The Garden of pleafant Flowers. 





uing on the backe of euery of the three outer leaues, three faire and great (tripes, of a 

 faire dccpe purple colour, with fome fmall lines at the fides or edges of thofe pur- 

 ple (tripes; on the infide of thefe flowers, there is no figne or (hew of any line or 

 fpot, hut wholly of a faire gold yellow, with chiues and a fethertopt pointell in the 

 middle : the ("cede hereof is like the former, but not fo red : the roote of this kinde is 

 i-alily knowne from the roote of any other Saffron flower, becaufe the outer peelings 

 or Ihcls being hard, are as it were netted on the outlide, hauing certaine ribbes, rifing 

 vp higher then the relt of the skinnes, diuided in the forme of a net-worke, of a darke 

 browne colour, and is fmaller and rounder then the former yellow, and not cncreafmg 

 fo plentifully by the roote. 



25. Crocus vernus lutcus ver/icolor alter. 

 The fecond cloth of gold, or Duke Crocus. 



There is no difference either in roote, leafe, or colour of flower, or time of flowring 

 in this fort from the lart before mentioned ; for the flower of this is of the fame big- 

 nefle and colour, the only note of difference is in the marking of the three outer leaues, 

 which haue not three (tripes like the former, but are wholly of the fame deepe purple 

 colour on the backe of them, fauing that the edges of them are yellow, which is the 

 forme of a Duke Tulipa, and from thence it tooke the name of a Duke Crocus. 



26. Crocus vernus ver/ico/or pallideluteus. The pale cloth of gold Crocus. 



We haue a third fort of this kinde of cloth of gold Crocus, which hath leaues and 

 flowers like the former, but differeth in this, that the colour of the flower is of a paler 

 yellow by much, but Itript in the fame manner as the firft, but with a fainter purple 

 colour : the roote alfo is netted like them, to (hew that this is but a variation of the 

 fame kinde. 



27. Crocus ixrnus verjicolor albidoluteus. The cloth of liluer Crocus. 



The chiefelt note of difference in this Saffron flower is, that being as large a flower 

 as any of the former of this kinde, it is of fo pale a yellowifh white, that it is more 

 white then yellow, which fome doe call a butter colour: the three outer leaues are 

 Itriped on the backe of them, with a paler purple blew fhining colour, the bottome of 

 the flower, and the vpper part of the ftalke, being of the fame purple blew colour : the 

 roote of this is alfo netted as the other, to (hew it is a variety of the fame kinde. 



And thus much for thofe Saffron flowers that come in the Spring time; now to 

 thofe that flower in Autumne onely : and firft of the true Saffron. 



i . Crocus verus fatfaus Autumnalis. The true Saffron. 



The true Saffron that is vfed in meates and medicines, fhooteth out his narrow long 

 greene leaues firft, and after a while the flowers in the middle of them appeare about 

 the end of Augurt, in September and October, according to the foile, and climate 

 where they growe ; thefe flowers are as large as any of the other former or later forts, 

 compofed of (ix leaues a peece, of a murrey or reddifh purple colour, hauing a (hew 

 of blew in them: in the middle of thefe flowers there are fome fmall yellow chiues 

 (tanding vpright, which are as vnprofitable, as the chiues in any other of the wilde 

 Saffrons, before or hereafter fpecined ; but befides thefe, each flower hath two, three, 

 or foure greater and longer chiues, hanging downe vpon or betweene the leaues, 

 which are of a fierie red colour, and are the true blades of Saffron, which are vied phy- 

 fically or otherwife, and no other : All thefe blades being pickt from the feuerall flow- 

 ers, are laid and prefled together into cakes, and afterwards dryed very warily on a 

 Kill to preferue them ; as they are to be feene in the (hops where they are fold. I neuer 

 heard that euer it gaue feede with any : the roote groweth often to be as great, or grea- 

 ter then a green Wall Nut, with the outer (hell on it, couered with a grayifh or afh-co- 

 loured skin, which breaketh into long haire threeds, otherwife then in any other roote 

 of Crocus. 2 . Crocus 



