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

CHAP. XXI.

Orchis sive Satyrium.

THe Fly-Orchis, or Bee-flower Satyrions, for variety may be in∣serted, although they grow wild in many places, they are received into Gardens for the beauty of the flowers, especi∣ally those called

Mellitia sive apifera.

THe Bee-flower grows not above six inches high, with three or four something narrow green leaves; the stalk beareth three or four flowers one above another, each containing four leaves; three of them are small and sharp-pointed, of a blush-colour, and turn up to∣wards the top of the stalk; the fourth is round, and in form and co∣lour so like unto a Bee, that any one unacquainted therewith may take it for a living Bee sucking of a flower; the roots are round, two joyned together, and after it hath born flowers, one of them perisheth, and the other remaineth hard and sound.

Orchis Spegodes.

GNats Satyrion hath leaves somewhat larger than the last, and the stalk higher; the flowers grow in the same manner, but differ in that the lower leaf is in this like a Gnat, or great long Fly, the roots like those of the Bee-flower.

Orchis Myodes.

FLy Orchis is in all things like the last, except the flowers, which of this are smaller than either of the former, and the lower leaf like a Fly with leggs, a list of Ash-colour crossing the back, and the lower part black. There are many other varieties of Orchis and Sa∣tyrions, some bearing pretty flowers, as the male and female handed Satyrions, the Butter-fly Orchis, the snow-white, the all-red, the yellow, and divers that are spotted, all which are found wild in divers places of the South and West parts of England.

The time of their flowering is commonly about the middle of May.

They are usually diged up where they are found, with a turf about them, which may be set in some shady barren place of the Garden, for they will not live at all in a hot good soil; but the best way to Plant them, is, first to make choice of a place in the Garden fit for them, then digg up a broad thick turf in some Meadow, or other place where they naturally grow, then open a hole and set the turf therein, with the grass upwards, wherein with a knife cut round holes, taking out the pieces so rounded, and put the roots in the places, and and fill them up with some of the same earth; this may be done in June or July, and at the Spring when the grass and flowers grow up together, with a pair of Scisers cut the grass low, and leave the flowers, which by this means will prosper and bear as well as in their natural habitations, as I have experienced.

Dens Caninus.

DOggs-tooth, or Dogs-tooth Violet, is a kind of Satyrion, as the spotted leaves and roots do manifest, but of greater beauty and rarity than any of the former that grow wild with us, as these do also in divers places of Italy, Germany, and France, and for the beauty of their flowers deserve to be planted in the best Gardens.

Dens Caninus flore albo.

DOggs-tooth with a white flower comes up in the Spring with two leaves when it will flower, otherwise but one, which come out of the ground closed together with the flower between them, which opening lay themselves flat on the ground, the stalk and flower standing up between them; the leaves are of whitish green colour, long and narrow, but broadest in the middle, spotted and striped with white lines and spots; the stalk is about half a foot high, bearing at the top one flower, hanging down the head, containing six narrow long white leaves, which turn up again to the stalk like to the flowers of Cyclamen; in the middle of the flower there is a white three-for∣ked stile compassed about with six chives tipt with sad purple pen∣dents; the root is long and white like a Doggs-tooth, from whence it is so called; with a small peece joyned to the bottom thereof.

Dens Caninus flore purpurascente.

DOggs-tooth with a pale purple flower is lesser in all the parts there∣of than the former, the leaves are broader, but shorter, spotted and marked with darker lines and spots; the flower is like that of the other, but smaller and of a pale purple colour.

Dens Caninus flore rubro.

DOggs-tooth with a red flower hath leaves of yellowish green mealy-colour, spotted with red; the flower is of a deep reddish purple colour, and the chives more purple than those of the last.

Dens Caninus flore luteo.

DOggs-tooth with a yellow flower differeth from the first, in that the leaves of this are sadder and browner, and the flower of a fine pale yellow colour, in other things agreeing.

These pretty flowers come forth in the end of March, or beginning of April; they do not affect a dunged soil, but must be planted in good fresh earth about the middle of August, before they put forth new fibres; for although they lose the old every year, yet they quickly recover new, and therefore must not be kept long out of ground, and when they are set, it will be convenient to cover the place with some pot or tub, to defend them from wet, untill they have put forth fibres and begin to get strength, which will be within a fortnight if they be set at the fore-mentioned time, and then all danger is past, for too much rain falling upon them presently after they are set, will be apt to rot and spoil them; these roots do seldom increase with us, but many of them are yearly brought over out of France and Flan∣ders, by such that make a Trade of selling flowers, whereof there are many now about London, but commonly they come over so late that not one in ten of them will grow.