Chap. XVII.
Crocus. Saffron.
There are diuers sorts of Saffrons, whereof many doe flower in the Spring time, and some in Autumne, among whom there is but one onely kinde, that is called tame or of the Garden, which yeeldeth those blades or chiues that are vsed in meates and medicines, and many wayes profitable for other respects, none of the rest, which are all wilde kindes, giuing any blade equall vnto those of the tame kinde, or for any other vse, then in regard of their beautifull flowers of seuerall varieties, and as they haue been carefully sought out, and preserued by diuers, to furnish a Garden of dainty curiosity. To entreate therefore of these, I must, to obserue an orderly declaration, diuide them into two primary families: the former shall be of those that yeeld their pleasant flowers in the Spring of the yeare, and the other that send out their colours in the Autumne, among whom that Rex pomarij (as I may so call it) the tame or manured kinde, properly called of the Garden, is to be comprehended, for that it giueth his pleasant flowers at that time among others. I shall againe distribute those of the Spring time into three chiefe colours, that is, into white, purple, and yellow, and vnder euery one of them, comprehend the seuerall varieties that doe belong vnto them; which course I will also hold with those of the Autumne, that thus being rightly ranked, they may the more orderly be described.
{Spring Saffron flowers}
1. Crocus Vernus albus purus minor. The smaller pure white Saffron flower of the Spring.
This small Saffron flower springeth vp in the beginning of the yeare, with three or foure small greene leaues, somewhat broader, but much shorter then the true Saffron leaues, with a white line downe the middle of euery leafe: betweene these leaues, out of a white skinne, riseth vp one or two small flowers, made of six leaues a peece, as all the rest in generall are, of a pure white colour, without any mixture in it, which abide not in flower aboue a weeke, or rather lesse, so sodainly is the pleasure of this, and the purple lost: it flowreth not for the most part, vntill a moneth after the yellow Crocus appeareth in flower, and the ordinary stript Crocus is past: the seede is small, round, and reddish, yet not so red as the seede of the yellow, contained in three square heads, yet seldome beareth, but encreaseth by the roote plentifully enough, which is small, round, and flat at the bottome, somewhat white on the outside, but whiter within, shooting out small sprouts on euery side of the roote, which is the best note to know this kinde and the lesser purple, which are both alike, from all other rootes of Saffron flowers.
2. Crocus albus maior multiflorus. The great snow white Crocus.
This greater Saffron flower riseth vp vsually with three or foure greene leaues, larger then the former, with a white line in euery one of them: the flowers are greater, and more in number, rising together, but flowring one after another, of a pure snow white colour, and abiding but little longer in flower then the former.
3. Crocus albus maior alter dictus Mæsiacus. The great white Saffron flower or Crocus of Mesia.
This great white Crocus of Mesia, riseth vp out of the ground, almost as early as the first sort of the yellow, with foure or fiue leaues, being very like vnto the leaues of the yellow Crocus, and as large, with white lines in them: the flowers also are as large as the flowers of the yellow, and many also rising one after another like vnto it, but not of so pure a white colour, as the former or last described, but rather tending to a Milky or Creame colour: the roote is not couered with any reddish, but rather pale skinnes or coates.