SMALL BLND-WEED. 
^^^^^^^^ 
The original drawing, which represents this 
very common plant, was made by the ingenious 
Edwards ; who observes, that it is the Smilax 
^enis Minor, or Small Bind-Weed, described 
Gerard's HerbaL " It grows," he adds, 
** very plentifully, on the hedges and banks 
that inclose the fields round London. The 
flower consists of a single leaf; though,, by a 
kind of star, it is divided into live parts. It is 
generally of a reddish or purple colour; and, 
sometimes, so f^iinr, that it is almost white. 
1'he stamina are yellow. I have," concludes 
Edwards, been very careful to express this 
little plant exa6lly according to it's natural 
growth, and the proper diredlion of t]:c 
twining of it's stem round what falls in it's 
way ; with the twist of the flowers before thev 
open, and the form of a seed-vessel soon after 
the flo-wer is fallen off." 
It is not a little remarkable that, in our coU 
kdion of original drawings froa:i tlic plants 
