The Kindes.
Tulipa or the Dalmatian Cap is a strange and forrein floure, one of the number of the bulbed floures, whereof there be sundry sorts, some greater, some lesser, with which all studious and painefull Herbarists desire to be better acquainted, because of that excellent diversitie of most brave floures which it beareth. Of this there be two chiefe and generall kindes, viz. Praecox, and Serotina; the one doth beare his floures timely, the other later. To these two we will adde another sort called Media, flouring betweene both the others. And from these three sorts, as from their heads, all other kindes doe proceed, which are almost infinite in number. Notwithstanding, my loving friend Mr James Garret, a curious searcher of Simples, and learned Apothecarie of London, hath undertaken to finde out, if it were possible, their infinite sorts, by diligent sowing of their seeds, and by planting those of his owne propagation, and by others received from his friends beyond the seas for the space of twenty yeares, not being yet able to attaine to the end of his travel, for that each new yeare bringeth forth new plants of sundry colours not before seen; all which to describe particularly were to rolle Sisiphus stone, or number the sands. So that it shall suffice to speake of and describe a few, referring the rest to some that meane to write of Tulipa a particular volume.
The Description.
1 THe Tulipa of Bolonia hath fat thicke and grosse leaves, hollow, furrowed or chanelled, bended a little backward, and as it were folded together: which at their first comming up seeme to be of a reddish colour, and being throughly growne turne into a whitish greene. In the midst of those leaves riseth up a naked fat stalke a foot high, or somthing more; on the top whereof standeth one or two yellow floures, somtimes three or more, consisting of six smal leaves, after a sort like to a deepe wide open cup, narrow above, and wide in the bottome. After it hath been some few dayes floured, the points and brims of the floure turn backward, like a Dalmatian or Turkish Cap, called Tulipan, Tolepan, Turban, and Turfan, whereof it tooke his name. The chives or threds in the middle of the floure be somtimes yellow, otherwhiles blackish or purplish, but commonly of one overworne colour or other, Nature seeming to play more with this floure than with any other that I do know. This floure is of a reasonable pleasant smell, and the other of his kinde have little or no smel at all. The root is bulbous, and very like to a common onion of S. Omers.
2 We have likewise another of greater beautie, and very much desired of all, with white floures dasht on the backside, with a light wash of watchet colour.
The Place.
Tulipa groweth wilde in Thracia, Cappadocia, and Italy; in Bizantia about Constantinople; at Tripolis and Aleppo in Syria. They are now common in all the English gardens of such as affect floures.
The Time.
They floure from the end of Februarie unto the beginning of May, and somwhat after: although Augerius Busbequius in his journey to Constantinople, saw betweene Hadrianople and Constantinople, great aboundance of them in floure everie where, even in the midst of Winter, in the moneth of Januarie, which that warme and temperat clymat may seeme to performe.
The Names.
The later Herbarists by a Turkish or strange name call it Tulipa, of the Dalmatian cap called Tulipa, the forme whereof the floure when it is open seemeth to represent.
It is called in English after the Turkish name Tulipa, or it may be called Dalmatian Cap, or the Turks Cap. What name the antient Writers gave it is not certainly knowne.
Dagger I do verily thinke that these are the Lillies of the field mentioned by our Saviour, Mat. 6. 28, 29. for he saith, That Solomon in all his royaltie was not arrayed like one of these. The reasons that induce me to thinke thus, are these; First, their shape: for their floures resemble Lillies; and in these places whereas our Saviour was conversant they grow wilde in the fields. Secondly, the infinite varietie of colour, which is to be found more in this than any other sort of floure. And thirdly, the wondrous beautie and mixtures of these floures. This is my opinion, and these my reasons, which any may either approve of or gainsay, as he shall thinke good. Dagger
The Temperature and Vertues.
There hath not been any thing set downe of the antient or later Writers, as touching the Nature or Vertues of the Tulipa, but they are esteemed specially for the beauty of their floures.
Dagger The roots preserved with sugar, or otherwise dressed, may be eaten, and are no unpleasant nor any way offensive meat, but rather good and nourishing. Dagger