34 - 2 - c / he (jar den of pleajant blowers. 
to defcribe it : but yet becaufe Ivfc not to pafTe ouer any plant fo (lightly , I will fet 
down the defcriplionbriefly ,in regard it is fo cotnmon.lt is very like vnto the former 
finglefemale Peony, both in ftulkes and leaues, but that it groweth fomewhat higher, 
and the leaues are of a frcfher greene colour : the flowers at the tops of the (hikes are 
very large, thicke, and double (no flower that I knowfo faire, great, and double ; but 
not abiding blowneaboue eight or ten daieslof a more reddilh purple Colour "then 
the former female kinde, and ofa Tweeter fent : after thefe flowers are paft,fometimes 
come good feed, which being fowne, bring forth fome (ingle flowers , and fome dou- 
ble: therootes are tuberous, like vntothc former female. 
4. Premia ftm'inx fltre carnet fimplici. The (ingle blufli Peony. 
The fingle blufh Peony hath his (hikes higher , and his leaues of a paler or whiter 
greene colour then the double blufli, and more white vnderneath((o that it is very pro- 
bable it is of another kinde, and not rifen from the feede of the double blufh as fome 
might thinke) with many veines, that are fomewhat diftoloured from the colour of 
the leafe running through them: the flowers are very largeand (ingle, confiding of 
fiue leaues for the mod part, of a pale flefli or blufh colour , with an eye of yellow dif- 
perfed or mixed therewith, hauing many whtrifh threads , tipt with yellow pendents 
(landing about the middle head : the rootes are like the other female Peonies. 
5. Pacmaftmina flore plent albicante. The double blufh Peony. 
The double blufh Peony hath not his (hikes fohigh as the double red , but fome- 
what lower and ftiffer,bearing fuch like winged leaues, cut in or diuided hereand there 
in the edges, as all thefe female kindes are, but not fo large as the lad : the flowers are 
(mailer, and lefle double by a good deale then the former double red, ofa faint (hinin»- 
crimfon colour atthefirfl opening, but decaying or waxing paler euery day: fothat 
after it hath dood long (for this flower (heddeth not his leaues in a great while) it will 
change fomewhat whitifh ; and therefore diuers haue ignorantly called it, the double 
white Peony : the feedes , which fometimes it bearerh , androotes.are like vnto the 
former female kindes, but fomewhat longer, and of a brighter colour on the outfide. 
6. Pxtnix femina Bezant ins. The fingle red Peony of Conftantinople. 
This red Peony of Condantinoplc is very like in all things vnto the double red Pe- 
onic, but that the flowers hereof are fingle, and as large as the lad, and that is larger 
then either the fingle female, or the malekinde, confiding of eight leaues, of a deeper 
red colour then either the fingle or double Peonies, and not purplifh at all, but rather 
of the colour of an ordinary red Tulipa,danding clofc and round together : the roots 
of this kinde haue longer clogs, and not fo Ihort as of the ordinary female kinde and 
ofa paler colour on the outfide. * 
The Place. 
All thefe Peonies haue beene fent or brought from diuers parts beyond 
the Seas ; they are endenized in our Gardens , where wee cherifli them for 
the beauty and delight o,f their goodly flowers, as well as for their Phy ficall 
vertues. 
The Time. 
They allflower in May, butfome (aslfaid) abide a fmall time, ando- 
thersmany weekes. 
The Names. 
The name Patnia is of all the later Writers generally giuen to thefe 
plants, although they haue had diuers other names giuen by the elder Wri- 
ters, as Sff/a fatnina, Idem datylnt, Aglaophttis, and others , whereof to fet 
downe 
