Chap. XCII.Amaranthus.Flower-gentle.Wehaue foure or fiue sorts of Flower-gentle to trimme vp this our Garden withall, which doe differ very notably one from another, as shall be declared in their seuerall descriptions; some of which are very tender, and must be carefully regarded, and all little enough to cause them beare seede with vs, or else wee shall bee to seeke euery yeare: others are hardy enough, and will hardly be lost out of the Garden.1.Amaranthus purpureus minor.The small purple Flower-gentle.This gallant purple Veluet flower, or Flower-gentle, hath a crested stalke two foote high or more, purplish at the bottome, but greene to the toppe, whereout groweth many small branches, the leaues on the stalkes and branches are somewhat broad at the bottome, and sharpe pointed, of a full greene colour, and often somewhat reddish withall, like in forme vnto the leaues of Blites (whereof this and the rest are accountedspecies, or sorts) or small Beetes: the flowers are long, spikie, soft, and gentle tufts of haires, many as it were growing together, broad at the bottome, and small vp at the toppe, pyramis or steeple-fashion, of so excellent a shining deepe purple colour, tending to a murrey, that in the most excellent coloured Veluet, cannot be seene a more orient colour, (and I thinke from this respect, the French call itPasse velours, that is to say, passing Veluet in colour) without any smell at all, which being bruised giueth the same excellent purple colour on paper, and being gathered in his full strength and beauty, will abide a great time (if it be kept out of the winde and sunne in a dry place) in the same grace and colour: among these tufts lye the seede scattered, which is small, very blacke, and shining: the rootes are a few threddy strings, which quickly perish, as the whole plant doth, at the first approach of Winter weather.2.Amaranthus Coccineus.Scarlet Flower-gentle.The leaues of this Flower-gentle are longer, and somewhat narrower then the former; the stalke groweth somewhat higher, bearing his long tufts at seuerall leaues, as also at the toppe of the stalkes, many being set together, but separate one from another, and each bowing or bending downe his head, like vnto a Feather, such as is worn in our Gallants and Gentlewomens heads, of an excellent bloudy Scarlet colour: the seede is blacke, like vnto the former: the roote perisheth quicklier, because it is more tender.3.Amaranthus tricolor.Spotted or variable Flower-gentle.The chiefest beauty of this plant consisteth in the leaues, and not in the flowers; for they are small tufts growing along the stalke, which is nothing so high as the former, especially with vs, and at the ioynts with the leaues: the leaues hereof are of the same fashion that the former are, and pointed also; but euery leafe is to be seene parted into greene, red, and yellow, very orient and fresh (especially if it come to his full perfection, which is in hot and dry weather) diuided not all alike, but in some leaues, where the red or yellow is, there will be greene, and so varying, that it is very pleasant to behold: the seede hereof is blacke and shining, not to bee knowne from the former.4.Amaranthus Carnea spica.Carnation Flower-gentle.There is another more rare then all the rest, whose leaues are somewhat longer, and narrower then the first, and like vnto the second kinde: the spikes are short, many set together, like branches full of heads or eares of corne, euery one whereof hath some long haires sticking out from them, of a deep blush, tending to a carnation colour.5.Amaranthus purpureus maior paniculis sparsis.Great Floramour, or purple Flower-gentle.The great Floramour hath one thicke, tall, crested, browne red stalke, fiue or six foote high, from whence spring many great broad leaues, like vnto the former for the forme, but much larger & redder for the most part, especially the lowest, which brancheth forth into diuers parts, & from between these leaues, & the stalks or branches, as also at the tops of them, stand long, spikie, round, & somewhat flat tufts, of a more reddish purple colour then the first, and diuided also into seuerall parts, wherin when theyare full ripe, are to be seen an innumerable company of white seed, standing out among the short thrums, and do then easily fall away with a little touching; euery one of these white seed hath as it were an hole halfe bored through therin: the root is a great bush of strings, spreading in the ground, whereby it is strongly fastened, yet perisheth euery yeare, after it hath giuen his seede.The Place.All these plants growe in the Easterne Countries, as Persia, Syria, Arabia,&c.except the greatest, which hath been brought out of the West Indies, where it is much vsed, especially the seede: they are all, noursed vp with much care in our Gardens, and yet in a backward or cold yeare they will not thriue, for that they desire much heate: but the greatest doth alwayes giue ripe seede euery yeare.The Time.They beare their gallant tufts or spikes for the most part in August, and some not vntill September.The Names.The nameAmaranthusis giuen to all these plants, taken from the Greeke wordἀμαραντίνος,non marcescens, ornon senescens, that is, neuer waxing old, and is often also imposed on other plants, who haue the same property, that is, that their flowers being gathered in a fit season, will retaine their natiue colour a long time, as shall be shewed in theChapter following. Diuers do thinke the first to bePhlox, orFlammaof Theophrastus. The third is calledGelosia, orCelosiaof Tragus.Spigelius in hisIsagogessaith, it is generally taken to beSophonia, whereof Plinie maketh mention; and Lobel, to bee the PersiansTheombrotonof Plinie. The Italians, from whom I had it (by the meanes ofMʳ.Doctor Iohn More, as I haue had many other rare simples) call it,Blito di tre colori, A three coloured Blite. The fifth, which is the greatest, hath been sent from the West Indies by the name ofQuinüa, as Clusius reporteth. The name Flower-gentle in English, andFloramour, which is the French, ofFlos amoris, andPasse velours, as is before said, or Veluet flower, according to the Italian,Flor veluto, are equally giuen to all these plants, with their seuerall distinctions, as they are expressed in their titles.The Vertues.Diuers suppose the flowers of these plants doe helpe to stay the fluxe of bloud in man or woman, because that other things that are red or purple doe performe the same. But Galen disproueth that opinion very notably,inlib.2. & 4.de simpl. medicament. facultatibus.
