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

CHAP. XX.

HAving now given you an account of all the best Garden-Fruits, Vines, and Berries that hitherto have come to our knowledge, we shall proceed to the rest of the Flower-bearing Trees, Shrubs, and Greens, omitted in the first Book, as being fitter for a Fruit, than Flower-Garden, and that I may perform what was promised in the Epistle and Proem, (with submission) insert them in the end of this Book.

Castanea Equina.

THe Horse Chesnut was raised from the Nuts that came from Turky, which grow well with us, and in time to a fair large Tree, full of Boughs and Branches, set with gallant great green Leaves, divi∣ded into six, seaven, or nine parts, or several leaves standing together, nicked about the edges, much resembling those of Palma Christi; at the ends of the Branches in May many Flowers come forth, each ha∣ving four white leaves, with thrids in the middle, which in their na∣tural Countrey, turn into Chesnuts, but rarely with us. It is respected for the beauty of the fair green Leaves and Flowers, and with us in∣creased (in default of Nuts) by Suckers. The name was imposed from the property of the Nuts, which in Turky are given to Horses in their Provender, to cure such as have coughs, or are broken winded.

Arbor Judae.

IUdas Tree seldome groweth with us above six foot high, the young Shoots have a reddish bark, and the Leaves round, the Flow∣ers break through the bark in the Spring, before the Leaves, three or four standing together, on a small short stalk, in fashion like Pease-blossoms, of a fine purplish bright red colour, which are suceeded by long flat cods, containing small flat black seeds; there is another of this kind, whose bark, leaves, and cods, are greener, and the flowers white; they are apt to put forth many Suckers, by which, as also by Layers, they may be increased.

Laburnum.

BEan Trefoile is of two sorts, a greater, and a lesser, the first riseth to a reasonable tall Tree, with a whitish green bark, full of Boughes and Branches, set with Leaves, three always standing toge∣ther; at the joynts of the branches in May, many yellow Flowers come forth, like those of Broom, but lesser, and of a paler yellow colour, growing on long branched stalks, succeeded by flat thin cods, with small black seeds: the other lesser kind, chiefly differs in that it

is smaller in all parts, the branches weak, and the whole Plant scarce able to support it self without help; these are now both common, for that every Cutting will grow, and those of the greater kind soon rise to large Trees.

Cytisus secundus Clusii.

THis kind of Trefoile is much smaller in all the parts than the for∣mer, the leaves of a fresher green, and almost round, three grow∣ing together close to the stalks, the middlemost biggest; the Flowers are like those of the former, of the same season, and the Cods small and hairy at the ends; both these Plants are aptly increased either by Seeds or Suckers.

Colutea vesicaria.

THe great bastard Sena with bladders, hath a stock sometimes as big as a mans Arm, divided into many branches set with winged leaves, like those of Lycoris: the Flowers come forth in May, like those of Broom, but of a paler yellow colour, after which appear clear thin transparent bladders, containing black seeds.

Colutea Scorpioides major.

THe greater Scorpion poded bastard Sena is lower, and lesser in all the parts than the former, and chiefly differeth, in that the bladders which succeed the Flowers, are distinguished into many divisions, like unto a Scorpions tail, containing small seeds: this and the former are raised from Seeds, Suckers, Layers, or Cuttings.

Spartum Hispanicum.

SPanish Broom hath a woody stalk, divided into many small long green twigs, with small long green leaves, which soon fall away, and leave the twigs naked: the Flowers come forth in May, towards the top of the branches, like those of common Broom, but larger, the Cods are long and small, containing brown flat seeds, by which this Plant may be increased, as also by Suckers.

Nux vesicaria.

THe bladder Nut, if pruned up, and kept from Suckers, will grow to be six foot high; the bark is whitish, and the leaves like unto those of Elder, the Flowers white and sweet, many hanging down on a long stalk, after them greenish bladders, each containing one smooth small Nut with a green Kernel; it is too apt to send forth Suckers, and thereby to be increased.

Sambucus Rosea.

THe Gilder Sose riseth six or more foot high, spreading into many branches, with broad leaves divided into three Sections; at the tops of the young branches comes forth a round ball of many single white Flowers, close set together; it flowers in May with the Pionies, which placed together in Chimneys or Windowes, make a fine shew: the Plant is hardy, and of long lasting, increased by Suckers, which will soon bear Flowers.

