Chap. C.
Cardamine. Cuckow flowers, or Ladies smockes.
Of the common sorts of Cuckow flowers that grow by ditch-sides, or in moist medowes, & wet grounds, it is not my purpose here to write, but of one or two other, the most specious or faire of all the tribe, that doe best befit this garden.
1. Cardamine flore pleno. Double Cuckow flowers.
The double Cardamine hath a few winged leaues, weake and tender, lying on the ground, very like vnto the single medow kinde; from among which riseth vp a round greene stalke, set here and there, with the like leaues that grow below, the top whereof hath a few branches, whereon stand diuers flowers, euery one vpon a small footestalk, consisting of many small whitish round leaues, a little dasht ouer with a shew of blush, set round together, which make a double flower: the roote creepeth vnder ground, sending forth small white fibres, and shooteth vp in diuers places.
2. Cardamine trifolia. Trefoile Ladies smockes.
This small plant hath diuers hard, darke round greene leaues, somewhat vneuen about the edges, alwayes three set together on a blackish small footstalke, among which rise vp small round blackish stalkes, halfe a foote high, with three small leaues at the ioynts, where they branch forth; at the toppes whereof stand many flowers, consisting of foure leaues a peece, of a whitish or blush colour very pale: after which come vp small, thicke and long pods, wherein is contained small round seede: the root is composed of many white threds, from the heads whereof runne out small strings, of a dark purple colour, whereby it encreaseth.
The Place.
The first with the double flower is found in diuers places of our owne Countrey, as neere Micham about eight miles from London; also in Lancashire, from whence I receiued a plant, which perished, but was found by the industrie of a worthy Gentlewoman, dwelling in those parts heretofore remembred, called Mistresse Thomasin Tunstall, a great louer of these delights. The other was sent me by my especiall good friend Iohn Tradescante, who brought it among other dainty plants from beyond the Seas, and imparted thereof a roote to me.