Chap. XCII.Amaranthus.Flower-gentle.Wehaue foure or fiue sorts of Flower-gentle to trimme vp this our Garden withall, which doe differ very notably one from another, as shall be declared in their seuerall descriptions; some of which are very tender, and must be carefully regarded, and all little enough to cause them beare seede with vs, or else wee shall bee to seeke euery yeare: others are hardy enough, and will hardly be lost out of the Garden.1.Amaranthus purpureus minor.The small purple Flower-gentle.This gallant purple Veluet flower, or Flower-gentle, hath a crested stalke two foote high or more, purplish at the bottome, but greene to the toppe, whereout groweth many small branches, the leaues on the stalkes and branches are somewhat broad at the bottome, and sharpe pointed, of a full greene colour, and often somewhat reddish withall, like in forme vnto the leaues of Blites (whereof this and the rest are accountedspecies, or sorts) or small Beetes: the flowers are long, spikie, soft, and gentle tufts of haires, many as it were growing together, broad at the bottome, and small vp at the toppe, pyramis or steeple-fashion, of so excellent a shining deepe purple colour, tending to a murrey, that in the most excellent coloured Veluet, cannot be seene a more orient colour, (and I thinke from this respect, the French call itPasse velours, that is to say, passing Veluet in colour) without any smell at all, which being bruised giueth the same excellent purple colour on paper, and being gathered in his full strength and beauty, will abide a great time (if it be kept out of the winde and sunne in a dry place) in the same grace and colour: among these tufts lye the seede scattered, which is small, very blacke, and shining: the rootes are a few threddy strings, which quickly perish, as the whole plant doth, at the first approach of Winter weather.2.Amaranthus Coccineus.Scarlet Flower-gentle.The leaues of this Flower-gentle are longer, and somewhat narrower then the former; the stalke groweth somewhat higher, bearing his long tufts at seuerall leaues, as also at the toppe of the stalkes, many being set together, but separate one from another, and each bowing or bending downe his head, like vnto a Feather, such as is worn in our Gallants and Gentlewomens heads, of an excellent bloudy Scarlet colour: the seede is blacke, like vnto the former: the roote perisheth quicklier, because it is more tender.3.Amaranthus tricolor.Spotted or variable Flower-gentle.The chiefest beauty of this plant consisteth in the leaues, and not in the flowers; for they are small tufts growing along the stalke, which is nothing so high as the former, especially with vs, and at the ioynts with the leaues: the leaues hereof are of the same fashion that the former are, and pointed also; but euery leafe is to be seene parted into greene, red, and yellow, very orient and fresh (especially if it come to his full perfection, which is in hot and dry weather) diuided not all alike, but in some leaues, where the red or yellow is, there will be greene, and so varying, that it is very pleasant to behold: the seede hereof is blacke and shining, not to bee knowne from the former.4.Amaranthus Carnea spica.Carnation Flower-gentle.There is another more rare then all the rest, whose leaues are somewhat longer, and narrower then the first, and like vnto the second kinde: the spikes are short, many set together, like branches full of heads or eares of corne, euery one whereof hath some long haires sticking out from them, of a deep blush, tending to a carnation colour.5.Amaranthus purpureus maior paniculis sparsis.Great Floramour, or purple Flower-gentle.The great Floramour hath one thicke, tall, crested, browne red stalke, fiue or six foote high, from whence spring many great broad leaues, like vnto the former for the forme, but much larger & redder for the most part, especially the lowest, which brancheth forth into diuers parts, & from between these leaues, & the stalks or branches, as also at the tops of them, stand long, spikie, round, & somewhat flat tufts, of a more reddish purple colour then the first, and diuided also into seuerall parts, wherin when theyare full ripe, are to be seen an innumerable company of white seed, standing out among the short thrums, and do then easily fall away with a little touching; euery one of these white seed hath as it were an hole halfe bored through therin: the root is a great bush of strings, spreading in the ground, whereby it is strongly fastened, yet perisheth euery yeare, after it hath giuen his seede.The Place.All these plants growe in the Easterne Countries, as Persia, Syria, Arabia,&c.except the greatest, which hath been brought out of the West Indies, where it is much vsed, especially the seede: they