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. XXXV.
Primula veris & Paralysis. Primroses and Cowslips.

We haue so great variety of Primroses and Cowslips of our owne Country breeding, that strangers being much delighted with them, haue beene often furnished into diuers Countries, to their good content: And that I may set them downe in some methodicall manner, as I haue done other things, I will first set downe all the sorts of those we call Primroses, both single and double, and afterwards the Cowslips with their diuersities, in as ample manner as my knowledge can direct me. And yet I know, that the name of Primula veris or Primrose, is indifferently conferred vpon those that I distinguish for Paralyses or Cowslips. I doe therefore for your better vnderstanding of my distinction betweene Primroses and Cowslips, call those onely Primroses that carry but one flower vpon a stalke, be they single or double, except that of Master Hesket, and that with double flowers many vpon a stalke, set out in Gerards Herball, which is his onely, not found (as I thinke) in rerum natura, I am sure, such a one I could neuer heare of: And those Cowslips, that beare many flowers vpon a stalke together constantly, be they single or double also. I might otherwise distinguish them also by the leafe; that all the Primroses beare their long and large broad yellowish greene leaues, without stalkes most vsually; and all the Cowslips haue small stalkes vnder the leaues, which are smaller, and of a darker greene, as vsually, but that this distinction is neither so certaine and generall, nor so well knowne.

1. Primula veris flore albo. The single white Primrose.

The Primrose that groweth vnder euery bush or hedge, in all or most of the Woods, Groues, and Orchards of this Kingdome, I may well leaue to his wilde habitation, being not so fit for a Garden, and so well knowne, that I meane not to giue you any further relation thereof: But we haue a kinde hereof which is somewhat smaller, and beareth milke white flowers, without any shew of yellownesse in them, and is more vsually brought into Gardens for the rarity, and differeth not from the wilde or ordinary kinde, either in roote or leafe, or any thing else, yet hauing those yellow spots, but smaller, and not so deepe, as are in the other wilde kinde.

2. Primula veris flore viridi simplici. The single greene Primrose.

The single greene Primrose hath his leaues very like vnto the greater double Primrose, but smaller, and of a sadder greene colour: the flowers stand seuerally vpon long foot-stalkes, as the first single kinde doth, but larger then they, and more laide open, of the same, or very neare the same yellowish greene colour that the huske is of, so that at the first opening, the huske and the flower seeme to make one double greene flower, which afterwards separating themselues, the single flower groweth aboue the huske, and spreadeth it selfe open much more then any other single Primrose doth, growing in the end to be of a paler greene colour.

3. Primula veris flore viridante & albo simplici. The single greene and white Primrose.

The leaues of this differ in a manner nothing from the former, neither doth the flower but only in this, that out of the large yellowish green huskes, which contain the flowers of the former, there commeth forth out of the middle of each of them either a small peece of a whitish flower, or else a larger, sometimes making vp a whole flower, like an ordinary Primrose.

4. Primula veris flore viridi duplici. The double greene Primrose.

This double Primrose is in his leaues so like the former single greene kindes, that the one cannot be knowne from the other vntill it come to flower, and then it beareth vpon euery stalke a double green flower, of a little deeper green colour then the flower of the former single kinde consisting but of two rowes of short leaues most vsually, and both of an equall height aboue the huske, abiding a pretty time in flower, especially if it stand in any shadowed place, or where the Sun may come but a while vnto it.

5. Primula veris Hesketi flore multiplici separatim diviso. Master Heskets double Primrose.

Master Heskets double Primrose is very like vnto the small double Primrose, both in leafe, roote, and height of growing, the stalke not rising much higher then it, but bearing flowers in a farre different manner; for this beareth not only single flowers vpon seuerall stalkes, but sometimes two or three single flowers vpon one stalk, and also at the same time a bigger stalke, and somewhat higher, hauing one greene huske at the toppe thereof, sometimes broken on the one side, and sometimes whole, in the middle whereof standeth sometimes diuers single flowers, thrust together, euery flower to be seene in his proper forme, and sometimes there appeare with some whole flowers others that are but parts of flowers, as if the flowers were broken in peeces, and thrust into one huske, the leaues of the flowers (being of a white or pale Primrose Colour, but a little deeper) seldome rising aboue the height of the very huske it selfe; and sometimes, as I haue obserued in this plant, it will haue vpon the same stalke, that beareth such flowers as I haue here described vnto you, a small flower or two, making the stalke seeme branched into many flowers, whereby you may perceiue, that it will vary into many formes, not abiding constant in any yeare, as all the other sorts doe.

