The Description

            1. This elegant Gentianella hath a small yellowish creeping root, from which arise many green smooth thick hard and sharp pointed leaves like those of the Broad-Leaved Myrtle, yet larger, and having the veins running alongst the leaves as in Plantain. Amongst the leaves come up short stalks, bearing very large flowers one upon a stalk; and these flowers are hollow like a Bell-Flower, and end in five sharp points with two little ears between each division, and their colour is an exquisite blue. After the flower is past there follows a sharp pointed longish vessel, which opening itself into two equal parts, shows a small crested dark coloured seed.

            2. This second rises up with a single slender and purplish stalk, set at certain spaces with six or eight little ribbed leaves, standing by couples one against another. At the top stands a cup, out whereof comes one long flower without smell, and as it were divided at the top into five parts; and it is of so elegant a colour, that it seems to exceed blueness itself; each of the folds or little leaves of the flower hath a whitish line at the side, and other five as it were pointed leaves or appendices set between them: and in the midst of the flower are certain pale coloured chives: a longish sharp pointed vessel succeeds the flower, which contains a small hard round seed. The root is small, yellowish and creeping, putting up here and there stalks bearing flowers, and in other places only leaves lying orderly spread upon the ground.

Fig. 662. Bastard or Dwarf Felwort (3)

            3. Besides these two whose roots last long and increase every year, there are divers other Dwarf or Bastard Gentians which are annual, and wholly perish every year as soon as they have perfected their seed; and therefore by Clusius they are fitly called Gentianæ fugaces. Of these I have only observed two kinds (or rather varieties) in this Kingdom. which I will here describe unto you. The first of these, which is the lesser, & whose figure we here give you, is a proper plant some two or three inches high, divided immediately from the root into three or four or more branches, set at certain spaces with little longish leaves, being broadest at the setting on, and so growing narrower or sharper pointed. The tops of these stalks are beautified with long, hollow, and pretty large flowers, considering the magnitude of the plant. and these flowers are of a dark purplish colour, and at their tops divided into five parts. The root is yellowish, small, and woody. The seed which is small and round is contained in longish vessels. The stalks and leaves are commonly of a dark green, or else of a brownish colour.

            4. This from a root like, yet a little larger than the former, sends up a pretty stiff round stalk of some span high; which at certain spaces is set with such leaves as the last described, but larger: and out of the bosoms of these leaves from the bottom to the top of the stalk come forth little footstalks, which usually carry three flowers apiece; two set one against another, and the third upon a stalk somewhat higher; and sometimes there comes forth a single flower at the root of these footstalks. The flowers in their shape, magnitude and colour, are like those of the last mentioned, and also the seed and seed vessels. The manner of growing of this is very well presented by the figure of the third Gentian, formerly described in the chapter last save one aforegoing.

The Place.

            1, 2. These grow not wild in England that I know of, but the former is to be found in most of our choice gardens. As with Mr. Parkinson, Master Tradescant, and Master Tuggy, &c.

            3, 4. These are found in divers places, as in the Chalk-dale at Dartford in Kent, and according to our author (for I know he meant these) in Waterdown Forest in Sussex, in the way that leadeth from Charlwoods lodge, unto the house of the Lord of Abergavenny, called Eridge house by a brook side there; especially upon a heath by Colbrook near London: on the Plain of Salisbury, hard by the turning from the said plain, unto the right Honourable the Lord of Pembroke's house at Wilton, and upon a chalky bank in the high way between Saint Alban's and Gorhambury.

The Time.

            1, 2. Thers two flower in April and May. The other from August unto the end of October.

The Names

            1. This is the Gentiana 4 of Traus. The Gentianella Alpina of Gesner. Gentianella campanulæ flore and helvetica of Lobel; the Gentian 5 or Gentianella maior verna of Clusius.

            2. Gesner called this Calathiana verna: Lobel, Gentianella Alpina, and Clusius, Gentiana 6 and Gentianella minor verna.

            3. This is the Calathiana vera of Dalechampius: and the Gentiana fugax 5 or Gentiana 11 minima of Clusius.

            4. I take this to be Clusius his Gentiana fugax 4. or Gentiana 10. We may call this in English, Small Autumn Gentian.

Their Temperature and virtues.

            These by their taste and form should be much like to the greater Gentians in their operation and working, yet not altogether so effectual.