The Description

            1. The first of these which we here give you is like in leaves, stalks, roots, and manner of growing unto the ordinary wild Campion described in the first place of the precedent chapter; but the flowers are very double, composed of a great many red leaves thick packed together, and they are commonly set in a short and broken husk or cod. Now the similitude that these flowers have to the jagged cloth buttons anciently worn in this kingdom gave occasion to our gentlewomen and other lovers of flowers in those times to call them Bachelor's Buttons.

            2. This differs not in shape from the last described, but only in the colour of the flowers, which in this plant are white.

Fig. 719. Sorts of Wild Campion (3 & 4)

            3. Neither in roots, Leaves, or stalks is there any difference between this either degenerate or accidental variety of Bachelor's buttons, from the two last mentioned, only the flowers hereof are of a greenish colour, and sometimes through the midst of them they send up stalks, bearing also tufts of the like double flowers.

            4. This (saith Clusius) hath fibrous roots like to those of Primroses; out of which come leaves of a sufficient magnitude, not much unlike those of the great yellow Bear's-Ear, yet whiter, more downy, thick, and juicy. The next year after the sowing thereof it tends up a stalk of two or three cubits high, here and there sending forth a viscous and glutinous juice, which detains and holds fast flies and such insects as do chance to light thereon. At the top of the branches it yieldeth many flowers set as it were in an umbel, even sometimes an hundred; yet sufficiently small, considering the magnitude of the plant; and each of these consists of five little yellowish green forked leaves.

Fig. 720. Creeping Mountain Campion (5)

            5. The stalks of this are slender, jointed, and creeping like to those of the greater Chickweed, and at each joint grow two leaves like those of the Myrtle, or of Knot-Grass, yet somewhat broader. The flowers grow in such long cups like as those of Saponaria, and are much less, yet of the same colour. The root is small.

The Place.

            1, 2. These are kept in many Gardens of this kingdom for their beauty, especially the first, which is the more common.

            4, 5. The fourth grows naturally in Candy; and the fifth by rivulets in the mountainous places of Savoy.

The Time.

            These flower in June and July with the other wild Campions.

The Names.

            1. The first of these is Lychnis agrestis multiflora of Lobel; and Ocymoides flore pleno of Camerarius.

            2. The second is by Pena and Lobel also called Lychnis sylvestris multiflora: it is the Ocymastrum multiflorum of Tabernamontanus.

            3. Lobel hath this by the name of Lychnis agrestis abortiva multiplici viride flore.

            4. Clusius calls this Lychnis sylvestris latifolia; and he saith he had the seed from Joseph de Casa Bona, by the name of Muscipula auriculæ ursi facie: Bauhin hath it by the name of Lychnis auriculæ ursi facie.

            5. This (according to Bauhin) was set forth by Matthiolus, by the name of Cneoron aliud theophrasti: it is the Ocimoides repens polygonifolia flore saponariæ, in the Adversaria: and Saponaria minor daleschampii, in the Hist. Lugd. It is also Ocimoides alpinum, of Gesner: and Ocymoides repens, of Camerarius.

The Nature and Virtues.

            The natures and virtues of these, as of many others, lie hid as yet, and so may continue, if chance, or a more curious generation than yet is in being do not find them out.