The BR UT AyS Ht ot ReReaOk. Saag 
Others, Smilaw afpera. The berries are fome- 
times black, and the plant is in other places 
found with fewer prickles. In thefe conditions 
it has been defcribed as two diftiné fpecies ; but 
the difference is only accidental. 
2. The Sarfaparilla Plant. 
Smilax afpera foliis ovatis. 
The root is extremely long and flender: it 
fpreads to a vaft extent, and is brown on the outs 
fide, and white within. 
The ftalks are numetouis, weak, and flender : 
they fupport themfelves by tendrils, and run to 
the height of twelve feet. 
They are brown, and fet with prickles. 
The leaves have no prickles: they have flender 
footftalks ; and they are of an oval figure, but 
fharp at the point: they are of a firm fubftance ; 
and their colour is a deep green on the upper fide, 
and pale underneath. 
The flowers grow in clufters at the tops of the 
ftalks ; and are fmaill, and of a yellowith white. 
The berries are as large as a black cherry, and 
when ripe they are of the fame colour. 
It is a native of South America, and of fome 
parts of the north. It flowers in July. 
C. Bauhine calls it Smilax afpera Peruviana five 
Sarfaparilla. Others, Sarfa, Zarza, and Zarza 
nobiliffima. 
Its root is a very celebrated remedy in the 
fcurvy. It has been greatly recommended in the 
cure of the venereal difeafes: but the ready ef- 
feéts of mercury have fuperfeded all other medi- 
cines for that purpofe. 
It operates by fweat ; and the beft method of 
GE iN 
taking it is in a ftrong decoétion. This fhould’ 
be continued for a confiderable time: 
4. The China Plane: 
Smilax foliis obverfe cordatis floribus umbellatis. 
The root is large, and of an irregular form: 
The ftalk is round, jointed, weak, and ufually 
crooked from joint to joint, and armed here and 
there with a few prickles : it fupports irfelf among 
buthes, climbing by means of tendrils, and in 
that manner runs to a great height. 
The leaves are large, and of a figure very much 
approaching to round: they are fimalleft at the 
bafe, and are a little dented in the heart-like man 
ner at the end: 
The flowers are fimall and yellow: they ftand 
in a kind of little umbells, about four in each. 
The berries are large ; and, when ripe, they 
are of an orange red. 
It is a native of China and Japan. It flowers 
in July. : 
Plukenet calls it Fruticulus convolvulaceus fpi- 
nofus finicus floribus parvis umbellatis. Others 
fimply, China. 
The root poffeffes the fame qualities with /ar/a- 
parilla, They ufed to be given together againtt 
the venereal difeafe, and at prefent are prefcribed 
in diet-drinks againft fcorbutick complaints. Ie 
was fuppofed to poffefs virtues that it had not; 
and thence is grown much into difufe, the cam- 
mon praétice neglecting thofe it really has. 
There is a root brought fromi America called 
baftard China, which belongs to a plant of this 
kind, but with longer leaves, : 
* 
Ueres II. 
BERRYBEARING ANGELICA. 
A eR 
Lites A: 
rpHE flower is compofed of five petals, of an oval form. ‘The cup is very fmall, and is divided 
by five indentings at the edge. The fruit is a round berry, ftriated, and crowned at the top; 
containing a fingle oblong, hard feed. The flowers are difpofed in little umbells; and the leaves are 
. divided in the manner of the common umbelliferous plants. 
Linnzus places this among the pentandria pentagynia; the threads in the flower being five, and the 
ftyles in its centre the fame number. . 
Berrybearing Angelica, 
Aralia vacemofa & ramofa. 
The root is long, thick, and furnifhed with 
many fibres. 
The ftalk is round, upright, very much 
branched, and five feet high: it is purple toward 
the bottom, and at the joints; elfewhere of a 
pale green. 
The leaves are very large, and each is com- 
pofed of numerous, fmaller, perfect parts, refem- 
bling fo many diftin& leaves: thefe are oblong; 
IN 2 925 
and broad; largeft at the bafe, fmaller to the 
point, ferrated at the edges, and of a pale green, 
The flowers ftand in little clufters on foot- 
ftalks rifing from the bofoms of all the leaves from 
the top to the bottom of the plant: they are 
{mall, and of a yellowith white. : 
The berries are green at firft, but when ripe of 
a dufky red. 
It is a native of North America, and flowers in 
Auguft. 
Van Royen calls it Aralia ex alis florifera. 
Others, Panaces Carpimon, 
gee GENUS 
