Flora, seu, De florum cultura, or, A complete florilege, furnished with all requisites belonging to a florist by John Rea, Gent.

CHAP. X.

Narcissus.

THe Daffodill, next the Tulips, deserveth mention, in re∣spect of the great variety and excellence thereof; we will begin with those called true Daffodils, and so pro∣ceed to the bastard kinds, of both which, there are single and double, some with broad, some with nar∣row green leaves, some bearing one, and others many flowers on one stalk; but in respect many of them are now common and of small esteem, we will insert the best in every kinde, and such onely as are fittest to be collected and entertained by all that delight in flowers; begining first with that best known, called

Narcissus Nonparel.

THe incomparable Daffodill hath a great and something round root, covered with brownish skins, as the roots of all Daffodills are, from whence riseth up three or four long broad leaves, of a grayish green colour, with a stalk more than two foot high, at the top whereof out of a thin skinny husk (as all others do) cometh forth one large single flower, hanging down the head and looking one way, as all Daffodills do, consisting of six pale yellow large leaves, almost round pointed, with a large and wide chalice or cup in the middle, of a deeper yellow, cut and indented about the edges; this sometimes hath a flower with twelve or more leaves, and a large cup, which is occasioned by the sport of Nature, joyning two flowers together.

Narcissus Nonparel flore, sive chalice pleno.

THe incomparable Daffodill with a double flower or cup, is in all the parts thereof like unto the former, the flower onely excepted, which in this hath the cup in the middle, very large, thick, and double, consisting of longer pale yellow leaves, and divers broken parts of the deeper yellow cup, mingled together one within another, which besides the border of large leaves, forms a reasonable fair double flower, this is called Narcissus pas Citroniella by the Walloones

that brought it lately out of Flanders by that name; I have had it many years, and have now great store thereof by the increase of one root which I received from Paris by the name of the double nonparel Daffodill, as in truth it is.

Narcissus Gallicus major flore pleno.

THe great double French Daffodill hath narrower and shorter green leaves than the former, the stalk riseth about a foot high, bear∣ing one fair double flower, composed of many sharp-pointed leaves, confusedly thrust together without order, of a pale yellow colour almost white; the leaves of this flower are thin and apt to stick to∣gether, and never open at all if the season be wet, yet in some years it will come very fair and well opened.

Narcissus Gallicus minor flore pleno.

THe lesser double French Daffodill is in all the parts thereof lesser than the other, it beareth upon a weak stalk one fine double flower, made of many sharp-pointed leaves lying one over the other, and shorter by degrees to the middle thereof, like a star with six points; this is of something a yellower colour than the former, and openeth well.

Narcissus albus flore pleno Virginianus.

THe double white Daffodill of Virginia cometh up with two small green leaves, and betwixt them the stalk about six inches high, bearing one fair double white flower, in form like the last described, but onely in the middle thereof cometh forth a small long white fork or horn, which addeth much to the beauty of the flower; this is tender and will scarcely endure our Winters, yet more hardy than that little single upright Virginian Daffodill, called Atto Musco, which is not worth the care which is required in the keeping of it.

Narcissus Albus multiplex.

THe double white Daffodill is so common and well known unto all that have any judgement in flowers, that it needeth no descrip∣tion, yet for the beauty of the flower, and the sweet scent, may be admitted; every other year in June or July it must be taken up, the small roots and off-sets cast away, the biggest onely retained, which may be kept dry untill the middle of September, and then set, will in due season bring forth fair double flowers.

These are the best of the true Daffodills that bear one flower on a stalk; I shall now give you the time of their flowering, and then proceed to the next division, which is of those true Daffodills that bear many flowers on one stalk, leaving all other observations concerning

the planting and ordering of them to the end of the Chapter, where one general direction may serve for all.

The Non-parell single and double, flower in the end of March or beginning of April; the double French Daffodills sooner, about the middle of March; the white of Virginia in the end of April, and the common white about the same time, or a little after it.

Narcissus Africanus aureus major.

