The BRITISH HERBAL. 
515 
G E ' N U S 
M E S F I L U S. 
IV. 
THE flower is placed in a cup, liglitly divided into four fcgments ; and is compofed of live 
roundidi petals, with, numerous filaments. The fruit is flelhy, roundilh, and umbilicated. 
Linnxus places this among the iccfaiidria pentagynia. 
I. The White Beam. 
Mefpilus almfoHo fuhtus incano. 
The tree grows to a moderate bignefs. 
The bark is pale and fmooth. 
The leaves are oblong, broad, obtufe, and 
lightly dented : of a dark green on the upper 
fide, and whitifh underneath. 
The flowers are fmall and white ; and the fruit 
is fmall and roundifii. 
We have it in our weftern counties. 
C. Bauhlne calls it Alni effigie Itmato folio : but 
its mofl: ufual name is Aria Iheofhrajti. 
We have three other fpecies of Mefpilus. 
1. The common White Hawthorn, McffHus 
apii folio 'Vulgaris fpinofa. 
2. Oblong-leaved IMefpilus, Mefpilus vulgaris fo- 
lio lanriiio. 
3. Great-leaved IVIefpilus, Mefpilus foliis et fr«liu 
majoriljus. 
GENUS V. 
ROSE. 
ROSA. 
THE flower is placed in a large cup, thick, and rounded at the bafe, and divided at the edge 
into five long fegments ; and it is compofed of five broad petals, with numerous filaments. The 
fruit is formed of the thick bafe of the cup; and contains many feeds. 
Linna:us pkces this among the icofandria plygynia. 
^ The Burnet Rofe. 
Rofa pumila fpinofgima foliis fimpinella. 
This is a little but very pretty Ihrub. 
The branches are tough, and their bark is 
brownifli. 
The leaves are pinnated, and the pinnx are 
Ihort, fcrrated, and roundilh : their colour is a 
dark green. 
The flowers are large, and of a very pale 
fielh colour. 
The fruit is fmall, red, and roundilh. 
It is common in hedges, and flowers in June. 
C. Bauhine calls it Rofa fyhejiris pomifera. 
Others, Rofa foliis fimpinelU. 
We have five other fpecies. 
. The common Briar, or Dog-rofe, Rofa fyl- 
vcflris imdora^ five canijia. Common in all 
hedges. 
. Wild Briar with large, prickly hips, Rofa 
fyhefiris fruSu imjore hiffido. In hedges. 
:. Sweet Briar, Rofa fylveftris odora. We hav*;. 
this wild in our fouthern counties, 
.. White-flowered Dog-rofe. Rofa fyhefiris minor 
flore albo. The leaves broader and Ihorter. 
. The great Englifh Apple-rofe, Rofa fyhefiris 
pomifera major. The fruit as big as a fmall 
pear. 
GENUS VI. 
CURRANT. 
r'i B E S. 
rpHE cup is rounded, fwoln, and divided into five fegments. The flower confifts of five fmall, 
X roundifli petals. The fruit is rounded, juicy, and contains many feeds. 
Linnffius places this among the pmtandria imnogyiiia. 
We have four fpecies wild in our northern counties. 
The common Currant, Rihes vulgaris fruSu 
ruiro. Cultivated alfo every where in gar- 
dens. 
The fweet Currant, Riks vulgaris fru^u dul- 
ci. The leaves broader and larger. 
3. Small-fruited Currant, Rihes frau parva. 
The fruit and leaves both very fmall. 
4. The black Currant, Rihes nigrum. The 
leaves of an ill fmell. 
The jelly of this cures fore throats. 
GENUS 
