Fig. 224. Yellow or Bastard Daffodils. (1-4)

The Description.

            1. The double yellow Daffodil hath small smooth narrow leaves, of a dark green colour; among which riseth up a naked hollow stalk of two hands high, bearing at the top a fair and beautiful yellow flower, of a pleasant sweet smell: it sheddeth his flower but there followeth no seed at all, as it happeneth in many other double flowers. The root is small, bulbous, or onion fashion, like unto the other Daffodils, but much smaller.

            2. The common yellow Daffodil or Daffadowndilly is so well known to all that it needeth no description.

            3. We have in our London gardens another sort of this common kind, which naturally groweth in Spain, very like unto our best known Daffodil in shape and proportion, but altogether fairer, greater, and lasteth longer before the flower doth fall or fade.

            4. This hath leaves and roots like the last described, but somewhat less; the flower also is in shape not unlike that of the precedent, but less, growing upon a weak slender green stalk, of some fingers' length: the seed is contained in three-cornered, yet almost round heads. The root is small, bulbous, and black on the outside.

Fig. 225. White Bastard Daffodil (5)

            5. This hath a longish bulbous root, somewhat black on the outside, from which rise up leaves not so long nor broad as those of the last described: in the midst of these leaves springs up a stalk, slender, and some half foot in height; at the top of which, forth of a whitish film, breaks forth a flower like in shape to the common Daffodil, but less and wholly white, with the brim of the cup welted about. It flowers April, and ripens the seeds in June.

The Place.

            The double yellow Daffodil I remitted from Robinus of Paris, which he procured by means of friends from Orleans and other parts of France.

            The yellow English Daffodil groweth almost everywhere through England. The yellow Spanish Daffodil doth likewise deck up our London gardens, where they increase infinitely.

The Time.

            The double Daffodil sendeth forth his leaves in the beginning of February, and his flowers in April.

The Names.

            The first is called Pseudonarcissus multiplex, and Narcissus luteus Polyanthos: in English, the double yellow Daffodil, or Narcissus.

            The common sort are called in Dutch, Geel Sporken Blumen: in English, yellow Daffodill, Daffodily, and Daffodowndilly.

The Temperature.

            The temperature is referred unto the kinds of Narcissus.

The Virtues.

            Touching the virtues hereof, it is found out by experiment of some of the later Physicians, that the decoction of the roots of this yellow Daffodil do purge by siege tough and phlegmatic humors, and also waterish, and is good for them that are full of raw humors, especially if there be added thereto a little anise seed and ginger, which will correct the churlish hardness of the working.

            The distilled water of Daffodils doth cure the Palsy, if the patient be bathed and rubbed with the said liquor by the fire. It hath been proved by an especial and trusty friend of mine, a man learned, and a diligent searcher of nature, Mr. Nicholas Belson, sometimes of King's College in Cambridge.