Chap. CXII.
Rosmarinum. Rosemary.
There hath beene vsually knowne but one sort of Rosemary, which is frequent through all this Country: but there are some other sorts not so well known; the one is called Gilded Rosemary; the other broade leafed Rosemary; a third I will adioyne, as more rare then all the other, called Double flowred Rosmary, because few haue heard thereof, much lesse seene it, and my selfe am not well acquainted with it, but am bold to deliuer it vpon credit.
1. Libanotis Coronaria siue Rosmarinum vulgare. Our Common Rosmary.
This common Rosemary is so well knowne through all our Land, being in euery womans garden, that it were sufficient but to name it as an ornament among other sweete herbes and flowers in our Garden, seeing euery one can describe it: but that I may say something of it, It is well obserued, as well in this our Land (where it hath been planted in Noblemens, and great mens gardens against bricke wals, and there continued long) as beyond the Seas, in the naturall places where it groweth, that it riseth vp in time vnto a very great height, with a great and woody stemme (of that compasse, that (being clouen out into thin boards) it hath serued to make lutes, or such like instruments, and here with vs Carpenters rules, and to diuers other purposes) branching out into diuers and sundry armes that extend a great way, and from them againe into many other smaller branches, whereon are set at seueral distances, at the ioynts, many very narrow long leaues, greene aboue, and whitish vnderneath; among which come forth towards the toppes of the stalkes, diuers sweet gaping flowers, of a pale or bleake blewish colour, many set together, standing in whitish huskes; the seed is small and red, but thereof seldome doth any plants arise that will abide without extraordinary care; for although it will spring of the seede reasonable well, yet it is so small and tender the first yeare, that a sharpe winter killeth it quickly, vnlesse it be very well defended: the whole plant as well leaues as flowery smelleth exceeding sweete.
2. Rosmarinum striatum, siue aureum. Gilded Rosemary.
This Rosemary differeth not from the former, in forme or manner of growing, nor in the forme or colour of the flower, but only in the leaues, which are edged, or striped, or pointed with a faire gold yellow colour, which so continueth all the yeare throughout, yet fresher and fairer in Summer then in Winter; for then it will looke of a deader colour, yet so, that it may be discerned to be of two colours, green & yellow.
3. Rosmarinum latifolium. Broade leafed Rosemary.
This broad leafed Rosemary groweth in the same manner that the former doth, but that we haue not seene it in our Countrey since we had it to grow so great, or with such woody stemmes: the leaues stand together vpon the long branches after the same fashion, but larger, broader and greener then the other, and little or nothing whitish vnderneath: the flowers likewise are of the same forme and colour with the ordinary, but larger, and herein consisteth the difference.