The Descripion.

            1. Meadow Saffron hath three or four leaves rising immediately forth of the ground, long, broad, smooth, fat, much like to the leaves of the white Lily in form and smoothness: in the middle whereof spring up three or four thick cods of the bigness of a small walnut, standing upon short tender foot-stalks three-square, and opening themselves when they be ripe, full of seed something round, and of a blackish red colour: and when this seed is ripe, the leaves together with the stalks do fade and fall away. In September the flowers bud forth, before any leaves appear, standing upon short tender and whitish stems, like in form and colour to the flowers of Saffron, having in the middle small chives or threads of a pale yellow colour, altogether unfit for meat or medicine. The root is round or bulbous, sharper at the one end than at the other, flat on the one side, having a deep cleft or furrow in the same flat side when it flowereth, and not at any time else: it is covered with blackish coats or films; it sendeth down unto the lowest part certain strings or threads. The root itself is full of a white substance, yielding a juice like milk, whilst it is green and newly digged out of the earth. It is in taste sweet, with a little bitterness following, which draweth water out of the mouth.

            2. The second kind of Meadow Saffron is like the precedent, differing only in the colour of the flowers, for that this plant doth bring forth white leaves, which of some hath been taken for the true Hermodactylus; but in so doing they have committed the greater error.

Fig. 270. Hungary Meadow Saffron (3)

            3. These two figures express both but one and the self same plant, which is distinguished because it never beareth flowers and leaves both at one time. So that the first figure sets it forth when it is in leaves and seed, and the other when it flowereth; and therefore one description shall suffice for them both. In the spring of the year it bringeth forth his leaves, thick, fat, shining, and smooth, not unlike the leaves of Lilies, which do continue green unto the end of June; at which time the leaves do wither away, but in the beginning of September there shooteth forth of the ground naked milk-white flowers without any green leaf at all: but so soon as the plant hath done bearing of flowers, the root remains in the ground, not sending forth anything until February in the year following.

            It bears plentiful store of reddish seed in loose triangular heads. The root hereof is bigger than that of the last described.

Fig. 271. Small Spanish Meadow Saffron (4)

            4. The small meadow Saffron hath three or four thick fat leaves narrower than any of the rest. The flower appeareth in the fall of the leaf, in shape, colour, and manner of growing like the common Meadow Saffron, but of a more reddish purple colour, and altogether lesser. The leaves in this, contrary to the nature of these plants, presently follow after the flower; and so continue all the winter and spring, even until May or June. The root is bulbous, and not great; it is covered with many blackish red coats, and is white within.

            5. This meadow Saffron hath roots and leaves like to those of the last described, but the leaves of the flower are longer and narrower, and the colour of them is white on the inside, green on the middle of the back part, and the rest thereof of a certain flesh colour.

            6. The meadow Saffron of Illyria hath a great thick and bulbous root, full of substance: from which riseth up a fat, thick, and gross stalk, set about from the lower part to the top by equal distances, with long, thick, and gross leaves, sharp pointed, not unlike to the leaves of leeks; among which leaves do grow yellowish flowers like unto the English meadow Saffron, but smaller.

Fig. 274. Assyrian Meadow Saffron (7)

            7. The Assyrian Meadow Saffron hath a bulbous root, made as it were of two pieces; from the middle cleft whereof riseth up a soft and tender stalk set with fair broad leaves from the middle to the top: among which cometh forth one single flower like unto the common meadow Saffron, or the white Anemone of Matthiolus' description.

Fig. 275. Mountain Wild Saffron (8)

            8. The Mountain Wild Saffron is a base and low plant, but in shape altogether like the common meadow Saffron, but much lesser. The flowers are smaller, and of a yellow colour, which setteth forth the difference. The leaves and roots (as Clusius affirms) are more like to the Narcissus; and therefore he calls this Narcissus Autumnalis minor, The lesser autumn Narcissus.

