86 
The VEGETABLE SYSTEM. 
6. PALMA TED ERYNGO. 
Plate 5 1, Fig. i. 
Character of the Species. Eryngium Tricufpidatum. 
The radical Leaves are heart-fhap’d ; and wav’d along the 
edges. Thofe on the Stalk are palmated and curl’d. 
Fig. I. a b. 
This is a perennial, native of North America; a tall and hand- 
fotne Plant, flowering in Auguft. The Stalk is two feet and a half 
high, firm, tough, upright, and, toward the top, fpreads out into a 
great many Branches. It is of a pale, greyifh green, and fmooth on 
the furface, naturally fhining. The Leaves are of a pale, greyifh green, 
with fome little tinge of yellowifh ; the Flowers are nearly white. 
Those who fearch for marks of diftinftion among the more minute 
and inconfpicuous, or at leaft unobvious parts of Plants, may find one 
in the Head of this Eryngo ; by which, if they pleafe, they may fe- 
parate it from the reft, and make of it a new Genus. The Heads of 
all the Plants of this kind, have a kind of chaffy Films placed between 
the Flowers. Thofe in the generality are Ample, but in this Species they 
terminate in three points. 
It is not of any importance to the Plant, or to its generic Character, 
whether there were any of thefe Chaffs or not among the Flowers, as 
has been obferved in fpeaking of the Stoebe : much lefs need we in that 
character regard their form. I do not know that any has yet feparated 
this from the Eryngo’s on that occafion ; for the Plant is little known ; 
I only name the impropriety of fuch feparations, of which we have 
inftances on lefs caufes even than this; and would have the Student 
keep always in mind, that little regard is to be (hewn to little parts j 
and that, when other things are equal, the moft confpicuous marks are 
always beft. 
7. FORKED ERYNGO. 
Plate 52. Fig. 1. 
Charafler of the Species. Eryngium pufillum. 
The Stalk fplits forkwife into two at the Head ; the Leaves 
are lanc’d and ferrated. 
Fig. 1 . a b c. 
This is a perennial, native of Spain and Italy; a low Plant, of no 
great beauty; flowering in July and Auguft. The Stalk is round, tough, 
of 
