brims of the leaues being white; from the middle of each flower standeth forth another small flower, consisting of three leaues, of the same colour with the other flower, but with a greene line on the backe of each of these inner leaues: in the middle of this little flower, there stand some threeds tipt with blacke: the smell of this flower is not so sweete as of the forme; the heads, seede, and rootes are like the former.

7. Hyacinthus Orientalis flore pleno cæruleo, vel purpuro violaceo. The faire double blew, or purple Orientall Iacinth.

The leaues of these Iacinths are smaller, then the leaues of most of the other former sorts; the stalkes are shorter, and smaller, bearing but three or foure flowers on the heads of them for the most part, which are not composed like the last, but are more faire, full, and double of leaues, where they shew out their full beauties, and of a faire blew colour in some, and purple in others, smelling pretty sweete; but these doe seldome beare out their flowers faire; and besides, haue diuers other flowers that will be either single, or very little double vpon the same stalke.

8. Hyacinthus Orientalis candidissimus flore pleno. The pure white double Orientall Iacinth.

This double white Iacinth hath his leaues like vnto the single white Orientall Iacinth; his stalke is likewise long, slender, and greene, bearing at the toppe two or three flowers at the most, very double and full of leaues, of a pure white colour, without any other mixture therein, hanging downe their heads a little, and are reasonable sweete. I haue this but by relation, not by sight, and therefore I can giue no further assurance as yet.

Hyacinthus Hispanicus minor Orientalis facie. The little Summer Orientall Iacinth.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

{Bell-flowered Iacinth}

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.

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.

{Spanish starry Iacinth}

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.

{Starry 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.

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.

{Starry Iacinths of Constantinople}

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.

{Summer Starry Iacinths}

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.

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.

{Lilly leafed Starry Iacinths}

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.

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

{Autumne Starry Iacinths}

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.

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

{The Sea Onions or Squills}

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.