¶ The Description.
1 FRench Corne-Flagge hath small stiffe leaues, ribbed or chamfered with long nerues or sinewes running through the same, in shape like those of the small Floure de∣luce, or the blade of a sword, sharpe pointed, of an ouer-worne greene colour, among the which riseth vp a stiffe brittle stalke two cubits high, whereup∣on doe grow in comely order many faire purple Floures, gaping like those of Snapdragon, or not much differing from the Fox-Gloue, called in La∣tine Digitalis. After them come round knobbie seed-vessels, full of chaffie seed, very light, of a browne reddish colour. The root consisteth of two Bulbes, one set vpon the other; the vppermost whereof in the beginning of the Spring 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lesser, and more ful of juice; the lower greater, but more loose and lithie, which a little while 〈◊〉〈◊〉 peri∣sheth.
2 Italian Corn-Flag hath long narrow leaues with many ribbes or nerues running through the same: the stalke is stiffe and brittle, whereupon do grow Floures orderly placed vpon one side of the stalke, whereas the precedent hath his floures pla∣ced on both the sides of the stalke, in shape and co∣lour like the former, as are also the roots, but sel∣dome seene one aboue another, as in the former.
3 There is a third sort of Corne-Flag which agreeth with the last described in euerie point, sa∣uing that the Floures of this are of a pale colour, as it were betweene white, and that which we call Maidens Blush.
‡ 4 This Water Sword-Flag, described by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in his Cur. Post. hath leaues about a span long, thicke and hollow, with a partition in their middles, like as wee see in the cods of Stocke∣Gillouers, and the like: their colour is greene, and taste sweet, so that they are an acceptable food to the wilde Ducks ducking downe to the bottome of the water; for they sometimes lie some ells vnder water: which notwithstanding is ouer-topt by the stalke, which springs vp from among these leaues, and beares Floures of colour white, larger than those of Stock-Gillouers, but in that hollow part that is next the stalke they are of a blewish colour, almost in shape resembling the Floures of the Corne-Flag, yet not absolutely like them. They consist of fiue leaues, whereof the two vppermost are reflected towards the stalke; the three other being broader hang downewards. After the floures there follow round pointed vessels filled with red seed. It floures at the end of Iuly.
It was found in some places of West-Friseland, by Iohn Dortman a learned Apothecary of Gro∣ningen. It growes inwaters which haue pure grauell at the bottome, and that bring forth no plant besides.
Clusius, and Dortman who sent it him, call it Gladiolus Lacustris, or Stagnalis. ‡