636 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 174g. 



void of petals. — Stamina, these are four in number, answering to the 4 lobes of 

 the calix, and being likewise of the same length ; they spring from the basis of 

 the pistillum, and as they shoot up, tend outward. Their summits are round, 

 with a furrow turning in on one side ; which gives each of them the form of a 

 purse. — Pistillum, it is round, its style single and short, and the stigma is blunt, 

 and shaped like a navel. — The pericarpium is a round berry, of a middle size, 

 with one cell or lodgement in it. — The semen is single, spherical, inclosed in a 

 callous firm skin, beset with spots, forming a sort of husk like that of hemp. 



As to the description: it is a plant which varies considerably in size; that of a 

 larger sort of shrub, is what it most frequently grows to. It produces a num- 

 ber of boughs without order, and very tufted branches, which most commonly 

 hang down to the ground. Its bark is moderately thick, sometimes smooth, 

 sometimes full of cracks, of an ash colour, both in the trunk and branches, but 

 green on the tender shoots. Its wood is every where brittle, and nearly of a 

 straw colour. 



The leaves are borne on young sprigs, which shoot out along the boughs. 

 These sprigs are straight, generally short, but sometimes pretty long, like little 

 wands. The leaves are thick set, and tufted on the former, but thin on the 

 latter. They grow sometimes opposite to one another by pairs, crossing alter- 

 nately; and sometimes by 3 and 3, disposed like rays; but this more rarely. 

 Their length, which varies on the same stalk, is generally from an inch and 

 half to two inches and half, and their width is from nine lines to an inch a little 

 below the middle in each, which is the widest part. They are thick, pointed at 

 their extremity, and rounded at their base, very even on their edges, somewhat 

 succulent, but firm : their colour is a pale green, but somewhat yellowish, in 

 those that are shooting out. The pedicles which support them are very short, 

 each being but a half a line in length, and a quarter in thickness. 



The flowers, which are stamineous, that is, without petals, are small, and 

 disposed in clusters on the tops of the shoots. These bunches of flowers entirely 

 resemble those of the vine blossoms. The empalement is small, green on the 

 under side, having 4 segments almost pointed, which roll outward, and then 

 dry up. Its diameter in this rolled state of its lobes, is but of one line. The 

 stamina are of a straw colour. The hollow furrow in each of their summits 

 is not easily discovered without a glass. 



The pistil or embryo of the fruit, which is small, and yet occupies the whole 

 inside of the calyx, is of the same colour with the bottom of this, viz. green. 

 Afterwards it swells in all dimensions, and grows into a berry, of the shape and 

 size of a gooseberry, of 3 or 4 lines in diameter. At first it is of a pale green, 

 then a bright purple, and in its maturity of a dark red. Each berry is sup- 

 ported on a strong thick pedicle, attached to a small bunch. Its substance is a 



