142 The Natural Hiftory of the Book VL 
The LicgNuM Vit2, or GUAIACUM. 
cee very ufeful Tree grows here in Plenty, but not to any great 
Bignefs. 
Its medicinal Virtues, either by way of Docoétion, or the Ufe of its . 
Gum, are fufliciently defcribed by feveral Authors. 
I fhall therefore only obferve, that the Berries, which are of a tefticu- 
lated Form, and of a yellow Colour, inclinable to a Red, make an excel- 
lent Diet-drink, greatly affifting to purify the Blood. 
The upper Branches are many, cloathed with feveral Pairs of fmall 
roundifh pennated Leaves, never having an odd one at the End. 
The Flowers are pentapetalous, and of the fineft violet Colour that can 
be: imagined ; and the Tree is {carce ever to be found without Flowers or 
Berries. 
This is delineated in Plate IX. 
That called the White Lignum Vite {carce differs from this in any 
other.Particular, but.that it bears white Bloffoms. 
The BAstTARD LicnNuUM VITA. 
aC HIS grows to above Twenty-five Feet high, covered with a rough 
- brownifh Bark. 
_ The Heart of this Tree is almoft as hard, and as durable, as Iron-wood. 
It is fometimes beautifully clouded with Veins of Yellow, anda dark Red. 
The Flowers are fucceeded by Berries, each near as big as a {mall 
Cherry : Thefe are of a purple Colour, whenripe; and tafte very agreeably, 
They are much coveted by wild Pigeons, Sparrows, and other Birds. 
Tron-Wo op, 
ae HE largeft of thefe in this land grow not above Thirty Feet high, 
and the Trunk in proportion fomewhat flender. 
es is covered with a whitifh Bark, whofe Surface often flightly peels 
ORE te RT rn $ 
__ The Bark upon the upper Branches is of a reddith Grey. 
The Leaves, which are fmooth, and of a yellowifh Green, are Two 
Inghes and an half-long, and above an Inch broad, narrow near the Foot- 
alks. 
») ‘Lhe Flowers are many and white: Thefe rife in Groups upon one com- 
mon Pedicle, and are fucceeded by {mall Berries, whofe outward Tegu- 
ment, as well as inward Pulp, is of the fineft Red, interfperfed with 
{mall Seeds. 
--It hath the Name of Iron-Wood from its great Weight, its Hardnefs, 
and the Clofenefs of its Grain ; for it is proof againft all Weather, and is 
{carce known to fuffer any Decay in feveral Ages: It is fo heavy, that it 
will fink in Water. 5 The 
