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Of Medow Saffron

The Kindes.

THere be sundry sorts of medow Saffrons, differing very notably as well in the colour of their floures, as also in nature and country from whence they had their being, as shall be declared.

The Description. 1 MEdow Saffron hath three or foure leaves rising immediately forth of the ground, long, broad, smooth, fat, much like to the leaves of the white Lillie in forme and smoothnesse: in the middle whereof spring up three or foure thicke cods of the bignesse of a small Wall-nut, standing upon short tender foot-stalkes, three square, and opening themselves when they be ripe, full of seed something round, and of a blackish red colour: and when this seed is ripe, the leaves together with the stalkes doe fade and fall away. In September the floures bud forth, before any leaves appeare, standing upon short tender and whitish stemmes, like in forme and colour to the floures of Saffron, having in the middle small chives or threds of a pale yellow colour, altogether unfit for meat or medicine. 2 The second kinde of Mede Saffron is like the precedent, differing onely in the colour of the floures, for that this plant doth bring forth white leaves, which of some hath beene taken for the true Hermodactylus; but in so doing they have committed the greater error. 3 In the Spring of the yeare it bringeth forth his leaves, thicke, fat, shining, and smooth, not unlike the leaves of Lillies, which doe continue greene unto the end of June; at which time the leaves do wither away, but in the beginning of September there shooteth forth of the ground naked milke white floures without any greene leafe at all: but so soone as the Plant hath done bearing of floures, the root remaines in the ground, not sending forth any thing untill Februarie in the yeare following.

The Place.

Medow Saffron, or Colchicum, groweth in Messinia, and in the Isle of Colchis, whereof it tooke his name. The titles of the rest do set forth their native countries; notwith-standing our London gardens are possessed with the most part of them.

The two first do grow in England in great aboundance in fat and fertile medowes, as about Vilford and Bathe, as also in the medowes neere to a small village in the West part of England, called Shepton Mallet, in the medowes about Bristoll, in Kingstrop medow neere unto a water mil as you go from Northampton to Holmby house, upon the right hand of the way, and likewise in great plenty in Nobottle wood two miles from Northampton, and in many other places.

Dagger The rest for the most part may be found in the gardens of the Florists among us. Dagger The Time.

The leaves of all the kindes of Mede Saffron doe begin to shew themselves in Februarie. The seed is ripe in June. The leaves, stalks, and seed do perish in July, and their pleasant floures do come forth of the ground in September. The Names.

Divers name it in Latine Bulbus agrestis, or wild Bulbe: in French, Mort au chien. Some have taken it to be the true Hermodactyl, yet falsely. Other some call it Filius ante patrem, although there is a kinde of Lysimachia or Loose-strife so called, because it first bringeth forth his long cods with seed, and then the floure after, or at the same time at the end of the said cod. But in this Mede Saffron it is far otherwise, because it bringeth forth leaves in Februarie, seed in May, and floures in September; which is a thing cleane contrarie to all other plants whatsoever, for that they doe first floure, and after seed: but this Saffron seedeth first, and foure moneths after brings forth floures: and therefore some have thought this a fit name for it, Filius ante Patrem: and we accordingly may call it, The Sonne before the Father.

The Vertues of Hermodactyls. dagger The roots of Hermodactyls are properly given (saith Paulus) to those that have the Gout.

The same stamped, and mixed with the whites of egges, barley meale, and crums of bread, and applied plaisterwise, ease the paine of the Gout, swellings and aches about the joynts.

The Correction.

The pouder of Ginger, long Pepper, Annise seed or Cumine seed, and a little Masticke, correct the churlish working of that Hermodactyll which is used in Shops. But those which have eaten of the common Medow Saffron must drinke the milke of a cow, or else death presently ensueth.

The Danger.

The roots of all the sorts of Mede Saffrons are very hurtfull to the stomacke, and being eaten they kill by choaking as Mushromes do, according unto Dioscorides; whereupon some have called it Colchicum strangulatorium.