The Names.
The names that are giuen seuerally to them may well serue this worke, that thereby they may bee distinguished one from another: For to set downe any further controuersie of names, how fitly or vnfitly they haue beene called, and how variably by diuers former Writers, is fitter for a generall History, vnto which I leaue what may be said, both concerning these and the rest: Onely this I would giue you to vnderstand, that the Turkie kindes haue been sent to vs vnder the names of Terobolos for the single, and Terobolos Catamer lale for the double, and yet oftentimes, those that haue been sent for double, haue proued single, so little fidelity is to bee found among them.
The Vertues.
All or most of these plants are very sharpe and exulcerating, yet the care and industry of diuers learned men haue found many good effects in many of them. For the rootes and leaues both of the wilde kindes, and of some of these of the Garden, stamped and applyed to the wrists, haue driuen away the fits in Feuers. The roote likewise of the double English kinde is applyed for pestilent sores, to helpe to breake them, by drawing the venome to the place. They helpe likewise to take away scarres and markes in diuers places of the body.
Chap. XXVIII.
Caltha palustris flore pleno. Double Marsh Marigold.
As an appendix to the Crowfeete, I must needes adde this plant, yet seuerally by it selfe, because both it and his single kinde are by most adioyned thereunto, for the neare resemblance both in shape and sharpnesse of quality. The single kinde I leaue to the Ditch sides, and moist grounds about them, as the fittest places for it, and onely bring the double kinde into my Garden, as fittest for his goodly proportion and beauty to be entertained, and haue place therein.
The double Marsh Marigold hath many broad and round greene leaues, a little endented about the edges, like vnto the single kinde, but not altogether so large, especially in a Garden where it standeth not very moist: the stalkes are weake, round, hollow, and greene, diuided into three or foure branches at the toppe, with leaues at the seuerall ioynts, whereon stand very double flowers, of a gold yellow colour: the fiue outer leaues being larger then any of the rest that are encompassed by them, which fall away after they haue stood blowne a great while (for it endureth in flower a moneth or more, especially if it stand in a shadowie place) without bearing any seed: the rootes are composed of many thicke, long, and round whitish strings, which runne downe deep into the ground, and there are fastened very strongly.