The Garden of pleaf ant Flowers, 1 6 1 
their colours in the Autumne , among whom that Rex pomary (as i may focali it) the - 
tame or manured kinde, properly called ofthe Garden , is to be comprehended , for 
that it giueth his plcafant flowers at that time among others. Ilhall againediftribute 
thofe of the Spring time into three chiefe colours, that is, into white, purple, and yel- 
low, and vnder euery one ofthern, comprehend the feuerall varieties that doe belong 
vnto them ; which courfc I will alfo hold with thofe of the Autumne, that thus being 
rightly ranked, they may the more orderly be deferibed; 
I . Crocus Vernus elbus purses minor. 
The fmaller pure white Saffron flower of the Spring. 
This fmall Saffron flower fpringeth vp in the beginning of the yeare, with three or 
fourcfinallgreeneleaues,fomcwhat broader, but much fhorter then the true Saffron 
leaues, with a white line do wne the middle of euery leafe : bet weenc thefe leaues, out 
of a white skinne, rifeth vp one or two fmall flowers, made of fix leaues a peece , as all 
the reft in generali ire, ofa pure white colour, without any mixture in it, which abide 
sot in flower aboue a Weeke, or rather leffe,fo fodainly is the pleafure of this, and the 
purple loft : it flowreth not for the rnoft part, vntill a moneth after the yellow Crocus 
appeareth in flower, and the ordiriafy ftri pt Crocus is paft : the feede is fmall, round, 
and reddifh, yet not fo red as the feede of the yellow, contained in three fquare heads, 
yet feldome beareth, but cncreafeth by the foote plentifully enough, which is fmall, 
round, and flat at the bottome, fomewhat white on theoutfide, but whiter within, 
ihooting out fmall fprouts on euery fide of the roote, which is the beft note to know 
this kinde and theleffer purple, which are both alike,from all other rootes of Saffron 
flowers. 
a . Cneus albus maior multiflorus, ~f fee great fnow white Crocus. 
This greater Saffron flower rifeth vp vfually with three or foure greene leaueS, : 
larger then the former , with a white line in euery one of them : the flowers are grea- 
ter, and more in number, rifing together, but flawring one after another, of a pure 
fnow white colour, and abiding but little longer in flower then the former. 
3. Crocus albus maior alter dillus Map acne. 
The great white Saffron flower or Crocus of Mefia. 
This great white Crocus of Mefia, rifeth vp out of the ground,almoft as early as the 
firft fort ofthe yellow, with foure or fiue leaues, being very like vnto the leaues of the 
yellow Crocus,and as large , with white lines in them : the flowers alfo are as large as 
the flowers of theyellow, and many alfo rifing one after another like vnto it , but not 
of fo pure a white coIour,as the former or laft dcfcribcd,but rather tending to a Milky 
or Creame colour : the roote is not couercd with any reddifh , but rather pale skinnes 
or coatcs. 
4 .Cr octet albus Mse factes fando ■violaceo'. 
The great white Crocus of Mefia with a blew bottome. 
There is another of this kinde, like vnto the former in al 1 things, fauing that the bot- 
tomes of the flowers ofthis kinde, with fome part of the ftalke next the flower, are ofa 
pale {hining purple colour, and rifing vp a pretty way into the flower; whereas another 
alfo of this kind, hath a little Aiew or marke otblew^nd npt purple, at the bottome of 
the flower onely , which naaketh a difference* 
Crocus albus funde porpureo.The white Crocus with a purple bottome. . 
( 
This Saffron flower is of the fame' kinde with the firft, both in roote, leafe, and 
flower, in none ofthem differing from it, but in that the bottome of this flower, with 
that part of thefliort foote-ftalkc next vnto it, is of a violet or purple colour, and 
fometimes hauing here and there fomepurple fmall lines,or fpots on the white leaues-, 
it flowrethalfo with the firft white, or fomewhat later. 
O 3 6 , Crocus 
