INTRODUCTION 19 



And we find that by the end of his custodianship there was no 

 lack of rarities in the Garden. There were these " Curiosities 

 among many other scarce and rare exotics of all kinds. 



1. The true African Rhubarb. 



2. The Aloe Plant, with a white Flower on it. The Aloe 



is so succulent a Plant, that it has been preserv'd 

 10 years above ground without either earth or water, 

 and 'tis thought may be preserv'd so 20 years, as 

 I was inform'd by the late excellent Botanist Mr 

 Bobart, Master of this Garden. 



3. The true Indian Tobacco Plant, and Indian Wheat. 



4. Guinea Pepper Tree. 



5. Pomum Amor is. 



6. Sorbus Vera, the Sorb or Quicken Tree. 



7. Helianthemus or Sun-Flower, of a fleshy colour and 



five leaves. 



8. Scylla mm which was a six leav'd Flower almost of a 



lead Colour. 



9. Arbor Balsami Peruviana. 



10. Cedrus Vera^ from Mount Lebanon with leaves like a 



star; rais'd from a seed, as the aforemention'd Tree was. 



11. Paliurus or Thorn with which our Saviour was 



crowned, as Mr Bobart told me he has great Reason 

 to believe. It grows in the Corner between the Gate 

 and the House. 



12. Pistaria Vera, the true Pistacia Tree, with leaves like 



a walnut. 



13. The Currant Grape grafted upon the Fox-Grape. 



14. The White Frontiniac Vine, grafted upon the Parsley Vine. 



15. The Sensible Plant call'd by some the Chaste Plant, 



because if it be touched the jagged part of the leaves 

 shrink and run together as if they were wither'd, but 

 when the hand that touch'd it is remov'd, it opens 

 itself and thrives again. This unaccountable plant 

 grows in the Island Barbada in North America. . . . 



