Fig. 711. Campion of Constantinople

The Kinds.

            There be divers sorts of Rose-Campions; some of the garden, and others of the field: the which shall be divided into several chapters: and first of the Campion of Constantinople.

The Description.

            The Campion of Constantinople hath sundry upright stalks, two cubits high and full of joints, with a certain roughness; and at every joint two large leaves, of a brown green colour. The flowers grow at the top like Sweet-Williams, or rather like Dame's Violets, of the colour of red lead, or orange tawny. The root is somewhat sharp in taste.

            There are divers varieties of this, as with white and blush coloured flowers, as also a double kind with very large, double and beautiful flowers of a vermilion colour like as the single one here described.

The Place.

            The Flower of Constantinople is planted in gardens, and is very common almost everywhere.

            The white and blush single, and the double one are more rare, and not to be found but in the gardens of our prime florists.

The Time.

            It flowereth in June and July, the second year after it is planted, and many years after; for it consisteth of a root full of life; and endureth long, and can away with the cold of our climate.

The Names.

            It is called Constantinopolitanus flos, and Lychnis chalcedonica: of Aldrovandus, Flos creticus, or Flower of Candy: of the Germans, Flos hierosolymitanus, or Flower of Jerusalem: in English, Flower of Constantinople; of some, Flower of Bristol, or Nonsuch.

The Temperature and Virtues.

             Flower of Constantinople, besides that grace and beauty which it hath in gardens and garlands, is, for ought we know, of no use, the virtues thereof being not as yet found out.