The Description.
The blew Columbine hath leaves like the great Celandine, but somewhat rounder, indented on the edges, parted into divers sections, of a blewish green colour, which beeing broken, yeeld forth little juice or none at all: the stalke is a cubit and a halfe high, slender, reddish, and sleightly haired: the slender sprigs whereof bring forth everie one one floure with five little hollow hornes, as it were hanging forth, with small leaves standing up-right, of the shape of little birds: these floures are of colour somtimes blew, at other times of a red or purple, often white, or of mixt colours, which to distinguish severally were to small purpose, being things so familiarly known to all: after the floures grow up cods, in which is contained little black and glittering seed: the roots are thicke, with some strings thereto belonging, which continue many yeres.
The Place.
They are set and sowne in gardens for the beautie and variable colour of the floures.
The Time.
They floure in May, June, and July.
The Names.
Columbine is called of the later Herbarists, Aquilegia: of some, Herba Leonis, or the herbe wherein the Lion doth delight.
The Vertues.
They are used especially to decke the gardens of the curious, garlands and houses.