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Of Star of Bethlem

The Kindes.

THere be sundry kindes of wilde field Onions called Stars of Bethlem, differing in stature, tast and smell.

The Description. 1 OUr common Starre of Bethlehem hath many narrow leaves, thicke, fat, full of juice, and of a very greene colour, with a white streake downe the middle of each leafe: among the which rise up small naked stalkes, at the top whereof grow floures compact of six little leaves, stripped on the backe side with lines of greene, the inside being milke-white. These floures open themselves at the rising of the Sunne, and shut againe at the Sun-setting; whereupon this plant hath been called by some, Bulbus Solsequius. The floures being past, the seed doth follow, inclosed in three cornered huskes. The root is bulbous, white both within and without.

The Place.

Stars of Bethlehem, or Star-floures, grow in sundry places that lie open to the aire, not onely in Germany and the Low-countries, but also in England, and in our gardens very common. The yellow kinde Lobel found in Somerset-shire in the corne fields. The rest are strangers in England; yet we have most of them in some of our choice gardens.

The Time.

These kindes of bulbed plants do floure from Aprill to the end of May. The Vertues.

The roots, saith Dioscorides, are eaten both raw and boiled.