Of Spanish nut.

1 Sisyrinchium. Spanish Nut. <column-break/> 2 Iris Tuberosa. Veluet flower de-luce. <column-break/>

The description.

Spanish Nut hath small grassie leaues like those of the stars of Bethlehem or Ornithogalu, among which riseth vp a small stalke of halfe a foote high, garnished with the like leaues, but shorter. The flowers grow at the top, of a skie colour, in shape resembling the flower de-luce or common Iris: which being past, there succeede small cods with seeds, like those of Turneps. The roote is round, Bulbus or Onion fashion, couered with a skin or filme, in shape like a Net. The bulbe is sweete in taste, and may be eaten before any other Bulbed flowers. There is set foorth another of this kinde somwhat lesser, which may chance by the soile or climate, and yet the selfe same plant. Veluet flower de-luce hath many long square leaues, spungious or full of pith, trailing vpon the ground, in shape like to the leaues of rushes: among which riseth vp a stalke of a foote high, bearing at the top a flower like the flower de-luce. The lower leaues that turne downward, are of a perfect blacke colour, soft and smooth as is blacke veluet, the blacknes is welted about with greenish yellow, or as we terme, it a goose turde greene; of which colour the vppermost leaues do consist: which being past, there followeth a great knob or crested seede vessell of the bignes of a mans thombe, wherein is conteined round white seede, as big as the Fetch or Tare. The roote consisteth of many knobby bunches like fingers.

The place.

These bastard kinds of Flower de-luces, are strangers in England, except it be among some fewe diligent Herbarists in London, who haue them in their gardens where they increase exceedingly, especially the last described, which is said to grow wilde about Constantinople, Morea and Greece, from whence it hath been transported into Italy, where it hath beene taken for Hermodactylis, and by some exprest or set foorth in writing vnder the title Hermodactylis, whereas in truth it hath not any semblance at all with Hermodactylis.

The time.

These wilde or bastard Flower de-luces, do flower from Maie to the end of Iune.

The names.

1 The bulbed bastard Flower de-luce which we haue Englished Spanish Nut, is called in Spaine Nozella: the lesser sort Parua Nozella, in their owne toong Macuca: we take it to be that kinde of nourishing Bulbe which is named in Greeke σισυρίγχιον: of Pliny Sisinvrichium. 2 Pliny and Theophrastus contend whether this veluet Flower de-luce be the true Hermodactylis: The which controuersie I intende not to meddle withall, seeing the matter so plaine, which may be decided by the least and simplest Symplist in these our daies, considering it doth not agree with the true Hermodactylis in any one point.

The vertues.

Of these kinds of Flower de-luce there hath been little or nothing at all left in writing concerning their natures or vertues: onely the Spanish Nut is eaten at the tables of rich and delicious, naie vicious persons in sallads, or otherwise to procure lust and lecherie.