Fig. 275. Broad-leaved Meadow Saffron (9) & Parti-coloured Meadow Saffron (10)

            9. This, whose figure we here give you, is by Clusius called Colchicum Byzantium latifolium, The broad leaved Colchicum of Constantinople. The leaves of this are not in form and magnitude much unlike to those of the white Hellebore, neither less nervous, yet more green. It bears many flowers in autumn, so that there come sometimes twenty from one root. Their form and colour are much like the ordinary sort, but that these are larger, and have thicker stalks. They are of a lighter purple without, and of a deeper on the inside, and they are marked with certain veins running alongst these leaves. The roots and seeds of this plant are thrice as large as those of the common kind.

            10. This hath roots and leaves like to the first described, but the flower is shorter, and grows upon a shorter stalk; so that it rises but little above the earth: the three inner leaves are of a reddish purple; the three outer leaves are either wholly white, or purplish on the middle in the inside, or streaked with fair purple veins, or spotted with such coloured spots: all the leaves of the flower are blunter and rounder than in the common kind.

Fig. 277. Meadow Saffrons (11-14)

            11. This in leaves, roots, manner and time of growing, as also in the colour of the flowers, differs not from the first described, but the flowers, as you may perceive by the figure here expressed, are very double, and consist of many leaves.

            12. This Colchicum differs little from the first ordinary one, but that the flowers are somewhat less, and the three out-leaves are somewhat bigger than the three inner leaves; the colour is a little deeper also than that of the common one; but that wherein the principal difference consists, is, That this flowers twice in a year; to wit, in the spring and autumn; and hence Clusius hath called it Colchicum biflorum, Twice-flowering Meadow Saffron.

            13. This also in the shape of the root and leaves is not much different from the ordinary, but the leaves of the flower are longer and narrower, the colour also when they begin to open and show themselves, is white, but shortly after they are changed into a light purple: each leaf of the flower hath a white thread tipped with yellow growing out of it, and in the middle stands a white three forked one longer than the rest. The flower grows up between three or four leaves narrower than those of the ordinary one, and broader than those of the small Spanish kind. Clusius, to whom we are beholden for this, as also for most of the rest, calls it Colchicum vernum, or spring Meadow Saffron, because it then flowers together with the spring Saffrons and Dog's Tooth.

            14. There are other Meadow-Saffrons besides these I have mentioned, but because they may be referred easily to same of these, for that their difference chiefly consists either in the doubleness or colour of the flowers, whereof some are striped, some fraided, others variegated, I will not insist upon them, but refer such as desire their further acquaintance to look into the gardens of our florists, as Mr. Parkinson's, Mr. Tuggies, &c. or else into the book of flowers set forth not long since by Mr. Parkinson, where they shall find them largely treated of. Yet I cannot pass over in silence that curious Colchicum which is called by some, Colchicum variegatum Chiense. The flower thereof is very beautiful, consisting of six pretty broad and sharp pointed leaves, all curiously checkered over with deep blue or purple, the rest of the flower being of a light whitish colour: the leaves, that rise up in the Spring, are not very long, but somewhat broad und sharp pointed; the root is like others of this kind. I have given you an exact and large figure of this, as I took it from the growing flower some three years agone, it being at that time amongst her Majesty's flowers kept at Edgcombe in Surry, in the garden of my much honoured friend Sir John Tunstall, Gentleman usher unto her Majesty.

Fig. 278. True Hermodactyl (15)

            15. I give you here in this place the true Hermodactyl of the shops, which probably by all is adjudged to this tribe, though none can certainly say what flowers or leaves it bears: the roots are only brought to us, and from what place I cannot tell; yet I conjecture from some part of Syria or the adjacent countries. Now how hard it is to judge of plants by one part or particle, I shall show you more at large when I come to treat of Pistolochia, wherefore I will say nothing thereof in this place. These roots, which wanting the malign quality of colchicum, either of their own nature, or by dryness, are commonly about the bigness of a chestnut, smooth, flattish, and sharp at the one end, but somewhat full at the other, and on the one side there is a little channel or hollowness, as is in the roots of Meadow-Saffron where the stalk of the flower comes up. Their colour is either white, brown, or blackish on the outside, and very white within, but those are the best that are white both without and within, and may easily be made into a fine white meal or powder.

The Place.

            Meadow Saffron, or Colchicum, groweth in Messenia, and in the Isle of Colchis, whereof it took his name. The titles of the rest do set forth their native countries notwithstanding our London gardens are possessed with the most part of them.

