And another of the same colour, but somewhat deader.
Iris bulbosa Africana serpentriæ caule. The purple or murrey bulbous Barbary Flowerdeluce.
This Flowerdeluce as it is more strange (that is, but lately knowne and possessed by a few) so it is both more desired, and of more beauty then others. It is in all respects, of roote, leafe, and flower, for the forme like vnto the middle sort of these Flowerdeluces, onely the lowest part of the leaues and stalke, for an inch or thereabouts, next vnto the ground, are of a reddish colour, spotted with many spots, and the flower, being of a meane size, is of a deepe purplish red or murrey colour the whole flower throughout, except the yellow spot in the middle of the three lower or falling leaues, as is in all others.
Purpurea cærulea obsoleta labris fuscis.
The duskie party coloured purple.
And lastly, there is another sort, which is the greatest of all these narrow leafed Flowerdeluces, in all the parts of it; for the roote is greater then any of the other, being thicke and short: the leaues are broader and longer, but of the same colour: the stalke is stronger and higher then any of them, bearing two or three flowers, larger also then any of the rest, whose falling leaues are of a duskie yellow, and sometimes with veines and borders about the brimmes, of another dunne colour, yet hauing that yellow spot that is in all: the arched leaues are of a sullen pale purplish yellow, and the vpright leaues of a dull or duskie blewish purple colour: the heads or hornes for seede are likewise greater, and so is the seede also a little.
The Place.
These Flowerdeluces haue had their originall out of Spaine and Portugall, as it is thought, except those that haue risen by the sowing, and those which are named of Africa.
The Time.
These flower in Iune, and sometimes abide vnto Iuly, but vsually not so early as the former broad leafed kindes, and are soone spoiled with wet in their flowring.