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THe herbe Spartum, as Pliny saith, growerh of it selfe, and sendeth forth from the root a mul∣titude of slender rushie leaues of a cubit high, or higher, tough and pliable, of a whitish colour, which in time drawetll narrow together, making the flat leafe to become round, as is the Rush. The stub or stalke thereof beareth at the top certaine feather-like tufts comming
forth of a sheath or huske, among the which chaffie huskes is contained the seed, long and chaf∣fie. The root consisterh of many strings folding one within another, by meanes whereof it com∣meth to the forme of a turfe or hassocke.
2 The second likewise Pliny describeth to haue a long stalke not much vnlike to Reed, but lesser, whereupon do grow many grassie leaues, rough and pliant, hard in handling as are the Rushes. A spokie chaffie tuft groweth at the top of the stalke, comming forth of a hood or si∣newie sheath, such as encloseth the flowers of Onions, Leekes, Narcissus, and such like, before they come to flowring, with seed and roots like the precedent.
3 English Mat-weed hath a rushie root, deepely creeping and growing in heapes of sand and grauell, from the which arise stiffe and sharpe pointed leaues a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and a halfe long, of a whitish colour, very much resembling those of Camels hay. The stalke groweth to the height of a cubit or more, whereupon doth grow a spike ‡ or eare of some fiue or six inches long, somwhat resem∣bling Rie; it is the thicknesse of a finger in the midst, and smaller towards both the ends. The seed is browne, as small as Canarie seed, but round, and somewhat sharpe at the one end ‡. Of this plant neither Sheepe nor any other Cattle will raste or eate.
4 The other English Mat-Weed is like vnto the former, sauing that the roots of this are long, not vnlike to Dogs Grasse, but do not thrust deepe into the ground, but creepe onely vnder the vpper crust of the earth. The tuft or eare is 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and more resembling the head of Canary seed than that of Rie.
‡ 5 Lobell giues a figure of another smaller Rush, leaued Spartum, with small heads, but hee hath not described it in his Latine Workes, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I can say nothing certainly of it.
6 To this kindred must be added the Feathered Grasse, though not partaking with the former in place of growth. Now it hath many small leaues of a foots length round, green, and sharp poin∣ted, not much in forme vnlike the first described Mat-weed, but much lesse: amongst these leaues rise vp many small stalkes not exceeding the height of the leaues, which beare a spike vnlike the forementioned Mat-weeds, hauing 3 or foure 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ending in, or sending vp very fine white Fea∣thers, resembling the smaller sort of feathers of the wings of the Bird of Paradise. The root con∣sists of many small grassie sibres.