The BRITISH HERBAL. 
DIVISION 11. FOREIGN SPECIES. 
Tree HoLiftieck. 
Sempcrvh um arbcrefcais. 
This is not improperJy diftingui(hed by tlic 
name ol; tree houfckek : it has more the afpcft of 
a (lirub, though a very fingular one, than an 
hetb. 
The root is large, thicli, fpreading, and full 
of fibres. 
The trunk, for it is more properly fo called 
than the ftalk, is five or fix feet high, of the 
thicknefs of a man's arm, and of a pale green co- 
lour on' the furface : from this Ihoot branches of 
the thicknefs of one's thumb ; and thefe foipetimes 
are fl:.ort and fimple, fometimcs longer, and di- 
vided into lelTer ramifications. 
At the extremity of each ffands a clufter of 
leaves, formed: into ^citqlc, in the manner of thoie 
of the common haufdeek^ but very different in 
lhape : they ane oblong, and broad, fmalieft at 
the bafe, largeft' at the cjjtcemity, and there of- 
ten dented in the tieart-fafljioned manner: they 
arc very tender and fucculent ; and, when nicely 
examined, ^re fo^nd to have fome indentings, at 
the ettges. 
The flowers fland upon peculiar ftalks rifing 
from the upper part of the plant : thefe are ten- 
der, and covered vjith leaves dilpofed in the man- 
ner of the cammtrn houfeleck leaves on its ftalk, 
but of the fame form with thofe which ftand in 
clufters. 
The flowers are extremely numerous, fmall, 
and of a pale, but pretty yellow : they confift 
each of twelve pointed petals, and have twelve 
threads, and the rudiments of twelve capfules in 
the centre. 
When the flowers are fallen, thefe ripen, and 
contain a quantity of very finall feed. 
It is a native of the Greek iflands, and, as fome 
fay, of the warmer parts ot Europe. It rarely 
flowers with us ; and, when it does, it is at the 
end of fummer. 
J. Bauhine calls it Sedum majus arhorefcens. 
Clufius, and others, Sedum majus le^itimmi, and 
Sedum arboreum. 
Its virtues are the fame with t.hofe of the nm- 
mon hoiifekek. 
GENUS IX. 
COLUMBINE. 
4^U 1 L E G I J. 
npHE leaves are divided into numerous parts : the flower conGfts of five petals, and five glands 
X or neftaru (landing alternately between them ; thefe are of a long cornicul!»ted form : the feeds 
are contained ip leparate capfules, five of which follow every flower. 
LmiiCTS places this :,mong his phandna, ply^yfm, feparwing it from the plants to which it is 
moft .illjed, a ■ c 
While we blame that author for his cpnduft in this refpefr. we are to acknowledge that we owe to 
him the right underftandi.ig of the ffruSure pf this flower. The neftaria in moil flowers are finall, 
and It .s very rarely they are confpicuous : they ve glandules placed deep in the centre of them 
m mofl: cafes, and deftmed for the reception of a honey-juice. In this fingular plant they are large 
beautiful, confpicuous, and form the mofl: confiderable part of the flower. What thefe horns of the 
columhne were, was not difcovered till Linnasus fliewed it : but they are truly what he calls them It 
is thus in many inllances, which we fliall have occafion to name: it were hard to fay, whether mofl: 
praife be due to him tor his difcerning genius, or his unwearied application. 'Tis with pleafure I 
pay this juft tribute of applaufe to an author whofe fyftem I am obliged fo frequendy to cenfure. 
This js but one of a thou and inftances that they will be long obliged to Linnsus for his obferyations 
who fliali decline his method. u ^ 
Of this genus there is but one fpccies a native of Britain. 
DIVISION I. BRITISH SPECIES. 
\Mld Columbine. 
Arjiiile^ia fylvefirh. 
The root is long, large, and often divided into 
two or three parts ; furniflied with fibres, and of 
a brownifli colour. 
The leaves are numerous, and of a bluifh 
green : they ftand on long footftalks, which are 
of a redifli colour, and a little hairy. Each leaf 
is compofed of three parts, and each of thefe parts 
of three divifions : each divifion may be looked 
N" V. 
upon as a feparate leaf; and the whole will 
then be compofed of nine fuch : thefe are divi- 
ded at the edges, fomtwhat in the manner of an 
oak leaf. 
In the centre of the tuft rifes the ftalk, which 
is flender, upright, jointed, redifli or bluifli, 
and a little hairy ; and, toward the top, divides 
into many branches. 
The leaves ftand irregularly on it : they are 
few, and like thofe from the root, but fmaller, 
and with fewer divifions. 
M The 
