The BRITISH HERBAL. 
GENUS VII. 
SOWBREAD. 
CTCLAMEN. 
Tt-IE flower confifts of a finglc petal, formed into a rounded tube at the bottom, and at the rirn 
divided into live fegments that turn upwards: the fruit is a fingle fecd-velTel of a rounded 
form, in fome degree refembling a large berry, but opening into five parts at the top : the cup is 
rounded, and divided at the edge into five fegments. 
LinnjEus places this among the penlatidria vionogynia ; the threads in each flower being five, and 
the ftyle from tlie rudiment of the fruit fingle. 
Mr. Ray, who is not exempt from errors, places it among the herkv bulhofis cffines ; of which 
■we fhall fpcak hereafter but the Howers and feed-veffel refer it properly to the prefent claf-. 
I. Ivy-leaved Sowbread. 
Cyclamen joliis heder^. 
The root is a large, black, irregularly fhaped 
lump, white within, and furnifhed with nume- 
rous fibres. 
The leaves rife in a confiderable number, and 
(land on long, weak footftalks. 
They are of an angulated form, not unlike 
fome leaves of ivy ; for in thofe there is great 
variety ; they are heart-fafhioned at the bafe, 
pointed at the end, and notched irregularly at the 
fides ; and often are fpotted. 
The flower is large, and of a beautiful deep 
-blue. 
It ftands on a tender, naked ftalk, about four 
or five inches in height, and has a very fingular 
afpe£t from the points running upwards. 
The feed-vcflTel is large, and ftands on a twifted 
pedicle; the upper part of the ftalk, when the 
fiower is fallen, turning in the manner of a cork 
fcrew. 
It is a native of Germany and other parts of 
Europe, and grows in the damp parts of forefts. 
It flowers in Augufl. 
C. Bauhine cails it Cyclamen heder.efolio. Lin- 
nxuR, Cyclamen corolla rctroflexa. 
This author allows only this fingle fpecies of 
the plant: but tliere are two others -, the round- 
leaved and the narrow flowered being abfolutely 
different. Culture makes innumerable varieties 
from thefe three fpecies, and the various kinds 
all rife from one or other of them; but net all 
from this one, as that author imagines. 
2. Round-leaved Sow-bread. 
Cyclamen rotundifolium. 
The root is tuberous, large, and roundlfli ; 
black on the outfidc, white within, and fur- 
nifhed with fome long fibres. 
The leaves rife in little clufters from different 
parts of it, and are fupported by flender and 
weak footftalks : they are of a roundifh, or ra- 
ther oval figure ; broad at the bafe, where they 
are a little heart fafhioned, and narrower to the 
point: of a deep green, fpotted ufually with 
white, and purple underneath ; and not at all 
notched at the edges. 
The ftalks are numerous, weak, naked, redifli, 
and lour'inches high. 
The Rowers Hand fingly, one on each foot 
ftalk, and they are large, and of a beautiful red ; 
they have a plcafant fmell. 
The fegments of this flower are broader and 
fhortcr than in the ether fpecies, and fhew it to 
be elfentially difTcrent. 
The leed-vefl"cl is large and roundifh. 
It is frequent in the damp forefts of Switzer- 
land, and flowers in September. 
C. Bauhine calls it Cyclamen crbicuhuo folie in- 
ferne purpurafccnte. Others, Cyclamen rotundi* 
folium autumnale. 
3. Slender-flowered Sowbread. 
Cyclamm fiorihuz angufiis. 
The root is large and tuberous, black on the 
furface, white within, and hung with many 
fibres. 
The leaves Hand on long, flender footftalks, 
and they are large and angulated : they are of a 
deep green on the upper fide, but freqL:e.iil/ 
diflinguifhed by white fpots and white edges, 
and red underneath. 
The ftalks which fupport the flowers are long, 
weak, and redifh: they are naked, and only one 
flower ftands on each. 
This is large, and of a beautiful pale red ; 
the fegments turn up as in the other kinds; but 
they are much narrower; and the flower, though 
equal in length, is vafl:ly flenderer than in either 
of them. 
The feed-vefi"el is fmaller than in the others, 
and round. 
It is a native of Italy, and flowers in fpring. 
C. Bauhine calls it Cyclamen foUo angtilofo. J. 
Bauhine, Cyclamm fiore rubra graciliore vernwn. 
The two other fpecies are properly autumnal ; 
they flower toward the end of fummer, at which 
time there are no leaves on the plant. When 
the flowers are faded the leaves appear, and re- 
main green all winter : they die off in May, and 
nothing is then feen till autumn. 
They all agree In virtues, being gently purga- 
tive. 
The root, dryed and powdered, is befl: for this 
purpofe ; and the dofr is five and twenty grains. 
It ia good in the jaundice and all obfl;ruftions of 
the vifcera. 
The frefh juice of the leaves is excellent againfl: 
inflammations of the eyes. It is alfo good in 
the piles. 
10. 
Dd 
GENUS 
