The VEGETABLE SYSTEM. 
33 
The Heads do not rife on peculiar Stalks from the ground, as in the 
three preceding kinds, but one Stalk produces a great many : each 
is placed on a (lender Footftalk, growing from the bofom of a Leaf. 
The Heads are greenifh, and the Flowers are whitifh, but nearly of 
their own colour. It flowers in Auguft. 
Nature feldom varies fo extremely in the Species of the fame Ge- 
nus, as in this Plant ; but the genuine character is fo abfolute, and fo 
wonderfully diftindt from all others, that there can be no doubt about 
the joining them. 
GENUS VII. 
SHEEP ROT. 
HYDROCOTYLE. 
Charafter of the Genus. 
The Head is rounded ; the general Cup is compofed of 
four fharp pointed Leaves. The feparate Flowers are 
raifed on fhort and flender Footftalks. 
Plate g.o . a b c. 
i. FIVE FLOWERED SHEEP ROT. 
Plate 9. Fig. 1. 
Chara&er of the Species. Hydrocotyle Vulgaris. 
The Head is compofed only of five Flowers. The Leaves 
are round and crenated ; and have their Footftalks in- 
ferted in their Centre. 
Fig. 1. a b. 
This is a perennial, native of our boggy grounds ; a very low and 
fmall, but very Angular Plant ; flowering in June. The Stalk never 
riles from the ground, but runs upon it, rooting at the Joints, and is of 
a whitifh green. The Leaves are of a fre(b, though not ftrong green ; 
their Footftalks are pale, and about an inch or little more in heighth. 
The Flowers are fmall and white ; the Heads (land upon very fhort 
Footftalks, rifing from the main Stalk, ufually together with a Leaf. 
E 
It 
