PECANDRIA MONOGYNIA, 217 



BUTUS aljnna^ as I found by fearching the 

 identical fpot where the firft grows in the greateft 

 plenty, but not a Tingle plant of the latter is to 

 be feen. h . V. 

 The branches of this flirub trail upon the ground 

 two or three feet round the root, or more : the 

 leaves grow alternate, are bluntly oval, intire 

 on the edges, finely reticulated underneath, firm 

 and evergreen : the flowers grow at the extremi- 

 ties of the branches in fmall clufters, each fup- 

 ported by a ihort red footilalk : they are of an 

 oval-conical figure, flefli-color'd, and divided 

 into five obtufe, reflex'd fcgments at the rim • 

 the berries are round, with adeprefs'd umbilicus 

 fmooth and glofiy, red when ripe, and of the 

 iize of a holly- berry, replete v/ith an auflere 

 mealy pulp, in which are five cells, containing 

 five angular feeds. It may readily be diftin- 

 guifhed ffom the VACCiNIUM vitis id^a by 

 it's trailing branches, and leaves not dotted, but 

 reticulated underneath. 



It is found in England as well as Scotland. I faw 

 great abundance of it growing at the top of a 

 wood call'd Eaft-Ccmmon-WoGd, belono-ino- to 

 the Duke of Vortland^ about a mile from Hex- 

 ham^ in Northumberland, 



The powder of the leaves taken fix or eight morn- 

 ings in the quantity of half a drachm was not 

 long fince a celebrated medicine for the flone 

 and gravel, but it is at prefent our of repute. 



The whole plant is however found to be very fer- 



viceable. 



