Of Red Lillies.
The kindes.
There be likewife fundry forts of Lillies, which we do comprehend vnder one generall name: in English red Lillies, whereof fom are of our owne countries growing, and others of beyond the feas, the which shall be distinguished feuerally in this chapter that followeth. | 1 Lilium aureum. | 2 Lilium rubrum. | | :--- | :--- | | Gold red Lillie. | The red Lillie. |
The description.
1 The gold red Lillie groweth to the height of two, and sometimes three cubits, and often higher than those of the common white Lillie. The leaues be blacker and narrower, set verie thicke about the stalke. The flowers in the top be many from ten to thirtie flowers, according to the age of the plant, and fertilitie of the soile, like in forme and greatnes to those of the white Lillie, but of a red colour tending to a saffron, sprinckled or poudered with many little blacke speckes, like to rude vnperfect draughts of certaine letters. The rootes be great bulbes, consisting of many cloues, as those of the white Lillie. 2 The firie red Lillie hath rootes like the former: from the which riseth vp a stalke of a cubite and halfe high, set with broad leaues like those of Plantaine. On the top doth grow one flower or two, seldome many, in colour red or as the flame of fire, which quickly doth fade and perish. 3 The great red Lillie is like vnto the former in stature, the leaues be fewer in number, broader, & not so thicke set. The flowers in shape be like the former, sauing that the colour heereof is more red, and thicke dasht with blacke speckes. The roote is scaley like the former. 4 There is another red Lillie which hath many leaues somwhat ribbed, broader than the last before mentioned, but shorter, & not so many in number. The stalk groweth to the height of two cubits and fometimes higher, whereupon do grow flowers like the former. Among the footeftalkes of which flowers commeth foorth certaine bulbes or cloued rootes, browne of colour tending to redneffe, which do fall in the ende of Auguft vpon the ground, taking roote and growing in the fame place, whereby it greatly increafeth, for feldome or neuer it bringeth foorth feed for his propagation. There is another fort of the red Lillies, hauing a faire fcaley or cloued roote, yellow aboue, and browne toward the bottome: from which rifeth vp a faire ftiffe ftalke crefted or furrowed, of an ouerworne browne colour, fet from the lower part to the branches, whereon the flowers do grow with many leaues, confufedly placed without order. Among the branches clofe by the ftemme, grow foorth certaine cloues or rootes of a reddifh colour, like vnto the cloues of Garlicke before they be pilled, which being falllen vpon the grounde at their time of ripeneffe, doe fhoote foorth certaine tender ftrings or rootes that do take hold of the ground whereby greatly increafeth. The flowers are in fhape like the other red Lillies, but of a darke oreng colour, refembling a flame of fire fpotted with blacke fpots, whereof it tooke his name. 3 Lilium cruentum latifolium. The firiered Lillie. ☩ The place. Thefe Lillies do growe wilde in the plowed fieldes of Italie and Languedocke, in the mountaines and vallies of Hetruria and thofe places adiacent. They are common in our Englifh gardens as alfo in Germanie. ☩ The time. They flower commonly a little before the white Lillies, when Rofes do. ☩ The names. There haue beene from the beginning great controuerfies about the name of this red Lillie, or after fome purple Lillie: the which controuerfies haue beene fo ridiculous, and yet neuer cenfured, that it were much labour loft to repeate them: for all and euerie of them haue faid fomewhat, but nothing to the purpofe: for fome haue fought to mende others errors, and haue made more than were before, and therefore it fhall fuffice what hath beene faid in the defcription or title. ☩ The nature. The flower of the red Lillie (as Galen faith) is of a mixt temperature, partly of thin, and partly of an earthly effence. The roote and leaues do drie and clenfe, and moderately digeft or wafte and confume away. ☩ The vertues. The leaues of the herbe as Diofcorides teacheth, being applied are good againft the ftinging of ferpents. The fame boiled and tempered with vineger, are good againft burnings, and heale greene wounds and vlcers. The roote rofted in the embers and pound with oile of rofes cureth burnings, and fofteneth hardnes of the matrix. The fame ftamped with honie, cureth the wounded finewes and members out of ioint. It taketh away the morphew and deformitie of the face, and taketh away wrinckles. Stamped with vineger, the leaues of Henbane, and wheat meale, remooueth hot fwellings of the ftones, the yard and matrix. The rootes boiled in wine, saith Pliny, causeth the cornes of the feete to fall away within fewe daies, with remoouing the medicine vntill it haue wrought the effect. Being drunke in honied water, they driue out by siege vnprofitable blood.
Text in Gerard's own spelling (the long s is printed as s), transcribed by the Source Library (CC BY-SA 4.0). A chapter may run onto pages not yet transcribed. Gerard wrote within Galenic medicine; nothing here is advice.