            The two first do grow in England in great abundance, in fat and fertile meadows, as about Vilford [sic: does he mean Alford?] and Bath, as also in the meadows near to a small village in the West part of England, called Shepton Mallet, in the meadows about Bristol, in Kingsthorpe meadow near unto a water-mill as you go from Northampton to Holdenby House, upon the right hand of the way, and likewise in great plenty in Nobottle wood two miles from the said town of Northampton, and many other places. The rest for the most part may be found in the gardens of the florists among us.

The Time.

            The leaves of all the kinds of Meadow-Saffron do begin to show themselves in February; the seed is ripe in June. The leaves, stalks, and seed do perish in July, and their pleasant flowers do come forth of the ground in September.

The Names.

            Divers name it in Latin Bulbus agrestis, or wild Bulb: in high Dutch it is called Zeitloosen: in low Dutch, Tilteloosen; in French, Mort au Chien. Some have taken it to be the true Hermodactyl, yet falsely. Other some call it Filius ante Patrem, although there is a kind of Lysimachia or Loosestrife so called, because it first bringeth forth his long cods with seed, and then the flower after, or at the same time at the end of the said cod. But in this Meadow Saffron it is far otherwise, because it bringeth forth leaves in February, seed in May, and flowers in September, which is a thing clean contrary to all other plants whatsoever, for that they do first flower, and after seed; but this Saffron seedeth first, and four months after brings forth flowers and therefore some have thought this a fit name for it, Filius ante Patrem; and we accordingly may call it, The Son before the Father.

            Our author in this chapter was of many minds; for first, in the description of Colchicum Anglicum, being the second, he reproves such as make that white flowered Colchicum the true Hermodactyl. Then in the description of the eighth he hath these words, which being omitted in that place I here set down. Of all these kinds (saith he) of Meadow Saffrons it hath not been certainly known which hath been the true Hermodactyl; notwithstanding we have certain knowledge that the Illyrian Colchicum is the physical Hermodactyl. Yet when he comes to speak of the names, after that out of Dodonæus he had set down the truth in these words; But notwithstanding that Hermodactyl which we do use in compound medicines, differeth from this (to wit, Colchicum) in many notable points, for that the true Hermodactyl hath a bulb or round root, which being dried continueth very white within, and without not wrinkled at all, but full and smooth, of a mean hardness; and that he had out of the same author alleged the words Valerius Cordes and Avicenna, (which are here omitted) he concludes contrary to the truth, his first admonition, and second assertion, That the white Meadow Saffron which we bave in the West part of England, growing especially about Shepton Mallet, is the Hermodactyl used in shops.

            Those we have in shops seem to be the Hermodactyls of Paulus Ægineta; yet not those of Nicholaus and Actuarius, which were cordial, and increasers of sperm; the which the authors of the Adversaria, pag. 55. think to be the Behen album & rubrum of the Arabians. And to these unknown ones are the virtues set down by our author in the third place under C, to be referred.

The Temperature.

            Meadow Saffron is hot and dry in the second degree.

The Virtues of Hermodactyls.

            A. The roots of Hermodactyls are of force to purge, and are properly given (saith Paulus) to those that have the Gout, even then when the humors are in flowing. And they are also hurtful to the stomach.

            B. The same stamped, and mixed with the whites of eggs, barley meal, and crumbs of bread, and applied plasterwise, ease the pain of the Gout, swellings and aches about the joints.

            C. The same strengtheneth, nourisheth, and maketh good juice, increaseth sperm or natural seed, and is also good to cleanse ulcers or rotten sores.

The correction.

            The powder of Ginger, long Pepper, Aniseed or Cumin seed, and a little mastic, correcteth the churlish working of that Hermodactyl which is used in shops. But those which have eaten of the common meadow Saffron must drink the milk of a cow, or else death presently ensueth.

The Danger.

            The roots of all the sorts of Meadow Saffrons are very hurtful to the stomach, and being eaten they kill by choking, as Mushrooms do, according unto Dioscorides; whereupon some have called it Colchicum strangulatorium.