There are two other kindes of Bell-flowers, much differing from the Tribe or Familie of the former, because of their climbing or winding qualitie, which I must needes place next them, for the likenesse of the flowers, although otherwise they might haue beene placed with the other clamberers that follow. Of these there is a greater, and a lesser, and of each likewise some difference, as shall be declared.
This goodly plant riseth vp with many long and winding branches, whereby it climbeth and windeth vpon any poles, herbes, or trees, that stand neare it within a great compasse, alwaies winding it selfe contrary to the course of the Sunne: on these branches doe growe many faire great round leaues, and pointed at the end, like vnto a Violet leafe in shape, but much greater, of a sad greene colour: at the ioynts of the branches, where the leaues are set, come forth flowers on pretty long stalkes, two or three together at a place, which are long, and pointed almost like a finger, while they are buds, and not blowne open, and of a pale whitish blew colour, but being blowne open, are great and large bels, with broad open mouths or brims ending in fine corners, and small at the bottome, standing in small greene huskes of fine leaues: these flowers are of a very deepe azure or blew colour, tending to a purple, very glorious to behold, opening for the most part in the euening, abiding so all the night and the next morning, vntill the Sunne begin to growe somewhat hot vpon them, and then doe close, neuer opening more: the plant carrieth so many flowers, if it stand in a warme place, that it will be replenished plentifully, vntill the cold ayres and euenings stay the luxury thereof: after the flowers are past, the stalkes whereon the flowers did stand, bend downwards, and beare within the huskes three or foure blacke seedes, of the bignesse of a Tare or thereabouts: the rootes are stringy, and perish euery yeare.
The growing and forme of this Bindeweede or Bell-flower, is all one with the former, the chiefest differences consisting in the forme of the leafe, which in this is three cornered, like vnto an Iuie leafe with corners; and in the flower, which is of a deeper blew, tending more to a deepe purple Violet, and somewhat more reddish in the fiue plaites of each flower, as also in the bottomes of the flowers.
Although this rare plant (because wee seldome haue it, and can as hardly keepe it) be scarce knowne in these cold Countries, yet I could not but make mention of it, to incite those that haue conueniencie to keepe it, to be furnished of it. It springeth vp at the first from the seede with two leaues, with two long forked ends, which abide a long time before they perish, betweene which riseth vp the stalke or stemme, branching forth diuers waies, being of a brownish colour, which windeth it selfe as the former great Bell-flower doth, whereon are set at seuerall ioynts diuers winged leaues, that is to say, many small narrow and long leaues set on both sides of the middle ribbe, and one at the end: from these ioynts arise long stalkes, at the ends whereof stand two or three small, long, hollow flowers, fashioned very like vnto the flowers of a Bindeweede, or the flowers of Tabacco, and ending in the like manner in fiue points, but not so much laide open, being of a bright red colour, plaited as the Bindeweedes or Bell-flowers before they be open, with some few threads in the middle, which turne into long pointed cods, wherein is contained long and blacke seede, tasting hot like Pepper: the roote is small and stringy, perishing euery yeare, and with vs will seldome come to flower, because our cold nights and frosts come so soone, before it can haue comfort enough of the Sun to ripen it.
This small Bindeweede hath small long leaues, somewhat broader then the next that followeth, and not so broad as the common small Bindeweede (that groweth euery where wilde on the bankes of fields abroad) set vpon the small trayling branches, which growe aboue two or three foote high: from the middle of these branches, and so vnto the toppes of them, come forth the flowers at the ioynts with the leaues, folded together at the first into fiue plaites, which open into so many corners, of a most excellent faire skie coloured blew (so pleasant to behold, that often it amazeth the spectator) with white bottomes, and yellowish in the middle, which turne into small round white heads, wherein are contained small blackish cornered seede, somewhat like the former, but smaller: the roote is small and threddy, perishing as the former euery yeare: this neuer windeth it selfe about any thing, but leaneth by reason of the weaknesse of the branches, and dyeth euery yeare after seede time, and not to be sowne againe vntill the next Spring.
This small purple Bindeweede, where it naturally groweth, is rather a plague then a pleasure, to whatsoeuer groweth with it in the fields; yet the beauty of the flower hath caused it to be receiued into Gardens, bearing longer and smaller leaues then the last, and such like small Bell-flowers, but of a sad purple colour: the roote is liuing, as the common kinds are, and springeth againe where it hath been once sowne, without feare of perishing.
The first two greater kindes haue beene sent vs out of Italy, but whether they had them from the East Indies, or from some of the Easterne Countries on this side, wee know not: but they thriue reasonable well in our Country, if the yeare be any thing kindly. The next came out of America, as his name testifieth. The lesser blew kinde groweth naturally in many places both of Spaine and Portugall (from whence I first receiued seedes from Guillaume Boel, heretofore remembred.) The last groweth wilde in the fields, about Dunmowe in Essex, and in many other places of our owne Countrey likewise.
The three first greater kindes flower not vntill the end of August, or thereabouts, and the seede ripeneth in September, if the colds and frosts come not on too speedily. The lesser kindes flower in Iune and Iuly.
The first is called of some Campana Lazura, as the Italians doe call it, or Campana cærulea, of others Convolvulus cæruleus maior, siue Indicus, and Flos noctis. Of some Nil Auicennæ. The second, is called Convolvulus trifolius, or hederaceus, for the distinction of the leaues. In English wee call them eyther Great blew Bell flowers, or more vsually, Great blew Bindeweedes. That of America is diuersly called by diuers. It is called Quamoclit of the Indians, and by that name it was sent to Ioachinus Camerarius out of Italy, where it is so called still, as Fabius Columna setteth it downe, and as my selfe also can witnesse it, from thence being so sent vnto mee: but Andræas Cæsalpinus calleth it, Iasminum folio Millefolij, supposing it to be a Iasmine. Camerarius saith, it may not vnfitly be called Convolvulus tenuifolius, accounting it a kinde of Bindeweede. Columna entituleth it Convolvulus pennatus exoticus rarior, and saith it cannot bee referred to any other kinde of plant then to the Bindeweede. Hee that published the Curæ posteriores of Clusius, giueth it the name of Iasminum Americanum, which I would doe also, if I thought it might belong to that Family; but seeing the face and forme of the plant better agreeing with the Bindeweedes or Bell-flowers, I haue (as you see) inserted it among them, and giuen it that name may bee most fit for it, especially because it is but an annuall plant. The lesser kindes haue their names sufficiently expressed in their titles.
We know of no vse these haue in Physicke with vs, although if the first be Nil of Auicen, both he and Serapio say it purgeth strongly.