172 POPULAR FIELD BOTANY. 
by the stem being solid instead of hollow, and the sheaths 
of the leaves undivided. They are, usually, insignificant in 
appearance, and grow in moist and boggy places. 
Monecta. PENTANDRIA. 
COROLLIFLORZ. CUCURBITACE. 
BRYONIA. (Bryony.) 
Generic Character. Barren flowers: Calya five-toothed. 
Corolla five-cleft. Stamens five, in three parcels. Fertile 
flower: Calyx and corolla the same, pistil divided into three. 
Berry globular, with many seeds. 
Bryonta pioica. ed-berried Bryony. Thickets and 
hedges in England produce this elegant plant. It is called 
Wild Hop in some places, in others Wild Vine; for it twines 
like both those well known plants, and its long curling 
tendrils are beautifully adapted for clasping stouter plants 
and supporting its stems, which are frequently four or five 
feet long. Linneeus notices its very rapid growth, and attri- 
butes it to its large white root, which was formerly used as 
a medicine ; when fresh, it is hot and biting, but it loses 
this quality when dry, and has been used as flour by the 
