174 The Garden of p leaf ant Flowers. 



5. Iris bulbofa maior Jiue latifolia alba. 

 The great white bulbous Flowerdeluce. 



The great white bulbous Flowerdeluce, rifeth not vp fo early out of the ground as 

 the blew or purple doth, but about a moneth or more after, whofe leaues are fome- 

 what larger, and broader then of the others : the ftalke is thicker and fhorter, bea- 

 ring vfually two very large and great flowers, one flowring a little before the other, 

 yet oftentimes both in flower together in the end, of a bleake blewifh white colour, 

 which wee call a filuer colour, while they are in the budde, and before they be blowne 

 open, but then of a purer white, yet with an eye or fhew of that filuer colour remai- 

 ning in them, the three falling leaues being very large, and hauing that yellow fpot in 

 the middle of each of them : the feedes are likewife inclofed in heads, like vnto the 

 blew or purple kindes, but larger, and are of a reddifh yellow colour like them : the 

 roote likewife is not differing, but greater. 



6. Iris bulbofa maior alba variegata. 

 The great white ftript bulbous Flowerdeluce. 



This white ftript Flowerdeluce, is in roote, leafe, and flower, and in manner of 

 growing, like vnto the former white Flowerdeluce; the onely difference is in the 

 marking of the flower, being diuers from it : for this hath in the white flower great 

 veines, ftripes, or markes, of a Violet blew colour, difperfed through the leaues of the 

 flower very variably, which addeth a fuperexcellent beauty to the flower. 



7. Iris bulboja maior fine latifolia verficolor. 

 The great party coloured bulbous Flowerdeluce. 



There is no difference in this from the former, but in the flower, which is of a whi- 

 tifh colour in the three falling leaues, hauing a circle of afh-colour about the yellow 

 fpot, the three rigged leaues being likewife whitifh, but ridged and edged with that 

 afh-colour, and the three vpright leaues of a pale blewifh white colour, with fome 

 veines therein of a blewifh purple. 



There hath beene brought vnto vs diuers rootes of thefe kindes, with the dryed 



farietai. flowers remaining on them, wherein there hath beene feene more varieties, then I can 



well remember to exprefTe, which variety it is very probable, hath rifen by the fowing 



of the feeds, as is truely obferued in the narrower leafed kinde of Flowerdeluce, in the 



Tulipa, and in fome other plants. 



Wee haue heard of one of this kinde of broad leafed Flowerdeluces, that fhould 

 Flore luteo. beare a yellow flower, in the like manner as is to be feene in the narrow leafed ones : 

 but I haue not feene any fuch, and therefore I dare report no further of it, vntill time 

 hath difcouered the truth or falfhood of the report. 



The Place. 



Lobelius is the firft reporter, that the blew Flowerdeluce or firft kinde 

 of thefe broad leafed Flowerdeluces, groweth naturally in the Weft parts 

 of England ; but I am in fome doubt of the truth of that report : for I ra- 

 ther thinke, that fome in their trauels through Spaine, or other parts 

 where it groweth, being delighted with the beauty of the flower, did 

 gather the rootes, and bring them ouer with them, and dwelling in fome 

 of the Weft parts of England, planted them, and there encreafing fo 

 plentifully as they doe, they were imparted to many, thereby in time 

 growing common in all Countrey folkes Gardens thereabouts. They 

 grow alfo, and all the other, and many more varieties, about Tho- 

 loufe, from whence Plantinianus Gaflanus both fent and brought vs 

 them, with many other bulbous rootes, and rare plants gathered there- 

 abouts. 



The 



