1 68 The Garden of p leaf ant Flowers. 



2. Crocus Byzantinus arge nteu s. The filuer coloured Autumne Crocus. 



This Saffron flower fpringeth vp in Oftober, and feldome before, with three or 

 foure fhort greene leaues at the firft, but growing longer afterwards, and in the midft 

 of them, prefently after they haue appeared, one flower for the moft part, and fel- 

 dome two, confifting of fix leaues, the three outermoft whereof are fomewhat larger 

 then the other three within, and are of a pale bleake blew colour, almoft white, which 

 many call a filuer colour, the three innermoft being of a purer white, with fome yel- 

 low chiues in the middle, and a longer pointell ragged or fethered at the toppe : this 

 very feldome beareth feede, but when the yeare falleth out to bee very milde ; it is 

 fmall, round, and of a darke colour : the roote is pretty bigge, and rounder then any 

 other Crocus, without any flat bottome, and couered with a darke ruffet skinne. 



3. Crocus Pyrenceus purpureus. The purple mountaine Crocus. 



This purple Saffron flower of the Autumne, rifeth vp but with one flower vfually, 

 yet fometimes with two one after another, without any leaues at all, in September, or 

 fometimes in Auguft, ftanding vpon a longer foote-ftalke then any kinde of Saffron 

 flower, either of the Spring or Autumne, and is as large as the flower of the greateft 

 purple Saffron flower of the Spring, of a very deepe Violet purple colour, which de- 

 cayeth after it hath ftood blowne three or foure dayes, and becommeth more pale, 

 hauing in the middle fome yellow chiues, and a long fether topt pointell, branched, 

 and rifing fometimes aboue the edges of the flowers : about a moneth after the flowers 

 are part, and fometimes not vntill the firft of the Spring, there rifeth vp three or foure 

 long and broad greene leaues, with a white line in euery one of them, like vnto the 

 firft purple Vernall kindes, which abide vntill the end of May or lune : the roote is 

 fmall and white on the outfide, fo like vnto the roote of the leffer Vernall purple or 

 white Crocus, that it cannot be diftinguifhed, vntill about the end of Auguft, when it 

 doth begin to fhoot, and then by the early fhooting vp a long white fprout for flower, 

 it may be knowne. I neuer could obferue it to giue any feede, the Winter (as I thinke) 

 comming on it fo quickly after the flowring, being the caufe to hinder it. 



4. Crocus montanus Autumnalis. The Autumne mountaine Crocus. 



The mountaine Saffron flower fpringeth vp later then any of the former, and doth 

 not appeare vntill the middle or end of Oclober, when all the flowers of the former 

 are paft, appearing firft with three or foure fhort greene leaues, like vnto the Byzantine 

 Crocus, and afterwards the flowers betweene them, which are of a pale or bleake blew 

 tending to a purple, the foote-ftalkes of them being fo fhort, that they fcarce appeare 

 aboue ground at the firft, but after two or three dayes they grow a little higher : the 

 roote is very great and flat bottomed, couered with a grayifh duskie coate or skinne, 

 and encreafeth very little or feldome. 



The Place. 



The feuerall places of thefe Saffron flowers, are in part fet downe in their 

 titles; the others haue beene found out, fome in one Countrey, and fome 

 in another, as the fmall purple and white, and ftript white in Spaine : the 

 yellow in Mefia about Belgrade, the great purple in Italy ; and now by fuch 

 friends helpes as haue fent them, they profper as well in our Gardens, as in 

 their naturall places. Yet I muft giue you this to vnderftand, that fome of 

 thefe formerly exprefled, haue been raifed vp vnto vs by the fowing of their 

 feede. 



The Time. 



Their feuerall times are likewife exprefled in their defcriptions ; for fome 

 fhew forth their pleafant flowers in the Spring, wherein for the three firft 



moneths, 



