Howsoeuer Dioscorides and others, doe giue vnto some of them speciall properties, both for inward and outward diseases, yet know I not any in these dayes with vs, that apply any of them as a remedy for any griefe, whatsoeuer Gerrard or others haue written.
Chap. X.
Leucoium bulbosum. The bulbous Violet.
Hauing thus set downe the whole family, both of the true and bastard Daffodils, I should next set in hand with the Hyacinths; but because Leucoium bulbosum, The bulbous Violet is a plant that doth challenge a place next vnto the Daffodils, as most nearly partaking with them, and a little with the Hyacinthes, I must of necessity interpose them, and shew their descriptions and differences, whereof some are early, of the first Spring, others later, and some of the Autumne.
{Early bulbous Violets}
Leucoium bulbosum præcox maius. The greater early bulbous Violet.
This bulbous Violet hath three or foure very greene, broad, flat, and short leaues, among which riseth vp a naked greene stalke, bearing out of a small skinny hose (as the former Daffodils doe) one white flower, hanging downe his head by a very small foot-stalke, made of six leaues, of an equall length, euery one whereof is tipt at the end with a small greenish yellow spot: after the flower is past, the head or seed-vessell groweth to be reasonable great, somewhat long and round, wherein is contained hard round seede, which being dry, is cleare, and of a whitish yellow colour: the roote is somewhat like a Daffodill roote, and couered with a blackish outside or skinne.
Leucoium bulbosum præcox minus. The lesser early bulbous Violet.
This lesser kinde riseth vp with two narrow grayish greene leaues, between which commeth forth the stalke, fiue or six inches high, bearing one small pendulous flower, consisting of three white leaues, which are small and pointed, standing on the outside, and hauing three other shorter leaues, which seeme like a cup in the middle, being each of them round at the ends, and cut in the middle, making the forme of an heart, with a greene tippe or spot at the broad end or edge: the seede is whitish, inclosed in long and round heads, like the former, but lesser: the roote is like a small Daffodill, with a blackish gray coate, and quickly diuideth into many of-sets.