¶ The Description.
1 THis kinde of Wheate which Lobelius, di∣stinguishing it by the care, calleth Spica Mutica, is the most principal of all other, whose eares are altogether bare or naked, without awnes or chaffie beards. The stalke riseth from a threddy root, compact of many strings, joynted or kneed at sundry distances; from whence shoot forth grassie blades and leaues like vnto Rie, but broader. The plant is so well knowne to many, and so profitable to all, that the meanest and most ignorant need no lar∣ger description to know the same by.
2 The second kinde of Wheat, in root, stalkes, joints, and blades, is like the precedent, differing one∣ly in care, and number of graines, whereof this kinde doth abound, hauing an eare consisting of many ranks, which seemeth to make the eare double or square. The root and graine is like the other, but not bare and na∣ked, but bristled or bearded, with many small and sharpe eiles or awnes, not vnlike to those of Barley.
3 Flat Wheat is like vnto the other kindes of Wheat in leaues, stalkes, and roots, but is bearded and bordered with rough and sharpe ailes, wherein consists the difference. ‡ I know not what our Author means by this flat Wheat; but I conjecture it to be the long rough eared Wheat, which hath blewish eares when as it is ripe, in other things resembling the ordinary red wheat. ‡
4 The fourth kinde is like the last described, and thus differeth from it, in that, that this kind hath many smal ears comming forth of one great eare, & the beards hereof be shorter than of the former kind.
5 Bright wheate is like the second before described, and differeth from it in that, that this kind is foure square, somewhat bright and shining, the other not.
‡ I thinke it a very fit thing to adde in this place a rare obseruation, of the transmutation of one species into another, in plants; which though it haue beene obserued of ancient times, as by Theophrastus, de caus. plant. lib. 3. cap. 6. whereas amongst others hee mentioneth the change of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Spelt into oates: and by Virgill in these verses;
yet none that I haue read haue obserued, that two seuerall graines, perfect in each respect, did grow at any time in one eare: the which I saw this yeare 1632, in an eare of white Wheat, which was found by my very good Friend Master Iohn Goodyer, a man second to none in his industrie and searching of plants, nor in his iudgement or knowledge of them. This eare of wheat was as large and faire as most are, and about the middle thereof grew three or foure perfect Oats in all respects: which being hard to be found, I held very worthy of setting downe, for some reasons not to be in∣sisted vpon in this place. ‡