T I 



unlikely ; however, when they have 

 produced Flowers, their Difference 

 may be better afcertained. 



TITHYMALUS, Spurge. 



The feveral Kinds of Spurge 

 having been ranged under the Title 

 of Euphorbia by Dr. Linnaeus, as they 

 agree well together in their Flower 

 and Fruit ; and were feparated by 

 former Botanifts, for their outward 

 Appearance only ; therefore I have 

 followed the Doctor in placing them 

 together : but as there is an eflential 

 Difference between the Flowers of 

 this Genus, and thofe of Euphorbia, 

 I have applied the old Name to this 

 Genus, rather than that of Tithy- 

 maloides. 



The Characters are ; 



The Flower conftjls of one Leaf and 

 is in Shape fomenvhat like a Slipper ; 

 nvhofe Pointal afterward becomes a 

 tricapfular Fruity like /^^/Euphor- 

 bia. 



The Species are ; 



1. Tithymalus frutefcens, folio 

 myrti ampUJfimo. Toarn. The Ame- 

 rican ihrubby laurel-leav'd Spurge, 

 *vulgo. 



2. Tithymalus frutefcens, foliis 

 nerii. Plum. Shrubby Spurge, with 

 an Oleander-leaf. 



The fecond Sort was brought from 

 "Barbados, into the Englijh Gardens, 

 by the Name of Poifon-bufh ; the 

 milky Juice of ue Plant, with which 

 it greatly abounds, being very acrid, 

 and will draw Blifters on the Skin : 

 if this Juice mixes with the Blood, 

 it is faid to be of a deadly Nature ; 

 fo that if the Points of Arrows, or 

 the Edges of Swords, are rubbed 

 over with this Juice, I have been in- 

 formed, that whatever Animal is 

 wounded with thefe, furely dies, 

 though the Wounds are not deep, or 

 in any dangerous Part. 



The firrt Sort was fent from Cam- 

 fechy by the late Mr. Robert Millar, 



a Surgeon : the Branches of this Sort 

 are weaker than thefe of the other, 

 and grow much longer, fo that they 

 require to be fupported : the Leaves 

 are fhort and broad, ending in a 

 Point : thefe are not near fo thick 

 as thofe of the former, and are of a 

 lighter Green : the whole Plant 

 abounds with a milky Juice of a 

 fharp acrid Quality; fo I believe it 

 to be equally poifonous with the 

 other ; for if a Branch is cut off, the 

 Juice will immediately corrode the 

 Knife. 



They are both propagated by Cut- 

 tings, which may be taken from the 

 Plants during any of the Summer- 

 months ; and after having bin in a 

 dry Place for a Fortnight or three 

 Weeks, until the wounded Part be 

 healed over, they fhould be planted 

 into fmall Pots fill'd with light fanc'y 

 Earth mix'd with Lime-rubbifh, and 

 then plunged into an Hot-bed of 

 Tanners Bark, obferving now-and- 

 then to refrefh them gently with 

 Moilture ; but they fhould never re- 

 ceive much Wet, which will rot 

 them. 



After they have taken Root, they 

 may have a greater Share of Air by 

 raifing the GlafTes ; but they muJl 

 never be expos'd to the open Air : in 

 this Bed they may remain until the 

 Beginning of Oclober, when they 

 muft be remov'd into the Stove, and 

 plac'd with the Melon and Torch- 

 thiftle, in a warm dry Stote; and, 

 during the Winter - feafonT", they 

 fhould have very little Wjier-;' which, 

 if given in Plenty, fe!dom fails to 

 rot them. 



Thefe Plants are too tender to 

 thrive in the open Air in England ; 

 therefore the Plants fhould conftant- 

 ly remain in the Stove, obferving in 

 the Summer-feafon, when the Wea- 

 ther is warm, to admit a large Share 

 of frefh Air to them, and in the 



Winter 



