ſixe chiues tipt with yellow pendents, and a three-forked ſtile or pointell compaſſing a greene head, which when the flower is paſt, riſeth vpright againe, and becommeth the ſeede veſſell, being ſomewhat long and round, yet hauing a ſmall ſhew of edges, flat at the head, like the head of a Lilly, and without any crowne as the Tulipa hath, wherein is contained pale coloured flat ſeede, like vnto a Lilly, but ſmaller.
Fritilaria vulgaris pallidior praecox, & ſerotina There is ſome variety to be ſeene in this flower; for in ſome the colour is paler, and in others againe of a very high or deepe colour: ſometimes alſo they haue eight leaues, and ſometimes ten or twelue, as if two flowers were made one, which ſome thereupon haue called a Double Fritillaria. Some of them likewiſe doe flower very early, euen with or before the early flowring Tulipas; and ſome againe flower not vntill a moneth or more after the former.
2. Fritillaria flore atrorubente. The bloud red Fritillaria.
The roote of this Fritillaria is ſomewhat rounder and cloſer then the former, from whence the ſtalke riſeth vp, being ſhorter and lower then in any other of theſe kindes, hauing one or two leaues thereon, and at the top thereof two or three more ſet cloſer together, which are broader, ſhorter, and whiter then any of them before, almoſt like vnto the leaues of the yellow Fritillaria, from among which toppe leaues commeth forth the flower, ſomewhat bending downe, or rather ſtanding forth, being larger then any of the former, and almoſt equall in bigneſſe vnto the yellow Fritillaria, of a duskie gray colour all ouer on the outſide, and of a very darke red colour on the inſide, diuerſly ſpotted or ſtraked: this very hardly encreaſeth by the roote, and as ſeldome giueth ripe feede, but flowreth with the other firſt ſorts, and before the blacke, and abideth leſſe time in flower then any.
3. Fritillaria maxima purpurea ſiue rubra. The great purple or red Fritillaria.
This great Fritillaria hath his roote equall to the bigneſſe of the reſt of his parts, from whence riſeth vp one, & oftentimes two ſtalks, hauing one, two or three flowers a peece on them, as nature and the ſeaſons are ſitting: euery one of theſe flowers are larger and greater then any of the former deſcribed, and pendulous as they are, of a ſad red or purpliſh colour, with many thwart lines on them, and ſmall long markes, which hardly ſeeme checkerwiſe, nor are ſo eminent or conſpicuous as in the former: the ſtalke is ſtrong and high, whereon are ſet diuers long whitiſh greene leaues, larger and broader then thoſe of the former.
4. Fritillaria alba. The white Fritillaria.
The white Fritillaria is ſo like vnto the firſt, that I ſhall not neede to make another deſcription of this: it ſhall (I hope) be ſufficient to ſhew the chiefe differences, and ſo proceed to the reſt. The ſtalke and leaues of this are wholly greene, whereby it may eaſily be knowne from the former, which, as is ſaid, is browniſh at the bottome. The flower is white, without almoſt any ſhew of ſpot or marke in it, yet in ſome the markes are ſomewhat more plainly to be ſeene, and in ſome againe there is a ſhew of a faint kinde of bluſh colour to be ſeene in the flower, eſpecially in the inſide, the bottomes of the leaues of euery flower ſometimes are greeniſh, hauing alſo a ſmall liſt of greene, comming downe towards the middle of each leafe: the head or ſeede veſſell, as alſo the ſeede and the roote, are ſo like vnto the former, that the moſt cunning cannot diſtinguiſh them.
5. Fritillaria flore duplicialbicante. The double blufh Fritillaria.
