

66 



TRIANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. Ruscus. 





BRYO'NI A. Cal 5-toothed : Bloss. with 5 divi- 

 sions. 

 Male. Anthers united at the base. 

 Fern. Style 3-cleft : Berry roundish, mostly 

 1 -seeded. 



dioi'ca. B. Leaves hand-shaped ; rough on both sides, with cal- 

 lous points : male and female flowers on different 

 plants. 



- Jacq. austr. 199-E. hot. 439-Sheldr. 77-MM. ic. 70- 



Woo&u. 189-BIackw. 37-Tourn. 15. 1-Dod. 4>00-Lob. 

 obs. 343. 3 ; ic. i. 624. 2-Ger. em. 86g~Gars. 181~Ger. 

 72Q-FucI>s. 94-J. B. ii. 143. 2-Cam. epit. 9$7-P<*rk. 

 178. l-Trag. 82C-Lott. i. 209. 2-Matth. 1283. 



Leaves not properly hand-shaped, even the lower ones being 

 truly lobed. Our plants are all dioecious, and have red berries. 

 I have never observed that with black berries. The Bryonia 

 alba, baccis nigris of Ray, is an addition of Dillenius. Woodw. 

 The female flowers shew the rudiments of 5 stamens, at the in- 



sertion of the segments of the blossom, equal in number to that 

 of the anthers of the barren flowers. St. Barren and fertile 

 plants generally growing at a great distance from each other, 

 never having seen them growing together but once. Liers. 

 FUwets yellow white, with greenish streaks. Berry red. Seeds 

 ii to & 



Red berried Bryony. Wild Vine. Hedges and thickets. 



P. May.* 



RUS'CUS. Stamens and pistils mostly on different 



plants : Bloss. none : Cal. 6 leaves : Nectary 

 central, egg-shaped, open at the top. 



Male flowers, Anthers united. 



Fern, flowers, Berry 3 -celled: Seeds generally 2. 



* The root is purgative and acrid ; a dram of it in substance, or half an 

 ounce of it infused in wine, is a full dose. A cold infusion of the root 

 in water is used externally in sciatic pains. A cataplasm of it is a most 

 powerful discutient. — A decoction made with one pound of the fresh root 

 is the best pur£e for horned cattle. The active virtues of this plant seem 

 to give it a claim to more attention than is now bestowed upon it. Some 

 people have a method of forming the roots into human figures, and sell* 

 in% them for mandrakes. Goats eat it ; horses, cows, sheep, and swin* 

 refuse it. Linn. Two or three of the berries have been eaten without any 

 observable effect. Mr. Hollefear, 



