The herball or Generall historie of plantes. Gathered by Iohn Gerarde of London Master in Chirurgerie very much enlarged and amended by Thomas Iohnson citizen and apothecarye of London

¶ The Description.

1 THe first of the Daffodils is that with the purple crowne or circle, hauing small nar∣row leaues, thicke, fat, and full of slimie juyce; among the which riseth vp a naked stalke, smooth and hollow, of a foot high, bearing at the top a faire milk-white floure growing forth of a hood or thinne filme, such as the floures of onions are wrapped in: in the mid∣dest of which floure is a round circle or small coronet of a yellowish colour, purfled or bordered about the edge of the said ring or circle with a pleasant purple colour; which beeing past, there followeth a thicke knob or button, wherein is contained blacke round seed. The root is white, bul∣bous or Onion fashion.

2 The second kinde of Daffodill agreeth with the precedent in euery respect, sauing that this Daffodill floureth in the beginning of Februarie, and the other not vntill Aprill, and is somewhat lesser. It is called Narcissus medio purpureus praecox; That is, Timely purple ringed Daffodill. The next may haue the addition praecocior, More timely: and the last in place, but first in time, praecocis∣simus, Most timely, or very early flouring Daffodill.

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‡ 5 Narcissus 〈◊〉〈◊〉-〈◊〉〈◊〉 flore pleno. Double floured 〈◊〉〈◊〉 circled Daffodill.

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6 Narcissus minor serotinus. The late flouring small Daffodill.

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7 Narcissus medioluteus. Primrose Pearles, or the common white Daffodill.

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8 Narcissus medioluteus polyanthos. French Daffodill.

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9 Narcissus Pisanus. Italian Daffodill.

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10 Narcissus albus multiplex. The double white Daffodill of Constantinople.

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‡ 11 Narcissus flore pleno 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The other double white Daffodill.

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‡ 12 Narcissus flore pleno, medio luteo. Double white Daffodil with the middle yellow.

3 The third kind of Daffodil with the pnrple ring or circle in the middle, hath many small nar∣row leaues, very flat, crookedly bending toward the top; among which riseth vp a slender bare stalke, at whose top doth grow a faire and pleasant floure, like vnto those before described, but les∣ser, and floureth sooner, wherein consisteth the difference.

‡ There is also another somewhat lesse, and flouring somewhat earlier than the last described.

4 This in roots, leaues, and stalkes differeth very little from the last mentioned kindes; but it beares many floures vpon one stalke, the out-leaues being like the former, white, but the cup or ring in the middle of a saffron colour, with diuers yellow threds contained therein.

5 To these may be added another mentioned by Clusius, which differs from these onely in the floures; for this hath floures consisting of six large leaues fairely spread abroad, within which are other six leaues not so large as the former, and then many other little leaues mixed with threds comming sorth of the middle. Now there are purple welts which runne betweene the first and se∣cond ranke of leaues, in the floure, and so in the rest. This floures in May; and it is Narcissus pleno flore quintus, of Clusius. ‡

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‡ 13 Narcissus flore pleno, medio versicolore. Double Daffodill with a diuers coloured middle.

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14 Narcissus totus albus. Milke white Daffodill.

6 This late flouring Daffodill hath many fat thicke leaues, full of juice, among the which ri∣seth vp a naked stalke, on the top whereof groweth a faire white floure, hauing in the middle a ring or yellow circle. The seed groweth in knobby seed vessels. The root is bulbous or Onion fashion. It floureth later than the others before described, that is to say, in April and May.

7 The seuenth kinde of Daffodill is that sort of Narcissus or Primerose peerelesse that is most common in our countrey gardens, generally knowne euery where. It hath long fat and thicke leaues, full of a slimie juice; among which riseth vp a bare thicke stalke, hollow within and full of juice. The floure groweth at the top, of a yellowish white colour, with a yellow crowne or cir∣cle in the middle; and floureth in the moneth of Aprill, and sometimes sooner. The root is bul∣bous fashion.

8 The eighth Daffodill hath many broad and thicke leaues, fat and full of juice, hollow and spongeous. The stalkes, floures, and roots are like the former, and differeth in that, that this plant

bringeth forth many floures vpon one stalk, and the other fewer, and not of so perfect a sweet smel, but more offensiue and stuffing the head. It hath this addition, Polyanthos, that is, of many floures, wherein especially consisteth the difference.

9 The Italian Daffodill is very like the former, the which to distinguish in words, that they may be knowne one from another, is impossible. Their floures, leaues, and roots are like, sauing that the floures of this are sweeter and more in number.

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15 Narcissus Iuncifolius praecox. Rush Daffodill, or Iunquilia.

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16 Narcissus Iuncifolius serotinus. Late flouring Rush Daffodill.

10 The double white Daffodill of Constantinople was senr into England vnto the right ho∣nourable the Lord Treasurer, among other bulbed sloures: whose roots when they were planted in our London gardens, did bring forth beautifull floures, very white and double, with some yellow∣nesse mixed in the middle leaues, pleasant and sweet in smell, but sinee that time we neuer could by any industrie or manuring bring them vnto flouring againe. So that it should appeare, when they were discharged of that birth or burthen which they had begotten in their owne country, and not finding that matter, soile, or clymate to beget more floures, they remaine euer since barren and fruitlesse. Besides, we found by experience, that those plants which in Autumne did shoor forth leaues, did bring forth no floures at all; and the others that appeared not vntill the Spring did flourish and beare their floures. The stalks, leaues, and roots are like vnto the other kindes of Daffodils. It is called of the Turks, Giul Catamer lale; That is, Narcissus with double floures. Not∣withstanding we haue receiued from beyond the seas, as well from the Low Countries, as also from France, another sort of greater beautie, which from yeare to yeare doth yeeld forth most pleasant double floures, and great encrease of roots, very like as well in stalkes as other parts of the plant, vnto the other sorts of Daffodils. It differeth onely in the floures, which are very dou∣ble and thicke thrust together, as are the floures of our double Primrose, hauing in the middle of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 some few chiues or welts of a bright purple colour, and the other mixed with yellow as aforesaid.

