-\' % 
-a 
IB. 
Of theHiftory of Plants. 
Nux Mofch/ttn cum fua OHaci. 
Tiie Nutmeg withhis Maceabouthim. 
f ihe Description. 
r j~ 1 He tree that beareth the Nutmeg 
and the Mace is in forme like to 
the Peare tree, but the leaues of 
it are like thofeof the Bay or Orenge tree, al- 
waies greene on the vpper fide, and more whi- 
tifh vnderneath ; among which come forth the 
Nut and Mace as it were the floures.The Nut 
appeareth .firft , compared about with the 
Mace, as it were in the middle of a Angle role, 
which in proceffe of time doth wrap and in- 
clofe the Nut round oneuery fide : after com- 
meth ahuskelikethatofthe Wall-nut, but of 
an harder fubftance, which inclofeth the Nut 
with his Mace as the Wall-nut husk doth co- 
uer the Nut, which in time of ripenefle doth 
cleaue ofitfHfe as the Wall-nut huskedoth, 
and flieweth his Mace, which then is ofa, per- 
fect crimfon colour, and maketh a mod good- 
ly fiievv, tfpecially when the tree is well laden 
with fruit .-after the Nutbecommethdry, the 
Mace Iikewife gapeth and forfaketh the Nut, 
cuenas the firft huske or couerture, and leaues 
it bare and naked, as we all do know ; at which 
time it getteth to it felfea kinde of darke yel- 
low colour, and lofeth that braue crimfon dye 
which it had at the firft. 
t 2 The tree which carrieth the male 
Nutmeg (according toClufius ) thus differs from the laftdeferibed .-the leaues are like rbofe of 
the former infhape, but much bigger, being fometimes a foot long, and three or foure inches 
broad ; their common length is feuenor eighc inches,and bredth two and a halfe .-they are ofa whi- 
tifih colour vnderneath, and greene and fhiningaboue. The Nutsa'fogrorv at the very ends ofrhe 
branches, fometimes two or three together, and not onely one, as in the common kinde. The Nut 
itlelfc is alfo larger and longer: the Mace that incompalTes it is ofa more elegant colour,butnot 
fo ftrong as that of the former. 
I can fcarfebeleeueour Authorsalfertion in the foregoing defeription, that the Nut anpeareth 
firft, compafted about with the Mace as it were in the njiddeft ofa Angle Rofe, &c. But I rather 
thinke they all come forth together,the Nutmeg, Mace, the greene outward huske and all,inft as 
tve fee Wall-nuts do, and onely open themfelues when they come to full maturitie. In the third 
figure you may fee expreft the- whole manner of the growing of the Nutmeg, together with both 
the forts of Nutmegs taken forth of their lliells. f 
f The Place. 
The Nutmeg tree growethin the Indies, in an Ifland efpecially called Banda, and in the Iftands 
of Molucca, and in Zeilan, though not fo good as the firft. 
The Time. 
The fruit is gafhered in September in great aboundance,all things being common in thole 
countries. 
The Names. 
The Nutmeg tree is called of the Grecians, :ofthe Latines, Nux M ofch.it and 
Nux Myrijlica : in Italian, NocetTMofcada : in Spanifh, Nuee.de efeetie : in French ,Ndix Miifiade .- in 
high-Dutcb, of the Arabians, Leu^ba»e, or Gianziban : of the countrey people 
where they grow, PalL : The Maces, Bunapa/Ja. Tn Decan the Nut is called Upatri, and the -Maces, 
Iaifol; of Amccnjtmfiband^i.) Nux Eatidenfis. The Maces he calleth Befbafe : in Englifb, Nutmeg. 
^1 The Temperature. 
The N utmeg,as the Mauritanians writers hot and dry in the feco'ad degree complete, and fom- 
tvbataftringcnt. 
The Vertues. 
Nutmegs caufe a fweet breath, and amend thofe that do ftink, if they be much chewed and hoi- h 
den in the mouth. 
The 
