162 The Natural Hiftory of the ~ Book VE 
From the Bofom of thefe rife many Footftalks, fupporting {mall Five- 
leaved Flowers. 
Their Petals furround feveral green Stamina, tipped with yellow Sum- 
its. 
Sake whole Flower is fupported by feveral fmall capfular Leaves, and 
fucceeded by the Fruit, which is red, when ripe; of about the Bignefy 
of a {mall Cherry, but more compreffed at both Ends. 
Thefe are of an agreeable fweet, mixed with an acid Tafte. 
The Infide is full of {mall whitith Seeds. 
The BELLY-ACH. 
CRs Roots of this Shrub are few in Number, and white, penetrating 
deep into the Earth. 
The main Stalk, which is covered with a light greyifh Bark, grows to 
about Three or Four Feet high, foon dividing into feveral wide-extended 
Branches. 
The Body of the Shrub, within Three Inches of the ‘Ground, fwells, 
or bulges out. 
From this Swelling, by Incifion, is taken out, when ripe, a rough gra- 
nated Core or Kernel, of a pale Red, and fometimes near as large asa 
Pullet’s Egg. 
This is extraneous to the Nature of the Shrub, and as diftin@ly fepa- 
rable from it, tho’ in clofe Contaét with it, as a Peach-ftone is from the 
pulpy Part thereof. 
It is alfo of the fame Nature and Quality as Hellebore ; and anfwers, to 
all Intents and Purpofes, the Ufe of it. 
The Branches of the Shrub are neither decorated with Leaves nor 
Flowers, till near the Top : There the former, which are deeply fegmented 
into Three or Four Divifions, furround it. 
Thefe, including the Se@ions, are about Five Inches long, and near as 
broad. 
Their Footftalks, as well as the young Buds, onthe Extremity of the 
Branches, are guarded round with {tiff hairy Briftles, which are always 
tipped with glutinous liquid Drops. 
From among thefe rife feveral {mall deep-red_pentapetalous Flowers ; 
the Piftil of each being thick-fet at the Top with yellow farinaceous 
Duft, which blows off when ripe. 
Thefe Flowers are fucceeded by hexagonal husky blackith Berries ; 
which, when ripe, open, by the Heat of the Sun 3 emitting a great many 
{mall dark-coloured Seeds, which ferve as Food for‘Ground-doves. 
~ The Leaves of this Shrub are few, and feldom or never drop off, -nor 
are torn or eaten by Vermin of the Eruca, or any other kind. 
As Nature makes nothing in vain, I beg Leave to conjecture, that this 
clammy Liquid, like Bird-lime, with which each of the above-mentioned 
Seta 
