M E 



M E 



t* the fame Length: the Point a I 

 afterward becomes an coal fmall 

 Berry, halving three Divifions, in 

 ivhicb are lodged fmall flat Seeds. 



We have but one Species of this 

 Plant ; w%. 



Me loth ri a. Lin. Hort. Cliff. 

 Small creeping Cucumber, <vulgo. 



This Plant grows wild in the 

 Woods in Carolina, Virginia, and 

 alfoin many of the Iflands in Ameri- 

 ca : it creeps upon the Ground, with 

 fiender Vines, having angular Leave 1 , 

 fomewhat refemblmg thofe of the 

 Melon ; but much fmaller. Thefe 

 Vines ftrike out Roots at every Joint, 

 which fallen themfelves into the 

 Ground, and thereby a larger Share 

 of Nourishment is drawn to the 

 Plants ; by which means their Vines 

 extend to a great Diftance each 

 Way, and clofely cover the Ground. 

 The Flowers are very fmall, in ^hape 

 like thole of the Melon, and of a 

 pale-fulphur Colour. The Fruit, in 

 die W eft'Indusi grows to the Size 

 of a Pea, of an oval Figure, and 

 changes black when ripe: thefe are 

 by the Inhabitants iometimes pickied 

 when they are green. 



In England the Fruit are much 

 fmaller, and tis fo hidden by the 

 Leaves, as to render it difficult to 

 find them. The Plants will not grow 

 in the open Air here, but mull be 

 fown upon an Hot-bed,; and if they 

 are permitted, will foon fpread over 

 the Surface of a large Bed ; and when 

 the Fruit is ripe, if they fcatter their 

 Seeds, the Plants will come up where 

 the Earth happens to be uled on an 

 Hot-bed again ; ar.d if they are fup- 

 plied with Water, will require no 

 farther Care. This Plant is in fome 

 Gardens preferved for the fake of 

 Variety; but is of no Ufe. 



MENISPERMUM, Moonfeed. 



'The Characters are ; 

 It hath a re/aceeus FJsvjer, can~ 

 Vol. II. 



fifing of fever a I fmall Leaves, vjhic^ 

 are placed round the Embryo in a cir- 

 cular Order: the Pointal, which is 

 divided into three Parts at the T op y 

 aftern.va.rd becomes the Fruit or Berry, 

 in which is included one flat Seed, 

 which is, ivhen ripe, hollowed like 

 the Appearance of the Moon. 

 The Species are ; 



1. Menispermum Canadenfe 

 fcandens, hederacco folio. Acad. Reg. 

 Scien. 1706. Climbing CanadyMoon- 

 feed, with an Ivy-leaf. 



2. Menispermum Canadenfe 

 fcandens, umbilicato folio. Acad. Reg. 

 Scien. 1706. Climbing Canady 

 Moonfeed, with an umbilicated 

 Leaf. 



3. Memspermum folio hedera- 

 cco. Hort. Elth. Ivy-leav'd Moon- 

 feed. 



The firit. and fecond Sorts have 

 been long Inhabitants of the Euro- 

 pean Gardens. Thefe produce flexi- 

 ble woody Shoots from their Roots, 

 which twift round whatever Plants 

 ftand near them, and will grow to 

 the Height of ten or twelve Feet, 

 and produce their Flowers in Au- 

 tumn ; but they rarely perfect their 

 Seed in this Country. 



Thefe Plants are Natives of Vir- 

 ginia, and moil of the Northern 

 Parts of America, from whence they 

 were many Years fince brought into 

 Europe, and were preferved in the 

 Green-houfes in Winter, as tender 

 Piants ; but of late Years they have 

 been planted in the full Groind, 

 where they endure the Winter's 

 Cold extremely well without any 

 Shelter. They may be eafily propa- 

 gated by the Suckers, which are 

 produced in plenty from their Roots: 

 thefe mould be taken off with fome 

 Fibres adhering to them, in the 

 Spring, before the Plants make new 

 Shoots ; and may be planted where 

 :hsy are ddlgned to remain: obferv- 

 Lll jng 