‡ 11 This alsowith double white floures, which Clusius sets forth in the sixth place, is of the same kinde with the last described; but it beares but one or two floures vpon a stalke, whereas the other hath many.

12 This, which is Clusius his Narcissus flore pleno 2. is in roots, leaues, and stalkes very like the

precedent; but the floures are composed of six large white out-leaues; but the middle is filled with many faire yellow little leaues much like to the double yellow wall-floure. They smel sweet like as the last mentioned.

13 This differs from the last mentioned onely in that it is lesse, and that the middle of the floure within the yellow cup is filled with longish narrow little leaues, as it were crossing each other. Their colour is white, but mixed with some greene on the outside, and yellow on the in∣side. ‡

14 The milke white Daffodill differeth not from the common white Daffodill, or Primrose peerelesse, in leaues, stalkes; roots, or floures, sauing that the floures of this plant hath not any other colour in the floure but white, whereas all the others are mixed with one colour or other.

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‡ 17 Narcissus juncifolius Roseoluteus. Rose or round floured Iunquilia.

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‡ 18 Narcissus juncifolius amplo calice. White Iunquilia with the large cup.

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‡ 19 Narcissus juncifolius reflexus flore 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The white reflex Iunquilia.

15 The Rush Daffodill hath long, narrow, and thicke leaues, very smooth and flexible, almost round like Rushes, whereof it tooke his syrname Iuncifolius or Rushie. It springeth vp in the beginning of Ianuarie, at which time also the floures doe shoot forth their buds at the top of small rushy stalkes, sometimes two, and often more vpon one stalke, made of six small yel∣low leaues. The cup or crowne in the middle is like∣wise yellow, in shape resembling the other Daffodills, but smaller, and of a strong sweet smell. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is bulbed, white within, and couered with a blacke skin or filme.

16 This Rush Daffodil is like vnto the precedent in each respect, sauing that it is altogether lesser, and longer before it come to flouring. There is also a white floured one of this kinde.

‡ 17 There is also another Rush Daffodill or Iunquilia, with floures not sharpe pointed, but round with a little cup in the middle: the colour is yellow or else white. This is Lobels Narcissus juncifolius flore 〈◊〉〈◊〉 circinitatis roseo.

18 There is also another Iunquilia whose leaues and stalkes are like those of the first described Rushy Daffodill, but the cup in the middest of the floure is much larger. The colour of the floure is commonly white. Clusius calls this Narcissus 1 〈◊〉〈◊〉 amplo calice.

19 There are three or foure reflex Iunquilia's, whose cups hang downe, and the sixe incompas∣sing leaues turne vp or backe, whence they take their names. The floures of the first are yellow; those of the second all white, the cup of the third is yellow, and the reflex leaues white. The fourth hath a white cup, and yellow reflex leaues. This seemes to be Lobels Narcissus montanus minimus co∣ronatus.

20 This is like to the ordinarie lesser Iunquilia, but that the floures are very double, consisting of many long and large leaues mixed together; the shorter leaues are obtuse, as if they were clipt off. They are wholly yellow. ‡

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‡ 19 Narcissus Iuncifolius reflexus minor. The lesser reflex Iunquilia.

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‡ 20 Narcissus juncifolius multiplex. The double Iunquilia.

21 The Persian Daffodill hath no stalke at all, but onely a small and tender foot stalke of an inch high, such as the Saffron floure hath: vpon which short and tender stalk doth stand a yellow∣ish floure consisting of six small leaues; of which the three innermost are narrower than those on the out side. In the middle of the floure doth grow forth a long stile or pointall, set about with many small chiues or threds. The whole floure is of an vnpleasant smel, much like to Poppy. The leaues rise vp a little before the floure, long, smooth, and shining. The root is bulbed, thicke, and grosse, blackish on the out side, and pale within, with some threds hanging at the lower part.

22 The Autumne Daffodill bringeth forth long smooth, glittering leaues, of a deepe greene colour: among which riseth vp a short stalke, bearing at the top one floure and no more, resem∣ling the floure of Mead Saffron or common Saffron, consisting of six leaues of a bright shining yellow colour; in the middle whereof stand six threds or chiues, and also a pestell or clapper yel∣low likewise. The root is thicke and grosse like vnto the precedent.

‡ 23 To this last may be adioyned another which in shape somewhat resembles it. The

leaues are smooth, greene, growing straight vp, and almost a fingers breadth; among which riseth vp a stalke a little more than halfe a foot in height; at the top of which groweth forth a yellow floure not much vnlike that of the last described Autumne Narcisse: it consisteth of sixe leaues some inch and halfe in length, and some halfe inch broad, sharpe pointed, the three inner leaues being somewhat longer than the outer. There grow forth out of the middest of the floure three whitish chiues, tipt with yellow, and a pestell in the midst of them longer than any of them. The root consists of many coats, with fibres comming forth of the bottome thereof like others of this kinde. It floures in Februarie. ‡

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21 Narcissus Persicus. The Persian Daffodill.

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22 Narcissus Autumnalis major. The great Winter Daffodill.

24 Small Winter Daffodill hath a bulbous root, much like vnto the root of Rush Daffodil, but lesser: from the which riseth vp a naked stalke without leaues, on the top whereof groweth a small white floure with a yellow circle in the middle, sweet in smell, something stuffing the head as do the other Daffodils.