16 AN ESSAY ON THE OOPAS, DE 



district wliere it grows, I have not been able to 

 ünd it in a flowering state. — ït is a large wind- 

 ing shrub, 



The root extends creeping to a considerable 

 distancC;, parallel to the surface of the earth, 

 sendiog off small fibres at different curves, whilc 

 the main root strikes perpeiidicularlj into the 

 grouLid. 



Ia large individuals ii bas a diameter of two 

 or three inches ; it is covered with a reddish 

 brown bark, coiitaining a juice of the same 

 colour, of a peculiar pungent^ and somewhat 

 nauseous odour. 



From this bark the poison is prepared. 



The stem^ which in general is shrabbj, some* 

 times acquires the size of a small tree ; it is 

 verj irregular in its ascent and distribution : 

 liaving made several large bends near the sur- 

 face of the earth it divides (at long intervals) 

 into numerous branches, which attach thertiselves 

 to the neighbouring objects and pursue a >vind- 

 ing course, at no great distancefrom theground 

 and nearly parallel to it. — In sonie instances the 

 stem rises and ascends to the top of large trees ; 

 its form is completely cylindrical, and it is cover- 

 ed with a grey spotted bark. 