THe great yellow Daffodill of Africa is the most stately of all the single Daffodills that bear many flowers on one stalk, whereof there are four or five sorts, but none of them comparable to this, so that those that are furnished with this, will care but little for any of the other; the leaves of this noble Daffodill are long and broad, of a greener colour then others, among which cometh forth a strong stalk, not so long as the leaves, bearing at the top thereof in an old and well-grown Plant, ten or twelve large flowers, of a fair shining yellow colour, with round large boles or cups, of a deeper yellow than the six outer leaves, of an excessive sweet scent; the root is great, and in fashion like that of other Daffodills; it is usually called Narcissus d' Algiers, and Africanus Polyanthos.

Narcissus Sulphureus major.

THe great Brimston-coloured Daffodill hath narrower and greener leaves than the last, yet full as long; it hath commonly four or five flowers on one stalk, which at first opening are of a bright Lemon-colour, with a large round Saffron-coloured cup, after it hath been blown some time, the leaves turn to a more sullen Brim∣ston-colour, and the cup also waxeth paler; this is sweet like the former and worthy of esteem.

Narcissus Narbonensis sive medio luteus.

THe French Daffodill with the yellow cup hath long and something broad leaves, but not so long as the two former, it beareth sometimes eight or ten flowers on one stalk, made of six small white leaves, and a little round yellow cup in the middle, of a soft sweet scent; of this kinde there are five or six several sorts, some flower∣ing earlier, some bigger, and some bearing more flowers than others.

Narcissus totus albus Polianthos.

THe all-white Daffodill with many flowers is like the French Daffo∣dill last described, onely the flowers are all white, as well the cup as the outer leaves: of this there is a lesser and a greater, but the greater is much the better.

Narcissus Cyprius flore pleno Polianthos.

THe double yellow Daffodill of Cyprus with many flowers hath leaves almost as broad and long as the former, and a stalk above a foot high, which beareth four or five small double pale yellow flowers, of a strong heady scent; it is tender and must be defended from frosts in the winter.

Narcissus medio luteus Corona duplici

THe Turky Daffodill with a double Crown cometh up with three or four long broad leaves, with a large tall stalk, bearing four or five small milk-white flowers, with a double yellow cup in the middle, composed of many small short yellow leaves, or parts of several cups, one within another; this is exceeding sweet, and not so tender as the last.

Narcissus Chalcidonicus flore pleno Polianthos.

THe double Daffodill of Constantinople with many flowers is like the last described, the leaves come up before other Daffodils, and the stalk beareth four or five small double white flowers, the leaves standing without order, and many pieces of a yellow cup among them: there is another of this kind that beareth fewer and lesser flowers; the pieces of the yellow cup, that is mixed with the white leaves, are edged with purple; they are both very sweet and fine flowers, but the first is much the better, and is more tender than the other.

The great African Daffodill flowreth about the middle of March, the Brimstone-colour in the beginning of April, the French Daf∣fodils, and the all white, betimes in March, the double yellow of Cyprus flowreth about the end of April, and the other of Con∣stantinople, about the end of March, but after some mild winter much sooner.

The next division of true Daffodills is of Juncifolias, those with round rush-like leaves, whereof there is some diversity, the best of which are these that follow.

Narcissus Juncifolius albus.

THe white Junquilia, or Rush Daffodill, hath a small round blackish root, from whence spring up three or four small long Rush-like green leaves, with a stalk more than a foot high, bearing three or four little flowers, each containing six white leaves, and a round cup in the middle, of the same colour. There is another of this kind that beareth white flowers, with larger cups, in nothing else differing.

Narcissus Juncifolius flore albo reflexo.

THe white turning Junquilia, or Rush Daffodill, hath green leaves like the former, but somewhat shorter, rounder, and greener, the leaves of the flowers are larger, the cups much bigger, and both of a white coleur: the six leaves turning back even to the foot stalks.

Narcissus Juncifolius flore luteo reflexo.

THe yellow turning Junquilia differeth chiefly from the last in the colour of the flowers, which in this are wholly of a gold yel∣low colour.

Narcissus Juncifolius chalice albo reflexis foliis luteis.

