The double Paigle or Cowslip hath smaller and darker greene leaues then the single kinde hath, and longer stalkes also whereon the leaues doe stand: it beareth diuers flowers vpon a stalke, but not so many as the single kinde, euery one whereof is of a deeper and fairer yellow colour then any of the former, standing not much aboue the brimmes of the huskes that hold them, consisting of two or three rowes of leaues set round together, which maketh it shew very thicke and double, of a prettie small sent, but not heady.
20. Paralysis flore viridante pleno. Double greene Cowslips.
This double greene Cowslip is so like vnto the single greene kinde formerly expressed, that vntill they be neare flowring, they can hardly be distinguished; but when it is in flower, it hath large double flowers, of the same yellowish greene colour with the single, and more laid open then the former double Paigle.
21. Paralysis flore viridante siue calamistrato. The greene Rose Cowslip, or double greene feathered Cowslip.
There is small difference in the leaues of this double kinde from the last, but that they are not of so darke a greene: the chiefest difference consisteth in the flowers, which are many, standing together at the toppes of the stalkes, but farre differing from all other of these kindes: for euery flower standing vpon his owne stalke, is composed of many very small and narrow leaues, without any huske to containe them, but spreading open like a little Rose, of a pale yellowish greene colour, and without any sent at all, abiding in flower, especially if it stand in a shadowie place out of the sunne, aboue two moneths, almost in as perfect beauty, as in the first weeke.
The Place.
All those kindes as they haue been found wilde, growing in diuers places in England, so they haue been transplanted into Gardens, to be there nourished for the delight of their louers, where they all abide, and grow fairer then in their naturall places, except the small Birds eyes, which will (as I said) hardly abide any culture, but groweth plentifully in all the North Countries, in their squally or wet grounds.
The Time.
These doe all flower in the Spring of the yeare, some earlier and some later, and some in the midst of Winter, as they are defended from the colds and frosts, and the mildnesse of the time will permit; yet the Cowslips doe alwayes flower later then the Primroses, and both the single and double greene Cowslips latest, as I said in their descriptions, and abide much after all the rest.