6. Primula hortensis flore pleno vulgaris. The ordinary double Primrose.

The leaues of this Primrose are very large, and like vnto the single kind, but somewhat larger, because it growth in gardens: the flowers doe stand euery one seuerally vpon slender long footestalkes, as the single kinde doth, in greenish huskes of a pale yellow colour, like vnto the field Primrose, but very thicke and double, and of the same sweete sent with them.

7. Primula veris flore duplici. The small double Primrose.

This Primrose is both in leafe, roote, and flower, altogether like vnto the last double Primrose, but that it is smaller in all things; for the flower riseth not aboue two or three fingers high, and but twice double, that is, with two rowes of leaues, yet of the very same Primrose colour that the former is of.

8. Paralysis vulgaris pratensis flore flauo simplici odorato. The Common field Cowslip.

The common fielde Cowslip I might well forbeare to set downe, being so plentifull in the fields: but because many take delight in it, and plant it in their gardens, I will giue you the description of it here. It hath diuers green leaues, very like vnto the wilde Primrose, but shorter, rounder, stiffer, rougher, more crumpled about the edges, and of a sadder greene colour, euery one standing vpon his stalke, which is an inch or two long: among the leaues rise vp diuers round stalkes, a foote or more high, bearing at the toppe many faire yellow single flowers, with spots of a deeper yellow, at the bottome of each leafe, smelling very sweete. The rootes are like to the other Primroses, hauing many fibres annexed to the great roote.

9. Paralysis altera odorata flore pallido polyanthos. The Primrose Cowslip.

The leaues of this Cowslip are larger then the ordinary fielde Cowslip, and of a darke yellowish greene colour; the flowers are many, standing together, vpon the toppes of the stalkes, to the number of thirty sometimes vpon one stalke, as I haue counted them in mine owne Garden, and sometimes more, euery one hauing a longer foote stalke then the former, and of as pale a yellowish colour almost as the fielde Primrose, with yellow spots at the bottome of the leaues, as the ordinary hath, and of as sweet a sent.

10. Paralysis flore viridante simplici. The single greene Cowslip.

There is little difference in leafe or roote of this from the first Cowslip, the chiefest varietie in this kinde is this, that the leaues are somewhat greener, and the flowers being in all respects like in forme vnto the first kinde, but somewhat larger, are of the same colour with the greene huskes, or rather a little yellower, and of a very small sent; in all other things I finde no diuersitie, but that it standeth much longer in flower before it fadeth, especially if it stand out of the Sunne.

11. Paralysis flore & calice crispo. Curl’d Cowslips or Gallegaskins.

There is another kinde, whose flowers are folded or crumpled at the edges, and the huskes of the flowers bigger than any of the former, more swelling out in the middle, as it were ribbes, and crumpled on the sides of the huskes, which doe somewhat resemble mens hose that they did weare, and tooke the name of Gallegaskins from thence.

12. Paralysis flore geminato odorato. Double Cowslips one within another, or Hose in Hose.

The only difference of this kinde from the ordinary field Cowslip is, that it beareth one single flower out of another, which is as a greene huske, of the like sent that the first hath, or somewhat weaker.

13. Paralysis flore flauo simplici inodoro absque calicibus. Single Oxe lippes.

This kinde of Cowslip hath leaues much like the ordinary kinde, but somewhat smaller: the flowers are yellow like the Cowslip, but smaller, standing many vpon a stalke, but bare or naked, that is, without any huske to containe them, hauing but little or no sent at all; not differing in any thing else from the ordinary Cowslip.

14. Paralysis flore geminato inodora. Double Oxelips Hose in Hose.

As the former double Cowslip had his flowers one within another, in the very like manner hath this kinde of Cowslip or Oxelippe, sauing that this hath no huske to containe them, no more then the former single Oxelippe hath, standing bare or naked, of the very same bignesse each of them, and of the same deepe yellow colour with it, hauing as small a sent as the former likewise.