THe yellow turning Junquilia with a white cup differeth from the rest, in that the outer leaves of the flowers are pale yellow, and the cups milk white.

Narcissus Juncifolius chalice luteo reflexis foliis albidis.

THe white turding Junquilia with a yellow cup, is only different from the other, in that the flowers are contrary to them, the tur∣ning leaves in this, being white, and the cup yellow.

Narcissus Juncifolius luteus magno chalice.

THe Junquilia, or Rush Daffodil with a great cup, is bigger in all the parts thereof than any of the former, the flowers are seldom more than three on one stalk, which are larger than in any other Rush Daf∣fodil, the outer leaves are yellow, and do not turn towards the stalk, but rather towards the cup, which is big proportionally to the outer leaves, and of a deeper yellow colour.

Narcissus Juncifolius luteus flore pleno.

THe double Junquilia, or Rush Daffodill, in all the parts thereof, is like the common Junquilia, only the flowers of this are thick and double, consisting of several rows of leaves, with the cups, or pieces thereof, betwixt every row of bigger leaves, and wholly of a fair yellow colour: there is another of this kind that beareth double flowers, but lesser and much inferiour to this.

All these Junquilias, or Rush Daffodils, do flower in April, some sooner than others, and most of those that turn back their leaves, are commonly in flower together.

Narcissus Marinus sive tertius Mathioli.

THe great Sea Daffodill, or Mathiolus his third Daffodil, hath a root far bigger than any other the forementioned Daffodills, the leaves are commonly six in number, of a whitish green colour, twice as thick and broad as any of the former, but not so long as many of them, from the middle and sides whereof springeth up one, two, and sometimes three great stalks, more than a foot high, bearing at the tops thereof, ten, twelve, or more flowers on each stalk, consisting of six white leaves spread or layed open, with a white short cup or crown in the middle, lying flat upon the leaves, cut or divided into six cor∣ners, from whence standeth forth long white threads, turning up the ends, and some other white threads in the middle also, tipt with yel∣low pendents.

This springeth late out of the ground, seldome before the begin∣ning of April, and flowreth in the end of May, and sometimes not un∣till the beginning of June.

Narcissus Indicus autumnalis latifolius rubellus instar Liliì polianthos.

THe Indian broad-leaved Autumn Daffodill, with many Lily-like reddish flowers on one stalk.

Narcissus Indicus autumnalis rubello albicante colore polianthos.

THe Indian Autumn Daffodill, with many blush flowers on one stalk.

Narcissus Indicus latifolia squamosa radice flore phoeniceo.

THe Indian broad-leaved Daffodill, with a scaly root, and scarlet flower.

Narcissus latifolius flore Phoeniceo instar Jacobei polianthos.

THe broad leaved Daffodil, with scarlet flowers, many on one stalk, vulgarly called Jacobea, this is the red Daffodil described by Mr. Parkinson, the plant is tender, unapt to live with us, and the flower of small beauty.

Narcissus Virginianus latifolius flore purpurascente.

THe broad leaved Virginian Daffodil with a purplish flower. This Daffodil beareth many flowers on one stalk, like small Lillies, of a sullen purplish colour, never opening, and seldome shewing the in∣ner sides of the leaves, in its natural country, and I doubt will hardly live in ours. Of this generation is the Narcissus of Japan or Garnsey

Lilly, which there prospers and bears in October Peach-coloured flowers.

These Indian Daffodills flower late, most of them not before Sep∣tember, and some after; they are all strangers in England, except that of Garnsey: many of them are described by Ferrarius, and I finde them all mentioned in the Catalogue of the Paris Garden, but of what beauty they are, or how they prosper there, I confess I am yet to learn, and I doubt Indian Plants like little better in France than with us; besides they being of the nature of the great Sea-Daffodill, if the fibres be either broken in taking up those large roots, or spoiled by so long a journey, the roots will undoubtedly perish, and never comprehend in the ground or spring at all. And thus much for the true Daffodils; and now we shall pass to the bastard kind, and set down some or the best of them, beginning with the biggest and best known, called

Pseudonarcissus aureus Hispanicus maximus.

