Chap. XCII.
Amaranthus. Flower-gentle.
We haue foure or fiue sorts of Flower-gentle to trimme vp this our Garden withall, which doe differ very notably one from another, as shall be declared in their seuerall descriptions; some of which are very tender, and must be carefully regarded, and all little enough to cause them beare seede with vs, or else wee shall bee to seeke euery yeare: others are hardy enough, and will hardly be lost out of the Garden.
1. Amaranthus purpureus minor. The small purple Flower-gentle.
This gallant purple Veluet flower, or Flower-gentle, hath a crested stalke two foote high or more, purplish at the bottome, but greene to the toppe, whereout groweth many small branches, the leaues on the stalkes and branches are somewhat broad at the bottome, and sharpe pointed, of a full greene colour, and often somewhat reddish withall, like in forme vnto the leaues of Blites (whereof this and the rest are accounted species, or sorts) or small Beetes: the flowers are long, spikie, soft, and gentle tufts of haires, many as it were growing together, broad at the bottome, and small vp at the toppe, pyramis or steeple-fashion, of so excellent a shining deepe purple colour, tending to a murrey, that in the most excellent coloured Veluet, cannot be seene a more orient colour, (and I thinke from this respect, the French call it Passe velours, that is to say, passing Veluet in colour) without any smell at all, which being bruised giueth the same excellent purple colour on paper, and being gathered in his full strength and beauty, will abide a great time (if it be kept out of the winde and sunne in a dry place) in the same grace and colour: among these tufts lye the seede scattered, which is small, very blacke, and shining: the rootes are a few threddy strings, which quickly perish, as the whole plant doth, at the first approach of Winter weather.
2. Amaranthus Coccineus. Scarlet Flower-gentle.
The leaues of this Flower-gentle are longer, and somewhat narrower then the former; the stalke groweth somewhat higher, bearing his long tufts at seuerall leaues, as also at the toppe of the stalkes, many being set together, but separate one from another, and each bowing or bending downe his head, like vnto a Feather, such as is worn in our Gallants and Gentlewomens heads, of an excellent bloudy Scarlet colour: the seede is blacke, like vnto the former: the roote perisheth quicklier, because it is more tender.
3. Amaranthus tricolor. Spotted or variable Flower-gentle.
The chiefest beauty of this plant consisteth in the leaues, and not in the flowers; for they are small tufts growing along the stalke, which is nothing so high as the former, especially with vs, and at the ioynts with the leaues: the leaues hereof are of the same fashion that the former are, and pointed also; but euery leafe is to be seene parted into greene, red, and yellow, very orient and fresh (especially if it come to his full perfection, which is in hot and dry weather) diuided not all alike, but in some leaues, where the red or yellow is, there will be greene, and so varying, that it is very pleasant to behold: the seede hereof is blacke and shining, not to bee knowne from the former.