The VEGETABLE SYSTEM. 
37 
fait all Species, becaufe it is not taken from the fhape of the Leaf ; 
this is Sheep-Rot. The fhepherds have long thought it gives that 
terrible difeafe, the rot, to their fheep, becaufe they ufually fall into it 
when they are kept in paflures where it grows ; but the fa< 5 t may be 
true, though owing to another caufe : this Plant never grows but in 
wet ground ; and wet ground will give the rot, whether this grows 
there or no. They called it White-Rot, to didinguifh it from Sun- 
Dew, which is ano her boggy Plant, accufed of the fame mifchief. As 
we have no reafon for the. epithet in one cafe, we may drop it in the 
other. 
GENUS VIII. 
HEALTH WORT. 
P A N A X. 
Generic Chara&er. 
The Head is broad and flat ; the general Cup is fhort, and 
compofed of narrow fharp pointed Leaves ; the feparate 
Flowers are raifed upon long Footftalks, and are com- 
pofed each of five Petals, which turn back at the End. 
Plate 12. o. a b c. 
This is the character of the Seed-bearing or Female Plants ; there 
are, befide thefe, Male Plants of the fame Species, whofe Head is 
globular. 
i. FIVE LEAVED HEALTHWORT. 
Plate 12 . Fig. i. ginseng. 
Character of the Species. Panax quinquefotium. 
The Leaves ftand by threes; and each divifion is into five. 
Fig. X. a b. 
This is a perennial, native of Tartary ; and of Canada, Virginia, and 
other places in North America ; a Plant of wonderful eftimation in 
many parts of the world. It grows .to a foot or mere in heighfh. 
The Stalk is ting’d with crimfon ; the Leaves are of a frefh and bright 
green ; the Flowers are white ; after thefe come Berries of a Kidney-like 
fliape. 
