The Kindes.
There be divers kindes of Fox-stones, differing very much in shape of their leaves, as also in floures: some have floures, wherein is to be seen the shape of sundry sorts of living creatures; some the shape and proportion of flies, in other gnats, some humble bees, others like unto honey Bees; some like Butter-flies, and others like Waspes that be dead; some yellow of colour, others white; some purple mixed with red, others of a brown overworne colour: the which severally to distinguish, as well those here set downe, as also those that offer themselves daily to our view and consideration, would require a particular volume; for there is not any plant which doth offer such varietie unto us as these kinds, except the Tulipa's, which go beyond all account: for that the most singular Simplest that ever was in these later ages, Carolus Clusius (who for his singular industry and knowledge herein is worthy triple honor) hath spent at the least 35 yeares, sowing the seeds of Tulipa's from yeare to yeare, and to this day he could never attain to the end or certainty of their severall kinds of colours. The greatest reason thereof that I can yeeld is this, That if you take the seeds of a Tulipa that bare white floures, and sow them in a pan or tub with earth, you shal receive from that seed plants of infinite colours. Contrariwise, if you sow the seeds of a plant that beareth flours of variable colours, the most of those plants will be nothing like the plant from whence the seed was taken.
The Description.
1 BUtterfly Orchis or Satyrion beares next the root two very broad leaves like those of the Lilly, seldome three: the floures be white of colour, resembling the shape of a Butterfly: the stalke is a foot high.
2 The Waspe Satyrion groweth out of the ground, having stalks small and tender: the leaves are like the former, but somwhat greater, declining to a brown or dark colour. The flours be small, of the colour of a dry oken leafe, in shape resembling the great Bee called in English an Hornet, or drone Bee.
3 The leaves of Bee Satyrion are longer than the last before mentioned, narrower, turning themselves against the Sun as it were round. The stalk is round, tender, and very fragile. At the top grow the floures, resembling in shape the dead carkasse of a Bee. The bulbes of the roots be smaller and rounder than the last described.
4 The Fly Satyrion is in his leaves like the other, saving that they be not of so dark a colour: the floures be smaller, and more plentifully growing about the stalke, in shape like unto Flies, of a darke greenish colour, even almost blacke.
The Place.
These kindes of Orchis grow for the most part in moist medowes and fertile pastures, as also in moist woods.
The Bee, the Fly, and the Butter-fly Satyrions grow upon barren chalky hils, & heathy grounds, upon the hils adjoyning to a village in Kent named Greenhithe, upon Long-field downs by Southfleet, two miles from the same place, and in many other places of Kent: likewise in a field adjoyning to a small grove of trees, halfe a mile from S. Albons, at the South end thereof. They grow likewise at Hatfield neere S. Albons, by the relation of a learned Preacher there dwelling, Mr Robert Abbot, an excellent and diligent Herbarist.
That kind which resembleth the white Butter-fly groweth upon the declining of the hill at the end of Hampsted heath, neere to a small cottage there in the way side, as yee goe from London to Henden a village there by. It groweth in the fields adjoyning to the fold or pin-fold without the gate, at a village called High-gate, neere London: and likewise in the wood belonging to a Worshipfull gentleman of Kent named Mr Sidley; of Southfleet: where doe grow likewise many other rare and dainty simples, that are not to be found elsewhere in a great circuit.
The Time.
They floure for the most part from May to the end of August, and some of them sooner.
The Names.
These kindes of Orchis have not bin much written of by the Antients, neither by the late writers to any purpose; so that it may content you for this time to receive the names set down in their severall titles, reserving what else might be said as touching the Greeke, French, or Dutch names, or any generall definition, untill a further consideration.
The Temperature and Vertues.
There is no great use of these in physicke, but they are chiefly regarded for the pleasant and beautifull floures wherewith Nature hath seemed to play and disport her selfe.