The Kinds.

            Like as we have set down sundry sorts of Fleur-de-lys, with flaggy leaves, and tuberous or knobby roots, varying very notably in sundry respects, which we have distinguished in their proper chapters: it resteth that in like manner we set forth unto your view certain bulbous or Onion-rooted Fleur-de-lys, which in this place do offer themselves unto our consideration; whereof there be also sundry sorts, sorted into one chapter as followeth.

The Description.

            1. The first of these, whose figure here we give you under the name of Iris Bulbosa Latifolia, hath leaves somewhat like those of the Day-Lily, soft, and somewhat palish green, with the undersides somewhat whiter; amongst which there riseth up a stalk bearing at the top thereof a flower a little in shape different from the formerly described Fleur-de-lys. The colour thereof is blue; the number of the leaves whereof it consists, nine: three of these are little, and come out at the bottom of the flower as soon as it is opened; three more are large, and being narrow at their bottom, become broader by little and little, until they come to turn downwards, whereas then they are shapen somewhat roundish or obtuse. In the midst of these there runs up a yellow variegated line to the place whereas they bend back. The three other leaves are arched like as in other flowers of this kind, and divided at their upper end, and contain in them three threads of a whitish blue colour.

            This is called Iris Bulbosa Latifolia, by Clusius; and Hyacinthus Poetarum Latifolius, by Lobel.

            It flowers in January and February, whereas it grows naturally, as it doth in divers places of Portugal and Spain. It is a tender plant, and seldom thrives well in our gardens.

            2. Onion Fleur-de-lys hath long narrow blades or leaves, crested, chamfered, or streaked on the back side as it were welted; below somewhat round, opening itself toward the top, yet remaining as it were half round, whereby it resembleth an hollow trough or gutter. In the bottom of the hollowness it tendeth to whiteness; and among these teams do rise up a stalk of a cubit high; at the top whereof groweth a fair blue flower, not differing in shape from the common Fleur-de-lys: the which being past, there come in the place thereof long thick cods or seed-vessels, wherein is contained yellowish seed of the bigness of a tare or fitch. The root is round like an onion, covered over with certain brown skins or films. Of this kind there are some five or six varieties, caused by the various colours of the flowers.

            3. Changeable Fleur-de-lys hath leaves, stalks, and roots like the former, but lesser. The flower hath likewise the form of the Fleur-de-lys, that is to say, it consisteth of six greater leaves, and three lesser; the greater leaves fold backward and hang downward, the lesser stand upright; and in the middle of the leaves there riseth up a yellow welt, white about the brims, and shadowed all over with a wash of thin blue tending to a watchet colour. Toward the stalk they are striped over with a light purple colour, and likewise amongst the hollow places of those that stand upright (which cannot be expressed in the figure) there is the same fair purple colour; the smell and favour very sweet and pleasant. The root is onion fashion, or bulbous like the other.

            4. There is also another variegated Fleur-de-lys, much like this last described, in the colour of the flower; but each plant produceth more branches and flowers, whence it is termed Iris Bulbosa versicolor polyclonos, Many-branched Changeable Fleur-de-lys.

Fig. 169. Yellow bulbed Fleur-de-lys. (5)

            5. Of which kind or sort there is another in my garden, which I received from my brother James Garret apothecary, far more beautiful than the last described; the which is dashed over, instead of the blue or watchet colour, with a most pleasant gold yellow colour, of smell exceeding sweet, with bulbed roots like those of the other sort.

            6. It is reported, that there is in the garden of the Prince Elector the Landgrave of Hesse, one of this sort or kind, with white flowers, the which as yet I have not seen.

            Besides these sorts mentioned by our author, there are of the narrow leaved bulbous Fleur-de-lys, some twenty four or more varieties, which in shape of roots, leaves, and flowers differ very little, or almost nothing at all; so that he which knows one of these may presently know the rest. Wherefore because it is a thing no more pertinent to a general history of plants, to insist upon these accidental nicities, than for him that writes a history of Beasts to describe all the colours, and their mixtures, in Horses, Dogs, and the like; I refer such as are desirous to inform themselves of those varieties, to such as have only and purposely treated of flowers and their diversities, as De-Bry, Swerts, and our countryman Mr. Parkinson, who in his Paradisus terrestris, set forth in English, Anno 1629, hath judiciously and exactly comprehended all that hath been delivered by others in this nature.

The Place.

            The second of these bulbed Fleur-de-lys grows wild, or of itself, in the corn fields of the West parts of England, as about Bath and Wells, and those places adjacent; from whence they were first brought into London, where they be naturalised, and increase in great plenty in our London gardens.

            The other sorts do grow naturally in Spain and Italy wild, from whence we have had plants for our London gardens, whereof they do greatly abound.

The Time.

            They flower in June and July, and seldom after.

The Names.

            The Bulbed Fleur-de-lys is called of Lobel, Iris Bulbosa, and also Hyacinthus flore Iridis: of some, Hyacinthus Poetarum; and peradventure it is the same that Apuleius mentioneth in the one and twentieth chapter, saying, That Iris, named among the old writers Hieris, may also be called, and not unproperly, Hierobulbus, or Hieribulbus: as though you should say, Iris Bulbosa, or Bulbed Ireos; unless you would have Ierabulbos, a greater or larger bulb: for it is certain, that great and huge things were called of the ancients, Iera, or sacra: in English, Holy.

The Nature.

            The nature of these bulbed Fleur-de-lys are referred to the kinds of Asphodels.

The Virtues.

            A. Take, saith Apuleius, of the herb Hierobulbus six ounces, goat's suet as much, oil of alcanna one pound; mix them together, being first stamped in a stone mortar, it taketh away the pain of the gout.

            B. Moreover, if a woman do use to wash her face with the decoction of the root, mixed with the meal of Lupines, it forthwith cleanseth away the freckles & morphew, and such like deformities.