CON 
parallel to the midrib, which is not fituated exadly 
in the middle, but diverges to one fide ; the foot- 
ftalks of the flowers arife immediately from the root, 
on one fide the leaves ; thefe are naked, about five 
inches long, adorned toward their upper parts with 
pendulous white flowers, ranged on one fide the ftalk, 
which decline to one fide ; each flower Hands upon a 
ftiort feparate foot-ftalk, which are bending and 
crooked. The flowers are of the fhort bell-fhaped 
kind, their brims being reflexed, which are flightly 
cut into fix parts 5 they have fix ftamina, which are 
inferted in the petal of the flower, and are fhorter 
than the tube, and a Angle ftyle arifing from the 
germen, which is triangular, crowned by a three- 
cornered ftigma; the germen afterward becomes a 
globular berry, of a red colour when ripe, inclofing 
three roundifh feeds. It flowers in May, from whence 
it has been titled May Lily. The feeds ripen in au- 
tumn. The flowers of this fort are ufed in medicine; 
they are efteemed cephalic and cordial, fo are re- 
commended for palfies, epilepfies, and fpafms ; there 
is prepared a conferve, and a compound diftilled 
water of the flowers. This compound water is by 
the Germans titled aqua aurea, or golden water, be- 
caufe of its excellent virtues. 
There is another variety of this mentioned with nar- 
row leaves, which I fuppofe.may arife from the foil, 
or fituation, for the roots which I have taken up in 
places where they have naturally narrow leaves, when 
planted in the garden, have produced leaves as broad 
as the common fort ; but the fort with red flowers 
has conftantly continued the fame above forty years, 
without any variation. The flowers of this are fmaller, 
the Italics are redder, and the leaves of a darker green 
than thofe of the common fort ; but as I have not 
propagated this fort by feeds, I cannot be fure if it is 
a diftinct fpecies, or only a feminal variety. 
The fecond fort I received from the Alps, where it 
naturally grows-, this has retained its difference in the 
garden, where it grew in the fame foil and fituation 
with the common fort, fo I make no doubt of its 
being a diftinft fpecies. The other with a double va- 
riegated flower is fuppofed to be only a variety of 
this, therefore I have not enumerated it as a different 
fort, but the flowers are much larger, and beautifully 
variegated with purple and white. I received a plant 
of this fort from the royal garden at Paris, which has 
flowered leveral years in the Chelfea garden, but the 
roots do not increafe fo much as the common fort. 
Thefe plants require a loofe landy foil, and a flhady 
fituation they are propagated by parting of their 
roots, which multiply in great plenty. The belt time 
to tranfplant and part the roots, is in autumn. They 
fhould be planted near a foot afunder, that their roots 
may have room to fpread, for if they agree with the 
foil and fituation, they will meet and fill the ground 
in one year. If thefe roots are planted in a rich foil, 
they will fpread and multiply greatly, but will not 
be fo productive of flowers. 
The only culture which thefe plants require, is to 
keep them clean from weeds, and to tranfplant and 
feparate the roots every third or fourth year, other- 
wife they will be fo greatly matted together, as not 
to have proper nourifhment, fo the flowers will be 
fmall, and few in number. 
The third fort is a native of the Alps and Appennines; 
the ftalks of this (when growing in good ground) 
generally rife three feet high they are taper, and 
garnifhed with oblong oval leaves placed alternate, 
embracing the ftalks with their bafe ; they have fe- 
veral longitudinal veins, refembling the leaves of 
white Hellebore : the foot-ftalks of the flowers are 
produced from the wings of the leaves, which f .pport 
four or five flowers on each ; thefe flowers arc larger 
than thofe of the common fort, but their tubes are 
more contracted, and are fucceeded by pretty large 
berries, which when ripe turn of a bluifh colour ; it 
flowers in May and June, and the feeds ripen in au- 
tumn. 
