| 1 | Colchicum Pannonicum. The Hungarian Medow Saffron. |
| 2 | Colchicum Byzantinum. Medowe Saffron of Constantinople. |
| 3 | Colchicum Lusitanicum Fritillaricum. The checkerd Medowe Saffron of Portugall. |
| 4 | Colchicum Neapolitanum Fritillaricum. The checkerd Medowe Saffron of Naples. |
| 5 | Colchicum Fritillaricum Chiense. The Checkerd Medowe Saffron of Chio or Sio. |
| 6 | Colchicum Hermodactylum. Physicall Medowe Saffron. |
7. Colchicum Neapolitanum Fritillaricum. The checkerd Medowe Saffron of Naples.
This checkerd Medowe Saffron of Naples, is very like vnto the last recited checkerd Saffron of Portugall, but that the flower is somewhat larger, yet sometimes very little, or not at all: the greatest marke to distinguish them is, that the flowers of this are of a deeper colour, and so are the spots on the flowers likewise, which are so conspicuous, that they are discerned a great way off, more like vnto the flowers of a deepe Fritillaria, then the former, and make a goodlier and a more glorious shew: the leaues of this doe rise vp early after the flowers, and are somewhat longer, of a darker greene colour, yet bending to a grayish colour as the other, not lying so neatly or round, but stand vp one by another, being as it were folded together: neither of both these last named checkerd Medowe Saffrons haue giuen any seede in this Countrey, that euer I could learne or heare of, but are encreased by the roote, which in this is like the former, but a little bigger.
8. Colchicum Fritillaricum Chiense. The checkerd Medowe Saffron of Chio or Sio.
This most beautifull Saffron flower riseth vp with his flowers in the Autumne, as the others before specified doe, although not of so large a size, yet farre more pleasant and delightfull in the thicke, deepe blew, or purple coloured beautifull spots therein, which make it excell all others whatsoeuer: the leaues rise vp in the Spring, being smaller then the former, for the most part three in number, and of a paler or fresher greene colour, lying close vpon the ground, broad at the bottome, a little pointed at the end, and twining or folding themselues in and out at the edges, as if they were indented. I haue not seene any seede it hath borne: the roote is like vnto the others of this kinde, but small and long, and not so great: it flowreth later for the most part then any of the other, euen not vntill Nouember, and is very hard to be preserued with vs, in that for the most part the roote waxeth lesse and lesse euery yeare, our cold Country being so contrary vnto his naturall, that it will scarce shew his flower; yet when it flowreth any thing early, that it may haue any comfort of a warme Sunne, it is the glorie of all these kindes.
9. Colchicum versicolor. The party coloured Medowe Saffron.
The flowers of this Medowe Saffron most vsually doe not appeare, vntill most of the other Autumne sorts are past, except the last, which are very lowe, scarce rising with their stalkes three fingers breadth aboue the ground, but oftentimes halfe hid within the ground: the leaues whereof are smaller, shorter, and rounder, then in any of the other before specified, some being altogether white, and others wholly of a very pale purple, or flesh colour; and some againe parted, the one halfe of a leafe white, and the other halfe of the same purple, and sometimes striped purple and white, in diuers leaues of one and the same flower: and againe, some will be the most part of the leafe white, and the bottome purple, thus varying as nature list, that many times from one roote may bee seene to arise all these varieties before mentioned: these flowers doe stand long before they fade and passe away; for I haue obserued in my Garden some that haue kept their flower faire vntill the beginning of Ianuary, vntill the extremitie of the Winter frosts and snowes haue made them hide their heads: the leaues therefore accordingly doe rise vp after all other, and are of a brownish or darke greene colour at their first springing vp, which after grow to be of a deepe greene colour: the roote is like the former English or Hungarian kindes, but thicker and greater for the most part, and shorter also.