48 The VEGETABLE SYSTE M. 
of native horriblenefs, not found in any other Plant. It lies upon the 
ground, unlefs that in fome circumftances a part of its rough and 
thick black Root, thrufts itfelf up above the furface ; and bears up the 
reft of the Plant like a Cabbage on its rooty Stem. 
The Leaves are of a deep and very ftrong green j their Edges only 
have a yellowifh tinge ; and the ftarry Thorns which grow upon their 
furface, are alfo yellow, bright, arid fhining. The Flowers are white, 
and the Cup which holds them is of a reddilh green, and has a pe- 
culiar rednefs in the Thorns. 
Although there are diftinefk male Plants of the Bearweed ; there are 
alfo male Flowers in the fame general Cup with the others on thefe 
Plants. The male Flowers occupy the Difk of the Cup j the female 
are only four ; they ftand at the verge at a diftance from one another j 
and in the bafe, as it were, of the Spine that terminates each divifion. 
We owe the firft knowledge of this lingular Plant to Plukenet; but 
it is to Burman we are indebted for its characters. 
The Cup of the Dorftenia will appear lefs wonderful, when we 
have feen that of this Plant ; which is nearly as much a Placenta. 
GENUS V. 
THORNWEED. 
ECHINOPHORA. 
Character of the Genus. 
T he Head is flat, and compofed of feveral Flowers without 
Footftalks. The general Cup is longer than the 
Flowers ; it is formed of one piece oblong, {lender at 
the bottom, expanded at the Top, and {lightly cut there 
into fix irregular parts. 
Plate 21. o. a b c. 
i. FLESHY 
