392 ORD. XXII. Putaminee. CAPPARIS SPINOSA. 
large, handsome, incdorous.. Flower-stalks round, longer than 
the leaves. Calyx of four unequal concave leaves, tipped with 
purple. Petals much larger than the calyx, spreading, obovate, 
waved, white, with a faint tincture of red. Stamina very nume- 
rous, the length of the petals, spreading, slender in the upper 
part, pale purple like the anthere. Germen oval, small, green, 
standing on a round purplish footstalk, which is longer than the 
stamina. Stigma small, blunt. Capsule oblong, oval, coriaceous. 
It is a native of the south of France, Italy, and the Levant. 
Dr. Smith, of whose figure and description of the Caper-bush 
we have here availed ourselves, says, “it is surprising that this 
beautiful shrub, which is as common in the south of France as the 
bramble with us, and which grows luxuriantly in the open air, 
when trained against a wall, even at Paris, should be almost un- 
known in the English gardens, where it can goed be — to 
flower, except in a stove, with all possible care.’ 
‘The buds, or unexpanded flowers of this plant, are in common 
use as a pickle; and for this purpose the smaller or younger buds 
are most esteemed. 
This grateful pickle has the character of an antiscorbutic, and of 
‘removing hepatic and other visceral obstructions; but the part of 
the plant which has been chiefly recommended for medicinal pur- 
poses, is the bark of the root. This is of considerable thickness, 
externally of an ash colour, and transversely wrinkled; on drying 
it rolls up into quills of about a third of an inch in diameter; its 
taste is somewhat aromatic, bitterish, and acrid. 
By Dioscorides, and other ancient writers, it was thought of 
great efficacy as a deobstruent, and was generally employed in 
obstructions of the liver and spleen, menstrual suppressions, and 
sciatica; in this view it has also been used by Forestus’ and 
Sennertus ;° and on the presumption of its deobstruent power, it 
is reckoned one of the five less aperient roots: at present, however, 
its use is wholly laid aside. 
. Specil. Bot. 1.20. Oper. Lib, 20. Obs. 2. § pA Pract. Lib. WP. 4.¢.2. & 3. 
