The roote hereof is sharpe, comming neare vnto the quality of the Crowfeete, but for any speciall property, I haue not heard or found any. CHAP. XXIX. _Hepatica nobilis siue trifolia._ Noble Liuerwort. Next vnto the Crowfeete are to follow the Hepaticas, because of the likenesse with them, seeming to be small Crowfeete in all their parts, but of another and more wholsome kinde. Their diuersity among themselues consisteth chiefly in the colour of the flowers, all of them being single, except one which is very thicke and double. 1. _Hepatica flore cæruleo simplici maior._ The great single blew Hepatica or noble Liuerwort. The flowers of this Hepatica doe spring vp, blow open, and sometimes shed and fall away, before any leaues appeare or spread open. The rootes are composed of a bush of blackish things, from the seuerall heads or buttons whereof, after the flowers are risen and blowne, arise many fresh greene leaues, each seuerally standing vpon his foot-stalke, folded together, and somewhat browne and hairy at their first comming, which after are broad, and diuided at the edges into three parts: the flowers likewise stand euery one vpon his owne seuerall foote-stalke, of the same height with the leaues for the most part, which is about foure or fiue fingers breadth high, made of six leaues most vsually, but sometimes it will haue seuen or eight, of a faire blew colour, with many white chiues or threads in the middle, standing about a middle green head or vmbone, which after the flower is fallen groweth greater, and sheweth many small graines or seede set close together (with three small greene leaues compassing them vnderneath, as they did the flower at the bottome) very like the head of seed of manie Crowfeete. 2. _Hepatica minor flore pallido cæruleo._ The small blew Hepatica. The leaues of this Hepatica are smaller by the halfe then the former, and grow more aboundantly, or bushing thicke together: the flowers (when it sheweth them, for I haue had the plant halfe a score yeares, and yet neuer saw it beare flower aboue once or twice) are of a pale or bleake blew colour, not so large as the flowers of the former. 3. _Hepatica flore purpureo._ Purple Hepatica or noble Liuerwort. This Hepatica is in all things like vnto the first, but onely the flowers are of a deeper blew tending to a Violet purple: and therefore I shall not neede to reiterate the former description. 4. _Hepatica flore albo minor._ The lesser white Hepatica. The flowers of this Hepatica are wholly white, of the bignesse of the red or purple, and the leaues somewhat smaller, and of a little whiter of paler greene colour, else in all other things agreeing with the former. 5. _Hepatica alba magno flore._ The great white Hepatica. There is no other difference herein from the last, but that the flower being as white, is as large as the next. 6. _Hepatica albida siue argentea._ Ash-coloured of Argentine Hepatica.