The Garden o/ * pi enfant Flowers. 







CHAP. XXIX. 



llfpatica nobilis fine trifolia. Noble Liucrwort. 



NExt vnto the Crowfeete are to follow the Hepaticas, becaufc of the likenefle 

 with them, feeming to be fmall Crowfeete in all their parts, but of another 

 and more wholfome kinde. Their diuerfity among themfelues confifteth 

 chiefly in the colour of the flowers, all of them being fmgle, except one which is very 

 t hi eke and double. 



i . Hepatica fare ceeruleo Jimplici maior. 

 The great (ingle blew Hepatica or noble Liuerwort. 



The flowers of this Hepatica doe fpring vp, blow open, and fometimes fhed and 

 fall away, before any leaues appeare or fpread open. The rootes are compofed of a 

 bulh of blackilh firings, from the feuerall heads or buttons whereof, after the flow- 

 ers are rifen and blowne, arife many frefh greene leaues, each feuerally Handing vpon 

 his foot-llalke, folded together, and fomewhat browne and hairy at their firft com- 

 ming, which after arc broad, and diuidcd at the edges into three parts: the flowers 

 likewife Hand euery one vpon his owne feuerall foote-flalke, of the fame height with 

 the leaues for the moll part, which is about foure or fiue fingers breadth high, made of 

 fix leaues moll vfually, but fometimes it will haue feuen or eight, of a faire blew co- 

 lour, with many white chiues or threads in the middle, Handing about a middle green 

 head or vrnbone, which after the flower is fallen groweth greater, and fheweth many 

 fmall graines or feede fet clofe together (with three fmall greene leaues compafling 

 them vnderneath, as they did the flower at the bottome) very like the head of feed of 

 manic Crowfeete. 



2. Hepatica minor fare pallido cccruleo. The fmall blew Hepatica. 



The leaues of this Hepatica are fmaller by the halfe then the former, and grow 

 more aboundantly, or burning thicke together : the flowers (when it fheweth them, 

 for I haue had the plant halfe a fcore yeares, and yet neuer faw it beare flower aboue 

 once or twice) are of a pale or bleake blew colour, not fo large as the flowers of the 

 former. 



3. Hepatica fare purpureo. Purple Hepatica or noble Liuerwort. 



This Hepatica is in all things like vnto the firft, but onely the flowers are of a 

 deeper blew tending to a Violet purple: and therefore I mall not neede to reiterate 

 the former defcription. 



4. Hepatica fiore albo minor. The lelTer white Hepatica. 



The flowers of this Hepatica are wholly white, of the bignefle of the red or purple, 

 and the leaues fomewhat fmaller, and of a little whiter or paler greene colour, elfe in 

 all other things agreeing with the former. 



5. Hepatica alba magno fare. The great white Hepatica. 



There is no other difference herein from the lall, but that the flower being as white, 

 is as large as the next. 



6. Hepatica albida fiue argentea. Alb-coloured or Argentine Hepatica. 



Both the leaues and the flowers of this Hepatica are larger then any of the former, 

 except the laft: the flowers hereof at the firft opening feeme to bee of a blufh afti-co- 

 lour, which doe fo abide three or foure dayes, decaying ftill vntill it turne almoft 



F 2 white, 



