Of the Persian Lillie.
The description.
The Persian Lilly hath for his roote a great white bulbe, differing in shape from the other Lillies, hauing one great bulbe firme or solide, full of iuice, which commonlie ech yeere setteth off or encreaseth one other bulbe, and somtime more; which the next yeere after is taken from the mother roote, and so bringeth foorth such flowers as the old plant did: from this roote riseth vp a fat, thicke, & straight stem, of two cubits high, whereupon is placed long narrow leaues of a green colour, declining to blewnesse as doth those of woade. The flowers growe alongst the naked part of the stalke, like little bels, of an ouerworne purple colour, hanging downe their heads, euerie one hauing his owne foote stalke of two inches long, as also his pointell or clapper from the middle part of the flower; which being past and withered, there is not found any seede at all, as in other plants, but is increased onely in his roote.
The place.
This Persian Lillie groweth naturally in Persia and those places adiacent, whereof it tooke his name, and is nowe made by the industrie of trauailers into those countries, louers of plants, a denizon in some fewe of our London gardens.
The time.
This plant flowreth from the beginning of Maie, to the end of Iune.
The names.
This Persian Lillie is called in Latin Lilium Persicum, Lilium Susianum, Pennaciò Persiano, and Pannaco Persiano, either by the Turks themselues, or by such as out of those parts brought them into England, but which of both is vncertaine. Alphonsus at his being in Constantinople sent this plant vnto Carolus Clusius with this title, Pennacio Persiano è Pianta bellissima & è specie di Giglio ó Martagon, diuerso della corona Imperiale: that is in English, This most elegant plant Pennaco of Persia is a kinde of Lillie or Martagon, differing from the flower called the crowne Imperiall.
The vertues.
There is not any thing knowne of the nature or vertues of this Persian Lillie, esteemed as yet for his rarenes and comely proportion: although if I might be so bold with a stranger that hath vouchsafed to trauell so many hundreds of miles for our acquaintance; we haue in our English fields manie scores of flowers in beautie far excelling it.
Text in Gerard's own spelling (the long s is printed as s), transcribed by the Source Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). A chapter may run onto pages not yet transcribed. Gerard wrote within Galenic medicine; nothing here is advice.