Chap. 612. EngliJJj Herbs. 
IX. 7. Colchicutu lllyricum , , The true Colcht- 
cum, or true Greek Medow Saffron. This has a 
great thick and bulbous Root , full- of Sub fiance ; 
from which rifes up a fat thick and grofs Stalk , 
Jet about from the lower part to the top with 
Leaves by equal difiances , which Leaves are long , 
thick and grofs , Jharp pointed \ and ?tot much un- 
Saffron Medow Illyrick, 
0 R, 
The true Greek Colchicum. 
989 
like to the Leaves or Leeks ; from among which 
Leaves , come forth yellowijb Flowers, very like, 
to the Engiifh Colchicum, or Medow Saffron, but 
fmaller. 
X. 8. Colchicum Lufitanicum Friti/laricum , The 
Portugal Checquer’J Medow Saffron. Its Root is 
like to the Root of the Engiifh or ffungarian, with- 
out any Difference , b//t that this grows fomething 
greater. Its Leaves do rife up fooner than in any 
other of the Autumn kinds , for they are always up, 
before Winter , and are four or Jive in Number , 
Jhort rather than long , broad below , and pointed 
at the end , canalled or hollow , and funding round 
above the Ground , one encompajjing another at the 
bottom , like the great Spanilh Star Jacinth, cal- 
led the Jacinth of Peru, but Jhorter , and of a 
pale or gray ifh green color , differing from the color 
of all the other Medow Saffrons. The Flowers are 
larger and longer than the Flowers of either Eng- 
lith or Hungarian, and almoft as large as the fixth 
kind at Sell. VIII. aforegoing , and of the fame 
color, but a little deeper ; the Spots and Marks 
whereof, are fomething more eafte to be feen , 
even afar off, like unto the Flowers of a Fritillary, 
from whence it loaf part of its Name. T his' is one 
of the firjl Medow Saffrons, or Colchicums which 
Flower in the Spring. 
XI. 9- Colchicum Neapolitanum F ritillaricwn . 
1 he Checquet’d Medow Saffron of Naples. The 
I y ot °J ‘hi* is like unto the Root of the lafl be- 
fore Defer ibed, but a little bigger, by which the 
Species is multiplied. This Neapolitan kind is ve- 
ry hke unto the Portugal Species lad Defcribed , 
out that its Flower is fomething larger, yet fome- 
time very near of -tfqjsal bignefs with 'that ; the 
greeted Note or Markvo diftinguifh them by is, 
that the Flowers of tbit rare of ’a deeper color and 
fo are the Spots on the Flowers likewife ■ which 
are fo confpicuou , that they may be difeernei a 
great way off, more like unto the Flowers of a deep 
rritillary, than the former, and make a more goodly 
and more Glorious Show. The Leaves of this do 
rtfe up earlier after the Flowers , and are fome- 
thing longer , of a darker green color, yet enclining 
to a grayifh color, as thofe other, not lying fo neatly 
or round, but flani up one by another, being as it 
were folded together. Neither this nor the Portu- 
gal, have given any Seed with us that I have yet 
heard of, but are both increafed by the 'Root .is 
aforefaid. 
XII jo. Colchicum Fritillaricum Chienfe, The 
Chio or Scio Checquer’d Medow Saffron. Its Root 
f hke unto the others of this kind, but fmall and 
long and not fo great. This moji Beautiful Flower 
°u * ri f cs U P with its Flowers in Autumn as 
the others before fpecified do, altho ’ not of fo a 
large a five, yet far more V leaf ant and Delightful 
in the thick, deep blew, or Purple coloured "Beauti- 
ful Spots therein ; which make it to excel all others 
whatfoever. The Leavesrfe up in the Spring, be- 
tng fmaller than the former, for the moft part three 
in A umber ^ and of a paler or frejher green color 
lying clofe upon the Ground, broad at the bottom 
a little pointed at the end, and turning or folding 
themf elves in and out at the edges, as if they were 
fdented. It has not been feen to bear Seed her 4 e. 
It Flowers later for the moft part, than any of the 
others, not till November, and ftta cry difficult to be 
preferved with us-, for that its Roh grows lejs and 
lejs every Tear : Our cold Climate being fo different 
from its Native place of Growth, ( when by reafon 
of the Warmth of the Seafon , it Flowers any thing 
early, that it may have the comfort of the Warm 
Sun, it is the Glory of all thefe kinds of Flowers. 
XIII. 11. Colchicumverfteolor, The party-colour- 
ed Medow Saffron. Its Root is like the former 
Engiifh or Hungarian kinds, but thicker and greater . 
Jor the moft part, and Jhorter alfo. Its Flowers do 
not ufually appear, till moft of the other Autumn 
forts are pajt, except the loft, which are very low, 
fcarcely rifing with their Stalks three Finger's 
breadth above the Ground, but oftentimes half hid 
within the Earth': The Leaves hereof are fmaller, 
Jhorter, and rounder than in any of the others be • 
fore fpecified \ fome being altogether. White , and 
others wholly of a very pale Purple or Flefh color -, 
and fome again parted, the one half of a white Leaf, 
and the other half of the fame Purple -, and Jome'- 
t 'tmcs jlrip’d Purple and White, in divers Leaves of 
one and the fame Flower. And again , fome will be 
the moft part of the Leaf white, and the bottom 
Purple, thus varying as Nature is plcafed ; for that 
many times, from one and the fame Root, may be 
feen to ariff all thefe Varieties before mentioned. 
Thefe Flowers do Hand long before they fade and 
pafs away, and have been Jometimes obferved 
to keep their Flowers fair until the beginning of 
January, or till the Extremities of Winter Frofts 
and Snows have made them hide their Heads. The 
Leaves therefore do rife up accordingly, after all 
others, and are of a brownifh or dark green color. 
