The Description.

            1,2. The great Mountain Garlic hath long and broad leaves like those of Leeks, but much greater and longer, embracing or clasping about a great thick stalk, soft and full of juice, bigger than a man's finger, and bare toward the top; upon which is set a great head bigger than a tennis ball, covered with a skin after the manner of an Onion. The skin when it cometh to perfection breaketh, and discovereth a great multitude of whitish flowers; which being past, black seeds follow, enclosed in a three-cornered husk. The root is bulbous, of the bigness of a great Onion. The whole plant smelleth very strong like unto Garlic, and is in show a Leek, whereupon it was called scorodoprasum, as if we should say, Garlic Leek; participating of the Leek and Garlic, or rather a degenerate Garlic grown monstrous.

            I cannot certainly determine what difference there may be between the plants expressed by the first figure, which is our author's, and the second figure which is taken out of Clusius. Now the history which Clusius gives us to the second, the same is (out of him) given by our author to the first so that by this reason they are of one and the same plant. To the which opinion I rather incline, than affirm the contrary with Bauhin, who distinguishing them, puts the first amongst the Leeks, under the name of Porrum folio latissimo: following Tabernamontanus, who first gave this figure, under the name of Porrum Syriacum.

            3. This plant is lesser in all the parts than the former; the root is set about with longer and slenderer bulbs wrapped in brownish skins; the flowers and leaves are like, yet smaller than Garlic.

            4. The third, which Clusius makes his second Scorodoprasum, hath stalks some two cubits high, having many leaves like those of Leeks from the bottom of the stalk to the middle thereof; their smell is between that of Leeks and Garlic; the rest of the stalk is naked, green, smooth, sustaining at the top a head composed of many bulbs, covered with a whitish skin ending a long green point;which skin by the growth of the bulbs being broken, they show themselves, being first of a purplish, and afterwards of a whitish colour, amongst which are some flowers. The top of the stalk at first twines itself, so that it in some sort represents a serpent; then by little it untwines again, and bears the head straight up. The root consists of many cloves much like that of Garlic.

Fig. 309. Broad-leaved Mountain Garlic or Victorialis (5)

            5. The Broad-leaved Mountain Garlic, or rather the Mountain Ramsons, riseth up with a stalk a cubit high, a finger thick, yet very weak, full of a spongeous substance, near to the bottom of a purplish colour, and green above, bearing at the top a multitude of small whitish flowers, somewhat gaping, star-fashion. The leaves are three or four, broad ribbed like the leaves of great Gentian, resembling those of Ramsons, but greater. The root is great and long, covered with many scaly coats and hairy strings.

The Place.

            The great mountain Garlic grows about Constantinople, as saith Clusius. I received a plant of it from Mr. Thomas Edwards apothecary of Exeter, who found it growing in the West parts of England.

            Victorialis groweth in the mountains of Germany, as saith Carolus Clusius, and is yet a stranger in England for anything that I do know.

TheTime.

            Most of these plants flower in the months of June and July.

The Names.

            Of the first and second I have spoken already. The third is Scorodoprasum minus of Lobel. The fourth is Allium sativum secundum of Dodonæus, and Scorodoprasum secundum of Clusius. The fifth is Allium anguinum of Matthiolus; Ophioscoridon of Lobel, and Victorialis of Clusius and others, as also Allium Alpinum. The Germans call it Seigwurtz.

The Temper.

            They are of a middle temper between Leeks and Garlic.

The Virtues.

            Scorodoprasum, as it partakes of the temper, so also of the virtues of Leeks and Garlic; that is, it attenuates gross and tough matter, helps expectoration, &c.

            Victorialis is like Garlic in the operation thereof. Some (as Camerarita writeth) hang the root thereofabout the necks of their cattle being fallen blind, by what occasion soever it happen, and persuade themselves that by this means they will recover their sight. Those that work in the mines in Germany affirm, That they find this root very powerful in defending them from the assaults of impure spirits or devils, which often in such places are troublesome unto them. Clusius.