The BRITISH HERBAL, 429 
Linnzus places this among the didynamia angiofpermia s the feeds being contained in a capfule, and 
the flower having four threads, two longer, and two fhorter. : 
This author takes away its former name, and calls it Jathred. It has the name clandefina from 
this circumftance, that almoft the whole plant is buried, and grows under ground, nothing appear- 
ing above the furface but a {mall part of the ftalk and the fpike of flowers. x8 
Purple Clandeftina. 
' Clandeftina purpurea. 
The root, properly and diftinétly fo called, is 
only a tuft of black, fhort fibres; but if we 
comprehend under that name all the part of the 
plant under ground, it isto be called thick and 
branched : this part, however, is properly the » 
ftalk, not the root of the plant, and is to be 
confidered as fuch, from its manner of growing 
and office, though it take the place of the root ; 
thefe black fibres alone being confidered as part 
of the root. 
The ftalk is five inches high, thick, and di- 
vided into many branches: it is of a whitifh 
colour, and full of juice, and is covered with a 
kind of rudiments of leaves: thefe. are fhort, 
broad, and thin; and they lie in a fealy form 
upon the ftalks, 
Many of thefe fhoot from the main ftem, and 
grow two or three inches high all the way within 
the earth, where they perifh without ever com- 
ing to the air: the main, or principal ftalk only 
pierces the furface of the ground, and fhews it- 
felf. This is full of the buds of flowers 
and rifes, in a crooked form, an inch and half 
long; and in forme degree, from its fhape and 
colour, refembles the comb of a cock. 
The flowers foon ‘after open, and are large, 
and of a deep purple, as is alfo the ftalk: and all 
that appears above ground, and fometimes what 
is below, though that is more ufually white. 
The feed-veffél is roundith and large: the feeds 
are minute. f 
It is found in forefts in many parts of Gers 
many, 
Mentzelius calls it Orobanche radice dentata 
altius radicante foliis et floribus purpureis. 
Gra Bh oN Sg ap 
BIRTH WORT. 
ARE SOT OO BOe Ga FA 
HE flower confifts of a fingle petal, and is of an irregular figure : it is formed into a tube, which 
has a roundifh, folded bafe, the foldings being fix; and a wide mouth, which in the lower 
part runs out into a very long and undivided tongue: the tube is flightly hexangular: it has no cups 
the feed-veffel is large and roundifh, and in fome degree hexangular. 
Linnzeus places this among his gynandria bexandria; the buttons being fix, and growing without 
threads to the piftil. 
It very plainly belongs to the reft of this clafs; the flower being compofed of one petal 
of an irregular form, and followed by a fingle feed-veffel,; and it is one of the misfortunes of Lin- 
nzus’s method that he feparates it from thofe to which it is allied, placing it ina difting arrange* 
ment, becaufe of this little fingularity of the buttons. , 
1. Round Birthwort, 
Ariftolochia rotunda. 
The root is very large, tuberous, and of a 
roundifh figure, with many fibres growing irre- 
gularly from various parts of its furface: it is 
rough on the furface, brown on the outfide, and 
yellow within ; and is of a bitter and very difa- 
greeable tafte. 
The ftalks are numerous, weak, and fquare: 
they are of a pale green colour, and are two feet 
long, but not able to fupport themfelves up- 
right. 
The leaves are placed fingly, and at confide- 
rable diftances, and have no footftalks: they are 
large, and of a deep green: they are of a heart- 
fafhioned fhape, encompafling the ftalk at the 
bafe, and thence growing fmaller to the end, 
where they terminate in an obtufe point. 
The flowers ftand fingly on long footftalks 
rifing from the bofoms of the leaves: they are 
long and crooked, and are of a greenifh colour 
on the outfide, and of a blackifh purple within. 
The feed-velfel is very large, and of an oval 
N° 13. 
figure: it contains many feeds, with a fungous 
matter between them. 
It is common in the hedges of Spain and Traly, 
and in the fouth of France. 
C. Bauhine calls it Ariftolochia rotunda flore ex 
purpura nigro, Others, only Ariftolochia rotunda. 
There is a variety of this plant, with the ower 
Of a whitith purple, inftead of a blackith purple: 
this'has been treated of as a diftin& fpecies, but 
it is nothing more than a variation from accident. 
2. Long Birthwort, 
Ariftolochia longa, 
This is diftinguifhed at fight from the other, 
though it greatly refemble it in the general form, 
by its having footftalks to the leaves, the other’ 
having none. 
The root is large, thick, and of an irreoular 
oblong figure. i 
The ftalks are numerous, weak, and fquare: 
they are of a pale green, a foot and half long, 
but not erect: they trail, and hang among any 
thing that will fupport them. 
L } ty eerie 
