Of two fained pictures.

| | | |---|---| | 1 Bulbus bombicinus commentitius.False bumbaste Iacint. | 2 Tigridis flos.The flower of Tigris. |

The description.

I Haue thought it conuenient to conclude this historie of the Hyacinthes with these two Bulbus plants, receiued by tradition from others, though generally holden for fained and adulterine. Their pictures I could willingly haue omitted in this historie, if the curious eie could else where haue found them drawn & described in our English toong: but bicause I finde them in none, I wil lay them down heere to the end that it may serue for excuse to others who shal com after, which list not to describe them, being as I said, condemned for fained and adulterine, nakedly drawen onely and called ἐριόφορος, by others Bulbus Bombicinus, and by som Commentitius. The description consisteth of these points, videl. The flowers (saith the author) are no lesse strange then wonderfull. The leaues & rootes are like to those of Hyacinthes, which hath caused it to occupie this place. The flowers resemble the Daffodils or Narcissus. The whole plant consisteth of a woollie or flockie matter: which description with the picture was sent vnto Dodonaeus by Iohannes Aicholzius. It may be that Aicholzius receiued instructions from the Indies of a plant called in Greeke τιγρίδης, which groweth in India, whereof Theophrastus and Athenaeus doe write in this maner, saying. The flower is like the Narcissus consisting of a flockie or woollie substance, which by him seemeth to be the discription of our bumbaste Iacint. 2 The second fained picture hath been taken of the discouerer, and others of later time, to be a kind of Dragons not seene of any that hath written thereof, which hath mooued them to thinke it a fained button, wherein is conteined blacke round feede. The roote is white, Bulbus or Onion fashion. 2 The second kinde of Daffodill agreeth with the precedent in euerie respect without difference, sauing that this Daffodill flowreth in the beginning of February, and the other not vntil Aprill, and is somewhat lesser. 3 The third kinde of Daffodil with the purple ring or circle in the middle, hath many smal narrow leaues, very flat, crookedly bending toward the top: among which riseth vp a slender bare stalke, at whose top doth grow a faire and pleasant flower, like vnto those before described, but lesser, and flowreth sooner, wherein consisteth the difference. 4 The fourth of these purple Daffodils is like vnto the last before described, but lesser, and doth bring foorth his pleasant flowers first of all the others, which maketh the difference. | 3 Narcissus medio purpureus præcocior. | 4 Narcissus medio purpureus præcocissimus. | | :--- | :--- | | More timely purple-ringed Daffodill. | The very hastie flowring Daffodill. | 5 This late flowring Daffodill hath many flat thicke leaues, full of iuice: among the which riseth a naked stalke, on the top whereof groweth a faire white flower, hauing in the middle a ringe or yellow circle. The seede groweth in knobby seede vessels. The roote is Bulbus or Onion fashion: it flowreth later than the others before described, that is to say in Aprill and May. 6 The sixt kinde of Daffodill is that sort of Narcissus or Primrose peerelesse, that is most common in our countrey gardens, generally knowne euery where. It hath long fat and thicke leaues, full of a slimie iuice: among which riseth vp a bare thicke stalke, hollow within and full of iuice. The flower groweth at the top, of a yellowish white colour, with a yellow crowne or circle in the middle: and flowreth in the month of Aprill, and somtimes sooner. The roote is Bulbus fashion. 5 Narcissus minor serotinus. The late flowring small Daffodill. 6 Narcissus medioluteus. Primrose peerles, or the common white Daffodill. 7 Narcissus medioluteus polyanthos. French Daffodill. 8 Narcissus Pisanus. Italian Daffodill. 7 The seuenth Daffodill hath many broad and thicke leaues, fat and full of iuice, hollow and spungious. The stalks, flowers and rootes are like the former, and differeth in that that this plant bringeth foorth many flowers vpon one stalke, and the other fewer; and not of so perfect a sweete smell, but more offensive and stuffing the head. It hath this addition Polyanthos, that is, of many flowers, wherein especially consisteth the difference. 8 The Italian Daffodill is very like the former, the which to distinguish in words that they may be knowne one from another, is impossible. Their flowers, leaues and rootes are like, sauing that the flowers of this are sweeter and mo in number. 