CHINA. 1751- 343 



The root is woody, and fometimes confnls 

 of a little knob with branches, but fometimes 

 it has no knob ; it is perennial, and fometimes 

 fhoots into a number of (talks : the Jlalk \i 

 quadrangular, of the thicknefs of a pack-thread, 

 feldom exceeding half a yard in length, gene- 

 rally ramofe, and fometimes like a little bufh. 

 The branches, which are quadrangular and 

 fomewhat hairy, are commonly oppofite, and 

 fmgle, or not divided. On the top are com- 

 monly two flowers, furrounded with four 

 leaves, two of which are ftiort, but longer 

 than the flowers: the leaves are oppofite; each 

 couple is about an inch or more from the other, 

 and the nearer to the flower the further afun- 

 aer. They are fomewhat obtufe in young 

 plants, and about an inch long ; but in old 

 ones they are longer, and run (harp : thofe 

 which grow at the bottom of the branches 

 are frequently as long again as the others. 

 They have mod of them no pctiolus or (talk, 

 and are lanceolated fometimes, yet narrower ; 

 almoft every where of equal breadth ; have 

 entire margins, are covered on the upper fide 

 with ftiff hairs, which lie down, and have 

 fome thin down on the under tide only, on 

 the margin, and upon the three veins, which 

 Z 4 run 



