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Chara&ter of the Genus, 
The Head is flat, and compofed of many Flowes without F sahil, The 
general Cup is larger than the Head, formed of one piece, divided into 
four parts, and thorny at the Edge. 
Plate 20, 0. a b. 
THIs is the character of the female or feed- bearing Plants : thie are barren or male 
Plants of the fame Species, in which the Flowers have Footftalks ; and the general Cup 
is equal to them in length, and formed of five Leaves. 
Plate 20. 2. 
Of this Genus we know but one Species, 
STARRY BEARWEED. 
Plate 20. 
Character of the Species, . | eee Arétopus idireel : 
The Leaves are fringed with yellow T Dhireadl and armed on the furface — 
with flarry Thorns. — | 
: Plate 20.ab, 
Tuts is a Perennial, native of the Cape of Good Hope 3 a mott fingular Plant, ragged See 
as it were, and fringed and covered with a kind of native horriblenefs, not found in any 
other Plant. It lies upon the ground, unlefs that in fome circumftances a part of its. : 
rough and thick black Root, thrufts itfelf up above the furface ; and bears up the reft ofa. 
the Plant like a Cabbage on its rooty Stem. ) 
Tue Leaves are of a deep and very ftrong green ; their Edges only have a yellowith 
tinge ; and the ftarry Thorns which grow upon their furface, are alfo yellow, bright, 
and fhining. ‘The Flowers are white, and the Cup which holds them is of a reddith 
green, and has a gees rednefs in the Thorns. 3 
ALTHOUGH there are ‘diftin@ male Plants of the Bearweed ; there are alfo male Flowers 
in the fame general Cup with the others on thefe Plants. The male Flowers occupy the 
Difk of the Cup; the female are only four; they ftand at the verge at a diftance from 
one es igeale and in the bafe, as it were, of the Spine that terminates each divifion. 
We owe the firft knowledge of this fingular Plant to Plukenet ; but it is to Burman we 
are indebted for its characters. i 
Tue Cup of the Dorftenia will appear lefs wonderful weno we have feen that of this 
Plant ; which i is nearly as much a Placenta. 
1 “i GRAN Us 
