﻿way and then the contrary. Flowers in axillary bunches, all barren 

 on one plant, all fertile on another, contrary to the other species 

 of this genus which have the two kinds of flowers on the same 

 plant, and are therefore placed in the class moncecia of the Linnean 

 system. Calyx of the barren flower (fig. 1.) bell-shaped, and deeply 

 divided into 5 narrow pointed segments. Corolla (fig. 2.) of a 

 yellowish white colour, with green veins, in 5 egg-shaped, spread- 

 ing segments. Filaments 3, very short, 2 of them with 2 anthers 

 each, and one with a single anther. The Calyx and Corolla, of the 

 fertile flower (fig. 3.) resemble those of the barren one, but are 

 smaller. Germen round. Style (fig. 4.) strong, upright, the length of 

 the corolla. Stigmas 3, spreading. Berry red, smooth, fetid when 

 bruised, containing from 3 to 6 seeds. Sir J. E. Smith says, “ the 

 true Bryonia alba of Linnaeus, found on the Continent, has black 

 fruit ; being called alba from its white root, in contradistinction to 

 Tamus, the black-rooted Bryony.” 



The root of the Red-berried Bryony is purgative and acrid ; a 

 dram of it in substance, or half an ounce of it infused in wine, is 

 a full dose. Dr. Thornton, in his Family Herbal, says that as 

 an external application, he has seen great good result in cases of 

 gout, rheumatism, and paralytic affections. The root is scraped 

 with a knife, and the scrapings, which feel like soap, are to be rubbed 

 over the affected parts once a day. Immediately a sense of ting- 

 ling is felt, like the sting of nettles, which soon goes off : and this 

 mild rubefacient, Dr. Thornton informs us, he has found also do 

 good in cases of asthma and pleuretic affections, rubbed over the 

 chest. A decoction made with one pound of the fresh root is the 

 best drastic for horned cattle. It is now thrown out of our Dispen- 

 satory, but Dr. W ithering is of opinion that the active virtues of 

 this plant seem to give it a claim to more attention than is now be- 

 stowed upon it. The root, which frequently grows to a very large 

 size, is sometimes formed into the human figure, by means of the 

 continued application of a mould to the root while it is yet growing, 

 and sold for the real mandrake ( A'tropa mandra! gora) . 



Goats, according to Linnaeus’s observations, eat this plant, but 

 Horses, Cows, Sheep, and Swine refuse it. 



The Natural Order Cucu rbita'ce^e is composed of herbaceous, monopetalous, 

 dicotyledonous plants, with annual or perennial, fibrous or tuberous roots, suc- 

 culent stems, climbing by means of tendrils ; and alternate, petiolated, more or 

 less lobed leaves, which are covered with numerous asperities. Their flowers 

 are usually monoecious, rarely dioecious, or still more rarely united. Their 

 calyx is 5-toothed, sometimes obsolete. Their corolla is 5-parted, scarcely 

 distinguishable from the calyx, very cellular, with strongly marked reticulated 

 veins, sometimes fringed. Their stamens, which are 5 in number, aie either 

 distinct, or united in 3 parcels, their anthers 2-celled, strap-shaped, and bent 

 upon themselves, something like the letter S placed horizontally, with its 

 branches very close. The ovary (germen) is inferior, 1 -celled, with 3 parietal 

 placenta; ; a short style, and very thick, velvety or fringed stigmas. Tn e fruit 

 is fleshy, more or less succulent, crowned by the scar of the calyx, 1-celled, 

 with 3 parietal placent® (partitions). The seeds are flat, egg-shaped, and en- 

 veloped in an arillus, which is either juicy, or dry and membranous ; their testa 

 is coriaceous, and often thick at the margin ; their embryo flat, and destitute of 

 albumen ; their cotyledons are foliaceous and veined ; and their radicle is next 

 the hilum. 



Brydnia is the only British example of this order, but it contains several 

 exotic genera, some species of which are used in medicine ; and a few which 

 are cultivated in our gardens as articles of food, as the melon, the cucumber, 

 the gourd, the squash, or vegetable marrow, &c. 



