All the kindes of Orchis are accounted to procure bodily lust, as well the flowers distilled, as the rootes prepared.
The rootes boyled in red Wine, and afterwards dryed, are held to bee a singular good remedie against the bloody Flixe.
Chap. XXIII.
Dens Caninus. Dogs tooth Violet.
Vnto the kindes of Orchides, may fitly be ioyned another plant, which by many is reckoned to be a Satyrium, both from the forme of roote and leafe, and from the efficacy or vertue correspondent thereunto. And although it cannot be the Satyrium Erythronium of Dioscorides, as some would entitle it, for that as I haue shewed before, his Satyrium tryphillum is the Tulipa without all doubt; yet because it differeth very notably, and carrieth more beauty and respect in his flower then they, I shall entreate thereof in a Chapter by it selfe, and set it next vnto them.
Dens Caninus flore albo. Dogs tooth Violet with a white flower.
The white Dogs tooth hath for his roote a white bulbe, long and small, yet vsually greater then either of the other that follow, bigger belowe then aboue, with a small peece adioyning to the bottome of it, from whence rise vp in the beginning of the Spring, after the Winter frosts are past, two leaues for the most part (when it will flower, or else but one, and neuer three together that euer I saw) closed together when they first come vp out of the ground, which inclose the flower betweene them: the leaues when they are opened do lay themselues flat on the ground, or not much aboue it, one opposite vnto the other, with the stalke and the flower on it standing betweene them, which leaues are of a whitish greene colour, long and narrow, yet broader in the middle then at both ends, growing lesse by degrees each way, spotted and striped all ouer the leaues with white lines and spots: the stalke riseth vp halfe a foote high or more, bearing at the toppe one flower and no more, hanging downe the head, larger then any of the other of this kinde that follow, made or consisting of six white long and narrow leaues, turning themselues vp againe, after it hath felt the comfort of the Sunne, that they doe almost touch the stalke againe, very like vnto the flowers of Cyclamen or Sowebread: it hath in the middle of the flower six white chiues, tipt with darke purple pendents, and a white three forked stile in the middle of them: the flower hath no sent at all, but commendable onely for the beauty and forme thereof: after the flower is past, commeth in the place a round head seeming three square, containing therein small and yellowish seede.
Dens Caninus flore purpurascente. Dogs tooth with a pale purple flower.
This other Dogs tooth is like vnto the former, but lesser in all parts, the leafe whereof is not so long, but broad and short, spotted with darker lines and spots: the flower is like the other, but smaller, and of a delayed purple colour, very pale sometimes, and sometimes a little deeper, turning it selfe as the other, with a circle round about the vmbone or middle, the chiues hereof are not white, but declining to purple: the roote is white, and like vnto the former, but lesser, as is said before.