are all, noursed vp with much care in our Gardens, and yet in a backward or cold yeare they will not thriue, for that they desire much heate: but the greatest doth alwayes giue ripe seede euery yeare.The Time.They beare their gallant tufts or spikes for the most part in August, and some not vntill September.The Names.The nameAmaranthusis giuen to all these plants, taken from the Greeke wordἀμαραντίνος,non marcescens, ornon senescens, that is, neuer waxing old, and is often also imposed on other plants, who haue the same property, that is, that their flowers being gathered in a fit season, will retaine their natiue colour a long time, as shall be shewed in theChapter following. Diuers do thinke the first to bePhlox, orFlammaof Theophrastus. The third is calledGelosia, orCelosiaof Tragus.Spigelius in hisIsagogessaith, it is generally taken to beSophonia, whereof Plinie maketh mention; and Lobel, to bee the PersiansTheombrotonof Plinie. The Italians, from whom I had it (by the meanes ofMʳ.Doctor Iohn More, as I haue had many other rare simples) call it,Blito di tre colori, A three coloured Blite. The fifth, which is the greatest, hath been sent from the West Indies by the name ofQuinüa, as Clusius reporteth. The name Flower-gentle in English, andFloramour, which is the French, ofFlos amoris, andPasse velours, as is before said, or Veluet flower, according to the Italian,Flor veluto, are equally giuen to all these plants, with their seuerall distinctions, as they are expressed in their titles.The Vertues.Diuers suppose the flowers of these plants doe helpe to stay the fluxe of bloud in man or woman, because that other things that are red or purple doe performe the same. But Galen disproueth that opinion very notably,inlib.2. & 4.de simpl. medicament. facultatibus.
Wehaue foure or fiue sorts of Flower-gentle to trimme vp this our Garden withall, which doe differ very notably one from another, as shall be declared in their seuerall descriptions; some of which are very tender, and must be carefully regarded, and all little enough to cause them beare seede with vs, or else wee shall bee to seeke euery yeare: others are hardy enough, and will hardly be lost out of the Garden.
This gallant purple Veluet flower, or Flower-gentle, hath a crested stalke two foote high or more, purplish at the bottome, but greene to the toppe, whereout groweth many small branches, the leaues on the stalkes and branches are somewhat broad at the bottome, and sharpe pointed, of a full greene colour, and often somewhat reddish withall, like in forme vnto the leaues of Blites (whereof this and the rest are accountedspecies, or sorts) or small Beetes: the flowers are long, spikie, soft, and gentle tufts of haires, many as it were growing together, broad at the bottome, and small vp at the toppe, pyramis or steeple-fashion, of so excellent a shining deepe purple colour, tending to a murrey, that in the most excellent coloured Veluet, cannot be seene a more orient colour, (and I thinke from this respect, the French call itPasse velours, that is to say, passing Veluet in colour) without any smell at all, which being bruised giueth the same excellent purple colour on paper, and being gathered in his full strength and beauty, will abide a great time (if it be kept out of the winde and sunne in a dry place) in the same grace and colour: among these tufts lye the seede scattered, which is small, very blacke, and shining: the rootes are a few threddy strings, which quickly perish, as the whole plant doth, at the first approach of Winter weather.
The leaues of this Flower-gentle are longer, and somewhat narrower then the former; the stalke groweth somewhat higher, bearing his long tufts at seuerall leaues, as also at the toppe of the stalkes, many being set together, but separate one from another, and each bowing or bending downe his head, like vnto a Feather, such as is worn in our Gallants and Gentlewomens heads, of an excellent bloudy Scarlet colour: the seede is blacke, like vnto the former: the roote perisheth quicklier, because it is more tender.
The chiefest beauty of this plant consisteth in the leaues, and not in the flowers; for they are small tufts growing along the stalke, which is nothing so high as the former, especially with vs, and at the ioynts with the leaues: the leaues hereof are of the same fashion that the former are, and pointed also; but euery leafe is to be seene parted into greene, red, and yellow, very orient and fresh (especially if it come to his full perfection, which is in hot and dry weather) diuided not all alike, but in some leaues, where the red or yellow is, there will be greene, and so varying, that it is very pleasant to behold: the seede hereof is blacke and shining, not to bee knowne from the former.
