BAG 
B A C C A, i. e. a berry, is a round fruit, for the 
moft part foft, and covered with a thin fldn, 
containing feeds in a pulpy fubftance; but, if 
it be harder, and covered with a thicker fleffi, 
it is called Pomum, i. e. an Apple. 
BACCHARIS, Ploughman’s Spikenard, vulgo. 
The Characters are, 
<phe flower is compofled ofl many hermaphrodite and female 
florets , which are included in one common , cylindrical, 
flcaly empalement. The florets are equal, the hermaphrodite 
and female are intermixed. The hermaphrodite florets are 
funnel-Jhaped and quinquefid ; thefle have five flender fla- 
~mina , crowned by cylindrical flummits , and an oval ger men, 
flupporting a flender flyle, crowned by a bifid ftigma. The 
germen afterward becomes a Jingle floor t feed crowned with 
a long down. The female flowers have no ftamina, but in 
ether refpedls are the fame. 
This genus of plants is ranged in the fecond fection 
of Linnaeus’s nineteenth clafs, intitled Syngenella Po- 
lygamia fuperfiua, the flowers being compofed of her- 
maphrodite and female florets, which are both fruitful. 
The Species are, 
i. Baccharis ( 'Ivafolia ) foliis lanceblatis longitudina- 
liter dentato-ferratis. Lin. Hort. Cliff. Ploughman's 
■ Spikenard with fpear-fhaped leaves, which are longitudi- 
nally indented and flawed. Senecio Africana arborelcens 
folio ferrato. Boerh. Ind. alt. i. 117. 
1. Baccharis ( Neriifolia ) foliis lanceolatis fuperne uno 
alterove denticulo ferratis. Hort. Cliff. 404. Plough- 
man’s Spikenard with fpear-Jhaped leaves flawed on the 
edges. Arbufcula foliis nerii. Boerh. Ind. 2. p. 2 63. 
3. Baccharis ( HaUmiflolia ) foliis obovatis fuperne ernar- 
ginato-crenatis. Hort. Cliff. 405. Ploughman's Spike- 
nard with oval indented leaves. Senecio Virginianus 
arborefeens, atriplicis folio. Rail Hift. 1799. 
4. Baccharis ( Fcetida ) foliis lanceolatis ferrato-dentatis, 
corymbis foliofis. Flor. Virg. 12 1. Ploughman's Spike- 
nard with fpear-Jhaped flawed leaves , and a leafy cory ra- 
ins. Conyza Americana frutefeens feetidiflima. Hort. 
Elth. tab. 89. 
The Englifh name of Ploughman’s Spikenard has 
been always applied to the Conyza major, or greater 
Flea'bane •, but flnee moft of the modern botanifts 
have applied the title of Baccharis to this genus, I have 
added the old Englifh name to it, of Ploughman’s 
Spikenard, rather than leave it without anEnglifh title. 
The firft fort was brought from the Cape of Good 
Hope, but grows naturally in Peru, and in other 
parts of America. This plant has been long pre- 
ierved by the curious in their gardens. It grows to 
the height of five or fix feet, and is a manageable 
flrrub •, it may be propagated by cuttings, which 
fliould be planted in a fhady border during any of 
the fummer months, or by feeds fown in a common 
border in the fpring of the year, Thefe feeds ripen 
well in this country ; and, if permitted to fcatter on 
the ground, the plants will come up the following 
fpring. It is pretty hardy, and will live abroad in 
mild winters, if planted in a warm fituation ; but it 
is ufuaily kept in green-houfes, and placed abroad in 
fummer •, it requires much water in warm weather. 
The fecond fort is alfo a native of Africa •, this hath 
a foft fhrubby ftalk which rifes to the height of eight 
or ten feet, putting out fide branches toward the top, 
garnifhed with fluff fpear-fhaped leaves, having a few 
indentures toward their top ; thefe are placed without 
order : the flowers are produced at the extremity of 
the branches in a clofe fpike, confifting of female and 
BAN 
hermaphrodite florets included in the common em- 
palement •, they are of an herbaceous colour, fo make 
little appearance, and are not fucceeded by feeds in 
England. 
This plant is difficult to propagate, for the cuttings 
do with great difficulty take root •, and it is very rare 
to find flioots near the root to lay down, fo that in 
Holland they lay down the entire head of young 
plants, flitting the fmaller branches in the fame 
manner as is praftifed for Carnations, laying them 
into the ground and forking each down to prevent 
their riling *, thefe when duly watered put out roots 
in one year, when they may be taken off,, and planted 
in fmall pots filled with light earth, and placed in 
the fhade till they have taken new root ; after which 
they may be placed in ' a flickered fituation in film- 
mer, but in winter nluft be kept in a green-houfe. 
The third fort is pretty common in the nurferies 
about London, where it is ufuaily called the Ground- 
fell-tree ; this is a native of Virginia and other parts 
of North America ; it grows to be a ihrub of about 
feven or eight feet high, and flowers in Ocftober; the 
flowers are white, and not very beautiful ; but the 
leaves continuing green through the year, has oc- 
cafioned this fnrub to be admitted into many curious 
gardens. 
This fort may be propagated by cuttings, which 
fliould be. planted in April or May, upon a ihady 
border, and duly watered in dry weather, until they 
have taken root ; and, at Michaelmas, they will be 
fit to tranfplant where they are to remain this will 
live in the open air, and never is injured by the cold 
of our ordinary winters ; but fevere froft will fome- 
times deftroy them. 
The fourth fort grows naturally in Carolina, and fome 
other parts of North America ; it rifes with a lig- 
neous ftalk fix or feven feet high, garnifhed with long 
fpear-fhaped leaves, which are hoary on their under 
fide, having a difagreeable feerit when handled; the 
ftalks are terminated by loofe umbels of flowers, 
which appear late in the autumn, fo are not fucceeded 
by feeds in this country. 
It may be propagated by cuttings, which fliould be 
planted toward the end of May, which if fnaded and 
duly watered will put out roots in two months; when 
they fliould be potted, that they may be fheltered 
under a frame in winter. 
BACCIFERGUS [Baccifer, Pat. ofBacca, a Berry, 
and fero, to bear] is an epithet applied to trees, 
fhrubs, or plants, that bear berries, as Briony, Lily 
of the Valley, Afparagus, Butchers Broom, Night- 
fhade, Solomon’s Seal, and many others. 
BALAUSTIA. See Punica. 
BALA USTIUM is the cup of the flower of the 
wild Pomegranate. 
BALL GTE [b«*a dll Gr .] Black Horehound. 
This is a common weed, growing on the fides of 
banks in moft parts of England, fo is feldom allowed 
a place in gardens ; there are two varieties of it, one 
with a white, and the other a purple flower. As thefe 
are not cultivated, I ftiall not trouble the reader with, 
a farther ddcription of them. 
BALM. See Melissa. 
BALSA MIN A. The female Balfamine. See Im« 
patiens. 
BALSAMIT A. See T anacetum. 
B A M I A MOSCH AT A. See Hibiscus. 
BANANA. See Musa. 
H h 
RANIS- 
