Ordkr XIII. 
DICECIA MONADELPHIA. 
849 
14049 Leaves imbricated in 4 rows acute 
14050 Lower leaves tcrnate : upper binate decurrent subulate spreading acute 
14051 Leaves decurrent imbricated spreading closely packed, of the stem in threes of the branches in fours 
14052 Leaves opposite bluntish glandular in the middle imbricated in 4 ways. Stem arboreous 
14053 Lvs. opp. blunt glandular in the middle imbricated in 4 ways : the younger acute and opp. Stem shrubby 
14054 Leaves opp. acute imbricated in about 4 rows smooth glaucous, Branches horizontal prostrate 
14055 Leaves opposite acute imbricated decurrent : occasionally spreading and subulate 
1H)56 Leaves in 3s adnate at base : younger imbricated ; old ones spreading 
14057 Leaves ternate spreading mucronate longer than the berry 
14058 Leaves ternate falcate somewhat imbricated the length of berries 
14059 Leaves ternate spreading pointed shorter than berry 
14060 Leaves ternate obliterated imbricated blunt 
14061 Leaves ternate imbricated all ways ovate blunt 
14062 Leaves all imbricated in 4 rows : younger ovate ; old ones acute 
14063 Leaves thickly set linear distichous flat, Male receptacles globose 
14064 Sheaths of joints 2-toothed blunt, Catkins 2-3 opposite stalked, Peduncles shorter than catkins 
14065 Sheaths of joints 2-toothed blunt, Catkins solitary scattered or opposite. Peduncles longer than catkin 
14066 Sheaths of joints bifid acum. Male catkins clustered sessile or stalked. Fern, solit. stalk. Branches spreading 
140f)7 Leaves peltate subcordate ovate-orbicular silky beneath, Female racemes longer than leaves 
and Miscellaneous Particulars. 
languid. In plethoric habits, its use should be preceded by repeated bleedings ; and at all times its internal 
exhibition requires caution. It has been given in gout and worm cases also, but is seldom used. As an ex- 
ternal local stimulant or escharotic, the dried leaves in powder are applied to warts, flabby ulcers, and carious 
bones ; and the expressed juice diluted, or an infusion of the leaves, as a lotion to gangrenous sores, scabies, 
and tinea capitis, or mixed with lard and wax as an issue ointment. {Thorn. Lond. Disp. p. 342.) 
3. Lycia, which greatly resembles the savin, is commonly thought to produce the gum resin called Oliba- 
num ; though Dr. Thomson and others consider the Boswellia Serrata of Roxburgh as tlie true plant. 
Olibanum is supposed to have been the incense used by the ancients in their religious ceremonies ; it is much 
employed by the Roman Catholics in their churches, and generally as a perfume in sick rooms. 
2114. Taxus. According to Vossius this word is derived from rolaj, an arrow, because that weapon was 
formerly poisoned with the juice of the plant. Yew seems to be an alteration of the Celtic iw, green. T. bac- 
cata inhabits mountainous woods in Europe, North America, and Japan. Casar mentions it as very common 
in Gaul and Germany. In Britain and Ireland there was formerly great abundance in a wild state, 
and planted in church-yards. Ray says that our ancestors planted the yew in church-yards because it 
was an evergreen tree, as a symbol of that immortality which they hoped and expected for the persons there 
deposited. Hence a custom, which still exists in a few places of "Wales and Ireland, of carrying twigs of this 
and other evergreen trees in funerals, and throwing them into the grave with the corpse. According to some, 
the yew was planted in church-yards on account of its utility in making bows ; but this is by no means likely, 
when the tree was so common in a wild state, and when a single one would have aftbrded so very scanty a 
supply. The bow was considered an engine of military warfare, at least up to the time of Henry VIII. ; so 
great was the demand for yew in the days of archery, that our own stock could not supply the demand ; it was 
obliged to be imported, and various laws were passed concerning it from the time of Edward IV. to Elizabeth. 
The wood of the yew is red and veined, very hard and smooth, used by turners, cabinet-makers, millwrights, and 
a variety of other artisans. Flood-gates for ponds made of it, are said to be of incredible duration. The twigs 
and leaves of yew, eaten in a very small quantity, are certain death to horses and cows ; but deer, it is said, 
will crop these trees with impunity, and sheep and goats are said by Linnteus to eat them. Turkeys, peacocks, 
and other poultry and birds eat both the leaves and fruit. A few of the berries are not deleterious to the 
human species, but the leaves are fatal. The tree is very patient of the shears, and was much employed in 
the ancient style of gardening for verdant architecture and sculpture. Allowed to take its natural shap'e, and 
when advanced to a considerable age, it forms one or handsomest of British evergreens, harmonizing acimira- 
bly with the holly, the box, and the juniper. The yew is generally propagated from seeds, which are either 
sown as soon as they are ripe, without clearing them from the pulp, or mixed with sand, and laid in a heap to 
be turned over two or three times during the winter, and in spring, the seeds from which the pulp will have 
rotted sown in beds of light loamy soil. By either mode, a part of the plants will come up the flrst season, 
and the remainder in that following. The Irish yew is probably a distinct species. 
2115. Ephedra. This was a name given by the Greeks to our Equisetum, which the plant now called 
Ephedra strongly resembles. E. Distachya abounds in the southern parts of Russia, and from thence south, 
wards to Persia and India. The berries ripen in July and August : they are sweetish, mu'-oiis, and leave a 
little heat in the throat. They are eaten by the Russian peasants, and by the wandering horues of all Great 
Tartary. 
. 2116k Cissampelos. From xkto-oi, the Greek name of the ivy, and etf^mhei, vine ; a plant partaking of the 
3 I 
