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

CHAP. XXVII.

Helleborus.

HEllebor is of two sorts or kinds, that is, black and white; and there are some lesser sorts, called Helle∣borine, that for the beauty of their flowers deserve mention; we will begin with the black Hellebor, vulgarly called the Christmas Rose, but more properly

Helleborus niger verus.

THe true black Hellebor, from a root composed of divers long brown strings, running deep into the ground, and fastened to a big head, springeth up many green leaves, standing on big stiff foot-stalks, divi∣ded into eight or nine parts, and nicked about the edges; the flow∣ers come forth in Winter, upon such short fat foot-stalks, in form like unto single white Roses, at first white, but by long standing turn to be of a blush-colour, with a pale yellow thrum, and a green head in the middle; chiefly respected for the early flowring, which is commonly about Christmas, and therefore by many called the

Winter or Christmas Rose; there are some other sorts of black Hellebor, but none of any beauty or esteem, but this only.

Helleborus albus.

THe white Hellebor cometh up with a great round head, of a whi∣tish green colour, opening it self into many beautiful large green leaves, eminently plaited throughout, and compassing each other at the bottome: out of them the stalk riseth a yard high, or more, with small leaves to the middle thereof, from whence it is divided into many branches, bearing a multitude of small star-like flowers of a yellowish green colour: the root is thick and big at the head, with divers great white strings, which run down deep into the ground, there strongly fastened, and abiding many years unremoved.

Helleborus albus flore atro rubente.

THe white Hellebor with a dark red flower differeth from the last, in that it cometh up a moneth before it, with larger leaves, smaller and finer plaited: the flowers are lesser than those of the former, and of a dark red, or sad liver-colour. This is a stately plant, and will deserve its place in the best Florists garden. There are some lesser sorts of Hellebor which we call Helleborine, whereof two or three are worth our acquaintance, and therefore fit to be inserted.

Helleborine major sive Calceolus Mariae.

OUr Ladies slipper cometh up with divers stalks about half a yard high, compassed at the bottom with broad green leaves, like those of white Hellebor, but smaller, and not plained; at the tops of the stalks come forth one, two, and sometimes three flowers, one above another, upon small short foot-stalks, with a small leaf at the foot of each: the flowers in form are Oval, the upper part hollow, and the lowerround and swelling; at the hollow part are two small slippets, wherewith at the first the hollowness is covered, but after open and stand apart from each other; these flowers are in some of a pale yellow, and in others more rare of a brown colour, tending to purple; the roots are composed of many dark brown strings, inter∣laced one within the other, lying under the upper crust of the earth, and not deeper, as those of the former kinds.

Helleborine minor flore albo.

THe small white Hellebor riseth up like the last, but not so high, neither are the leaves so large, and of a whiter green colour: the stalk beareth in a spike many small white flowers, consisting of five leaves and a small close hood in the middle: the roots are many small strings, running in the upper part of the earth.

Helleborine minor flore purpurante.

THe small purplish Hellebor is like the last described, but that the leaves are narrower, the flowers smaller, and of purplish blush-colour.

The true black Hellebor flowreth about Christmas, the two white Hellebors in June, the Ladies Slipper, and the white Helleborine in the end of April or beginning of May, and that with the purplish flow∣er about the beginning of June.

The roots of the black and white Hellebor are hardy, and abide long unremoved, therefore fit to be at first set in good ground and where they may stand: the Helleborines are found wild in some parts of York and Lancashire, and therefore do not require too rich a soil. I received all the varieties before mentioned from that honest Gen∣tleman, my never to be forgotten friend, Mr. Roger Brodshaw, who found them in the shady woods near his house in Lancashire; there is another small Plant which may properly be mentioned in this place, of which a word or two before we conclude this Chapter.

Lilium Convallium flore albo.

THe white Convall Lily, May Lily, or the Lily of the valley, for by all these names it is called, hath a small stringy root, which runneth in the ground, and cometh up in divers places, with three or four long and broad leaves, somthing resembling those of the lesser Helleborine, from whence riseth up a small naked stalk, bearing at the top one above another, hanging all on one side, many little white flowers, like little Bottles with open mouths, which are of a comfor∣table sweet scent.

Lilium Convallium flore rubente.

THe Conval Lily with a reddish flower differs only from the for∣mer, in that the flowers are of a fine pale red colour, and there∣fore more esteemed than the other which is found growing wild in divers places in the North.

They both flower in May, and will increase too fast, but bear best in the shade, and in a mean soil; I never read or heard of any other plant called the Lily of the vally, and if this be that mentioned in the Canticles, I am the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the valley, per∣haps it was by the Rose to typify lovely Majesty, and by this small low flower, virtuous Humility, it having an especial property to help weak memories, raise Apoplectick persons, cheer the heart, and ease the pains of the Gout.