The Description.

            1. That which is called the Fleur-de-lys of many colours loseth his leaves in winter, and in the springtime recovereth them anew. I am not able to express the sundry colours and mixtures contained in this flower: it is mixed with purple, yellow, black, white, and a fringe or black thrum down the middle of the lower leaves, of a whitish yellow, tipped or frizzed, and as it were a little raised up; of a deep purple colour near the ground.

            2. The second kind hath long and narrow leaves of a blackish green, like the stinking Gladdon; among which rise up stalks two foot long, bearing at the top of every stalk one flower compact of six great leaves: the three that stand upright are confusedly and very strangely striped, mixed with white and a duskish black colour. The three leaves that hang downward are like a gaping hood, and are mixed in like manner, (but the white is nothing so bright as of the other) and are as it were shadowed over with a dark purple colour somewhat shining: so that according to my judgement the whole flower is of the colour of a Guinea hen: a rare and beautiful flower to behold.

Fig. 101. Variable Fleur-de-lys (3-6)

            3. The French, or rather Sea Fleur-de-lys (whereof there is also another of the same kind altogether lesser) have their roots without any savour. In show they differ little from the garden Fleur-de-lys, but that the leaves of these are altogether slenderer, and unpleasant in smell, growing plentifully in the rough crags of the rocks under the Alps, and near unto the seaside. The which Pena found in the grassy gravely grounds of the sea coast near to Montpellier. The learned Doctor Assatius a long time supposed it to be Medium Diosc. Matthiolus deceived himself and others, in that he said, That the root of this plant hath the scent of the peach: but myself have proved it to be without savour at all. It yieldeth his flowers in June, which are of all the rest most like unto the grass Fleur-de-lys. The taste of his root is hot, bitter, and with much tenuity of parts, as hath been found by physical proof.

            4. This Iris Byzantina hath long narrow leaves like those of the last described; very narrow, sharp pointed, having no ungrateful smell; the stalks are some cubit and an half in length, and sometimes more; at the top they are divided into 2 or 3 branches that have 2 or 3 flowers apiece, like in shape to the flowers of the broad-leafed variegated bulbous Iris; they have also a good smell: the ends of the hanging-down leaves are of a dark colour; the other parts of them are variegated with white, purple, or violet colour. The three other leaves that stand up are of a deep violet or purple colour. The root is blackish, slender, hard, knotty.

            5. Narrow-leaved Fleur-de-lys hath an infinite number of grassy leaves much like unto Reed, among which rise up many stalks: on the ends of the same spring forth two, sometimes three right sweet and pleasant flowers, compact of nine leaves. Those three that hang downward are greater than the rest, of a purple colour, striped with white and yellow; but those three small leaves that appear next, are of a purple colour without mixture: those three that stand upright are of an horse-flesh colour, tipped with purple, and under each of these leaves appear three small brown aglets like the tongue of a small bird.

            6. The Small Grassy Fleur-de-lys differeth from the former in smallness and in thinness of leaves, and in that the stalks are lower than the leaves, and the flowers in shape and colour are like those of the Stinking Gladdon, but much less.

            There are many other varieties of the broad-leaved Fleur-de-lys besides these mentioned by our author; as also of the narrow-leaved, which here we do not intend to insist upon, but refer such as are desirous to trouble themselves with these niceties, to Clusius and others.

            Notwithstanding I judge it not amiss to give the figures and brief descriptions of some more of the Dwarf Fleur-de-lys, as also of one of the narrow-leaved.

Fig. 102. Narrow-leafed and Dwarf Fleur-de-lys (7-9)

            7. This therefore which we give you in the seventh place is Iris flore cæruleo obsoleto, &c. Lobelii. The leaves of this are small and long like those of the wild Byzantine Fleur-de-lys; the root (which is not very big) hath many strong threads or fibres coming out of it: the stalk (which is somewhat tall) divides itself into two or three branches, whereon grow flowers in shape like those of the other Fleur-de-lys, but their colour is of an overworn blue, or ash colour.

            8-11. Many are the differences of the Chamæirides latifoliæ, or Broad-leaved Dwarf Fleur-de-lys, but their principal distinction is in their flowers; for some have flowers of violet or purple colour, some of white, other some are variegated with yellow and purple, &c. Therefore I will only name the colour, and give you their figure, because their shapes differ little. This eighth therefore is Chamæiris nivea aut Candida, White Dwarf Iris: The ninth, Chamæiris latifolia flore rubello, Red flowered Dwarf Iris: The tenth, Camæiris lutea, Yellow Dwarf Iris: The eleventh, Chamæiris variegata, Variegated Dwarf Iris. The leaves and stalks of these plants are usually about a foot high; the flowers, for the bigness of the plants, large, and they flower betimes, as in April. And thus much I think may suffice for the names and descriptions of these Dwarf varieties of Fleur-de-lys.

The Place.

            These plants do grow in the gardens of London, amongst herbarists and other lovers of plants.

The Times.

            They flower from the end of March to the beginning of May.

The Names.

            The Turkey Fleur-de-lys is called in the Turkish tongue Alaia Susiani, with this additament from the Italians, Fiore Belle pintate: in English, Fleur-de-lys. The rest of the names have been touched in their titles and history.

Their Nature and Virtues.

            The faculties and temperature of these rare and beautiful flowers are referred to the other sorts of Fleur-de-lys, whereunto they do very well accord.

            A. There is an excellent oil made of the flowers and roots of Fleur-de-lys, of each a like quantity, called Oleum Irinum, made after the same manner that oil of roses, lilies, and such like be made:which oil profiteth much to strengthen the sinews and joints, helpeth the cramp proceeding of repletion, and the disease called in Greek Peripneumonia.

            B. The flowers of French Fleur-de-lys distilled with Diatrion sandalon, and Cinnamon, and the water drunk, prevaileth greatly against the dropsy, as Hollerius and Gesner testify.