THe great yellow Spanish bastard Daffodill, from a great root set deep in the ground, which it affecteth, cometh up many thick stiff leaves, of a grayish green colour, with a stalk three foot high, bearing at the top thereof one fair large yellow flower, not hanging down the head, but standing forth, consisting of six short, and some∣thing broad leaves, and a great Trunk in the middle, a little crump∣led, and wide open at the mouth, turning up the brims.

Pseudonarcissus Hispanicus flore albo major.

THe great white Spanish bastard Daffodill is not so large as the for∣mer yellow in any of the parts thereof: it beareth one milk-white flower, hanging down the head, which is of the fashion, and almost as big as the former; there are two other sorts of white Spa∣nish bastard Daffodills, which are lesser, and wholly of a Snow-white colour.

Pseudonarcissus maximus flore pleno.

THe greatest double bastard Daffodill, or Tradescants double Daffo∣dill, of all other is the most stately, and beareth the biggest, doublest, and gallantest flower of all the double Daffodills; it hath a great round root covered with a brownish skin, from whence spring∣eth four or five somewhat large leaves, but not very long, of a whi∣tish green colour, the stalk riseth about a foot high, bearing at the top thereof one fair great flower, very much spread open like a full-blown Province-Rose, consisting of a great number of small pale yellow leaves, and almost as many larger, of a deeper yellow colour, standing in rows one under another, shorter and shorter by degrees, even to the middle of the flower.

Pseudonarcissus major flore pleno.

TUggies great double bastard Daffodill, in all the parts thereof is like the last described, but onely in the fashion of the flower, which of this, is of the same yellow colour, large and double, but not so well spread open, nor the broken parts of the cup so well par∣ted, being like to the next in fashion, but far more thick and double, and a much better flower.

Pseudonarcissus minor flore pleno.

THe lesser double bastard Daffodill, or Willmors double Daffodill, hath as large roots, and something longer leaves than the for∣mer; it beareth one double yellow large flower, but not so fair and double as either of the former, yet the leaves of this are larger, though not so many; sometimes it will be a fair double flower with the cup much broken, and mixed with the paler outer leaves, and sometimes with the six paler outer leaves, and a great double Trunck, in some close and unbroken, and in others half broken, and divided into many parts.

Pseudonarcissus flore pleno minimus.

THe least double bastard Daffodill, or Parkinsons double Daffodill, is like the last in all the parts thereof, but lesser; the flower is double, consisting of some rowes of pale yellow outer leaves, and some pieces of a broken, deeper, greenish yellow Trunck, forming a long greenish yellow double flower; not so big as the last.

Pseudonarcissus Anglicus flore pleno.

THe double English bastard Daffodill, or Gerards double Daffodill, differeth onely from the common English bastard Daffodill, in that the flower of this is double, consisting of the pale yellow outer leaves, and parts of the deeper yellow trunck, divided in several rows one within another, and sometimes the trunck is onely double, and some parts or sides of the flower of a greenish yellow.

Pseudonarcissus angustifolius aureus multiplex.

THe golden double narrow-leaved Daffodill hath narrow leaves, of a whitish green colour, about four or five inches long, with a stalk almost a foot high, bearing one double flower, consisting of six yellow outward leaves, and many that are smaller and of a deeper yellow, thick set together in the middle, with some of the paler leaves among them; the middle of the flower pointing forth, diffe∣rent from all the double Daffodills; this is as rare as any of the for∣mer.

They do all flower from the middle of March, to the middle of April, most of them being commonly in flower together.

Pseudonarcissus Juncifolius albus.

THe white bastard Junquilia, or Rush Daffodill, hath two or three large green leaves, not altogether so round or Rush-like, as those of the fore-mentioned kinds; the stalk is about half a foot high, bearing at the top one small white flower with six small and short leaves, standing about the middle of the trunck, which is long and very wide open at the brims, the small outer leaves are a little greenish, and the great trunck is milk-white.

Pseudonarcissus Juncifolius luteus major.

