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III. 
HERB-CHRISTOPHER. 
CHRISTOPHORIANA. 
a [ ‘HE flower is compofed of four petals; of a fingular angulated form, and large. 
formed of four chaffy leaves ; which are fmall, obtufe, and hollow ; 
The cup is 
and they fall with the 
flower. The fruit is a berry, of a roundifh fhape, with a furrow on it. The feeds are numerous, 
and femicircular. 
Linnzus feparates this from all the other berry-bearing plants, and places it among the polyandria 
monogynia ; the ftamina being numerous, and fixed to the receptacle; and the ftyle from the rudi- 
ment of the fruit fingle. 
This author diflikes the received name chriftophoriana, and calls the genus aéfea. 
DIVISION L 
Common Herb-Chriftopher. 
' Chriftopboriana vulgaris. 
The root is long and thick, black on the out- 
fide, yellow within, and of a difagreeable tafte. 
The firft leaves are large, and divided by threes 
into a great many parts ; fo that they refemble at 
the firft fight thofe of fome of the umbelliferous 
plants : they are of a dufky green, and of a glofly 
furface. 
The ftalk is round, green, upright, branched, 
and a yard high. \ 
The leaves on this refemble thofe from the 
root : they are very large, and their feparate parts 
are broad, ferrated, and have alfo a kind of trifid 
divifion. 
DIVISION IL 
1. Tall American Herb-Chriftopher. 
Chriftophoriana Americana procerior. 
The root is long, thick, and of a dark brown. 
The ftalks are numerous, upright, firm, and 
of a pale green: they are of a firm fubftance, and 
five feet high. 
The leaves have the fame trifid divifion with 
thofe of the common kind; but they are larger, 
of a deep green, and fharply ferrated. : 
The flowers ftand in very long and beautiful 
{pikes at the tops of the ftalks = they are fimall 
and white. _ ; 
The berries are black and roundith, 
It is a native of Virginia, and flowers in Au- 
guft. 
Dillenius calls it Chriftophoriana Americana pro- 
certor & longius fpicata, 
Gi astiercaN. > Uy ate 
BR JtetsseH 
SPECIES, 
The flowers are fmall and white : they ftand in 
clufters upon flender footftalks, forming a kind 
of f{pike. 
The berries are large, of a roundifh, but fome- 
what oblong figure, and black, age 
It is found in woods in our northern counties. 
It flowers in July, and the berries are ripe in 
Auguft, 
Ray calls it Chriftophoriana. Others, Chrifto- 
phoriana vulgaris, and Afea. In Englith we call 
it Herb-Chriftopher ; and, from its poifonous qua- 
lities, Bane-berry, ; 
The’ berries have been fatal to children who 
have been tempted by their gloffy black to eat 
them. They have died convulfed. 
FOREIGN SPECIES. 
2. Red-berried Herb-Chriftopher. 
Chriftephoriana baccis rubris, 
The root is long and fender. 
The firft leaves are numerous, and very large: 
they are divided by threes into feveral fhort, 
broad fegments, and thefe are ferrated and fharp- 
pointed, 
The ftalk is fingle, upright, branched, and 
‘four feet high. 
The leaves on this refemble thofe from the 
root, and are of a very dark green colour. 
The flowers ftand in long and thick fpikes: 
they are {mall and white, The berries are red. 
It is a native of the northern parts of Europe, 
and of America, and flowers in Auguft. 
The berries are fometimes white. 
Morifon calls it Chriftophoriana Americana ra : 
cemofa baccis niveis F rubris. 
IV, 
SOLOMON’S sEaq. 
POLYGONATUM 
HE flower is formed of a fingle petal 
divided into fix fegments at the edge. 
within into three cells, in each of which the 
3 and is oblong, hollow, and of a bell-like thape, and is 
There is no cup. The berry is round, and divided 
Te 1s a fingle roundith feed ; and, before the berry is 
Tipe, it is fpotted. The leaves are narrow, and of a firm fubftance, 
Linnzus 
