Chap. CXIII.
Myrtus. The Mirtle tree or bush.
In the hot Countreyes, there haue been many sorts of Mirtles found out, naturally growing there, which will not fructifie in this of ours, nor yet abide without extraordinary care, and conueniencie withall, to preserue them from the sharpenesse of our winters. I shall only bring you to view three sorts in this my Garden, the one with a greater, the other two with lesser leaues, as the remainder of others which wee haue had, and which are preserued from time to time, not without much paine and trouble.
1. Myrtus latifolia. The greater leafed Mirtle.
The broader leafed Mirtle riseth vp to the height of foure or fiue foote at the most with vs, full of branches and leaues growing like a small bush, the stemme and elder branches whereof are couered with a dark coloured bark, but the young with a green, and some with a red, especially vpon the first shooting forth, whereon are set many fresh greene leaues, very sweet in smell, and very pleasant to behold, so neer resembling the leaues of the Pomegranate tree that groweth with vs, that they soone deceiue many that are not expert therein, being somewhat broade and long, and pointed at the ends, abiding alwaies green: at the ioynts of the branches where the leaues stand, come forth the flowers vpon small footestalkes, euery one by it selfe consisting of fiue small white leaues, with white threds in the middle, smelling also very sweet; after the flowers are past, there doe arise in the hot Countries, where they are naturall, round blacke berries, when they are ripe, wherein are contained many hard white crooked seedes, but neuer in this Countrey, as I said before: the roote disperseth it selfe into many branches, with many fibres annexed thereto.
2. Myrtus minor, seu minore folio. The smaller leafed Mirtle.
The smaller leafed Mirtle is a low shrub or bush, like vnto the former, but scarce rising so high, with branches spreading about the stemme, much thicker set with leaues then the former, smaller also, and pointed at the ends, of a little deeper greene colour, abiding greene also winter and summer, and very sweete likewise: the flowers are white like vnto the former, and as sweete, but shew not themselues so plentifull on the branches: the fruit is blacke in his naturall places, with seedes therein as the former.
3. Myrtus minor rotundiore folio. Boxe Mirtle.
Wee haue another sort of this small kinde of Mirtle, so like vnto the former both for smalnesse, deepe greene colour of the leaues, and thicke growing of the branches, that it will be thought of most, without good heede, and comparing the one with the other, to be the very same with the former: but if it bee well viewed, it will shew, by the roundnesse at the ends of the leaues very like vnto the small Boxe leaues, to be another differing kinde, although in nothing else. Wee nourse them with great care, for the beautifull aspect, sweete sent and raritie, as delights and ornaments for a garden of pleasure, wherein nothing should be wanting that art, care and cost might produce and preserue: as also to set among other euer greene plants to sort with them.