278 Salmon ’ s Herbal. Lib. L 
CHAP. CCLXXIX. 
Of FLOWER GENTLE Small, 
0 R, 
The Lefi'er V E L V E T--F LOWER. 
1. 'T'i/ E Names. It is called in Greek , 
X u. e): : in Latin , Amarantbus parvus ■, and 
in Exglijb, The i ejjcr Homer gentle, or Lejfer Velvet- 
Flower. 
II. The Kinds. Authors make four forts of this 
Idler kind, viz. t. Amarantbus purpureus minor. 
The lefler purple Flower gentle, or Velvet-flower : 
feme do think this to be Phlox , vel Flamma Theo- 
phrafii. 2. Amarantbus Coccineus minor , The lefler 
leaflet Flowergentle. 3. Amarantbus Tricolor, Ge- 
lt fa , vel Celojia Tragi, Variable Flowergentle : this 
fame, as Spigelius , think to be Sophonia Plinii \ 0 - 
rhers tliat it is Tbeombroton Plinii ^ but thefe Sup- 
poflfions are doubtful. 4. Amarantbus Spica Car - 
no a, Carnation Flower gentle, or Velvet-flower. 
III. The Defcriptions. The firft , or LefTer pur- 
ple Flower gentle, has a Root confining of a few 
thready Strings , which foon perifb , as the whole 
Plant Joes, at the firji approach of Winter. From 
this Root a c/ejied Stalk rifes up , two feet or more 
big!’., ptirplifh at the bottom , but green to the top , 
which fpreads it felf forth into many Branches. The 
Leaves on the Stalk and Branches are fomewhat 
broad at bottomland lharp-pointed, of a full green' 
color, and. oftentimes a little reddifh withal, like in 
Form unto the Leaves ot Elites ( of which this and 
the reft are accounted Species ) or Small Beets. The 
Flowers are long, growing in Spike fafhion, foft, 
a nd as it were gentle Tufts of Flairs, many growing 
in a manner together, broad at the bottom, and 
l.nalL up at the top, Pyxamis 01 Steeple fafhion, of 
fo excellent a fhining deep purple color, tending to 
a Murry, that in the moft excellent colored Velvet 
a more orient or bright color cannot be feen ^ and I 
fuppofe from this RefpeCt it is that the French give 
it the Name of out- palling Velvet. It has no Smell 
at all, but being bruifed, gives the fame admirable 
purple color on Paper ^ and being gathered in its 
full Strength and Beauty, will abide a great while 
( if it is kept in a dry place, out of Wind and Sun) 
in its full Beauty ahd Finenels. In thefe Tufts lye 
the Seed, Scattered up and down, which is finally 
very black and Ihining. 
Lejfer Scarlet Flower gentle. 
IV. The fecond , or Lefler fcarlet Flower gentle, 
has a fender or fmall fibrous Root , which perijhes 
the fooner , becaufe it is the more tender. The 
Leaves of this Plant are longer, and fomewhat nar- 
rower than the former : the Stalk grows fomething 
higher, bearing its long Tufts at feveral Leaves, as 
alfo at the tops of the Stalk and Branches, many 
being fet together, but feparate one from another, 
and each bowing or bending down its Head, like 
unto a Feather , fuch as are worn in Gentlemens 
Caps and Hats, of an excellent Blood-fcarlet color. 
In thefe Tufts or Heads is contained the Seed, 
which is black and bright, like the former. 
V. T be third, or Variable Flower gentle, has a 
fender , knobby , fibrous and perifhing Root , like the 
aforegoing , which fends up a Stalky but it zx nothing 
Jo high as the former , which fpreads it felf out into 
many Branches , even from the Root up to the top 
thereof The chiefeft Beauty of this Plant confilts 
not in the Flowers, but in the Leaves ; the Flowers 
being fmall Tufts, growing all along the Stalk, and 
at the Joints with the Leaves. The Leaves hereof 
are of the fame fafhion with the former, and point- 
ed alfo •, but every Leaf is to be feen, parted into 
green, red and yellow, very orient and freih, (efpe- 
cially if it comes to its full Perfection, which is in 
hot and dry Weather) yet not divided all alike, but 
in 
\ 