THe great yellow bastard Junquilia hath bigger, longer, and broa∣der green leaves than the former, the stalk is higher, and the flower larger and more open at the mouth than the white, and wholly of a yellow colour: Of this there is another sort that no way differeth from it, but in that it is lesser in all the parts thereof; there is likewise a third, that is like the great yellow, but fairer, and flowereth a moneth after it, in all other parts agreeing.

All these bastard Junquilias flower in March, except the last, which is a month later; the lesser yellow is the most common, and is sold by the Walloons, by the name of Junquillia Mutone.

The greatest number of the Daffodills are hardy, and increase ex∣ceedingly in almost any soil, and some of them are very tender, and must be planted in good earth, a warm place, and defended from Frosts in Winter, such are the double white Daffodills of Virginia, the double yellow of Cyprus, and those of Constantinople, and indeed all those that bear many flowers on one stalk, are more tender than the other sorts, therefore it will be convenient to place them all toge∣ther under some South wall, where they may stand unremoved many years, in respect they are not very apt to off-set; neither do they yearly, unless they be taken up, lose all their fibres, so that by long standing in a place the roots will grow great, and the flowers will be many and fair; all the other sorts that bear but one flower, may be taken up in the beginning of June, and kept dry untill September, the Sea Daffodill, and those of India excepted, which hold their fibres, and must not be removed but upon necessity, and then plan∣ted again as soon as may be.

The Sea Daffodill is far more hardy than those of India, which re∣quire to be planted in boxes, and housed in winter, but the other may be set under a south wall where it may stand twenty years without re∣moving. If any desire to sow the seeds of Daffodills, in hope to raise

some new varieties, those of the Nonparel, the great Spanish yellow, the Spanish whites, the great Junquilia, and the bastard kind, are the aptest to bring good seeds, and the likeliest to yield diversities; they may be sowed in September, and not removed of three years, and then in June taken up, and presently set again in good ground at wider distances, where they may stand until you may see what flowers they will bear, and then disposed as they shall deserve.

The seeds of the Sea Daffodill must be sowed very thin by it self, and not removed for the space of ten years, about which time it will bear flowers, and when you take it up, the Fibres, which it still hold∣eth, must be kept whole, and the root presently set again, where it may stand without removing: all the Indian Daffodils are of the same nature, but much more tender. If the seeds were obtained, perhaps they might be the products to plants more durable, being naturali∣zed and bred up in our own Countrey, but so long expectation re∣quireth much patience, though little pains in planting, only sowing them in boxes, letting them not freez in Winter, nor want water in Somer.

Having now done with the Daffodils, wee will conclude this Chap∣ter with some diversities of Lucoium Bulbosum, the Bulbous Violet, which is of the nature of the Daffodills, and then proceed to the Hy∣acinths.

Lucoium Bulbosum praecox majus.

THe greater early Bulbous Violet, from a small round root, like un∣to that of a Daffodil, putteth forth three or four very green broad flat and short leaves, with a naked green stalk, at the top whereof out of a thin skin cometh forth one, and sometimes two small white flowers, hanging down the heads, consisting of six short leaves, stand∣ing round together, with small sharp points, of a pale greenish colour.

Lucoium bulbosum praecox minus.

THe lesser early Bulbous Violet cometh up with two narrow gray∣ish green leaves, with a small stalk betwixt them, bearing one small pendulous flower, with three small pointed white leaves, on the out side, with three shorter within them, standing round like a cup, edged with green: this is that common kind vulgarly called the Snow-flower.

Lucoium majus bulbosum serotinum.

THe great late-flowring bulbous Violet, is in all the parts thereof very like unto the first, but much bigger, it beareth upon a reasonable tall stalk, bigger in the middle than at either end, three or four flowers, like in form and colour unto the first: we have

had two other varieties which came from Portugall, but both of them so tender that they would not abide in our cold Countrey,

The first flowreth about the end of February, the second or lesser a fortnight before it, and the great late flowring kind, not untill May.

They all increase by the root like Daffodills, being very apt to off-set; they lose their fibres, and therefore may be taken up and kept dry untill Autumn, and then choice being made of the biggest roots to set, the rest may be cast away, for a few of these will be sufficient to furnish a garden, especially of the lesser and common kind.