Philofopbical History of Plants. 
the swells of divers Vegetables ; asbetwixt Banme, and a Limon 5 thé 
Green Leaves of Meadow-fmeet, and the green Rinds of Walzuts. Or 
betwixt thofe of Plavts and Animals, as the Smell of green and well- 
. grown Carduws, is like to that rank fcent, ab aliquorum axillis  fpi- 
ranti, Which have a more fenfible s~el/; as moft have; and which 
have lefs, asCorw, Where the green Leaf’ is the moft Fragrant Part, 
as in Musk-Cranesbill, wherethe Flower, asin Rofes; the Root, as in 
{weet Calamus. Where all the Parts have fome Odour, where fome, or 
one, only; asin Scurvy-grafs, only the Flowers, unlefs the Leaves are 
bruis'd5 and in Aram, the Pe(til only 3 for neitherthe Leaf; nor Root 
hath any syel/, unlefs cut 5 but this is {trong enough, not much unlike 
to Humane Excrements. 
29. §. But efpecially their Jaffer, which it much importeth us 
more precifely to diftinguifh 5 Firf?, by their general Kinds 5 forthe 
number, even of thefe, may be computed greater than ufually itis. 1 
remember not, that Heat and Acritude, with refpect to Taffe, are di- 
ftinguifhed; yet Arum-Root is very Pungent, without any proper 
Feat 5 and Cloves, are very Hot, without any proper Pungency. So 
the White Roots of Yarrow, have a Taste, hardly any other way per- 
ceptible, than by caufing a gentle glowing and continued Warmth upon 
the Tongue. Alfotheir Refpoxdencies oneto another; as that of Ze- 
doary, and of theleffer Cardamoms, is fomewhat like to Camphire, 
Likewife their Degrees 5 in which there is a great latitude, and may 
be extended from Oze to Tew, or with eafie diftin@tion, from Oze to 
Five: Sothe Root of Sorrel, is Bitter inthe firft; of Dock, in the 
second of Dog-Rofé, inthe third of Dandelyon,in the fourth ; of Gen- 
tian, in the fifth: obferving them, not only as they vary in feveral 
Kinds of Plants, but the feveral species of one, as in Cichory, Hawk- 
weed, Daudelyon. And then their Compofitions; for Tastes are as truly 
conjuné in one Part, as Colours: by which, the latitude is {till greater 3 
In that all Kinds of Tus#es, in all their Degrees, and in differing Num- 
bers, may be varioufly Compounded together: For the moft part, 
Two, as in the Leaves of fharp-pointed Dock, Aftringent, and Sowre 5 
in Sorrel-Roots, Aftringent and Bitter; and in Aloes, Bitter and sweet 5 
the one in the fifth, the other, in the jirs# Degrees as upon an unpre- 
judiced tryal may be perceived: and yet more evidently in the Gall 
of any Land-Animal. Sometimes three, as in Agrimony, Bitter,Rough, 
and Sowrifh; and in Agarick,Bitter,Rough, and Sweet. And fometimes, 
perhaps more. ‘The Senfible diftinétions of all which; may lye almoft 
as wide, as of Plants themfelves. Wherefore, although it may be 
thought rafhnefs, to. take away the diftintions of Hot, Cold, asoift, 
Dry, Thin, Groff, and other Qualities, in their feveral Degree,which 
the Avcients have affixed to particular Plants: yet fince they have 
done it, tomany of them, with much uncertainty ; and that, withal, 
they are, more properly, the Ejfects and Operations of Plants,than their 
Qualites 5 Practical Obfervation, may therefore approve it ufeful, to 
add thefe Senfible Ones of various Taftes, precifely diftinguithing their 
Conjugations and Degrees. Laftly, their feveral Varieties and Mutati= 
ons, with refpect to the Subject wherein they refide, fhould alfo be 
noted, As, of all Taifes found in Plants, Bitter and sowr, are moft 
common; Sweet and Salt, moftrare. Which latter;is not only per- 
ceptible in fome Sea-Plants; but upon fome others, as upon the. frefh 
D 2 Leaves 

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