9 Narcissus albus Polyanthos. The double white Daffodill of Constantinople. 10 Narcissus totus albus. Milke white Daffodill. 9 The double white Daffodill of Constantinople was sent into England vnto the right Honorable the Lord Treasurer, among other bulbed flowers: whose rootes when they were planted in our London gardens, did bring foorth beautifull flowers, very white and double, with some yellownes mixed in the middle leaues, pleasant and sweete in smell; but since that time we neuer could by any industrie or manuring bring them vnto flowring againe. So that it should appeere, when they were discharged of that birth or burden which they had begotten in their owne countrey, and not finding that matter, soile or climate to beget more flowers, they remaine euer since barren and fruitlesse. Besides we found by experience that those plants which in Autumne did shoote forth leaues, did bring foorth no flowers at all; and the others that appeered not vntill the spring, did flourish & beare their flowers. The stalks, leaues and rootes are like vnto the other kinds of Daffodill. It is called of the Turks Giul Catamer lale, that is Narcissus with double flowers. Notwithstanding we haue receiued from beyond the seas, as well from the lowe Countries, as also from Fraunce another sort of greater beautie, which from yeere to yeere doth yeeld foorth most pleasant double flowers, and great encrease of rootes, very like as well in stalks as other parts of the plant, vnto the other sorts of Daffodils. It differeth onely in the flowers which are very double and thicke thrust togither, as are the flowers of our double Primrose, hauing in the middle of the flower some fewe chiues or welts, of a bright purple colour, and the other mixed with yellow as aforesaid. 10 The milke white Daffodill differeth not from the common white Daffodill, or Primrose peerelesse, in leaues stalkes, rootes or flowers, sauing that the flowers of this plant hath not any other colour in the flower but white, whereas all the others are mixed with one colour or other. | 11 Narcissus Iuncifolius præcox. | 12 Narcissus Iuncifolius serotinus. | | :--- | :--- | | Rush Daffodill. | Late flowring Rush Daffodill. | 11 The rush Daffodill hath long narrow and thicke leaues, very smooth and flexible, almost round like rushes, whereof it tooke his surname Iuncifolius or Rushie. It springeth vp in the beginning of Ianuary, at which time also the flowers do shoote foorth their buds at the top of small rushie stalkes, somtimes two and often more vpon one stalke, made of sixe small yellow leaues. The cup or crowne in the middle is likewise yellow, in shape resembling the other Daffodils, but smaller, and of a strong smell sweete. The roote is bulbed, white within, and couered with a blacke skin or filme. 12 The twelth kinde of Narcissus is another sort of rush Daffodill, like vnto the precedent in ech respect, sauing that this is altogether lesser, and longer before it come to flowring. 13 The Persian Daffodill hath no stalke at all, but onely a small and tender foote stalke of an inch high, such as the Saffron flower hath: vpon which short and tender stalke doth stand a yellowish flower, consisting of sixe small leaues; of which the three inner most are narrower than those on the out side. In the middle of the flower doth grow foorth a long stile or pointell, set about with many small chiues or threds. The whole flower is of an vnpleasant smell, much like to Poppie. The leaues rise vp a little before the flower, long, smooth, and shining. The roote is Bulbed, thicke and grosse, blackish on the out side, and pale within, with some threds hanging at the lower part. 4 The Autumne Daffodill bringeth foorth long smooth glittering leaues, of a deepe greene colour: among which riseth vp a short stalke, bearing at the top one flower and no more, resembling the flowers of mead Saffron, or common Saffron, consisting of sixe leaues, of a bright shining yellow colour; in the middle whereof stand fixe threads or chiues, and also a pestell or clapper yellow likewise. The roote is thicke and grosse, like vnto the precedent. 13 Narcissus Persicus. The Persian Daffodill. 14 Narcissus Autumnalis maior. The great winter Daffodill. <column-break/> 15 Narcissus autumnalis minor. Small winter Daffodill. 15 Small winter Daffodill hath a bulbus roote, much like vnto the roote of rush Daffodill, but lesser: from the which riseth vp a naked stalke without leaues, on the top whereof groweth a small white flower with a yellow circle in the middle, sweete in smell, something stuffing the head, as doe the other Daffodils.