There is another more rare then all the rest, whose leaues are somewhat longer, and narrower then the first, and like vnto the second kinde: the spikes are short, many set together, like branches full of heads or eares of corne, euery one whereof hath some long haires sticking out from them, of a deep blush, tending to a carnation colour.
The great Floramour hath one thicke, tall, crested, browne red stalke, fiue or six foote high, from whence spring many great broad leaues, like vnto the former for the forme, but much larger & redder for the most part, especially the lowest, which brancheth forth into diuers parts, & from between these leaues, & the stalks or branches, as also at the tops of them, stand long, spikie, round, & somewhat flat tufts, of a more reddish purple colour then the first, and diuided also into seuerall parts, wherin when theyare full ripe, are to be seen an innumerable company of white seed, standing out among the short thrums, and do then easily fall away with a little touching; euery one of these white seed hath as it were an hole halfe bored through therin: the root is a great bush of strings, spreading in the ground, whereby it is strongly fastened, yet perisheth euery yeare, after it hath giuen his seede.
The Place.All these plants growe in the Easterne Countries, as Persia, Syria, Arabia,&c.except the greatest, which hath been brought out of the West Indies, where it is much vsed, especially the seede: they are all, noursed vp with much care in our Gardens, and yet in a backward or cold yeare they will not thriue, for that they desire much heate: but the greatest doth alwayes giue ripe seede euery yeare.
All these plants growe in the Easterne Countries, as Persia, Syria, Arabia,&c.except the greatest, which hath been brought out of the West Indies, where it is much vsed, especially the seede: they are all, noursed vp with much care in our Gardens, and yet in a backward or cold yeare they will not thriue, for that they desire much heate: but the greatest doth alwayes giue ripe seede euery yeare.
The Time.They beare their gallant tufts or spikes for the most part in August, and some not vntill September.
They beare their gallant tufts or spikes for the most part in August, and some not vntill September.
The Names.The nameAmaranthusis giuen to all these plants, taken from the Greeke wordἀμαραντίνος,non marcescens, ornon senescens, that is, neuer waxing old, and is often also imposed on other plants, who haue the same property, that is, that their flowers being gathered in a fit season, will retaine their natiue colour a long time, as shall be shewed in theChapter following. Diuers do thinke the first to bePhlox, orFlammaof Theophrastus. The third is calledGelosia, orCelosiaof Tragus.Spigelius in hisIsagogessaith, it is generally taken to beSophonia, whereof Plinie maketh mention; and Lobel, to bee the PersiansTheombrotonof Plinie. The Italians, from whom I had it (by the meanes ofMʳ.Doctor Iohn More, as I haue had many other rare simples) call it,Blito di tre colori, A three coloured Blite. The fifth, which is the greatest, hath been sent from the West Indies by the name ofQuinüa, as Clusius reporteth. The name Flower-gentle in English, andFloramour, which is the French, ofFlos amoris, andPasse velours, as is before said, or Veluet flower, according to the Italian,Flor veluto, are equally giuen to all these plants, with their seuerall distinctions, as they are expressed in their titles.
The nameAmaranthusis giuen to all these plants, taken from the Greeke wordἀμαραντίνος,non marcescens, ornon senescens, that is, neuer waxing old, and is often also imposed on other plants, who haue the same property, that is, that their flowers being gathered in a fit season, will retaine their natiue colour a long time, as shall be shewed in theChapter following. Diuers do thinke the first to bePhlox, orFlammaof Theophrastus. The third is calledGelosia, orCelosiaof Tragus.Spigelius in hisIsagogessaith, it is generally taken to beSophonia, whereof Plinie maketh mention; and Lobel, to bee the PersiansTheombrotonof Plinie. The Italians, from whom I had it (by the meanes ofMʳ.Doctor Iohn More, as I haue had many other rare simples) call it,Blito di tre colori, A three coloured Blite. The fifth, which is the greatest, hath been sent from the West Indies by the name ofQuinüa, as Clusius reporteth. The name Flower-gentle in English, andFloramour, which is the French, ofFlos amoris, andPasse velours, as is before said, or Veluet flower, according to the Italian,Flor veluto, are equally giuen to all these plants, with their seuerall distinctions, as they are expressed in their titles.
The Vertues.Diuers suppose the flowers of these plants doe helpe to stay the fluxe of bloud in man or woman, because that other things that are red or purple doe performe the same. But Galen disproueth that opinion very notably,inlib.2. & 4.de simpl. medicament. facultatibus.
Diuers suppose the flowers of these plants doe helpe to stay the fluxe of bloud in man or woman, because that other things that are red or purple doe performe the same. But Galen disproueth that opinion very notably,inlib.2. & 4.de simpl. medicament. facultatibus.