ORN 
italics which fuftain them become eresft, and approach 
near the italic. The feeds ripen in Augoft. 
The fecond fort grows naturally upon the hills in Por- 
tugal and Spain, but has been long cultivated in the 
Englifh gardens by the title of the Star of Bethlehem. 
Thus hath a very large, oval, bulbous root, from 
which arife feveral long keel-ftiaped leaves of a dark 
green colour, in the middle of which come out a 
naked (talk which rifes near three feet high, termi- 
nated by a long conical fpike of white flowers, (land- 
ing upon pretty long foot-ftalks, rifing one above ano- 
ther in an upright fpike. Thefe appear in June, and are 
fucceeded by roundifli feed-veflels, having three cells 
filled with roundifli feeds, which ripen in Auguft. 
The third fort grows naturally in Arabia ; this hath a 
very large bulbous root, from which come out feve- 
ral broad fword-fhaped leaves, which fpread on the 
ground •, the Italic is thick and ftrong, rifing between 
two and three feet high, bearing a long fpike of large 
white flowers, handing upon long foot-ftalks. _ They 
are compofed of fix petals which fpread open in form 
of a ftar, and appear in June, but do not ripen their 
feeds in England. 
The fourth fort grows in great abundance naturally in 
the kingdom of Naples, and is now become almoft as 
common in England, for the roots propagate fo faft 
by offsets and feeds, as to become troublefome weeds 
in gardens ; and in many places where the roots have 
been thrown out of gardens, they have grown upon 
dunghills and in wafte places as plentifully as 
weeds. This hath a pretty large, compreffed, bul- 
bous root, from which come out many long, narrow, 
keel-fhaped leaves, of a dark green colour. The 
ftalks are very thick and fucculent, rifing about a 
foot high, fuftaining ten or twelve flowers in a loofe 
fpike, each hanging on a foot-ftalk an inch long •, 
they are compofed of fix petals, which are white 
within, but of a grayilh green on their outflde, hav- 
ing no fcent ; within the petals is fituated the bell- 
fhaped neftarium, compofed of fix leaves, out of 
which arife the fix ftamina, terminated by yellow fum- 
mits. The flowers appear in April, and are fucceeded 
by large, roundifli, three-cornered capfules, which 
are filled with roundifli feeds ; as the capfules grow 
large, they are fo heavy as to weigh the ftalk to the 
ground. 
The fixth fort hath fmall bulbous roots not larger 
than Peas, from which arife one or two narrow keel- 
Ihaped leaves about five inches long, of a grayilh co- 
lour ; the ftalk is angular, and rifes about four inches 
high, having two narrow keel-fhaped leaves juft be- 
low the flowers, which are difpofed in an umbel upon 
branching foot-ftalks ; thefe are yellow within, but of 
a purplifh green on their outfide. They appear in 
May, and are fucceeded by fmall triangular capfules, 
filled with reddifh uneven feeds. It grows on the bor- 
ders of cultivated fields in France and Germany. 
The feventh fort grows naturally in moft parts of Eu- 
rope, and is fuppofed to do fo in England, though it 
is feldom found here, unlefs in orchards or grounds 
where the roots may have been planted, or thrown out 
of gardens with rubbifti. This hath a bulb as large 
as a fmall Onion, to which adhere many fmall off- 
fets : the leaves are long, narrow, and keel-fhaped, 
fpreading on the ground, and have a longitudinal 
white line through the hollow. The ftalk rifes about 
fix inches high, fuftaining an umbel of flowers which 
are white within, but have broad green ftripes on the 
outfide of the petals •, thefe ftand upon long foot- 
ftalks, which rife above the principal ftalk. It flowers 
in April and May, and is fucceeded by roundifli 
three-cornered capfules filled with angular feeds, which 
ripen in J uly. 
The eighth fort grows naturally in Arabia •, this hath 
a large bulbous root, from which arife many long 
keel-fhaped leaves, which embrace each other with 
their bafe ; they are of a deep green, and ftand eredt. 
