Next vnto the Crowfeete are to follow the Hepaticas, because of the likenesse with them, seeming to be small Crowfeete in all their parts, but of another and more wholsome kinde. Their diuersity among themselues consisteth chiefly in the colour of the flowers, all of them being single, except one which is very thicke and double.
The flowers of this Hepatica doe spring vp, blow open, and sometimes shed and fall away, before any leaues appeare or spread open. The rootes are composed of a bush of blackish things, from the seuerall heads or buttons whereof, after the flowers are risen and blowne, arise many fresh greene leaues, each seuerally standing vpon his foot-stalke, folded together, and somewhat browne and hairy at their first comming, which after are broad, and diuided at the edges into three parts: the flowers likewise stand euery one vpon his owne seuerall foote-stalke, of the same height with the leaues for the most part, which is about foure or fiue fingers breadth high, made of six leaues most vsually, but sometimes it will haue seuen or eight, of a faire blew colour, with many white chiues or threads in the middle, standing about a middle green head or vmbone, which after the flower is fallen groweth greater, and sheweth many small graines or seede set close together (with three small greene leaues compassing them vnderneath, as they did the flower at the bottome) very like the head of seed of manie Crowfeete.
The leaues of this Hepatica are smaller by the halfe then the former, and grow more aboundantly, or bushing thicke together: the flowers (when it sheweth them, for I haue had the plant halfe a score yeares, and yet neuer saw it beare flower aboue once or twice) are of a pale or bleake blew colour, not so large as the flowers of the former.
This Hepatica is in all things like vnto the first, but onely the flowers are of a deeper blew tending to a Violet purple: and therefore I shall not neede to reiterate the former description.
The flowers of this Hepatica are wholly white, of the bignesse of the red or purple, and the leaues somewhat smaller, and of a little whiter of paler greene colour, else in all other things agreeing with the former.
There is no other difference herein from the last, but that the flower being as white, is as large as the next.
Both the leaues and the flowers of this Hepatica are larger then any of the former, except the last: the flowers hereof at the first opening seeme to bee of a blush ash-colour, which doe so abide three or foure dayes, decaying still vntill it turne almost white, hauing yet still a shew of that blush ash-colour in them, till the very last.
There is no difference between this Hepatica and the first white one, sauing that the threads in the middle of the flower, being white, as in the former, are tipt at the ends with a pale reddish colour, which adde a great beauty to the flowers.
The leaues of this Hepatica are of a little browner red colour, both at their first comming vp, and afterwards, especially in the middle of the leafe more then any of the former: the flowers are in forme like vnto the rest, but of a bright blush, or pale red colour, very pleasant to behold, with white threads or chiues in the middle of them.
The double Hepatica is in all things like vnto the single purple kinde, sauing onely that the leaues are larger, and stand vpon longer foote-stalkes, and that the flowers are small buttons, but very thicke of leaues, and as double as a flower can be, like vnto the double white Crowfoote before described, but not so bigge, of a deepe blew or purple colour, without any threads or head in the middle, which fall away without giuing any seede.
In the colour of this flower, consisteth the chiefest difference from the last, except one may say it is a little lesse in the bignesse of the flower, but not in doublenesse of leaues.
All these plants with single flowers grow naturally in the Woods, and shadowie Mountaines of Germany in many places, and some of them in Italy also. The double kinde likewise hath been sent from Alphonsus Pantius out of Italy, as Clusius reporteth, and was also found in the Woods, neare the Castle of Starnbeg in Austria, the Lady Heusenstains possession, as the same Clusius reporteth also.
These plants doe flower very early, and are of the first flowers that shew themselues presently after the deepe frosts in Ianuary, so that next vnto the Winter Wolfesbane, these making their pride appeare in Winter, are the more welcome early guests. The double kinde flowreth not altogether so early, but sheweth his flower, and abideth when the others are past.
They haue obtained diuers names; some calling them Hepatica, Hepatica nobilis, Hepaticum trifolium, Trifolium nobile, Trifolium aureum, and some Trinitas, and Herba Trinitatis. In English you may call them either Hepatica, after the Latine name, as most doe, or Noble Liuerwort, which you please.
These are thought to coole and strengthen the liuer, the name importing as much; but I neuer saw any great vse of them by any the Physitians of our London Colledge, or effect by them that haue vsed them in Physicke in our Country.
| 1 | Hepatica flore albo amplo simplici. The large white Hepatica. |
| 2 | Hepatica flore rubro simplici. The red Hepatica. |
| 3 | Hepatica flore purpureo pleno. The double purple Hepatica. |
| 4 | Geranium tuberosum. Knobbed Cranes bill. |
| 5 | Geranium Batrachoides flore albo vel cæruleo. The blew or white Crowfoote Cranes bill. |
| 6 | Geranium Hematodes. The red Rose Cranes bill. |
| 7 | Geranium Romanum striatum. The variable stript Cranes bill. |
| 8 | Geranium Creticum. Candy Cranes bill. |