14.0 'The Garden of pleafant Flowers. 



i . Qrnithogalum album vnifolium. The white ftarre-flower with one blade. 



This little ftarre-flower I bring into this place, as the fitteft in my opinion where to 

 place it, vntill my minde change to alter it. It hath a very fmall round white roote, 

 from whence fpringeth vp one very long and round greene leafe, like vnto a rum, but 

 that for about two or three inches aboue the ground, it is a little flat, and from thence 

 fpringeth forth a fmall ftalke not aboue three or foure inches high, bearing at the top 

 thereof three or foure fmall white flowers, confifting of fix leaues a peece, within 

 which are fix white chiues, tipt with yellow pendents, ftanding about a fmall three 

 fquare head, that hath a white pointell fticking as it were in the middle thereof: the 

 flower is pretty and fweete, but not heady. 



Ornithogalum luteum. The yellow Starre of Bethlehem. 



This yellow Starre-flower rifeth vp at the firft, with one long, round, greenifh leafe, 

 which openeth it felfe fomewhat aboue the ground, and giueth out another fmall 

 leafe, lefler and fhorter then the firft, and afterward the ftalke rifeth from thence alfo, 

 being foure or fiue inches high, bearing at the toppe three or foure fmall green leaues, 

 and among them foure or fiue fmall yellow ftarre-like flowers, with a greenifh line or 

 ftreake downe the backe of euery leafe, and fome fmall reddifh yellow threeds in the 

 middle : it feldome giueth feede : the roote is round, whitifh, and fomewhat cleare, 

 very apt to perifh, if it bee any little while kept dry out of the ground, as I haue twice 

 tryed to my lofle. 



The Place. 



The firft grew in Portugall, and Clufius firft of all others defciphers it. 

 The other is found in many places both of Germany and Hungary, in the 

 moifter grounds. 



The Time. 

 The firft flowreth in May: the other in Aprill, and fometimes in March. 



The Names. 



Carolus Clufius calleth the firft Bulbus vnifolitts, or Bolbine, but referreth 

 it not to the ftocke or kindred of any plant ; but (as you fee) I haue ranked it 

 with the fmall forts of Ornithogalum, and giue it the name accordingly. 



The other is referred for likenefle of forme, and not for colour, vnto the 

 Ornithogala, or Starres of Bethlehem. It is called by Tragus and Fuchfius 

 Bulbus Jilueftris, becaufe of the obuioufnefTe. Cordus taketh it to be Sifyrin- 

 chium. Lacuna calleth it Bulbus efculentus. Lobel and others in thefe dayes 

 generally, Ornithogalum luteum, and wee thereafter in Englilh, The yellow 

 Starre-flower, or Starre of Bethlehem. 



The Vertues. 



The firft kinde being but lately found out, is not knowne to be vied. The 

 rootes of the common or vulgar, are (as Matthiolus faith) much eaten by 

 poore people in Italy, either rawe or roafted, being fweeter in tafte then 

 any Cheftnut, and feruing as well for a neceflary food as for delight. It is 

 doubtfull whether any of the reft may be fo vfed ; for I know not any in our 

 Land hath made any experience. 



There are many other forts of Starre-flowers, which are fitter for a generall then 

 this Hiftory ; and therefore I referre them thereunto. 



CHAP. 



