B R A 
This genus of plants is ranged in the firft feftion of 
Linnaeus’s fourth clafs, intitled Tetrandria Monogy- 
' nia, the flower having four ftamina and one fcyle. 
We have but one Species of this plant, viz. 
B r a b e jum . ( Stellatifolium. ) Hort. Cliff. AmygdalusfEthi- 
pica, frucdu holoferico. Breyn. Cent. African , or 
Ethiopian Almond. 
This tree is a native of the country about the Cape 
of Good Hope. 
In Europe it feldom grows above eight or nine feet 
high, but in its native foil it is a tree of middling 
growth ; but as it muft be kept in pots, or tubs, 
being too tender to live through the winter in the open 
air, fo we cannot exped to fee it grow to a great fize. 
It rifes with an upright ftem, which is foft, and full 
of pith within, covered with a brown bark. From 
the ftem are lent out horizontal branches at every 
joint, the lower being the longeft, k and every tier 
dimjnifhing to the top, fo as to form a fort of py- 
ramid. The branches are garniffied with leaves at 
each joint, which are from four to fiye inches long, 
and half an inch broad in the middle, of a deep green 
on their upper fide, but of a pale ruffet colour on 
their under, indented on their edges, ftanding on very 
fhort foot-ftalks. The flowers are produced toward 
the end of the flioots, coming out from between the 
leaves quite round the branches, which are of a pale 
colour, inclining to white ; thefe appear early in the 
fpring, and fall away without any fruit lucceeding 
them in this country. 
This plant is, with difficulty, propagated by layers ; 
being often two years before they make roots ftrong 
enough to be taken from the old plants ; when the 
branches are laid down, it will be a good method to 
flit them at ajoint (as is praftifed in laying Carnations) 
which will promote their taking root. 
Thefe muft have but little water given them, efpe- 
cially in winter, for as the young fhoots are chiefly 
pith within, fo they are very fubjedt to rot with much 
moifture. The beft time to make the layers is in 
April, juft as the plants are beginning to moot; the 
layers muft always be made of the former year’s 
fhoots. As this plant is very difficult to propagate, 
fo it is very fcarce in Europe, there being very few 
in the Dutch gardens at prefent. 
The plants muft have a good green-houfe in winter, 
but in fummer fhould be fet abroad in a iheltered ft- 
tuation, where they will thrive, and annually produce 
flowers in the fpring, fo will make a pretty variety 
among other exotic plants in the green-houfe. 
BRANCA URSINA. See Acanthus. 
B R A S S I C A, the Cabbage. 
The Characters are, 
The empalement is compofted of four upright , fpear-fhaped , 
finall leaves , which are convex at their bafe , and fall off. 
The flower is crofs-fhaped , having four oval plain petals , 
which fpread open , and are entire. It hath four oval 
nefarious glands , one being fituated on each fide of the 
Jhcrt ftamina and point af and one on each fids the 
empalement . It hath fix ftamina , which are awl- 
fkaped and ere 51 , two of which are oppojite , and the 
length of the empalement, the other four are longer-, thefe 
have ere 5 t pointed fummits. It hath a tapemgermen the 
length of the ftamina , having a fhort ftyle thicker than 
the germen , and crowned by an entire ftigma. The ger- 
men afterward becomes a long taper pod , depreffed on each 
fide , and is terminated by the apex of the intermediate 
partition , which divides it into two cells , filled with round 
feeds. 
This genus of plants is ranged in the fecond fetftion 
of Linnaeus’s fifteenth clafs, intitled Tetradynamia 
Siliquofa, the flowers having four long and two fhort 
ftamina, and are fucceeded by long pods. 
I fliall firft enumerate the fpecies, which are diftindt, 
and afterward mention the varieties, which are cul- 
tivated for the table ; ■ for although moft of thefe may 
be continued diftindt by proper care, without altera- 
tion ; yet as they are liable to vary when planted near 
each other for feeds, fo we muft not admit of their 
being different fpecies. To this genus Dr. Linnaeus 
6 
BRA 
has joined the Turnep, Nave#, and Rocket, whkfi 
by their generical characters, may in a fyftem of bo- 
tany, come under the fame title * s but in a treatife 
of gardening, it may occafion confufioh ; therefore 
I fhall treat of them under their former tftks, by 
which they are generally known. 
