the inſide, ſometimes ſpotted with red ſpots almoſt through the whole inſide of the flower, vnto the very edge, which abideth of a pale yellow colour, and ſometimes there are very few ſpots to be ſeene, and thoſe from the middle onely on the inſide (for on the outſide there neuer appeareth any ſpots at all in this kinde) and ſometimes with no ſhew of ſpots at all, ſometimes alſo of a more pale greene, and ſometime of a more yellow colour: the outſide of the flowers doe likewiſe vary, for in ſome the outſide of the leaues are of a darke ſullen yellow, &c. elſe more pale yellow, and in other of a darke purpliſh yellow colour, which in ſome is ſo deepe, and ſo much, that it rather ſeemeth blacke then purple or yellow, and this eſpecially about the bottome of the flower, next vnto the ſtalke, but the edges are ſtill of a yellowiſh greene: the head of ſeede, and the ſeede likewiſe is like vnto the former, but bigger in all reſpects.
12. Fritillaria Hiſpanica vmbellifera. The Spaniſh blacke Fritillaria.
This Fritillaria is no doubt of kindred to the laſt recited, it is ſo like, but greater in
all parts thereof, as if growing in a more fruitfull ſoile, it were the ſtronger and luſtier
to beare more ſtore of flowers: the flowers grow foure or fiue from the head together, hanging downe round about the ſtalke, like vnto a Crowne Imperiall, and are of a yellowiſh greene colour on the inſide, ſpotted with a few red ſpots, the outſide being blackiſh as the former.
The Place.
The firſt of theſe plants was firſt brought to our knowledge from France, where it groweth plentifully about Orleance; the other ſorts grow in diuers other Countries, as ſome in Portugall, Spaine, Italy, &c. as their names doe import, and as in time they haue been obſerued by thoſe that were curious ſearchers of theſe rarities, haue been ſent to vs.
The Time.
The early kindes doe flower in the beginning of Aprill or thereabouts, according to the mildeneſſe or ſharpeneſſe of the precedent Winter. The other doe flower after the firſt are paſt, for a moneths ſpace one after another, and the great yellow is very late, not flowring vntill about the middle or end of May.
The Names.
This hath receiued diuers names: ſome calling it Flos Meleagridis, the Ginny Hen Flower, of the variety of the colours in the flower, agreeing with the feathers of that Bird. Some call it Narciſſus Caparonius, of the name of the firſt inuentor or finder thereof, called Noel Caperon, an Apothecary dwelling in Orleance, at the time he firſt found it, and was fhortly after the finding thereof taken away in the Maſſacre in France. It is now generally called Fritillaria, of the word Fritillus, which diuers doe take for the Cheſſe borde or table whereon they play, whereunto, by reaſon of the reſemblance of the great ſquares or ſpots ſo like it, they did preſently referre it. It is called by Lobel Lilionarciſſus purpureus variegatus, & seſſulatus, making it a kinde of Tulipa; but as I ſaid in the beginning of the Chapter, it doth moſt neerely reſemble a ſmall pendulous Lilly, and might therefore rightly hold the name of Lilium variegatum, or in Engliſh, the checkerd Lilly. But becauſe the errour which firſt referred it to a Daffodill, is growne ſtrong by cuſtome of continuance, I leaue to euery one their owne will, to call it in Engliſh eyther Fritillaria, as it is called of moſt, or the checkerd Daffodill, or the Ginnie Hen flower, or, as I doe, the checkerd Lilly. I ſhall not neede in this place further to explaine the ſeuerall names of euery of them, hauing giuen you them in their titles.
