r 2 | 
52. Guajacana. 
The Perfimmon-tree. 
Thefe trees grow from twenty to thirty feet in height, with a trunk about ten or twelve. 
inches thick, and bear leaves like thofe of the pear-tree: the bloffoms appear in April, growing 
along the fides of the branches on very fhort foot-ftalks ; they are monopetalous, fucculent, 
and of a green colour; divided into four fegments, in the middle of which ftands the ovarium, 
which when grown to its full bignefs is of the fize and fhape of a large Orleans plum: as the 
fruit {wells, the four petals which compofed the flower fpread and become hard and dry.. The 
fruit, which is of a tranfparent yellow colour, inclofeth four flat ftones: the fruit of fome of 
thefe trees ripen at different times from others; fome in Auguft, others in November, and 
will hang after the leaves fall even till December, when having loft much of its watery parts, 
it grows fhrivelled, candied, and very lufcious, refembling raifins of the fun; and if fkilfully 
managed, would probably afford a fine rich fpirit. Great plenty of thefe trees grow in Caro- 
lina, Virginia, and moft of our northern colonies in America; where their fruit is a feafonable 
fupport to birds, fquirrels, and other animals. The ftone fplit in two parts exhibits the tree 
in embrio, with the two feed leaves, and its ftem or trunk, in a more diftinét. manner than in 
~ any I have ever met with. Thefe feeds will rife in the natural ground; but the more expe- 
ditious and certain method is, to raife them with the affiftance of a moderate hot bed. | 
53. Frutex aquaticus, floribus luteis, frultu rotundo quinque capfulari. 
The height of this plant is ufually about twelve feet; it rifes with many {mall ftems, from 
which fhoot forth fmaller twigs fet with fmall pointed {mooth leaves. The flowers grow on 
the tops of the branches; before they open are inclofed in fmall brown Saag fet on thort 
_ foot-ftalks ; are hexapetalous, and of a deep yellow colour. | 
| They grow in plafhes and frefh-water ponds, in the woods of Virginia and Carolina ; and 
in the beginning of February adorn the woods, when few other plants appear in bloffom. 
She flowers are fucceeded by fmall round capfule, which in March and April divide into four 
"parts and difclofe their feeds, which being very fmall, are difperfed by the wind; and when 
_ carried into watery places, they {pring up very thick, and bloffom in a fhort time. 
54. Phila- 
