There is another more rare then all the rest, whose leaues are somewhat longer, and narrower then the first, and like vnto the second kinde: the spikes are short, many set together, like branches full of heads or eares of corne, euery one whereof hath some long haires sticking out from them, of a deep blush, tending to a carnation colour.
5. Amaranthus purpureus maior paniculis sparsis. Great Floramour, or purple Flower-gentle.
The great Floramour hath one thicke, tall, crested, browne red stalke, fiue or six foote high, from whence spring many great broad leaues, like vnto the former for the forme, but much larger & redder for the most part, especially the lowest, which brancheth forth into diuers parts, & from between these leaues, & the stalks or branches, as also at the tops of them, stand long, spikie, round, & somewhat flat tufts, of a more reddish purple colour then the first, and diuided also into seuerall parts, wherin when they are full ripe, are to be seen an innumerable company of white seed, standing out among the short thrums, and do then easily fall away with a little touching; euery one of these white seed hath as it were an hole halfe bored through therin: the root is a great bush of strings, spreading in the ground, whereby it is strongly fastened, yet perisheth euery yeare, after it hath giuen his seede.
The Place.
All these plants growe in the Easterne Countries, as Persia, Syria, Arabia, &c. except the greatest, which hath been brought out of the West Indies, where it is much vsed, especially the seede: they are all, noursed vp with much care in our Gardens, and yet in a backward or cold yeare they will not thriue, for that they desire much heate: but the greatest doth alwayes giue ripe seede euery yeare.
The Time.
They beare their gallant tufts or spikes for the most part in August, and some not vntill September.
The Names.
The name Amaranthus is giuen to all these plants, taken from the Greeke word ἀμαραντίνος, non marcescens, or non senescens, that is, neuer waxing old, and is often also imposed on other plants, who haue the same property, that is, that their flowers being gathered in a fit season, will retaine their natiue colour a long time, as shall be shewed in the [Chapter following]. Diuers do thinke the first to be Phlox, or Flamma of Theophrastus. The third is called Gelosia, or Celosia of Tragus. Spigelius in his Isagoges saith, it is generally taken to be Sophonia, whereof Plinie maketh mention; and Lobel, to bee the Persians Theombroton of Plinie. The Italians, from whom I had it (by the meanes of Mʳ. Doctor Iohn More, as I haue had many other rare simples) call it, Blito di tre colori, A three coloured Blite. The fifth, which is the greatest, hath been sent from the West Indies by the name of Quinüa, as Clusius reporteth. The name Flower-gentle in English, and Floramour, which is the French, of Flos amoris, and Passe velours, as is before said, or Veluet flower, according to the Italian, Flor veluto, are equally giuen to all these plants, with their seuerall distinctions, as they are expressed in their titles.