M A 



M A 



The Characters are; 



The Empalement of the Flower 

 confijis of one Leaf, which is cut into 

 five fmall Segments : the Flower is 

 divided into five Parts, and expands 

 in form of a Rofe : in the Centre of 

 the Flower is fituated the Pointal, at- 

 tended by five Stamina, which are 

 eretl, and longer than the Petals : 

 the Pointal afterward turns to an 

 oval Fruit, containing three oblong 

 Seeds included in the Pulp. 



We have but one Species of this 

 Plant ; viz. 



Maurocenia. Lin. Hort. Clijf. 

 The latge Hottentot Cherry, vulgo. 



This Plant hath been many Years 

 preferved in curious Gapdens, and 

 hath commonly been known by the 

 Name of Hottentot Cherry : and as 

 there are two other Plants which 

 have alfo been received by this 

 Name, fo this hath been diltin- 

 guimed from them, by the Title 

 of Major ; one of the other being 

 called Media, and the other Minor; 

 but as neither of thofe two have 

 produced Flowers in England, fo it 

 is uncertain what Genus to range 

 the laft under. The fecond is placed 

 under that of Padus, by Dr. Bur- 

 man ; fo that neither of them are of 

 this Family. 



Dr. Dillenius has exhibited the 

 Figure of this Plant, in the Hortus 

 F.lthame?ifis, under the Title of 

 Frangula fempervirens, folio rigido 

 fuhrotundo : and Dr. Boerhaave, in 

 his Catalogue of the Leyden Garden, 

 calls it, Cerafus Afra, folio rotundo 

 crajfifftmo rigido fplendente : but Dr. 

 Linmeus feparated it from both thefe 

 Genera, and gave it this Title ; tho 1 , 

 in the laft Edition of his Genera 

 Plantarum, he has joined this to the 

 Co /fine ; but in this he has been mif- 

 ta^en. 



This is a Native of the Cape of 

 Good Hcpe, from whence it was in- 



troduced into the Gardens in Hol- 

 land ; and hath fince been fpread in- 

 to moft Parts of Europe. The 

 Leaves of this Plant are thicker than 

 thofe of any other Plant yet known ; 

 and are almoil round, having very 

 fhort Pedicles ; fo that they grow 

 clofc to the Branches. Thefe are 

 fmooth, and of a deep-green Co- 

 lour : the young Shoots of the Plant 

 are generally very red, when they 

 nrft appear ; but afterward change 

 to the fame Colour as the older 

 Branches. Jt rarely produces any 

 Flowers in England ; but the fingu- 

 lar Structure of the Leaves has oc- 

 cafioned its being preferved in the 

 Gardens of fuch Perfons, who are 

 Lovers of Exotic Plants. 



This Plant is too tender to live in 

 the open Air thro' the Winter, in 

 England ; but may be preferved in a 

 good Green-houfe, where it may be 

 treated in the fame manner as the 

 Orange-tree, with which Culture 

 this Plant will thrive very well. 



It is propagated by laying down 

 of the Branches in the Autumn, 

 which are generally a whole Year, 

 and fometimes longer, before they 

 take Root. When thefe Branches 

 are laid down, it will be proper to 

 flit or tongue them at a Joint (as is 

 pradtifed in laying down Carnations). 

 This will promote their putting out 

 of Roots : but thefe Layers mult 

 conflantly be fupplied with Water, 

 efpecially in the Summer- feafon, 

 otherwife they will not take Root 

 in lefs than two Y ears. 



I have fometimes propagated this 

 Plant by Cuttings ; but they are a 

 long time before they take Root ; 

 fo that this is a very tedious Method: 

 therefore that of laying down the 

 Branches mould be preferred. 



MAYS, Indian Wheat. 



The Title of this Genus is altered 

 by Dr. Linn.rus to Zen. 



The 



