Of Cloue Gilloflowers.
The kindes.
There are at this day vnder the name of Caryophyllus, comprehended diuers and sundrie sorts of plants, of such variable colours, and also seueral shapes, that a great and large volume would not suffice to write of euery one at large in particular; considering how infinite they are, and how euery yeere, euery climate and countrie bringeth foorth new sortes, such as haue not beene heretofore written of; some whereof are called Carnations, others Cloue Gilloflowers, some Sops in wine, some Pagians or Pagion colour, Horseflesh, blunket, purple, white, double and single Gilloflowers, as also a Gilloflower with yellow flowers. The which a worshipfull marchant of London Master Nicholas Lete, procured from Poland, and gaue me therof for my garden, which before that time was neuer seene nor heard of in these countries. Likewise there be sundrie sorts of Pinks, comprehended vnder the same title, which shall be described in a seuerall chapter. There be vnder the name of Gilloflowers also those flowers, which we do call Sweet Iohns, and Sweete Williams. And first of the great Carnation and Cloue Gilloflower. 1 Caryophyllus maximus multiplex. The great double Carnation. <column-break/> 2 Caryophyllus multiplex. The double Cloue Gilloflower.
The description.
1 The great Carnation Gilloflower hath a thicke wooddie roote, from which rifeth vp many ftrong iointed ftalks, fet with long greene leaues by couples: on the top of the ftalkes do growe very faire flowers of an excellent fweete fmell, and pleafant Carnation colour, whereof it tooke his name. 2 The Cloue Gilloflower differeth not from the Carnation, but in greatnes as well of the flowers as leaues. The flower is exceeding well knowen, as alfo the Pinks and other Gilloflowers, wherefore I will not ftand long vpon the defcription.
The place.
Thefe Gilloflowers, efpecially the Carnations, are kept in pots from the extremitie of our colde winters. The Cloue Gilloflower endureth better the cold, and therefore is planted in gardens.
The time.
They flourifh and flower moft part of the fommer.
The names.
The Cloue Gilloflower is called of the later Herbarifts Caryophyllus flos, of the fmell of Cloues, wherewith it is poffeffed: in Italian Garofoli: in Spanifh Clauel: in French Oeillets: in low Dutch Ginoffelbloemen: in Latine of moft Ocellus Damascenus, Ocellus Barbaricus, and Barbarica: in Englifh Carnations, and Cloue Gilloflowers. Of fome it is called Vetonica, and Herba Tunica. The which Bernardus Gordonius hath fet downe for Dioscorides his Polemonie. That woorthie Herbarift and learned phyfition of late memorie, Mafter Doctor Turner, maketh Caryophyllus to be Cantabrica, which Plinie in his 23. booke 8. chapter, writeth to haue been found out in Spaine about Augustus time, and that by thofe of Bifcay. Iohannes Ruellius thought, that the Gilloflower was vnknowen to the olde writers, whofe iudgement is very good, efpecially bicaufe this flower is not like to that of Vetonica, or Cantabrica. It is maruell, faith he, that fuch a famous flower, fo pleafant and fweete, fhould lie hid, and not be made knowen by the olde writers, which may be thought not inferior to the Rofe in beautie, fmell and varietie.
The temperature.
The Gilloflower, with the leaues and rootes for the moft part are temperate in heat and drineffe.
The vertues.
The Conferue made of the flowers of the Cloue Gilloflower and fugar, is exceeding cordiall, and woonderfully aboue meafure doth comfort the hart, being eaten now and then. It preuaileth againft hot peftilentiall feuers, expelleth the poifon and furie of the difeafe, and greatly comforteth the ficke, as hath of late been found out by a learned gentleman of Lee in Effex, called Mafter Rich.
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.