The flowers of this kind I have never yet feen, though 
I have tried many ways to procure them : the roots 
multiply exceedingly, and are never injured by froft, 
although the leaves are put out before winter. x THeli 
roots are frequently brought over from Italy for iale, 
but I have not heard of any having flowered ; and 
Clufiusfays, he never law but one root flower, and 
that came from Conffantinople. 
The ninth fort grows naturally at the Cape of Good 
Hope; this hath an irregular tuberous root, varying 
greatly in form and fize, covered with a dark brown 
fkin, from which arife feveral oval heart- fliaped 
leaves, upon pretty long foot-ftalks ; they have fe- 
veral longitudinal veins like Ribwort Plantain. The 
fiower-ftalks are flender, naked; and rife about a 
foot high, fuftaining feveral fmall, greenifb, white 
flowers, formed in a loofe fpike, (landing upon long 
flender foot-ftalks. They come out in November, 
making but little appearance, and are not fucceeded 
by feeds in England. 
The tenth fort grows naturally on the dry rocks at the 
Cape of Good Hope ; this' hath a large, dep refled, 
bulbous root, as big as a man’s fift, covered with an 
uneven brown fkin, putting out feveral taper hollow 
leaves nine or ten inches long, between which comes 
forth a naked ftalk near a foot high, terminated by a 
loofe fpike of yellow flowers, of an agreeable fweet 
fcent. It flowers in May, but does produce feeds in. 
England. 
The three forts firft mentioned, are cultivated for or- 
nament in the Englifh gardens. Thefe are propa- 
gated by offsets, which their roots commonly pro- 
duce in great plenty. The belt time to trail iplant 
their roots is in July or Auguft, when their leaves are 
decayed ; for if they are removed late in autumn, - 
their fibres will be fhot out, when they will be very 
apt to fuffer if difturhed. They fliould have a light 
fandy foil, but it muft not be over dunged. They 
may be intermixed with other bulbous-rooted flowers 
in the borders of the pleafure-garden, where they will 
afford an agreeable variety. Their roots need not be 
tranfplanted oftener than every other year, for if they 
are taken up every year, they will not increafe fo 
faft ; but when they are buffered to remain too long 
unremoved, they will have fo many offsets about 
them as to weaken their blowing roots. Thefe may 
alfo be propagated from feeds, which fliould be fown 
and managed as moft other bulbous-rooted flowers, 
and will produce their flowers three or four years af- 
ter fowing. 
The fourth fort is fcarce worthy of a place in gardens; 
but as it will thrive in any fituation or under trees, fo 
a few plants may be admitted in obfcure places fot 
the fake of variety. 
The fifth fort has not much beauty, therefore a few 
roots of it will be enough for variety, as alfo of the 
fixth and feventh forts ; the two laft will thrive in 
lhade, but the fifth fliould have an open fituation. 
The eighth fort multiplies fo faft by offsets from the 
roots as to become troublefome weeds in a garden, 
for every fmall root will grow, and in two years pro- 
duce twenty or thirty more ; fo that unlefs the large 
roots are taken up every year and divefted of their 
offsets, the borders will be over-run with them. 
The ninth fort is too tender 'to thrive in the open, 
air in England, fo the roots of this Ihould be planted 
in pots filled with light earth, and in the autumn 
placed under a hot-bed frame, where they may be 
fcreened from froft, and in mild weather enjoy the 
free air. The leaves of this appear in the autumn, 
and continue growing all the winter, fo muft not be 
expofed to froft ; nor fliould they be drawn up weak, 
for then the flowers will be few on a ftalk, and not 
large. If the pots do now and then receive a gentle 
ftiower of rain in winter it will be fufficient, for they 
ihould not have much wet during that ieafon. To- 
ward the beginning of July rhe leaves and ftalks de- 
cay, and then the roots may be taken up, laying 
them in a dry cool place till the end of Auguft, when 
they muft be planted again. 
The other fpecies which were included in this genus, 
are now removed to Scilla. 
9 Qk ORN| 
•=A -4 
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