“ 
TeeiVEGE FABLE AYET EM if 
Nor is it limited to any one part of the new world any more than of the old; I have 
received it from Quebeck, from Carolina, from Sf. Corifophers, and from “famatca ; nor 
does the Plant in any of thefe places differ from the wild Englith kind, any other way 
than in ftature and luxuriance of growth. With us the Plant is eighteen inches high ; | 
in Canada it grows to fix feet: there is in the general afpedt, an appearance of difference, 
but, when examined, it vanithes. Fike ® 
Tuis Xanthium, therefore, isa proof that there are Plants common to America, and to 
_ the other parts of the world; nor is it the only one by many. The queftion fo long dif~ 
puted, feems capable therefore of a tolerably fair decifion. | . | 
Upon the whole, it feems that there are fome Plants, though not many, which are 
common to Europe and to North America; and that there are: many common to South 
America and Afia. | | : | 
* 
Wiru refpeé to the North American, there are befide thofe already named, a Conyza 
common to that country, and the Pyrenxan mountains, and fome others. I had laft year 
an opportunity of feeing, beyond conteft, that fome Moffes, common on Hampftead 
Heath, grow alfo in America. Mr. Gray, Seedfman, in Pall-Mall, received many Plants 
from thence, in a condition of growth, and their roots were covered with the Great: 
Hypnum, the Bog Sphagnum, and two or three other kinds frequent there. 
~ Rasu obfervations might add vaftly to the lift of thefe Plants ; for Plantain, Sorrell, and 
many other common things in our paftures, are as frequent about our Plantations there : 
but the Seeds of thefe have doubtlefs been acci dentally carried over from hence ; and in this 
enquiry, great diftinGtion is to be obferved between fuch Plants and the proper natives. 
WirHu refpe& to the produéts of South America, which are common to Afia, there is 
alfo to be great caution ufed, to find out’ from their place and other accidents, which are 
native, and which have been in reality brought thither from Afia: for we very well know 
that the firft fettlers in South America, were very intent on raifing in the Weft-Indies, 
the products of the Eaft. However, if we leave out of the account, fuch valuable ar- 
ticles, we fhall find ftill a great number, which men could never be interefted to carry 
over, and which are in places far from fettlements. The Coftus of Ceylon, is found 
alfo in Surinam and the Brafils; the Canna is common to Coromandel and Jamaica; and 
Feuille’s Alkekengi is equally common in Peru and Borneo. 3 3 | 
WE fee therefore by this enquiry, that no part of the world has altogether diftin@ Plants 
from all others. The Alpine Plants are commen to the high mountains, and the under- 
water Plants to the deep Lakes of Europe, Afia, Africa, and America. In thefe parti- | 
cular fituations, the univerfality of Plants, is as evident as in the circles mear the pole ; 
and befide thofe we have already inftanced, there will be found in the courfe of this 
work, feveral more American Plants, which, though underftood to be diftine Species, 
are no more different than the Xanthium of Canada and England. | 
3 ORIENTAL BUR WEED: 
Plate*4.2 Fiow 2. | 7 
| : es Xanthium Orientale, 
Character of the Species. 
| The Stalk is unarmed ; wedged, and cut into three Lobes. 
Fig. 3. abe. 
Tuts is an Annual; native of Egypt, a Plant of two foot high, but of no beauty ; 
flowering in Auguft. The Stalk is pale, the Leaves are of a light frefh green; the 
Flowers are pale olive colour’d. | 
E | GE Sees 
