M E 



M E 



the Ovary afterward becomes an oval 

 Seed-vffel, having one Cell opening 

 in two Parts, and containing many 

 /mall Seeds. 



There is but one Species of this 

 Plant at prefent known ; viz. 



Meadia. Catcsb. Hi ft. Carotin. 

 App. Meadia, or American Cowf- 



This Plant was many Years fmce 

 growing in the Garden of the Biihop 

 of London at Fulham, where it palled 

 under the Title of America;: Covvf- 

 lipj which Name I have here con- 

 tinued to it, though it is a very im- 

 proper o ,e, for want cf a better 

 Englifo Name, The Plant was for 

 fevera! Years loft in England, and 

 hath lately been retrieved by Mr. 

 Peter Collin fan, who procured the 

 Seeds from Mr. John Bur tram, who 

 gathered them beyond the Apalat- 

 cbian Mountains in America ; and 

 from the Plant which flowered in 

 Mr. Collin Ion's Garden, Mr. Cztesby 

 has erkgraven a Figure, which is 

 publifh-d in-the Appendix to his Na- 

 tural Htjlory of Carolina, under the 

 Title here given to it of Meadia, in 

 Honour to Dr. Richard Mead F.R.S. 

 and Phyfician to the King, who is a 

 great Encourager and Patron of Arts 

 and >ciences. 



The Leaves of this Plant are 

 fmooth, and of a pale - green Co- 

 lour, having feveral Indentures on 

 their fidges. Thefe grow clofe to 

 the Ground in form cr the Cowflip : 

 from between the Leaves the Flow- 

 er-ftem arifes, which ufually grows 

 about a Foot, being naked, and fuf- 

 taining at the Top many Flowers 

 growing in an Umbei, like thofe of 

 the Auricula or Cowflip. Theie are 

 of a purplifii Colour, each hanging 

 downward upon pretty long Foot- 

 ftalks. The Petals of the Flowers 

 are refkxed backward, in form of 

 the Gycktmen, or Sowbread j fo that 



rVoL. ir. 



at the fir ft Appearance they have 

 been taken for Flowers of that. Af- 

 ter the Flowers are part, and the 

 Seed - veffels formed, the Footftalks 

 are reverfed, and ftand erect. 



This Plant is at prefent very rare 

 in Europe, being in very few Gar- 

 dens. It deligh:s in a light rhoift 

 Soil, and a ihady Situation, but not 

 under the Dropping of Trees. It is 

 hardy in refpect to Cold ; yet, in 

 very wet Winters, the Roots are 

 often deftroyed ; which is frequent!/ 

 the Fate with many hardy American 

 Plants, and is occafioned by the fre- 

 quent Alterations of the Weather in 

 our Climate, where hard Frolts fre- 

 quently follow great Rams : which 

 kills many Plants, that are Natives 

 of Countries, where the Winter? are 

 much more fevere than in England. 

 The Leaves of tliis Plant decay- 

 in the Autumn, and frefh ones are 

 produced in the Spring; therefore 

 the Roots muft not be disturbed; 

 but if hard Frofts mould happen, a 

 light Covering of Tanner: Bark, 

 Straw, or Peas-haulm, fftouid be 

 laid over them, which will protect 

 them from Injary. 



This Plant is propagated by Seeds, 

 which, in good Sealbns, the Plants 

 produce in England : theie mould be 

 fown in the Autumn, in Pots ft led 

 with light Earth, and piaced under 

 an Kot- bed frame, where they may 

 be expofed to the open Air in m:ld 

 Weather, and covered with the Glaf- 

 fes to protect them from Froft. In 

 the Spring the Plants will come up, 

 which, when they have obtained 

 Strength, fhou!d be tranfplanted into 

 an Eaft Border of light Earth ; in 

 which Situation the Plants will 

 thrive better, than if expo-fed to a 

 greater Warmth, during the Sunj- 

 mer-feafon : but in the Autumn 

 fome of the Roots may be tranf- 

 planted toa South Bo/der, \vhere,Mie 



I i i Spring 



