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The BRITISH HERBAL. 
319 
DIVISION II. 
Cretick Bryony. 
Eryoilia foliis pahnatis. 
The root is long and (lender. 
The ftalks are numerous, weak, 
when fupported, of a great length 
The leaves are large 
trailing, and, 
and divided in an ele- 
FOREIGN SPECIES. 
gant manner : they arc rough, of a pale green, 
and veined and fpotted with white. 
The flowers are large, and they are placed on 
long footftalks. The berries are red. 
It is a native of Crete, and flowers in June. ; 
C. Bauhine calls it Bryonia Cre:ua maculaiaS _ 
GENUS II. 
B L A C K B R Y O N Y. 
T A M N U S. 
THere is in this genus a flower, if it may be fo called, without petals. The cup is formed of a 
fingle piece, divided at the edge into fix fegments, of an oval form, but pointed, and difplaycd 
in an expanded m'anner at the points. The fruit is a berry, of an oval form, divided within into 
three cells ; in each of which there are two feeds. 
There are in this genus male and female plants. The flowers difl^er in this, that in the male there 
are within the cup fix ftiort filaments or threads, with their buttons ; and in the female there is the 
embryo-fruit, plainly diftinguifhable under the flower. 
Linnteus places this among the iicecia bcxaniria ; the male and female flowers being on ftparate 
plants, and the threads in the male fix in number. He is difpleafed with the received name tamnus, 
and writes it tavius. 
DIVISION I. 
1. Common Black Bryony. 
Tamnii! -vulgaris. 
The root is very large, long, and thick, black 
on the outfide, white within, and full of a white 
juice. 
The ftalks are numerous, long, flender, and 
trreen : they climb among buflies, and by that 
means grow to ten feet or more in length. 
The leaves are large and beautiful : they are 
placed on long footflialks, and are of a heart-fa- 
lliioned fliape, fharp-pointed, and of a Ihining 
deep green. 
The flowers are greenilh, and are placed feve- 
ral together on long footftalks, each having alfo 
its feparate pedicle. 
The berries are large, and, when ripe, of a 
beautiful red. 
It is common in hedges, and the berries are 
ripe in Augufl:. 
C. Bauhine calls it Bryonia Ijmis five nigra ra- 
cemofa. Others, Bryonia nigra, and I'amnus vul- 
garis. 
BRITISH SPECIES. 
The root is a very powerful remedy in nephri- 
tick cafes, though not known in the fiaops, or 
ufed in the modern practice. The befl: method 
of giving it is in the juice prefiTed out, when it 
has been bruifed, with white wine. 
This works powerfully by urine, brings away 
gravel, and cleanfes the paflTages in a furprifing 
manner. 
It is alfo excellent againfl: obftruftions of the 
menfes, taken in the fame way, but in fmaller 
dofes, for a continuance of time. 
A fyrup made of it with honey is fervice- 
able in afthmas, and all obftrudtions of the 
breaft. 
The young fiioots, eaten in the manner of afpa- 
ragus, are very pleafant, and work powerfully by 
urine. 
The bruifed root, applied externally, has done 
fervice in paralytick cafes. This I write from ex- 
perience ; nor was it unknown of the plant to the 
earlier writers ; though it has unhappily of later 
time been difufed. 
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DIVISION II. FOREIGN SPECIES. 
Black Bryony with trifid leaves. 
Taninus folio trifido. 
The root is long, thick, and full of a fharp 
juice. 
The ftalks are nimierous and weak; but they 
fupport themfelves by climbing. 
The leaves are large, and of a frefli green : 
they are broad, fhorc, and divided into three 
parts. Their colour is a deep, dead green. 
The flowers are fmall and grt-eniiTi. 
The berries are large and red. 
It is a native of the Greek illands, and flowers 
in July. 
Tournefort calls it Tanmtis Crctica irijidofolio. 
GENUS 
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