M E 



M E 



\tie Flower is dividtd into federal 

 J Parts : the Flower conf/ls of four 

 Leaves, and is of an anomalous Ft- 

 \gure : the Petals, or Leaves, are 

 p laced fometimcs in the Shape of aFan, 

 \and at other times are of a conical 

 Figure : the Ovary becomes a Fruit 

 refembl'mg a Blaader four ■ corner d t 

 divided into four Cells, and pregnant 

 with roundijh Seeds. 

 The Species are ; 



1. Melianthus Jfricanus. H L. 

 The large Honey -flower, vulgarly 

 called the Locuft or Wild Honey. 



2. Melianthus Africanus minor 

 foetidus. Com. Rar. The fmalicr 

 linking Honey-flower. 



The fir it of thefe Plants is pretty 

 :ommon in many Englijh Gardens, 

 where it is preferved as a Curiofity. 

 This, produces large Spikes of cho- 

 ;:olate-colour'd- Flowers in May ; in 

 ;ach of which is contained a large 

 Quantity of a black fweet Liquor, 

 r rom whence it is fuppoled to derive 

 ts Name. 



This Plant was formerly preferv- 

 ed in Green-houfes, as a tender Exo- 

 tic ; but if planted in a dry Soil, and 

 [i warm Situation, will endure the 

 .^old of our ordinary Winters very 

 veil ; and if, in a fevere Froit, the 

 Tops of them mould be dettroyed, 

 ✓et the Roots will abide, and put 

 brth again the nice ceding Spring ; fo 

 ^hat there is no greatDanger of lofe- 

 ng it : and the Plants which grow 

 n the open Air always flower much 

 )etter than thofe which are preferved 

 n the Green - houfe, as being lefs 

 Irawn, which always is hurtful to 

 he Flowering of Plants, and many 

 imes prevents their producing any 

 "lowers : for it rarely happens, that 

 my of thofe Plants of this Sort, 

 vhichare placed in the Green-houfe, 

 •lower ; but they are apt to draw up 

 all and weak ; and thofe Branches 

 'Viiich produce flowers generally 



decay foon after : fo that altho* the 

 Stems become woody, yet they are 

 not of long Duration ; but the Roots 

 fpread where they have room, and 

 fend out a great Number of Stems 

 annually : and when the Piants 

 grow in the full Ground, all thofe 

 Stems which are not injured byFrolf, 

 feloom fail to flower the Spring fol- 

 lowing ; fo that the fureit Method 

 to have them flower is, to cover the 

 Shoots of thefe Plants in froity Wea- 

 ther, to prevent their Tops being 

 killed by the Cold. 



This Plant may be propagated by 

 taking off its Suckers or Side moots 

 any tune from March to September, 

 obferving to choofe fuch as are fur- 

 nifhed with Fibres ; and after they 

 are planted, you mult water and 

 made them, until they have taken' 

 Root ; after which they will require 

 no farther Care, but to keep them 

 clear from Weeds : they may alfo 

 be propagated by planting Cutting.% 

 during any of the Summer- months ; 

 which, if watered and fhaded, will 

 take Root very well, and may af- 

 terwards be tranfplanted where they 

 are defigned to remain. 



The fecond Sort is lefs common 

 than the former, and only to be 

 found in fome curious Collections 

 of Plants ; tho' it feems to be equally 

 as hardy as the former. This pro- 

 duces fmallerSpikes of Flo wers ; but 

 they are much more beautiful than 

 the former, their Flowers having a 

 Mixture of red, green, and yellovy. 

 This flowers in May, and (ometimes 

 perfects its Seeds with us, by which 

 it may be propagated ; and the Plants- 

 obtained from fuch Seeds would be 

 hardier than thofe which come from 

 abroad,or are raifed from Slips.This 

 may be propagated in the, fame man- 

 ner as the former, and requires 

 much the fame Culture, tho' it is 

 commonly preferved in the Green- 

 " ' houfe : 