The Species are, 
1. Brassica ( Oleracea ) radice caulefcente tereti Cariiofaf 
Hort. Cliff. 338. Cabbage with a taper fteftoy ftalk. Braf- 
fica capitata alba. C. B. P. in. The common white 
Cabbage. ' , 
2. Brassica ( Napobraffica ) radice caulefcente orbicular! 
carnofo, Tojiis feftilibus. Cabbage with a round fiefhy 
ftalk , and leaves growing clofe to the ftalks. Braffica ra- 
dice napiformi. Tourn. Lift. ' R. H. 219. Turnep- 
rooted Cabbage. 
3. Brassica ( Botrytis ) radice caulefcente tfcreti car- 
nofa, fioralibus multicaulis. Cabbage with a taper fiefhy 
ftalk at the root , and many branching flower-ftalks. This 
is the Braffica Cauliflora. Cafp. Bauh. Pin. in. The / 
Cauliflower. 
4. Brassica ( Sylveftris ) radice cauleque tenth ramofo 
perenni foliis alternis marginibus incifis. Cabbage with 
a branching perennial ftalk and root , and leaves growing 
alternate , which are cut on their edges. Braffica mari- 
tima arborea five procerior ramofa. Mor. Hift. 2. p, 
208. Taller fhrubby Sea Cabbage. 
5. Brassica ( 'Violacea ) foliis lanceolato-ovatis glabris in- 
divifis dentatis. Llort. Upf. 19 1. Cabbage with entire, 
oval , fpear-fhaped, fmooth leaves , which are indented. 
6 . Brassica ( Purpurea ) foliis oblongo-cordatis amplexi- 
caulibus, integerrimis. Cabbage with oblong heart-Jhaped 
leaves embracing the ftalks, which are entire. Braffica 
campeftris perfoliata fiore purpureo. C. B. P. 112. 
7. Brassica ( Orientals ) foliis cordatis amplexicaulibus 
glabris. Lin. Sp. 931. Colewort with heart-Jhaped fmooth 
leaves which embrace the ftalk. Braffica Orientalis 
perfoliata flore albo filiqua quadrangula. Tourn. 
Cor. 16. 
8. Brassica ( Gongylodes ) radice caulefcente tereti, foliis 
inferioribus' petiolatis fuperioribus femiamplexicau- 
libus. Cabbage with a taper ftalk , the under leaves with 
foot-ftalks , and the upper half embracing the ftalk. Na- 
pus Sylveftris. C. B. P. 95. The wild Nave-tv, or Cole 
Seed. 
The Varieties of the firft fort are, 
1. Brassica (Sabauda) fabauda hyberna. Lob. Icon. The 
Savoy Cabbage , commonly called Savoy. 
2. Brassica [Rubra) capitata rubra. C. B. P. ni. The 
Red Cabbage. 
3. Brassica iPyramidalis) capitata alba pyramidalis. 
The Sugar-loaf Cabbage. 
4. Brassica (Pracox) capitata alba prascox. The early 
Cabbage. 
5. Brassica ( Peregrina ) peregrina mofchtim olens. H, 
R. Par. Foreign Mujk Cabbage. 
6 . Brassica ( Mufcovitica ) capitata alba minor Mufco- 
vitica. H. A. Small Ruffia Cabbage. 
7. Brassica ( Capitata ) capitata alba comprefta. Bberh. 
Ind. alt. 11, The large fided Cabbage. 
8. Brassica ffViridis) capitata viridis fabauda. Boerhn 
Ind. 11. The green Savoy. 
9. Brassica (JLaciniata) fimbriata. C. B. P. m. The 
Borecole. 
10. Brassica ( Selenifta ) fimbriata virefcens. Boerh. Ind. 
2. 12. Green Borecole. 
11. Brassica ( Fimbriata ) fimbriata Siberica. Boerh.' 
Ind. 2. 12. Siberian Borecole , called by ftome Scotch 
Kale. 
I he fecond fort is undoubtedly a diftindl; fpecies, for 
I have always found the feeds produce the fame, with 
this difference only, that in good ground the ftalks 
will be much larger than in poor land. 
The Varieties of the third fort are, 
1. Brassica Italica purpurea Broccoli dkfta. Juffi Purple 
Broccoli. 
2. Brassica Italica alba Broccoli dicta. Juffi White 
Broccoli. 
The fecond fort, I believe, never varies, for I have 
cultivated it many years, and have not found it to 
alter. 
