Of Calathian Violet, or Autumne bell flower.

The description (la descripción).

Among the number of the base Gentians there is a small plant, which is late before it commeth vp, hauing stalks a span high, and sometimes higher, narrowe leaues like vnto Time, set by couples about the stalkes by certaine distances: long hollowe flowers growing at the top of the stalkes, like a cup called a Beaker, wide at the top, and narrower towarde the bottome, of a deepe blewe colour tending to purple, with certaine white threds or chiues in the bottome: the flower at the mouth or brim is fiue cornered before it be opened, but when it is opened it appeereth with fiue cliftes or pleates. The whole plant is of a bitter taste, which plainly sheweth it to be a kinde of wilde Gentian. The roote is small, and perisheth when it hath perfected his seede, and recouereth it selfe by falling of the same ¶ The place. It is founde sometimes in meadowes, often-times in untilled places. It groweth vpon Long-fielde downes in Kent, neere vnto a village called Longfielde by Grauesende; vpon the chalkie cliffes neere Greene-Hythe & Cobham in Kent, and many other places. It likewise groweth as you ride from Sugar loafe hill vnto Bathe, in the west countrey. ¶ The time. The gallant flowers hereof be in their brauerie about the end of August, and in September. ¶ The names. There is great ambiguitie in the words of Plinie and Ruellius, which I do not intende to repeat, bicause they do rather confounde the memorie, then bring any profite to the Reader. They compare the yellow Marigold, with the blew or azured Calathian Violet, which are no more like, then things that are most vnlike. Notwithstanding, for the better satisfying of the curious Reader, I shall deliuer vnto you the wordes of Ruellius. Calathian Violet is the gift of Autumne: the other Violets are of the spring: it hath, saith he, (and that truely) a little leafe, not vnlike to that of the small stocke gilloflower altogither without smell. The flower is like a little bell cuppe, growing onely in Autumne, of so beautifull a colour, that it passeth the very blewe it selfe. By which words we may gather, it can be no kinde of yellowe Marigolde as Pliny woulde haue it. It is called Viola Autumnalis, or Autumne Violet, and seemeth to be the same that Valerius Cordus doth call Pneumonanthe, which he saith is named in the Germain toong Lungen blumen, or Lung flower: in English Autumne bell flowers; Calathian violets, and of some Haruest bels. ¶ The temperature. This wilde Felwoort or Violet, is in temperature hot, somewhat like in facultie to Gentian, wherof it is a kinde, but farre weaker in operation. ¶ The vertues. The latter Phisitions hold it to be effectuall against pestilent diseases, and the bitings and stingings of venemous beasts.