The Names.
The first is called by Clusius Ornithogalum maximum album, because it is greater then the next, which hee tooke formerly for the greatest: but it might more fitly, in my iudgement, bee called Asphodelus bulbosus albus (if there be any Asphodelus bulbosus at all) because this do so nearly resemble that, both in the early springing, and the decay of the greene leaues, when the stalkes of flowers doe rise vp. Diuers also doe call it Ornithogalum Pannonicum maximum album.
The second hath his name in his title, as most authors doe set it downe, yet in the great Herball referred to Dalechampius, it is called Ornithogalum magnum Myconi.
The third hath his name from the place of his birth, and the other from his popularity, yet Dodonæus calleth it Bulbus Leucanthemos.
The last is called by diuers Asphodelo-hyacinthinus, and Hyacintho-asphodelus Galeni. Dodonæus calleth it Asphodelus fæmina, and Asphodelus bulbosus. But Lobel, and Gerrard from him, and Dodonæus, doe make this to haue white flowers, whereas all that I haue seene, both in mine owne, and in others Gardens, bore greenish flowers, as Clusius setteth it truely downe. Lobel seemeth in the description of this, to confound the Ornithogalum of Mompelier with it, and calleth it Asphodelus hyacinthinus forte Galeni, and saith that some would call it Pancratium Monspeliense, and Asphodelus Galeni. But as I haue shewed, the Ornithogalum spicatum and this, doe plainly differ the one from the other, and are not both to be called by one name, nor to be reckoned one, but two distinct plants.
Ornithogalum Æthiopicum. The Starre-flower of Æthiopia.
The leaues of this plant are a foote long, and at the least an inch broad, which being broken, are no lesse woolly then the woolly Iacinth: the stalke is a cubit high, strong and greene; from the middle whereof vnto the toppe, stand large snow white flowers, vpon long, greene, thicke foot-stalkes, and yellowish at the bottome of the flower; in the middle whereof stand six white threeds, tipt with yellow chiues, compassing the head, which is three square, and long containing the seede: the roote is thicke and round, somewhat like the Asphodelus Galeni.
The Place.
This plant was gathered by some Hollanders, on the West side of the Cape of good Hope.