This three berried Spurge Oliue hath no great stemme at all, but the whole plant spreadeth from the ground into many flexible tough greene branches, whereon are set diuers narrow, long, darke greene leaues all along the branches, which abide greene all the Winter: the flowers are very small, scarce to be seene, and come forth between the leaues and the stalke, of a pale yellow colour, made of three leaues; after which come small blackish berries, three vsually set together; the roote spreadeth it selfe in the ground not very farre, being hard and wooddy, and often dyeth, if it bee not well defended from the extremity of our sharpe Winters.
4. Cneorum Matthioli. Small Rocke Roses.
I was long in doubt in what place I should dispose of this plant, whether among the Campions, as Bauhinus, or among these, as Clusius doth; but lest my Garden should want it wholly, let it take vp roome for this time here. This gallant plant hath diuers long, weake, slender, but yet tough branches lying vpon the ground, diuided vsually into other smaller branches, whereon growe many, small, long, and somewhat thicke leaues, somewhat like vnto the leaues of the former Mezereon, set without any order to the very tops, from whence doe come forth a tuft of many small flowers together, made or consisting of foure leaues a peece, of a bright red or carnation colour, and very sweete withall, which turne into small round whitish berries, wherein is contained small round seede, couered with a grayish coate or skinne: the roote is long and yellowish, spreading diuers wayes vnder the ground, and abideth many yeares shooting forth new branches.
Flore albo.
It hath beene obserued in some of these plants, to bring forth white flowers, not differing in any thing else.
The Place.
The first sorts growe plentifully in many places of Germany. The second in the mountaines by Sauoye. The third in Prouence and Spaine. The last in diuers parts of Germany, Bohemia, and Austria, and about Franckford.
The Time.
The two first sorts are most vsually in flower about Christmas, or in Ianuary, if the weather be not violent, and sometimes not vntill February. The second flowreth not vntill Aprill. The third in May. The berries of them ripen some in Iune and Iuly; some in August and September, as their flowring is earlier or later. The last flowreth as well in the Spring as in Autumne, so apt and plentifull it is in bearing, and the seede at both times doth ripen soone after.