Syringa flore albo.

THe white Syringa, or Pipe Tree, never riseth tall, but groweth in a bush, with many small branches, and divers Suckers from the root; the leaves stand two at a joynt, which are ragged, crumpled, a little pointed, and dented about the edges; the Flowers in May come forth at the ends of the Branches, many together, consisting of four white leaves, with yellow thrids in the middle; it is easily increased, being too apt to put forth Suckers.

Lylac sive Syringa flore caeruleo.

THe blue Syringa, or Pipe-Tree, is so common, that it needeth no description, especially the ordinary kind with blue Flowers, but there are three other sorts more rare, which chiefly differ in the co∣lour of the Flowers, those of the one being Snow white, another Sil∣ver colour, that is white, with a light wash of blew; the third hath larger Shoots, grows more upright, and beareth more, and much fair∣er Flowers on one branch than any of the former, and of a fair pur∣ple colour; they all flower in April, and must yearly be discharged of Suckers, else they will choak the tree, and cause it to die, or not bring forth Flowers; this said, I need not tell you how this Plant is in∣creased; they are all hardy Plants except the white, which is more tender, and would be Planted on a Wall.

Paliurus.

CHrists Thorn riseth in some places five or six foot high, with ma∣ny slender branches, set with broad and round leaves, veined, and a little pointed, also thick set with small Thorns; the Flowers are small and yellow, many together on a long stalk, which in Palestine its natural place, but not with us, are succeeded by round, flat, shelly fruit, covered with a fleshy skin, including two or three small hard brown and flat seeds: this Thorn is much esteemed for its rarity, but especially for the name, being that (as is supposed) wherewith our Saviour was crowned, and is increased by laying the Branches.

Rhus Mrytifolia.

THe Myrtle-leaved Sumach riseth yearly from the Root, with many small branches, sometimes four or five foot high, set with winged leaves, like those of the broader-leaved Myrtle, on each side a middle rib; at the tops of the Branches come forth divers Flowers, consisting of many purple thrids, which turn into small black Berries, contain∣ing small Seeds, whereby, as also by parting the Roots, new Plants are raised.

Rhus Virginiana.

THe Virginian Sumach, or Bucks-horn tree, groweth in some places six foot high, the young branches are of a reddish brown colour, handling like Velvet, resembling the Velvet head of a Buck, yield∣ing milk if cut or broken; the Leaves are many, set on each side of a middle rib, snipt about the edges; at the ends of the Branches come forth long and thick brown tufts, made of many soft and woolly thrums, among which appear many small Flowers, much redder than the tufts, which yield small Seeds; the Root putteth forth many Suc∣kers, whereby it is increased.

Hedera Virginiana.

THe Virginian Ivy riseth up with divers small stems, divided into many long weak branches, which set against a Wall, will fasten thereunto, with small claws like a Birds foot, and climb to the top of a tall Chimney; the Leaves at first are red, and crumpled, but after fair and green, divided into five, six, or more leaves, standing together upon a small foot-stalk, set without order; the Flowers with us only appear in bud, but never open; the Roots run on the top of the ground, and by cutting some of them from the stock, and turning up the ends, new Plants may be raised.

Tamarix.

THe Tamarisk Tree is well known to most persons; in some places by long standing it groweth tall and great, though commonly with small and weak branches; the red Shoots set with small short hairy soft green leaves, which fall away in Winter: this is of little beauty or esteem, but there is another of this kind more rare, in re∣spect the leaves are wholly white, and abide so constantly, from year to year; this as the other, is increased by Suckers or Layers.

Larix.

THe Lanch-tree, with us, groweth slowly, and to be found in few places; it hath a rugged bark, and boughs that branch in good order, with divers small yellowish bunched eminences, set thereon at several distances, from whence tufts of many small, long, and narrow

smooth leaves do yearly come forth; it beareth among the green leaves many beautiful flowers, which are of a fine crimson colour, and in its natural place succeeded by small Cones like Cypress-nuts, whereby new Plants are raised, being hardly increased any other way.

Of all these flower-bearing and beautiful Trees, I have placed this Larch-tree the last, in respect it is the rarest, and (although it falleth the leaves in Winter) nearest in nature to those ever-green Trees that are next to follow, and so may serve as a Bridge to pass from the one unto the other.