The Garden of pleafant Flowers. 



The Tiim-. 



Thefe flower in lune, ;ind fometimcs abide vnto luly, but vfually not fo 

 early as the former broad leat'ed kindcs, and arc foone fpoiled with wet in 

 their flowring. 



The Names. 



The fcucrall names, both in Latinc and Englifh, are fufficicnt for them as 

 they are fet downc ; for we know no better. 



The Vertues. 



There is not any thing extant or to be heard, that any of thefe kindes of 

 Flowerdeluces hath been vfed to any Phyficall purpofes, and feme onely 

 to decke vp the Gardens of the curious. 



And thus much for thefe forts of bulbous Flowerdeluces, and yet I doubt not, but 

 that there are many differences, which haue rifen by the fowing of the feede, as many 

 may obferue from their owne labours, for that euery yeare doth (hew forth fome va- 

 riety that is not feene before. And now I will conuert my difcourfe a while likewife, 

 to pafle through the feuerall rankes of the other kindes of tuberous rooted Flowerde- 

 luces, called Flagges. 



CHAP. XX. 

 Iris latifolia tuberofa. The Flagge or Flowerdeluce. 



THere are two principall kindes of tuberous or knobby rooted Flowerdeluces, 

 that is, the tall and the dwarfe, or the greater and the lefler ; the former called 

 Iris maior or latifolia, and the other Iris minor, or rather Chamaeiris ; and each of 

 thefe haue their lefler or narrow leafed kindes to bee comprehended vnder them : Of 

 all which in their order. And firft of that Flowerdeluce, which for his excellent beau- 

 tie and raritie, deferueth the firft place. 



Iris Chalccdonica Jiuc ^njiana maior. The great Turkic Flowerdeluce. 



The great Turkic Flowerdeluce, hath diuers heads of long and broad frefli greene 

 leaues, yet not fo broad as many other of thofe that follow, one folded within ano- 

 ther at the bottome, as all other of thefe Flowerdeluces are : from the middle of fome 

 one of thofe heads (for euery head of leaues beareth not a flower) rifeth vp a round 

 ftiffe ftalke, two foote high, at the toppe whereof ftandeth one flower (for I neuer ob- 

 ferued it to beare two) the largell almoft, but rareft of all the reft, confifting of nine 

 leaues, like the others that follow, but of the colour almoft of a Snakes skinne, it is fo 

 diuerfly fpotted ; for the three lower falling leaues are very large, of a deepe or darke 

 purple colour, almoft blacke, full of grayilh fpots, ftrakes, and lines through the whole 

 leaues, with a blacke thrume or freeze in the middle of each of them : the three arched 

 leaues that couer them, are of the fame darke purple colour, yet a little paler at the 

 fides, the three vpper leaues are very large alfo, and of the fame colour with the lower 

 leaues, but a little more liuely and frefh, being fpeckled and ftraked with whiter fpots 

 and lines; which leaues being laid in water, will colour the water into a Violet colour, 

 but if a little Allome be put therein, and then wrung or prefled, and the iuice of thefe 

 leaues dryed in the (hadow, will giue a colour almoft as deepe as Indico, and may 

 ferue for fhawdowes in limming excellent well : the flower hath no fent that can be per- 

 ceiued, but is onely commendable for the beauty and rarity thereof: it feldome bea- 

 reth feedes in thefe cold Countries, but when it doth, it is contained in great heads, 



being 



