7^^ Ufeful Family Herhal. 3 1 



The Bengal Bean-tree. 



FABA BENGALENSIS. 



Large Tree, Native of the Eaft, and not un- 

 like our Plum-Tree. It is thirty or forty 



A 



high; the Leaves are roundifli, but Iharp-pointed 

 and of a deep Green j they are finely indented and 

 of a firm Texture. The Flowers are large and 

 white ; they referable in all Refpefls the Bioiron?.s 

 of our Plum-Trees. The Fruit is a kind c'' 

 Plum of a long Shape, with a fmall Quantity 

 of flelhy Matter, and a very large Stone. It is 

 a kind of Myrobolan, but is not exadlly the 

 fame with any that we ufe 



The Bengal -Bean, as it is called 



D 



Produclion of this Tree : It is very ill named 

 a Bean •, it is truly a Gall like thofc of the Oak ; 

 but it does not rife like them from the Wood or 

 Leaves, but from the Fruit of this particular 

 Plum. It is as broad as a Walnut, but flatted, 

 and hollowed in the Center-, its Original is this: 



There is a little black Fly frequent in that Coun- 

 try, which lodges its Eggs in the unripe Fruit of 

 this particular Plum, as we have Infefts in Eng- 

 land, which always choofe a particular Plant, 

 and a particular Part for that Purpofe. The Fly 

 always ftrikes the Fruit while it is green, and has 

 but the Rudiments of the Stone. It grows dif- 

 tempered from the Wound, and the Stone never 

 ripens in it, but it takes this fingular Form. 



It is an excellent Aftringent. It is of the Na- 

 ture of the Galls of the Oak, but lefs violendy 

 binding. It is good in all Purgings and bloody 

 Fluxes, and againft the Overflowing of the 

 Menfes, 



J 



Bear's- 