The place.

The Daffodils with purple coronets, do grow wilde in sundry places of Fraunce, chiefely in Burgundy and in Switzerland in medowes. The rush Daffodill groweth wilde in the waterie places of Spaine among grasse and other herbes. Dioscorides saith that they be especiallie found vpon mountaines. Theocritus affirmeth the Daffodils to growe in medowes in his 20. Eidyl. where he writeth that the goddesse Europa entring with hir Nymphs into the medowes, did gather the sweet smelling Daffodils in these verses. > But when the girles were come into > The medowes flowring all in sight, > That wench with these, this wench with those > Trim flowers, themselues did all delight: > She with the Narcisse good in sent, > And she with Hyacinths content. But it is not greatly to our purpose particularly to seeke out their places of growing wild, seeing that we haue them all, and euerie of them in our London gardens in great abundance. The common white Daffodill groweth wild in fields and sides of woodes in the west parts of England.

The time.

They flower for the most part in the spring, that is, from the beginning of Februarie vnto the end of Aprill. The Persian and winter Daffodils do flower in September and October.

The names.

Although their names be set foorth in their seuerall titles, which may serue for their appellations and distinctions: notwithstanding it shall not be impertinent to adde a supplie of names, as also the cause why they are so called. The Persian Daffodill is called in the Slavonian or Turkish toong, Zaremcada Persiana, and Zaremcatta, as for the most part all other sortes of Daffodils are. Notwithstanding the double flowred Daffodill, they name Giul catamer lale: which name they generally giue vnto all double flowers. The common white Daffodill with the yellow circle, they call Serin Cade, that is to say, the kings chalice, and Deue bohini, which is to say, Camels necke, or as we do say of a thing with long spindle shinnes, long shankes, vrging it from the long necke of the flower. The rush Daffodill is called of some Ionquillias, of the similitude the leaues haue with rushes: of Dioscorides Bulbus vomitorius, or vomiting Bulbe. Generally all the kindes are comprehended vnder this name Narcissus, called of the Grecians ναρκισσος: in Dutch Narcissen: in Spanish tennetten: in English Daffodilly, Daffodowndilly, & Primrose peerelesse. Plutarch in his booke of Feastes, sheweth that they are called Narcissus, as though they did benum the sinewes, and cause drowinesse or heauinesse, and therefore Sophocles nameth them the garland of the great infernall goddes, bicause they that are departed and dulled with death, should worthily be crowned with a dulling flower. Of the first and second Daffodill, Ouid hath made mention in the third booke of his Metamorphosis, where he describeth the transformation of the faire boie Narcissus into a flower of his owne name, saying: > Nusquam corpus erat, croceum pro corpore florem > Inueniunt, foliis medium cingentibus albis. > But as for bodie none remaind, instead whereof they found > A yellow flower, with milke white leaues, new sprong vpon the ground. Plinie and Plutarch affirme as partly hath beene touched before, that their narcoticke qualitie, was the verie cause of the name Narcissus, that is a qualitie causing sleepinesse, which in Greeke is called ναρκωσις: or of the fish Torpedo called in Greeke ναρκη, which benummeth the hands of them that touch him as being hurtfull to the sinewes, and bringing dulnesse to the head, which propertie belongeth to the Narcisses, whose smell causeth drowinesse.

The temperature.

The rootes of Narcissus are hot and drie in the second degree.

The vertues.

Galen saith, that the rootes of Narcissus haue such woonderful qualities in drying, that they confound and glue togither verie great wounds, yea and such rifts, gashes or cuts, as happen about the vaines, sinewes, and tendons. They haue also a certaine wiping, cleansing, and attracting facultie. The rootes of Narcissus stamped with honie and applied plaisterwise, helpeth them that are burnt with fire, and ioineth togither sinewes that are cut in sunder. Being vsed in maner aforesaid, it helpeth the great wrenches of the ankles, the aches and paines of the ioints. The same taken with honie and the seed of nettles, purgeth the disease which causeth spottines in the body, called Ephelis and Alphos, and sunne burning. The same stamped with barrowes grease, and leuen of rie bread, hasteneth to maturation hard impostumes, which are not easily brought to ripenesse. Being stamped with the meale of cockle and honie, it draweth foorth thornes and stubs out of any part of the bodie. The roote by the experiment of Apuleius, stamped and strained, and giuen in drinke, helpeth the cough and collicke, and those that be entered into a ptisicke. The rootes whether they be eaten or drunken, do moue vomit; and being mingled with vineger and nettle seed, taketh away lentiles and spots in the face.