318 The BRITISH Hom Rep A 
SoHo Netele Bs ae: I. 
Natives of BRITAIN. 
Thofe of which one or more fpecies are naturally wild in this country. 
G_ ESN Um Saeeel 
WHITE BRYONY. 
BRYON IA. 
"THE flower is compofed of a fingle petal, hollowed like a bell, and divided into-five fegments, of 
-an oval form, at therim. The cup is formed of a fingle piece, hollowed like the flower, and di- 
vided alfo into five fegments; which are narrow, and fharp-pointed. The fruit is a berry, of a fome- 
what oval form. There are diftinét male and female flowers on the plant; but they agree in thefe 
charaéters. The difpofition of the internal part only varies: in the male flowers there are three fta- 
mina or threads, two of which have double buttons: and in the female there is a ftyle from the rudi- 
ment of the fruit, which is divided into three parts at the top. * 
Linnzus places this among the monacia fyngenefia, for the fake of thefe particularities, far removing 
it from the other berry-bearing plants, as we have obferved. This is an-inftance, that although the 
diftribution of the internal or {mall parts of flowers be very worthy notice, it is not a foundation for 
claffical diftin¢ctions. 
DEV, 1S 1 O&N, <f. 
1. Common White Bryony. 
Bryonia alba. 
The root is vaftly large, and of a dufky 
whitifh colour. 
The ftalks are numerous, weak, and trailing : 
they are rough to the touch, and of a pale green: 
they would naturally lie on the ground; but, as 
the plant commonly grows in hedges, they are 
fupported, and will run to twelve feet in length, 
fending out numerous fpiral tendrils, by which 
they lay hold of every thing they come near. 
The leaves are large, and of a beautiful fhape : 
they, are broad, cornered, and in fome degree like 
thofe of the vine, but longer pointed, and of a 
greyith green. - 
The flowers are numerous, fmall, and of a 
greenifh white: they are placed on fhort foot- 
ftalks, two, three, or more, on each; and thefe 
rife from the bofoms of the leaves. 
The berries are red when ripe, and contain a 
few large, oval feeds, which grow to the rind. 
Tt is common in hedges. It flowers in July, 
and the berries ripen in Auguft. 
C. Bauhine calls it Bryonia afpera feu alba 
baccis rubris. Others, Bryonia alba, { 
It is poffefied of great virtues; but is violent 
in its operations, if not well managed. 
It is excellent againft obftructions of the vif- 
cera, and particularly in uterine diforders: it 
promotes the menfes, and affifts in bringing on 
delivery. It is for this purpofe beft given in 
very finall dofes of the juice exprefled with white 
wine. 
The compound-water called after its name, 
and by the vulgar hyferick water, has alfo thefe 
virtues, butin a lefs degree. 
a 
BeR WT Peles He See E Cole pas. 
The juice, in a fomewhat larger dofe, has 
been given with fuccefs againft dropfies; and a 
fyrup made of it, with honey and a little vinegar, 
is good in afthmas. 
It kills worms in the inteftines; and in this re. 
fpect is fuperior to moft medicines. “This Bartho: 
lin long ago experienced and publifhed ; but it 
has not been enough regarded. For this purpofe 
the beft. method of giving it, is to prefs out the 
Juice, and let it ftand to fubfide; then pouring 
off the clear part, the fettlings are to be dried. 
A flight infufion of it is ufeful in hyfterick cafes, 
and externally it is a very good addition to cata- 
. plafms for hard and painful fwellings. 
2. White Bryony with black berries. 
Bryonia alba baceis nigris, 
The root is large, like that of the common 
kind. 
The ftalks are numerous, weak, and climb- , 
ing 5 and they are very rough to the touch. 
The leaves are large, broad, fhort, and of a 
dufky green. 
The flowers are whitifh ; and the berries, when 
ripe, not red, as in the other, but black. 
It is not a variety of the former, but a diftin& 
fpecies: the feeds of one will not produce the 
other, 
It is found in hedges in fome parts of the 
kingdom common enough, as about Cambridge. 
The berries are ripe in Augutft. : 
C. Bauhine calls it Bryonia alba baccis nigris, 
a name copied by moft others. 
Its virtues are the fame with thofe of the 
former. 
DIVI- 
