The Description.

1. This strange kind of Honeysuckle, found in the woods of Savoy, represents unto us that shrub or hedge-bush called Cornus fœmina, the Dog-berry tree, or Prick-timber tree, having leaves and branches like the common Woodbine, saving that this doth not clamber or climb as the others do, but contrariwise groweth upright, without leaning to one side or other, like a small tree or hedge-bush: the flowers grow upon the tender sprays or twiggy branches, by couples, not unlike in shape and colour to the common Woodbine, but altogether lesser, and of a white colour, having within the same many hairy chives like the other of his kind: after which come red berries joined together by couples: the root is tough and woody.

2. The stalks of the second be oftentimes of a mean thickness, the woody substance somewhat whitish and soft: the branches be round, and covered with a whitish bark; notwithstanding in the beginning when the sprays be young they are somewhat reddish. The leaves be long, like those of the common Honeysuckle, soft, and of a white green: on the lower side they be whiter, and a little hairy: the flowers be lesser than any of the Woodbines, but yet of the same fashion, and of a whitish colour, joined together by couples upon several slender footstalks, like little wild Cherries, of a red colour, the one lesser oftentimes than the other.

3. This strange kind of Woodbine, which Carolus Clusius hath set forth in his Pannonic Observations, riseth up oftentimes to the height of a man, even as the former doth; which divides itself into many branches, covered with a rough black bark; that choppeth and gapeth in sundry clefts as the bark of the Oak. The tender branches are of a whitish green colour, covered with a woolly hairiness, of an overworn colour, whereupon do grow leaves set by couples one against the other, like unto the common Woodbine, of a drying bitter taste: the flowers grow by couples likewise, of a whitish colour. The fruit succeedeth, growing like little cherries, each one on his own footstalk, of a bright and shining blue colour; which being bruised, do dye the hands of a reddish colour, and they are of a sharp winy taste; and contain in them many small flat seeds. The root is woody, dispersing itself far abroad.

4. This kind of upright Woodbine groweth up likewise to the height of a man, and oftentimes more high, like to the last described, but altogether greater. The berries hereof are very black, wherein especially is the difference. The leaves of this are as large as Bay leaves, sharp pointed, green above, and whitish underneath, but not hairy, nor snipped about the edges: the flowers grow by couples, of a whitish purple, or wholly purple: to these pairs of flowers there commonly succeeds but one berry, larger than any of the former, of the bigness of a little cherry, and of the same colour, having two marks upon the top thereof, where the flowers stood.

5. To the kinds of Woodbines this plant may likewise be referred, whose picture with this description was sent unto Clusius long since by that learned doctor in physic Thomas Penny (of our London college of famous memory:) it riseth up with a stalk of a foot high; whereupon are set by couples fair broad leaves one right against another, ribbed with certain nerves like those of Plantain, sharp pointed, and somewhat hollowed in the middle like Spoonwort: from the bosom of which leaves come forth small flowers, not seen or described by the author: after which cometh forth a cluster of red berries, thrust hard together as those of Aaron or Priest's Pint. The root is tough and very slender, creeping far abroad under the upper crust of the earth, whereby it occupieth much ground.

The Place.

These plants are strangers in England: they grow in the woods and mountains of Switzerland, Germany, Savoy, and other those parts tending to the East, East North-East, and East and by South.

I have a plant of the first kind in my garden: the rest as yet I have not seen, and therefore cannot write so liberally thereof as I could wish.

The dwarf Honysuckle grows in the maritime parts of Norway and Sweden, & the countries thereabout.

The Time.

They flower for the most part when the others do, that is to say in May and June, and their fruit is ripe in September.

The Names.

Upright Woodbine or Honeysuckle is called Periclymenum stans, and Periclymenum rectum, or upright Woodbine: of Dodonæus, Xylosteum: in High Dutch, Honds Kirsen, that is to say, Canum Cerasa, or Dog Cherries. The English names are expressed in their several titles. It hath been called Chamæcerasus, but not truly.

The Temperature and Virtues.

Touching the temperature and virtues of these upright Woodbines, we have no experience at all ourselves, neither have we learned anything of others.