. . , A r ,.._ ^ ^ 
%The Place . 
It groweth natnrally in America, where it was firft difcoucred, as reports C. ctufius ,fince which 
time! hauereceiued roots hereof from Virginia, otherwife called Norembega, which grow and 
profper in my garden as in their owne natiue countrey. 
*[f The Time. 
The leaues thruft forth of the ground in the beginning of May. the floures bud forth in Au'guft. 
The fruit is ripe in September. 
t(f The Names. 
The Indians do call this plant Pa/yw.ffieaning the roots :'by which name alfo the common Po- 
tatoes are called in thoie Indian countries. We haue the name proper vntoit mentioned in the 
title. Becaufe it hath not onely the fhape and proportion of Potatoes, but alfo the pleafant tafte 
and vertues of the lame, we may call it in Englifh, Potatoes of America or Virginia. 
t Clufua queftions whether it be not the Arachidnao'i Thcofhraftas. Bauhine hath referred it to 
the Nightfhades,andcalleth it Solatium tnberofum Efculcntnm , and largely figures and deferibes it 
in his ProdromM,fag. 89. $ 
f[ Th 
Of the Hiftory of Plants. 
round (lender foot-ftalkes, whereon do grow very faire & pleafmt floures, made of one entire wholes 
Ieafe, which is folded or plaited in fuch llrange fort, that it feemeth to be a (loure made of flue fun- 
dry final! leaues, -which cannot cafily be perceiued except the fame be pulled open. The whole 
fioure is of a light purple colour, ftriped downe the middle of euery fold or welt with a light (hew 
of yellowndle, as if purple and yellow were mixed together, in the middle of the fioure thrufteth 
forth a thicke flat pointall yello w as gold, with a fmall lharpe greenepricke or point in the mid- 
deft thereof. The fruit fucceedeth the floures, round as a ball, of the bigneffe ofa little Bulldfe 
orwilde plum, greene at the firft, and blacke when it is ripe j wherein is contained fmall white feed 
Idler chan thofe of Muftard. The root is thicke, fat, and tuberous, not much differing either in 
fhape, colour, or tafte from the common Potatoes, failing that the roots hereof are notfo meat 
nor long , fome of them are as round as a bal!,fome ouall oregge-fafhion ; feme longer, and others 
fhorter : the which knobby roots are faftened vnto the (hikes with an infinite number of threddie 
firings. 
, Batlata Virginian*, fate Virginianorum,& raff us , 
Virginian Potatoes. 
