194 
The Natural Fiifiory of the Book VUE 
“he moft common. Method. of propagating this Tree is by laying the 
{mall lower Branches in Bafkets of Mould, or Earth, till they take Root; 
but the moft natural Way, as this is of the Fig-tree kind, is to fuffer the 
feveral flender fmall Filaments, which iffue from the main Branches, to 
take Root in the Earth. 
The Rep MANGROVE-IREE. 
rp Hs generally grows about the Edges of Ponds, and often feveral 
Feet in Water. Its Roots divide into feveral Branches, and join toge- 
ther above the Surface of the Water, where each ftraggling Divifion meets, 
uniting into, and forming the Body of the Tree; which, from that Place to 
the Water, feems to be fupported by numerous Stilts. 
What Pliny, fpeaking of the Palm-tree, fays, Gaudet riguis, & toto 
anno bibere amat, may be literally faid of this, which very feldom grows, 
except in, or very near, the Water. 
The firft Appearance of the Flower is a {mall conic hufky Calyx: This 
opens into four downy whitifh-brown Petals, furrounding the Piftil. 
When the Petals drop, the Piftil becomes the Rudiment of the Fruit. 
The Flower-Cup, or Calyx, opens, and expands horizontally into four 
Parts. 
The Hoty-THorN, or RoyaL-CasHiaw. 
"THE Trunk of a grown Tree of this Kind is above eight or nine 
- Inches Diameter ; and grows to above twenty Feet high. 
The Bark is rough, fomewhat fulcated, and of a dark-brown Colour. 
The Branches are numerous, and very prickly, efpecially towards the Top. 
From thefe extend very long flat flender gramineous Twigs ; having on 
each fide a great Number of very {mall Leaves, fet on alternately. 
From the Tops of the woody Branches, upon long green Footttalks, 
rife many yellow pentapetalous Flowers, out of whofe Di/cus come feve- 
ral fhort Stamina, whofe Apices are ofa dark Brown. The Leaves in gene- 
ral are fomewhat wrinkled; and one above the reft is much deflected, 
black, and appears ftained with red Spots. 
From ftrong Footftalks hang a great many Pods, black when ripe, 
including four, five, or fix blackifh oval Seeds, feparated from «ac 
other by long Partitions. 
It is the Opinion of fome Roman Catholics, that our Saviour’s Crown 
of Thorns was made with the Branches of this ‘Tree. 
The BEaN-TREE; or the SHRove-Turspay 3 Corallioden- 
dron. 
¥ HIS Tree is generally larger than moft Apple-Trees; widely fpread- 
ing its Branches on every Hand, 
r Thefe 
