Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ... The Names.--The first is called Helleborus, and is the same that both Theophrastus and Dioscorides have written of, and which was called Melampodion, of Melampus the Goateheard, that purged and cured the mad or melancholicke daughters of Pratus with the rootes thereof. Wee call it in English, The true blacke Hellebor, or the Christmas flower, because (as I said) it is it most commonly in flower at or before Christmas. The Vertues.--The rootes of both these kindes are safe medecines, being rightly prepared, to be used for all Melancholicke diseases, whatsoever others may feare or write. Lilium Convallium. Lilly Convally.* Lilium Convallium jiore albo. The white Lilly Convally. The white Convall or May Lilly, hath three or foure leaves rising together from the roote, one enclosed within another, each whereof when it is open is long and broad, of a grayish shining greene colour. From the middle * Lily of the Valley. of them riseth up a short naked footstalke an hand breadth high or somewhat more, bearing at the toppe one above another many small white flowers, like little hollow bottles with open mouths, nicked or cut unto five or six notches turning all downewards one way, or on one side of the stalke, of a very strong sweete sent, and comfortable for the memory and senses. May Lillies with red flowers. This other May Lilly differeth neither in roote, leafe, nor forme of flower from that before, but onely in the colour of the flower, which is of a fine pale red colour, being in my judgement not altogether so sweet as the former. The Names.--The Latines have no other name for this plant but Lilium Convallium, although some would have it to be Lilium vernum of Theophrastus. We call it in English Lilly Convally, May Lilly, and of some...