Wee haue another of this kinde, whose leaues are somewhat larger, and so are the flowers also, but of a paler yellow colour.

15. Paralysis inodora calicibus dissectis. Oxelips with iagged huskes.

This kinde differeth not from the first Oxelip in the smalnesse of the greene leaues, but in the flower, which standing many together on a reasonable high stalke, and being very small and yellow, scarce opening themselues or layde abroade as it, hath a greene huske vnder each flower, but diuided into sixe seuerall small long peeces.

16. Paralysis flore fatuo. The Franticke, or Foolish Cowslip: Or Iacke an apes on horse backe.

Wee haue in our gardens another kinde, not much differing in leaues from the former Cowslip, and is called Fantasticke or Foolish, because it beareth at the toppe of the stalke a bush or tuft of small long greene leaues, with some yellow leaues, as it were peeces of flowers broken, and standing among the greene leaues. And sometimes some stalkes among those greene leaues at the toppe (which are a little larger then when it hath but broken peeces of flowers) doe carry whole flowers in huskes like the single kinde.

17. Paralysis minor flore rubro. Red Birds eyes.

This little Cowslippe (which will hardly endure in our gardens, for all the care and industrie we can vse to keepe it) hath all the Winter long, and vntill the Spring begin to come on, his leaues so closed together, that it seemeth a small white head of leaues, which afterwards opening it selfe, spreadeth round vpon the ground, and hath small long and narrow leaues, snipt about the edges, of a pale greene colour on the vpperside, & very white or mealy vnderneath, among these leaues rise vp one or two stalks, small & hoary, halfe a foot high, bearing at the top a bush or tuft of much smaller flowers, standing vpon short foot stalkes, somewhat like vnto Cowslips, but more like vnto the Beares eares, of a fine reddish purple colour, in some deeper, in others paler, with a yellowish circle in the bottomes of the flowers, like vnto many of the Beares eares, of a faint or small sent: the seede is smaller than in any of the former kindes, and so are the rootes likewise, being small, white and threddy.

18. Paralysis minor flore albo. White Birds eyes.

This kinde differeth very little or nothing from the former, sauing that it seemeth a little larger both in leafe and flower, and that the flowers hereof are wholly white, without any great appearance of any circle in the bottome of them, vnlesse it be well obserued, or at least being nothing so conspicuous, as in the former.

These two kindes haue sometimes, but very seldome, from among the middle of the flowers on the stalke, sent out another small stalke, bearing flowers thereon likewise.

19. Paralysis hortensis flore pleno. Double Paigles or Cowslips.

The double Paigle or Cowslip hath smaller and darker greene leaues then the single kinde hath, and longer stalkes also whereon the leaues doe stand: it beareth diuers flowers vpon a stalke, but not so many as the single kinde, euery one whereof is of a deeper and fairer yellow colour then any of the former, standing not much aboue the brimmes of the huskes that hold them, consisting of two or three rowes of leaues set round together, which maketh it shew very thicke and double, of a prettie small sent, but not heady.

20. Paralysis flore viridante pleno. Double greene Cowslips.

This double greene Cowslip is so like vnto the single greene kinde formerly expressed, that vntill they be neare flowring, they can hardly be distinguished; but when it is in flower, it hath large double flowers, of the same yellowish greene colour with the single, and more laid open then the former double Paigle.

21. Paralysis flore viridante siue calamistrato. The greene Rose Cowslip, or double greene feathered Cowslip.

There is small difference in the leaues of this double kinde from the last, but that they are not of so darke a greene: the chiefest difference consisteth in the flowers, which are many, standing together at the toppes of the stalkes, but farre differing from all other of these kindes: for euery flower standing vpon his owne stalke, is composed of many very small and narrow leaues, without any huske to containe them, but spreading open like a little Rose, of a pale yellowish greene colour, and without any sent at all, abiding in flower, especially if it stand in a shadowie place out of the sunne, aboue two moneths, almost in as perfect beauty, as in the first weeke.