352 The Garden of p leaf ant Flowers. 



like vnto the feed of the Marian Violets, or Couentry bels : the roots are fmall and whi- 

 tifh, difperfing themfelues diuerfly in the ground, of as bitter a tafte almoft as the reft. 



4. Gentianella Verna. Small Gentian of the Spring. 



The fmall Gentian of the Spring hath diuers fmall hard greene leaues, lying vpon 

 the ground, as it were in heads or tufts, fomewhat broade below, and pointed at the 

 end, with fiue ribs or veines therein, as confpicuous as in the former Gentians, among 

 which rifeth vp a fmall fhort ftalke, with fome fmaller leaues thereon, at the toppe 

 whereof ftandeth one faire, large, hollow flower, made bell fafhion, with wide open 

 brimmes, ending in fiue corners or diuifions, of the moft excellent deepe blew colour 

 that can be feene in any flower, with fome white fpots in the bottome on the infide : 

 after the flower is part, there appeare long and round pods, wherein are contained 

 fmall blackifh feede : the rootes are fmall, long, pale yellow firings, which ihoot forth 

 here and there diuers heads of leaues, and thereby encreafe reafonable well, if it finde 

 a fit place, and ground to grow, or elfe will not be nourfed vp, with all the care and di- 

 ligence can be vfed : the whole plant is bitter, but not fo ftrong as the former. 



5. Gentiana Autumnalis Jiue Pneumonanthe. 

 Calathian Violet or Autumne Gentian. 



This Gentian that flowreth in Autumne, hath in fome places higher ftalkes then in 

 others, with many leaues thereon, fet by couples as in other Gentians, but long and 

 narrow, yet mewing the three ribbes or veines that are in each of them : the toppes of 

 the ftalkes are furnifhed euery one with a flower or two, of an excellent blew purple 

 colour, ending in fiue corners, and ftanding in long huskes : the rootes are fomewhat 

 great at the top, and fpreading into many fmall yellow firings, bitter as the reft are. 



6. Saponaria fore duplici. Double flowred Sopeworte. 



Vnto thefe kindes of Gentians, I muft needes adde thefe following plants, for that 

 the former is of fome neere refemblance in leafe with fome of the former. And be- 

 caufe the ordinary Sopeworte or Bruifeworte with fingle flowers is often planted in 

 Gardens, and the flowers ferue to decke both the garden and the houfe ; I may vnder 

 the one defcribe them both : for this with double flowers is farre more rare, and of 

 greater beautie. It hath many long and flender round ftalkes, fcarce able to fuftaine 

 themfelues, and ftand vpright, being ful of ioynts and ribbed leaues at them, euery one 

 fomewhat like a fmall Gentian or Plantane leafe : at the toppes of the ftalkes ftand 

 many flowers, confifting of two or three rowes of leaues, of a whitifh or pale purple 

 colour, and of a ftrong fweet fent, fomewhat like the fmell of lafmin flowers, ftanding 

 in long and thicke pale greene huskes, which fall away without giuing any feede, as 

 moft other double flowers doe that encreafe by the roote, which fpreadeth within the 

 ground, and rifeth vp in fundry diftant places like the fingle. 



7. Plantago Rofea. Rofe Plantane. 



This other plant is in all things like vnto the ordinary Plantane or Ribworte, that 

 groweth wilde abroade in many places, whofe leaues are very large : but inftead of 

 the long flender fpike, or eare that the ordinary hath, this hath eyther a thicke long 

 fpike of fmall greene leaues vpon fhort ftalkes, or elfe a number of fuch fmall greene 

 leaues layd round-wife like vnto a Rofe, and fometimes both thefe may be feene vpon 

 one and the fame roote, at one and the fame time, which abide a great while frefh vpon 

 the roote, and fometimes alfo giueth feede, efpecially from the more long and flender 

 fpikes. 



The Place. 



Some of thefe Gentians grow on the toppes of hils, and fome on the fides 

 and foote of them in Germany and other Countreyes : fome of them alfo 

 vpon barren heaths in thofe places, as alfo in our owne Countrey, efpecial- 



