320 
The BRITISH HERBAL. 
GENUS III. 
HERB-CHRISTOPHEK. 
CHRIS TOP HO R I AN J. 
THE flower is compofed of four petals ; of a fingular angulated form, and large. The cup is 
formed of four chaffy leaves which are fmall, obtiife, and hollow; and they fall with the 
flower. The fruit is a berry, of a roundifh Hiape, with a furrow on it. The feeds are numerous, 
and femicircular. 
Linnsus feparates rhis from all the other berry-bearing plants, and places it among the -polyandna 
monogynia \ the ftamina being numerous, and fixed to the receptacle ; and the ftyle from the rudi- 
ment of the fruit fingle. 
This author diflikes the received name cbrijlophoriana, and calls the genus aSlaa. 
DIVISION I. BRITISH SPECIES. 
Common Herb-Chriflopher. 
Chrijlophoriana vulgaris. 
The root is long and thick, black on the out- 
fide, yellow within, and of a difagreeable tarte. 
The firft leaves are large, and divided by threes 
into a great many parts ; fo that they refemble at 
the firft fight thofe of fome of the umbelliferous 
plants : they are of a dufky green, and of a gloffy 
fur face. 
The ftalk is round, green, upright, branched, 
and a yard high. 
The leaves on this refemble thofe from the 
root : they are very large, and their feparate parts 
are broad, ferraced, and have alfo a kind of trifid 
divifipn. 
DIVISION II. F < 
I. Tall American Herb-Chiiftophcr. 
Chriftophoriana Americana procm'or. 
The root is long, thick, and of a dark brown. 
The ftalks. are numerous, upright, firm, and 
of a pale green : they are of a firm fubftance, and 
five feet high. 
The leaves have the fame trifid divifion with 
thofe of the common kind ; but they are larger, 
of a deep green, and fhL!rply ferrated. 
The flowers ftand in very long and beautiful 
fpikes at the tops of the ftalks : they arc fmall 
and white. 
The berries are black and roundifh. 
It is a native of Virginia, and flowers in Au- 
guft. 
Dillenius calls it Chrijtophoriafm Amaicanapro- 
cerior S longius jpieala. 
The flowers are fmall and white ; they ftand in 
clufters upon ilender footftalks, forming a kind 
of fpike. 
The berries are large, of aroundifli, but fome- 
what oblong figure, and black. 
It is found in woods in our northern counties. 
It flowers in July, and the berries are ripe in 
Aiiguft. 
Ray calls It Chriftophoriana. Others, Chrijia- 
phoriana 'vulgaris^ and A£iaa. In Englifti we call 
it Herb-Chriflopher ; and, from its poifonous qua- 
lities, Bane-b£}T)\ 
The berries have been fatal to children who 
have been tempted by their glofiy black to eac 
them. They have died convulfed, 
'? 
REIGN SPECIES. 
2. Red-berried Herb-Chriftopher. 
ChriJtophoria?ia haccis ruhris. 
The root is long and flcnder. 
The firft leaves are numerous, and very large : 
they are divided by threes into feveral ftiort, 
broad fegments, and thefe are ferrated and ftiarp- 
pointed. 
The ftalk is fingle, upright, branched, and 
four feet high. 
The leaves on this refemble thofe from the 
root, and are of a very dark green colour. 
The flowers ftand in long and thick fpikes i 
they are fmall and white. The berries are red. 
It is a native of the northern parts of Europe, 
and of America, and flowers in Auguft. 
The berries are fometimes white. 
Morifon calls it Chrifiophoriana Americana ra- 
cemofa haccis niveis & ruhris: 
G E N U S IV. 
SOLOMON'S SEAL. 
P0L2-G0NATUM. 
rr^lW. flower is formed of a fingle petal ; and is oblong, hollow, and of a bell-like fliape, and is 
divided into fix fegments at the edge. There is no cup. The berry is round, and divided 
within into three cells, in each of whicli there is a fingle roundifli feed ; and, before the berry is 
ripe, it is fpotted. The leaves are narrow, and of a firm fubftance. 
Linnaus 
