288 DIGECIA. ^TETRAND. PENTAND. OCTAND. 



A small -procumbent branching shrub, with linear-oblong leaves, re- 

 curved at the margin, and there ciliated. F/o?tv^?-s axillary, towards 

 the summit of the branches, rose colour, small. Berries Vjlack, 

 clustered -. these, though sometimes eaten by the Highlanders, are 

 unpleasant, better suited to the moor game. Boiled with alum, 

 according to Lightf., they yield a blackish brown dye. 



3. RUSCUS. 



1. R. aculeatus (Bulcher's Broom), stem rigid branched, leaves 

 ovato-acuminate very rigid bearing the solitary flower on its 

 upper surface. E. B. t. 560. 



Hab. Woods at Bothwell, Hopk. Fl. March, April. 1/ . 



Z7ou'e7- sm^dl, white, arising from the disk of the leaf. Berry red. 



3. TETRANDRIA. 



4. VISCUM. 



1. V. nllrum {Misseltae)^ leaves lanceolate obtuse, stems dlcho- 

 tonious, heads of flowers axillary. E. B. t. l-IJO. 



Hab. Parasitic on trees, but rare. Woods of Meikleour (on beech 

 trees}), Mr. Mu mil/. F/. May. T2 . 



\\'hole plant, including the flowers, yellowish. Berry whitish. 



;-). MYRICA. 



1. !M. Gale (sweei Gale or Dutch Myrtle)^ leaves lanceolala 

 broader upwards serrated, stem shrubby. Light/, p. Q\o. 

 lC.B.t.5&2. 



Hab. Bogs and moorish ground, most abundant. Fl. May. Pj . 



This plant has a very agreeable smell ; the leaves a bitter taste. In 

 the Hebrides, according to Lightfoot, they are given as tea to de- 

 stroy worms : and occasionally they are used as hops in beer. In 

 Isla'and Jura the inhabitants scent their clothes and their linen 

 with them. The catkins on being boiled are said to produce a 

 scum like the wax of i%?-icct cerifera and to be capable of being em- 

 ployed for the same domestic purposes. 



4. PENTANDRIA. 



6. HUMULUS. 



1. H. Liipiilus [common Hop). Lightf.p.QXb. E. B, t.AT] . 



Hab. Hedges, S:c. In the plantains, Possil; about Craignethan 

 castle, and on the Hamilton road, near ToUcross, Glasg., llopk. 

 Hedges near Duddingston, Mr. Arnott. Fl. July. 1/ . 



Stems long, weak, and climbing, scabrous. Leaves petiolate, oppo- 

 site, 3 — 5-lobed, serrated, veiny, rough. Fl oic ers greenifih yellow. 

 The fragrant bitter, so valuable in the manufactory of beer, resides 

 in the eutk'uis or cones as they are sometimes called. 



5. OCTANDRIA. 



7. POPULUS. 

 1. P. rill'd [great white Poplar ov ylbele), leaves roundish cor- 



