DICECIA MONADELPHIA. 221 



V. ENNEANDRIA. 

 283. MERCURIALIS. 



1. M. perennis, root creeping; stem simple, 1 foot high ; leaves 

 rough, ovate, serrated ; flowers in axillary short lax spikes. 

 Perennial Mercury. 



Hob. Shady places frequent. Banks of the Whiteadder 

 above Edrington, Dr Thompson. Banks of the Eye, 

 Rev. A. Baird. About Warren, &c. April, May. ?/ 



This plant, in drying, becomes of a blue green colour, and 

 to water it yields a fine deep blue, but no means have 

 been discovered by which it can be fixed. The herb is 

 poisonous. 



VI. MONADELPHIA. 



284. JUNIPERUS. 



1. J. communist leaves 3 in each whorl, tipped with a spine, 

 spreading, longer than the ripe fruit ; stem erect. Common Ju~ 

 niper. 



Hab. Heaths common ; also on our sea-banks. May. ?j 



The wood is of a reddish colour, very hard and durable, 

 used in veneering, and in making cups, cabinets, &c 

 The berries are used in medicine ; and they form an im. 

 portant article of commerce in Holland, where they are 

 employed in the distillation of geneva ; and they give 

 that singular flavour which our distillers try to imitate 

 fcy oil of turpentine. HOOKER. 



285. TAXUS. 



1. T. baccata, leaves two-ranked, crowded, linear, flat ; recep- 

 tacle of the barren flowers globular. Common Yew. 

 Hab* Woods. March, April. 



Tke Yew is not a common tree in Berwickshire, and now 

 only to be found in plantations; but as it is certainly in- 



