4u 
The BRITISH HERBAL, 
DIVISION I, 
Tree Houfeleek. 
Sempervivum arborefcens. 
This is not. improperly ‘diftinguifhed by the 
name of ‘tree houfeleek: it has more-the afpect of 
a fhrub, ‘though @ very fingular one, than an 
herb, j 
The root is large, thick, fpreading, and full 
of \fibres. > 
’ . Thetrunk, ‘for it ‘is more ‘properly fo Called 
than the ‘ftalk, is five or fix feet high, ‘of the 
thicknefs of a man’s arm, and of a pale green co- 
Jour‘on the furface: from this foot branches of 
the thicknefs of one’s thumb; and thefe fometimes 
are fhort and fimple, fometimes longer, and di- 
vided into leffer ramifications. 
At the extremity of each ftands a clufter of 
leaves, formed into circle, in the manner of thofe 
of the common boufeleek, but very different in 
fhape: they are oblong, and broad, fimalleft at 
the bafe, largeft at the extremity, and there of- 
ten dented in the heart-fathioned manner: they 
are very tender and fucculent; and, when nicely 
examined, are found to have fome indentings at 
the edges. bs : 
A Ee Giber Sia 
FOREIGN SPECIES. 
The flowers ftand upon peculiar falls rifing 
from the upper part of the plant: thefe are ten-- 
der, and covered with leaves difpofed in the mari- 
ner of the common boufeleek leaves on its ftalk, 
but of the fame form with thofe which ftand in 
clufters. 4 
The flowers are extremely humerous, fiall, 
and of a pale, but pretty yellow: they confift 
each of twelve pointed petalsy and have twelve 
threads, and the rudiments of twelve capfules in 
the centre, 
When the flowers ate fallen, thefe ripen, and 
contain a quantity of very {mall feed. : 
It is a native of the Greek iflands, and, as fome 
fay, of the warmer parts of Europe. It rarely 
flowers with us; and, when it does, it is at the 
end of fummer. : 
J. Bauhine calls it Sedum majus arbérefcens. 
Clufius, and others, Sedum majus legitimum, and 
Sedum arboreutn. 
Its virtues are the fame with thofe oF the com-. 
mon boufeleek. : 
16 a 
COLUMBINE 
AQUILEGIA 
HE leaves are divided into numerous parts + the flower confifts of Bvé petals, atid five glands 
| or nectaria ftanding alternately between them } thefé are of along cornicullited Forth : the feeds 
are contained in feparate capfules, five of which follow every flower. 
Linnaus places this among his polyandria polyeynia, feparating, it from the plants to which it is 
moft allied. 
While we blame that author for his condué in this refpi 
him the right underftanding of the ftru€ture of this flower. 
ect, we are to acknowledge chat we owe to 
The nectaria in moft flowers are fmall, 
and it is very rarely they are confpicuous: they are glandules placed deep in the centre of them, 
in moft cafes, and deftined for the reception of a honey-juice. 
beautiful, confpicuous, and form the moft confiderable part of the flower. 
In this fingular plant they are large, 
What thefe horns of the 
columbine were, was not difcovered till Linnzeus fhewed it: but they aré truly what he calls them. It 
is thus in many inftances, which we fhall have occafion to name: it were hard to fay; whether moft 
praife be due to him for his difcerning genius, or his ufwearied application. 
*Tis with pleafure I 
pay this juft tribute of applaufe to an author whofe fyftem I am obliged fo frequently to cenfure. 
"This is but one of a thoufand inftances that they will be long obliged to Linnaeus for his obfervations 
who fhall decline his method: 
OF this genus there is but One {pecies a native of Britain. 
DIVISION If. 
Wild Columbine, 
Aquilegia fylveftris, 
The root is long, large, and often divided into 
two or three parts 5 furnifhed with fibres, and of 
a brownifh colour. 
The leaves are numerous, and of a bluifh 
green: they ftand on long footftalks, which are 
of a redifh colour, and a little hairy. Each leaf 
is compofed of three parts, and each of thefe parts 
of three divifions: each divifion may be looked 
DY, Sadi add 
BRITISH SPECIES, 
upon as a feparate leaf ; and thé whole will 
then be compofed of nine fuch: thefe are diyi- - 
ded at the edges, fomewhat in the manner of an 
oak leaf. 
In the centre of the tuft rifes the ftalk, which 
is. flender, upright, jointed, redifh or bluifh, 
and a little hairy § and; toward the top, divides 
into many branches, 
The leaves ftand irregularly on it: they are - 
few, and like thofe from the root, but fmaller, 
and with fewer divifions. 
The 
