B O C 



B O C 



stains the hands, and was formerly used for 

 culinary purposes as a colouring ingredient. 



There are varieties, with white and red 

 leaves. 



The second species seldom grows more than 

 one foot high, with smaller leaves than the first, 

 but of the same shape. The flowers are pro- 

 duced -from the axils, almost the whole length 

 of the stalk : they are small, and collected into 

 little heads, shaped like those of the first, but 

 smaller, and not so deeply coloured. It is a na- 

 tive of the South of France. 



There are varieties, with striped leaves, and 

 with white flowers. 



The third rises near three feet high: the 

 leaves are triangular, ending in very acute points, 

 as also the indentures on the edges of the leaves. 

 The flowers are axillary in small heads. The 

 fruit is of the same shape and colour as those of 

 the first, but smaller. This differs from that in 

 the shape and indentures of the leaves; and in 

 having leaves placed between the fruits the 

 whole length of the stalk, which is not termi- 

 nated by heads as in the first, but has leaves 

 above the heads. Martyn supposes this is 

 probably no more than a variety of the second 

 sort. 



Culture. — These plants are raised by sowing 

 the seeds annually, in the early spring months, 

 in patches of three or four together, in the 

 borders or clumps where they arc to remain, the 

 mould in the places being broken down and ren- 

 dered rather fine before they are put in. Theymay 

 also be sown on beds of light earth, and when 

 they rise to a sufficient growth be transplanted 

 to the places where they are to grow, which 

 should be done before the flowering stems rise. 

 The first is the best method. A few may also 

 be raised in pots for particular purposes, which 

 must be kept occasionally watered in dry seasons, 

 and supported by sticks. 



When planted out in the natural ground, they 

 must be kept clear from weeds, and properly 

 thinned, and have support when necessary to 

 prevent their being pressed down by the weight 

 of the fruit. They often rise freely from self- 

 sown seeds. 



They are chiefly cultivated for the ornament 

 which the fruit affords in the latter end of 

 summer, which is as large as that of the com- 

 mon strawberry, and of a red colour. They 

 have a good effect when set out in assem- 

 blage with other potted plants in conspicuous 

 situations about the house. 



BLOOD-FLOWER. See ILemanthus. 



BOCCONIA, a genus containing a shrubby 

 plant of the exotic kind, for the stove. Tree 

 Celandine or Parrot- weed. 



It belongs to the class and order Dodecandiia 

 Mbnogynia, and ranks in the natural order of 

 Rhivadecp. 



The characters are : that the calyx is a two- 

 leaved, ovate, obtuse, concave, caducous pe- 

 rianth : there i* no corolla: the stamina con- 

 sist of twelve filaments, very short: the an- 

 thers are linear, very large, the length of the 

 calyx: the pistillum is a roundish germ, con- 

 tracted both ways, large and pedicelled: the 

 style one, bifid: the stigmas are simple and 

 reflex: the pericarpium is subovate, attenuated 

 to each end, compressed, one-celled, and two- 

 valved : the valves are coriaceous, gaping from 

 the base, the annular suture continuing ; crowned 

 with the style: the seed one, globular, the 

 base involved in pulp, fixed to the bottom of 

 the capsule. 



There is only one species : jB. frutescens, 

 Shrubby Bocconia, or Tree Celandine. 



It is a shrub which rises to the height of ten 

 or twelve feet, with a straight trunk, as large as 

 a man's arm, covered with a white smooth 

 bark, and branched towards the top: the trunk 

 is hollow, filled with a pith like the elder, 

 abounding in a thick yellow juice : the branches 

 are brittle, unequal, marked with scars from 

 the fallen leaves: the leaves are from six or 

 seven inches to a foot in length, oblong, sinuate- 

 laciniate, subserrate, smooth, and ash-coloured- 

 tomentose beneath: the petioles are roundish, 

 and pubescent: the racemes terminating, pani- 

 cled, a foot long, diffused and nodding : the 

 peduncles are one- flowered: the bractes under 

 the flowers are small and lanceolate : the fila- 

 ments are ten, seldom more, longer than the 

 leaflets of the calyx, hanging down and loose : 

 the anthers are longer than the filaments: the 

 germ is ovate, compressed, and glaucous. It 

 is a native of Mexico, &c. 



The acrid juice is sometimes used to take off 

 tetters and warts. 



Culture. — This plant is increased by sowing 

 the seeds in pots filled with light earth early in 

 the spring season, and immediately plunging 

 them into hot-beds of tan, which have a mo- 

 derate degree of heat; water being occasionally 

 given in small proportions to promote the vege- 

 tation of the seeds. When the plants have 

 acquired a sufficient growth, they may be care- 

 fully removed into separate pots of light sandy 

 mould, and again placed in the hot-bed, 

 shading them when necessary till they become 

 well rootctl, water being sparingly employed 

 till the plants have attained a ligneous growth, 

 when it may be used with more freedom, 

 especially in dry seasons, and large portions of 

 air be admitted. When these pots become 



