34 
The VEGETABLE SYSTEM. 
It has been a cuftom to range this with the Umbelliferous Plants, 
but its very afpedt might have Ihewn with how much violence to 
Nature. Here are no fecond Involucrum, nor divided Footflalks ; 
and we have fhewn there is no Simple Umbel. The Plant is a true 
Aggregate. If the Segments of the Cup were united into one Body, and 
the Flowers drawn down into it, you would have a Dorflenia. 
2. MANY FLOWERED SHEEP ROT. 
Plate 9. Pig. 2. 
Chara&er of the Species. Hydrocotyle umbellata. 
The Head is compofed of a great many Flowers. The 
Leaves are wav’d at their Edge ; and have the Footftalk 
fixed in the Centre. 
Fig. 2. a b. 
This is a perennial, native of Penfylvania; a Bog Plant as ours, and 
very like it in the general afpedl. It flowers in June. The Leaves are 
of a fine frefii green, and are placed on long Footflalks j the Flowers 
arc fmall and white. 
One would imagine Linnasus had excepted againfl the other Species 
of this Genus, as not belongingto the Umbelliferous Plants, by giving 
the word Umbellata, as the trivial name of this : but whatever excep- 
tion (and there is fuflicient) lies againfl them, is good againfl this 
alfo. 
3. KIDNEY LEAV’D SHEEP ROT. 
Plate 10. Fig. 1. 
Clnra&er of the Species. Hydrocotyle Americana. 
The Leaves are roundifli, /lightly lobated; and have a flic 
in the Front, which reaches quite to the Centre. 
Fig. r. a b. 
This is a perennial, native of North America, and flowers in June. 
It creeps upon the ground, with pale, flender Stalks, irregularly ex- 
tending themfelves every way. The Roots are little Tufts of flight 
and fhort white Fibres at the Joints, from which the Leaves and 
P'lowers rife alfo. The Leaves are of a delicate, but not flrong green 
on 
