6. Asphodelus luteus minor, siue Hastula regia. The small yellow Asphodill, or Kings speare.
This small yellow Asphodill, which is vsually called the Kings speare, hath many long narrow edged leaues, which make them seeme three square, of a bluish or whitish greene colour: the stalke riseth vp three foote high oftentimes, beset with small long leaues vp vnto the very flowers, which grow thicke together spike-fashion one aboue another, for a great length, and wholly yellow, laid open like a Starre, somewhat greater then the last white Asphodill, and smaller then the first, which when they are past yeeld round heads, containing blacke cornered seede, almost three square: the rootes are many long yellow strings, which spreading in the ground, doe much encrease.
The Place.
All these Asphodils doe grow naturally in Spaine and France, and from thence were first brought vnto vs, to furnish our Gardens.
The Time.
All the glandulous rooted Asphodils doe flower some in May, and some in Iune; but the two last doe flower, the yellow or last, of them in Iuly, and the former white one in August and September, and vntill the cold and winter hinder it.
The Names.
Their seuerall names are giuen them in their titles, as much as is fit for this discourse. For to shew you that the Greekes doe call the stalke of the great Asphodill Ανθερίκη, and the Latines Albucum, or what else belongeth to them, is fitter for another worke, vnto which I leaue them.
{Bastard Asphodils}
The bastard Asphodils should follow next in place, if this worke were fit for them; but because I haue tyed my selfe to expresse onely those flowers and plants, that for their beauty, or sent, or both, doe furnish a Garden of Pleasure, and they haue none, I leaue them to a generall History of plants, or that Garden of Simples before spoken of, and will describe the Lilly Asphodils, and the Phalangia or Spider-worts, which are remaining of those, that ioyne in name or fashion, and are to be here inserted, before I passe to the rest of the bulbous rootes.