SAFFRON. 187 



adds, " All these wilde saffrons we haue 

 growing in our London gardens: Those 

 which do flower in autumne, do grow vpon 

 certain craggy rocks in Portingale, not far 

 from the sea-side. The other haue beene 

 sent ouer vnto vs, some out of Italy, and 

 some out of Spaine, by the labour and dili- 

 gence of that notable learned herbarist, Ca- 

 rolus Clusius. That plesant plant that 

 bringeth foorth yellow flowers, was sent vn- 

 £o me from Robinus of Paris, that painful 

 and most curious searcher of simples." 



The common meadow saffron, Colchicum 

 autumnale (of the Hexandria Trigynia class) is 

 a native of England, " It groweth", says Ge- 

 rard, " in great abundance, in fat and fertill 

 medowes, as about Vilford and Bathe, as 

 also in the medowes neere to a small village 

 in the west part of England called Shep- 

 ton Mallet, in the medowes about Bristow, 

 and likewise in great plentie in Nobottle 

 wood, two miles from the towne of North- 

 ampton, and many other places." This na- 

 tive plant deserves particular attention, from 

 the singular manner by which its seeds are 

 matured and brought forth, and Which will 

 be noticed in its proper place. 



This plant is remarkable for sending forth 



