We haue but one sort of true Iasmine ordinarily in our Gardens throughout the whole Land; but there is another greater sort, which is farre more tender, brought out of Spaine, and will hardly endure any long time with vs, vnlesse it be very carefully preserued. Wee haue a third kinde called a yellow Iasmine, but differeth much from their tribe in many notable points: but because the flowers haue some likenesse with the flowers of the true Iasmine, it hath been vsually called a Iasmine; and therefore I am content for this Garden to conioyne them in one Chapter.
The white Iasmine hath many twiggy flexible greene branches, comming forth of the sundry bigger boughes or stems, that rise from the roote, which are couered with a grayish darke coloured barke, hauing a white pith within it like the Elder, but not so much: the winged leaues stand alwaies two together at the ioynts, being made of manie small and pointed leaues, set on each side of a middle ribbe, six most vsually on both sides, with one at the end, which is larger, more pointed then any of the rest, and of a darke greene colour: at the toppes of the young branches stand diuers flowers together, as it were in an vmbell or tuft, each whereof standeth on a long greene stalke, comming out of a small huske, being small, long, and hollow belowe, opening into fiue white small, pointed leaues, of a very strong sweete smell, which fall away without bearing any fruit at all, that euer I could learne in our Country; but in the hot Countries where it is naturall, it is said to beare flat fruit, like Lupines: the rootes spread farre and deepe, and are long and hard to growe, vntill they haue taken strong hold in the ground.
This Catalonia Iasmine groweth lower then the former, neuer rising halfe so high, and hath slender long greene branches, rising from the toppe of the wooddy stemme, with such like leaues set on them as the former, but somewhat shorter and larger: the flowers also are like vnto the former, and stand in the same manner at the end of the branches, but are much larger, being of a blush colour before they are blowne, and white with blush edges when they are open, exceeding sweete of smell, more strong then the former.
This that is called the yellow Iasmine, hath many long slender twiggy branches rising from the roote, greene at the first, and couered with a darke grayish barke afterwards, whereon are set at certaine distances, three small darke greene leaues together, the end leafe being alwaies the biggest: at the ioynts where the leaues come forth, stand long stalkes, bearing long hollow flowers, ending in fiue, and some in six leaues, very like vnto the flowers of the first Iasmine, but yellow, whereupon it is vsually called the Yellow Iasmine: after the flowers are past, there come in their places round blacke shining berries, of the bignesse of a great Pease, or bigger, full of a purplish iuyce, which will dye ones fingers that bruise them but a little: the roote is tough, and white, creeping farre about vnder the ground, shooting forth plentifully, whereby it greatly encreaseth.
The first is verily thought to haue been first brought to Spaine out of Syria, or thereabouts, and from Spaine to vs, and is to be seene very often, and in many of our Country Gardens. The second hath his breeding in Spaine also, but whether it be his originall place we know not, and is scarce yet made well acquainted with our English ayre. The third groweth plentifully about Mompelier, and will well abide in our London Gardens, and any where else.
The first flowreth not vntill the end of Iuly. The second somewhat earlier. The third in Iuly also.
The first is generally called Iasminum album, and Gelseminum album: In English, The white Iasmine. The second hath his name in his title, as much as may be said of it. The third hath been taken of some to be a Cytisus, others iudge it to be Polemonium, but the truest name is Trifolium fruticans, although many call it Iasminum luteum: In English most vsually, The yellow Iasmine, for the reasons aforesaid; or else after the Latine name, Shrubbie Trefoile, or Make-bate.
The white Iasmines haue beene in all times accepted into outward medicines, eyther for the pleasure of the sweete sent, or profit of the warming properties. And is in these dayes onely vsed as an ornament in Gardens, or for sent of the flowers in the house, &c. The yellow Iasmine, although some haue adiudged it to be the Polemonium of Dioscorides, yet it is not vsed to those purposes by any that I know.