ties of mixtures we haue ſeene and obſerued in them, that ſo they may be both the better deſcribed by me, and the better conceiued by others, and euery one placed in their proper ranke. Yet I ſhall in this, as I intend to doe in diuers other plants that are variable, giue but one deſcription in generall of the plant, and then fet downe the varietie of forme or colour afterwards briefly by themſelues.
Tulipa præcox. The early flowring Tulipa.
The early Tulipa (and ſo all other Tulipas) ſpringeth out of the ground with his leaues folded one within another, the firſt or loweſt leafe riſeth vp firſt, ſharpe pointed, and folded round together, vntill it be an inch or two aboue the ground, which then openeth it ſelfe, ſhewing another leafe folded alſo in the boſome or belly of the firſt, which in time likewife opening it ſelfe, ſheweth forth a third, and ſometimes a fourth and a fifth: the lower leaues are larger then the vpper, and are faire, thicke, broad, long, and hollow like a gutter, and ſometimes crumpled on the edges, which will hold water that falleth thereon a long time, of a pale or whitiſh greene colour, (and the Mediæ and Serotinæ more greene) couered ouer as it were with a mealineſſe or hoarineſſe, with an eye or ſhew of redneſſe towards the bottome of the leaues, and the edges in this kinde being more notable white, which are two principall notes to know a Præcox Tulipa from a Media or Serotina: the ſtalke with the flower riſeth vp in the middle, as it were through theſe leaues, which in time ſtand one aboue another, compaſſing it at certaine vnequall diſtances, and is often obſerued to bend it ſelfe crookedly downe to the ground, as if it would thruſt his head thereinto, but turning vp his head (which will be the flower) againe, afterwards ſtandeth vpright, ſometimes but three or foure fingers or inches high, but more often halfe a foote, and a foot high, but the Medias, and Serotinas much higher, carrying (for the moſt part) but one flower on the toppe thereof, like vnto a Lilly for the forme, conſiſting of ſixe leaues, greene at the firſt, and afterwards changing into diuers and ſundry ſeuerall colours and varieties, the bottomes likewiſe of the leaues of theſe ſometimes, but moſt eſpecially of the Mediæ, being as variable as the flower, which are in ſome yellow, or green, or blacke, in others white, blew, purple, or tawnie; and ſometimes one colour circling another: ſome of them haue little or no ſent at all, and ſome haue a better then others. After it hath been blowne open three or foure dayes or more, it will in the heate of the Sunne ſpread it ſelfe open, and lay it ſelfe almoſt flat to the ſtalke: in the middle of the flower ſtandeth a greene long head (which will be the ſeed veſſell) compaſſed about with ſixe chiues, which doe much vary, in being ſometimes of one, and ſometimes of another colour, tipt with pendents diuerſly varied likewiſe: the head in the middle of the flower groweth after the flower is fallen, to be long, round, and edged, as it were three ſquare, the edges meeting at the toppe, where it is ſmalleſt, and making as it were a crowne (which is not ſeen in the head of any Lilly) and when it is ripe, diuideth it ſelfe on the inſide into ſixe rowes, of flat, thinne, browniſh, griſtly feede, very like vnto the ſeede of the Lillies, but brighter, ſtiffer, and more tranſparent: the roote being well growne is round, and ſomewhat great, ſmall and pointed at the toppe, and broader, yet roundiſh at the bottome, with a certaine eminence or ſeate on the one ſide, as the roote of the Colchicum hath; but not ſo long, or great, it hath alſo an hollowneſſe on the one ſide (if it haue borne a flower) where the ſtalke grew, (for although in the time of the firſt ſpringing vp, vntill it ſhew the budde for flower, the ſtalke with the leaues thereon riſe vp out of the middle of the roote; yet when the ſtalke is riſen vp, and ſheweth the budde for flower, it commeth to one ſide, making an impreſſion therein) couered ouer with a browniſh thin coate or skin, like an Onion, hauing a little woollineſſe at the bottome; but white within, and firme, yet compoſed of many coates, one folding within another, as the roote of the Daffodils be, of a reaſonable good taſte, neyther very ſweete, nor yet vnpleaſant. This deſcription may well ſerue for the other Tulipas, being Medias or Serotinas, concerning their ſpringing and bearing, which haue not any other great variety therein worth the note, which is not expreſſed here; the chiefe difference reſting in the variety of the colours of the flower, and their ſeuerall mixtures and markes, as I ſaid before: ſauing onely, that the flowers of ſome are great and large, and of others ſmaller, and the leaues of ſome long