The fourth fort is the broad-leaved Solomon’s Seal, 
which is faidl to grow naturally in England, but 
I doubt ours is different from that mentioned by Gaft 
par Bauhin under that title ; for in two places where 
I have found it growing, the - ftalks were much 
fhorter, the leaves were broader, and their borders 
turned inward, and this difference continues in the 
garden where it grqws in the fame foil and fituation 
with the common fort; 
The fifth fort is the common Solomon’s Seal this 
hath a flefhy white root, as large as a man’s finger, 
which multiplies in the' ground, and is full of knots, 
from whence it had the name of Polygonatum, or 
many knees. In the fpring arife feveral taper ftalks, 
which grow near two feet high, adorned with oblong 
oval leaves, placed alternate, having many longitu- 
dinal veins running parallel to the middle, and em- 
brace the ftalk with their bafe ; thefe are ranged on 
one fide of the ftalk, and on the opposite fide come 
out the foot-ftalks of the flowers, which are about 
an inch long, dividing at the top into three or four 
fmaller, each fuftaining a Angle tubulous flower, cut 
into fix parts at the brim, where it is. green, the lower 
part of the tube being white ; they have each fix 
flender ftamina, furrounding a Angle ftyle, which 
arifes from the germen, and is crowned by a blunt 
ftigma ; the germen afterward becomes a round berry, 
about the fize of Ivy berries, each inclofing three 
feeds. This flowers in May, and the feeds ripen in 
autumn, and then the ftalks decay. 
The fixth fort rifes with an upright ftalk about two 
feet high, garnifhed with long narrow leaves, which 
ftand in whorls round the ftalk; there are generally 
five of thefe placed at each joint, which are four 
inches long, and half an inch broad, fmooth, and of 
a light green. The flowers come out from the fame 
joints, ftanding upon fhort foot-ftalks, each fupport- 
ing five or fix flowers, which are fmaller, and have 
much fhorter tubes than either of the former forts ; 
they are of a dirty white, tipped with green, and 
flightly cut into fix parts at the top. It grows na- 
turally in the northern parts of Europe. 
The leventh fort grows naturally in moft parts of 
North America ; I have received plants of this from 
New England, Philadelphia, and feveral other places. 
This rifes with an upright ftalk near two feet high, 
garnifhed with oblong leaves, ending infharp points; 
they are near five inches long, and two and a half 
broad, having three large longitudinal veins, with 
feveral fmaller between, which join at both ends. 
The leaves are alternate, ftanding clofe to the ftalks, 
and are of a light green on their upper fide, but are 
paler on their under. The flowers are produced in 
branching fpikes at the extremity of the ftalks, each 
being compofed of feveral fmall loofe fpikes of ftar- 
like flowers, of a pale yellow, which fall away 
without: producing any feed. This flowers the latter 
end of May, or the beginning of June, and the ftalks 
decay in autumn ; but the root is perennial, and pro- 
pagates by offsets. 
The eighth fort is a native of the fame countries as 
the laft mentioned ; this fends up ftalks two feet high, 
garnifhed with many oblong leaves embracing the 
ftalks with their bafe. The flowers are produced in 
Angle fpikes at the top of the ftalks, which are in 
fhape and colour like thofe of the feventh ; but thefe 
are fucceeded by fmall red berries, about the fize of 
thofe of the Lily of the Valley. This fort flowers 
the beginning of June, and the berries ripen in au- 
tumn. 
All the forts of Solomon’s Seal are very hardy plants; 
they delight in a light foil and a fliady fituation, fo 
are very proper to plant in wildernefs quarters under 
tall trees, where if they are not crowded by lower 
fhrubs, they will thrive and multiply exceedingly, and 
during the furnmer feafon will make an agreeable va- 
riety, the whole appearance of the plants being very 
Angular. 
They all multiply very faft by theft creeping roots, 
eipecially-when they are planted in a proper foil and 
fituation. The beft time to tranfplant and part the 
roots 
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