The Cjarcten of plea/ ant Flow cr s H r - 
The Vertues. 
TheMedica’s are generally thought to feede cattell fat much more then 
the Medow Trefoilc, or Clauer grade, and therefore I haue known diuers 
Gentlemen that haue plowed vpfomeof their pafture grounds, arid fowen 
them with the feedcs of fome Medica’ s to make the experience. Ail tlic ei- 
ther forts are pleafures to delight the curious, and not any way profitable 
in Phyficke that 1 know. 
Chap. LXXX. 
ji: Peonia. Peonie. 
T Here are two principali kindes of Peonie, that is to fay, the Male and the Fe- 
male. Of the male kinde, Ihaueoncly known one fort, but of the Female a 
greatmany; which are thus to be diftinguilhed. The Male his leaf c lswhole, 
without any particular diuifion, notch or dent on the edge,& his rootes long & round, 
diuided into many branches,, fomewhat like to the rootes of Gentian or Elecampane, 
and not tuberous at all.The Female of all forts hath theleaues diuided or cut m on the 
edges,more or lefle, and hath alwaies tuberous rootes, that is, like clogs or Alphodul 
rootes, with many great thick round peeces hanging, or growing at theend of Imaller 
firings, andallioyned to the toppeof the maine rootc. 
i.puohiamas. The Male Peonie. 
The Male Peonie rifeth vp with many brownifh ftalkes, whereon doe grow winged 
leaues, that is, many fairegreene,andfpmeTimesreddifh,leaues,©nefetagainft another 
vpon a ftalke, without any particular diuifion intheleafeatall : the flowers ftand at 
the toppes of the ftalkes, confiding of fiue or fix broade leaues, of a faire purphlh red 
colour, with many yellow threds in the middle, (landing about the head, which after 
rifeth to be the feede velTcls, diuided into two, three or fourerough crooked pods like 
homes, which when they are ful ripe, open and turnthemfelues down one edge to an- 
other backeward.fhewing within them diuers round black fhining feede, which are the 
true feede, being full and good, and hauing alfo many red or crimlon graines, which are 
lancke and idle, intermixed among thcblacke, as if they were good feede, whereby it 
makethavery pretty (hew: the roots are great, thickandiong,fpreading in the ground, 
and running downe reafonable deepe. 
s. P&on'ta femina vulgaris /lore fimplicl. 
Theordinary (ingle Female Peonie. 
This ordinary Female Peonie hath many ftalkes, with more {tore of leaues on them 
then the Male kinde hath, the leaues alfo are not fo large, but diuided or nicked di- 
uerfly on the edges, fome with great and deepe, and others with fmaller cuts or diui- 
fions,and of a darke or dead greene colour : the flowers are of a ftrong heady lent, 
mod vfually fmaller then the male, and of a more purple tending to a murrey colour, 
with yellow thrumes about the head in the middle, as the male kinde hath : the heads 
or homes with feed are like alfo but fmaller, the feede alfo is blacke,but lefle finning: 
the rootes confift,as I faid, of many thicke and (hort tuberous clogs, faftenedarthe 
ends of long firings, and all from the head of the roote, which is thicke and {hort, and 
tuberous alfo, of the fame or the like fent with the male. 
3 . Peonia femina vulgaris flore pleno rulro. 
The double red Peonie. 
This double Peonie as well as the former fingle , is fo frequent in eueric 
"Garden of note, through euery Countrey, that it is almoft labour invame 
Ff a 
