WINTER CHERRY. 410 



the bladder- shape of the calyx ; or as some old 

 medical writers suppose from its supposed virtues 

 against the diseases of the bladder, for which 

 purpose it was highly extolled by the Arabian 

 physicians. 



The Winter Cherry appears to have been much 

 more common in the time of Gerard than at pre- 

 sent, as he observes, '* The Redde Winter Cherrie 

 groweth vpon olde broken wals about the bor- 

 ders of fieldes, and in moist shadowie places, 

 and in most gardens, where some conserue it for 

 the beautie of the berries, and others for the 

 great and woorthy vertues thereof." 



This plant grows naturally in many parts of 

 the south of Europe, Germany, China, and Cochin- 

 China. The German peasants eat the berries by 

 handfuls, and they are frequently brought to table 

 in Spain and Switzerland ; they have an acidu- 

 lous and not unpleasant taste, followed by a slight 

 bitterness. They are esteemed detergent and 

 aperient, but are principally recommended as a 

 diuretic, which is thought to remove obstructions 

 occasioned by gravel or mucus. 



At present the berries are seldom used with 

 us, excepting to mingle in bouquets of dried 

 flowers to ornament the chimney-pieces of cottage 

 parlours. 



This species of PhysaKs is easily propagated 



2 E 2 



