134 
The BRITISH HERBAL. 
Befi ie the variations we have named in the 
Coriiichian capital, where the antients cut the 
ends and tops of the acanthus into laurel and 
olive leaves, we arc to mention that in the re- 
mains of what is called the compofite order, 
thefe ends are cut and fplit with the chiflel much 
farther than in nature. In this ftate they are cal- 
led parflcy leaves; and we fee an infliance of them 
in the compofite columns of the arch of Severus, 
and elfewhere : but they are here more pardonable, 
though no where to be commended. The Ro- 
mans had a right to indulge their fancy in this 
coinpofition {for it does not deferve the name of 
an order), becaufe it was of their own invention ; 
but they are inexcufable in maiming the Corin- 
thian, a proper and difti net order, and the inven- 
tions of their mafters the Greeks, the fathers ot 
fcience. 
3. Holly-leaved Acanthus. 
Acanthus foliis aq^iifolii. 
The root is long and fpreading. 
*rhe ftalks are numerous, large, woody, and 
armed with many Ihort, but very fliarp and fturdy 
prickles : they are tough, and covered with a 
pale greyifh rind. 
The leaves are large, oblong, confiderably 
broad, and of a bluilh green colour: they are 
deeply and very irregularly divided into three or 
four fegments on each fide, and thefe all end in 
prickles: they terminate alfo in a fhort, irregular, 
prickly point at the extremity. 
The flowers grow at the tops of the branches, 
and are very large and gaping. 
The feed-velTels are large and double-, and the 
feeds are fmall. 
It is a native of the Eaft Indies. 
Commelin calls it Carduus aquaiicus fyhejlris 
inodorns. I'itiver, Acanthus Malabariats agrijolio 
folio. 
The root is eftecmed good in the grave!. The 
roots of tlie common acanthus have the fame vir- 
tues, operating by urine, but not in a degree 
worth notice. 
GENUS VII. 
BARLERIJ. 
npHE Rower confifts of a fingle petal, and approaches to the labiated kind : It is formed into a 
tube, a body., and two lips : the tube is fhort, and is contained in the cup: the body is oblong 
and fwelled : tiie upper lip is nip'd at the end, and ftands eretft: the under one is divided into three 
fL-gmL*nts ; the middle one of which is juft of the figure of the entire upper lip : the cup is divided 
into five flender fegments and the feed-vefilel is oblong and fquare. 
Linnsus places this among the didynamia Angiofpermia. 
I. Four-prickled Barleria. 
Barleria fpinis quaternis. 
The root is large, divided Into many parts, 
and full of fpreading fibres. 
The ftem is hard, woody and covered with a 
brown bark. 
There are numerous and very fliarp prickics 
on the branches, and they are difp Jed very re- 
gularly, four together, in form of a crofs. 
The leaves are large and oblong : they ftand 
in pairs, and have very fiiort footftalks : they are 
of a bright green, undivided at the edges, and 
fharp-pointcd. 
The flowers rife from the bofoms of the leaves, 
and are large and beautiful : each has its feparate 
Ihort footfl:alk, and there generally grows a tuft 
of young leaves about them. 
The feed-vefliel is large, and fpread on the fur- 
face ; and the feeds are numerous, rounded, and. 
flat. 
It is a native of the Eaft Indies, and flowers 
in July. 
Plukenec calls it Melampyro cognata maderos 
patana fpinis horrida. The Indians, Coktta veetla. 
GENUS VIII. 
OILY-GRAIN. 
S E S A M U M. 
THE flower confifts of a fingle petal, and fomewhat approaches to the labiated kind : the 
whole is formed into a fmall tube, an inflated body, and a divided edge : the tube is Ihort, 
and contained within the cup: the body is large and broad, deep and hollow ; the edge is divided 
into five parts, four of which are broad and equal, and the fifth narrow, and altogether different 
from the reft ; the cup is divided into five fmall fegments at the edge ; the fced-vefle! is large, 
oblong, and fquare, and contains numerous feeds. 
Linnarus places this, as the others, among the didyimnia atigicfpermia ; the threads in each flower 
being four, two of which arc longer and two ihorter, and the feeds contained in a capfule. 
I. Long- 
