17 * 
'The (jar den of p lea] ant Flowers. 
Chap. XIX. 
lrii bulbsfs.’Wst bulbous Flowerdeluce, 
T He Flowerdeluces that haue bulbous rootes are of two forts , the one greater 
then the other : the greater bearing larger and broader leaues and flowers, and 
the lcfler narrower. But before I giue you the defcriptions of the viuall grea- 
ter kindes, I muft ncedes place one or two in the fore-front that haue no fellowes ; the 
one is called of Clufius, his broad leafed Flowerdeluce, and the other a Perfian, fome- 
whatlikevnto it, which although they differ notably from the reft, yet they haue the 
neareft refemblancc vnto thofe greater kindes, that come next after them. 
Iris bulbo/* prim * Ut Jilts clufij. 
Clufius his firftgreat bulbous Flowerdeluce. 
This Flowerdeluce hath diuers long and broad leaues, not ftiffc , like all the other, 
but foft and greenifh on the vpperfide, and whitifh vnderneath ; among which rile vp 
fometimes feuerall fmall , Ihort, (lender ftalkcs, andfometimesbutone, notaboue 
halfe a foote high, bearing at the top one flower a pcece , fomewhat like vnto a Flow- 
erdeluce, confifting of nine leaues, whereof thofe three that (land vpright,are fhorter 
and more clofed together, then in other forts of Flowerdeluces ; the other three that 
fall downe,turnevp their ends a little, and thofe three, that in other Flowerdeluces 
doe coucr them at the bottome, ftand like the vpright leaues of other Flowerdeluces, 
but are parted into two ends , like vnto two fmall eares : the whole flower is of a f.iire 
blew, or pale skie colour in moft, with a long ftripe in the middle of each of the three 
falling leaues , andin fomewhite, but more feldome : the rooteis reafonable great, 
round and white , vnder the blackiln coates wherewith it is couered , hauing many 
long thicke white rootes in (lead of fibres, which make them feeme to be Afphodill 
rootes. The flower is very fweete. 
Iris bulbsft Perpes. The Perfian bulbous Flowerdeluce. 
This Perfian Flowerdeluce is fomewhat like vnto the former, both in rooteand in 
leafe, but that the leaues are fhorter and narrower, and the flower being much about 
the fame fafhion, is of a pale blew rulfetifli colour , each of the three lower falling 
leaues are almoft wholly of a browne purple colour, with a yellow fpot in the middle 
of them : this as it is very rare, fo it feldome bearcth flowers with vs. 
The Place. 
The firft groweth in many places of Spaine and Portugall, from whence 
I and others haue often had it for our Gardens, but by reafon of the tender- 
nefTe thereof, it doth hardly endure the fharpndfe of our cold Winters, vn- 
leffeit be carefully preferue d. 
The other is laid to come from Perfia, and therefore it is foentituled, 
and is as tender to be kept as t he other. 
The Time. 
The firft flowreth moft vfually not vntill May with vs , yet many times 
fooner •. but in Ianuary and February , as Clufius faith , in the naturali pla- 
ces thereof. 
The other is as early oftentimes when it doth flower with'vs. 
The Names. 
Becaufe Clufius by good iudgement referreth the firft to the greater 
kindes 
