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Show Th 318 BRITISH HERBAL. Th BRITISH Delay aS "1-OUN Sepr-k I -E 5 i. al, FOREIGN Cretick Bryony. Natives of BRITAIN. and veined and fpotted with white. Theroot is long and flender. The ftalks are numerous, weak, trailing, and, when fupported, of a great length. Goer aN Us The leaves are large, and divided in an ele- I. WHITE BRYONY. Cn BURY ON GD ez. mina or threads, two of which have double buttons: and in the female there is a ftyle fromthe rudiment ofthe fruit, which is divided into three parts at the top. a Linnzus places this among the monecia /yngene/ia, for the fake of thefe particularities, far removing it from the other berry-bearing plants, as we have obferved. This is an inftance, that although the diftribution of the internal or fmall parts of flowers be very worthy notice, it is not a foundation for claffical diftinétions. DIVISION, L Baas kW SU x. Common White Bryony. Bryonia alba. PCYE,. 7 The root is waftly large, and of a dutky whitith colour. The ftalks are numerous, weak, and trailing : they are rough to the touch, and of a pale green: they would naturally lie on the ground ; but, as the plant commonly grows in hedges, they are fupported, and will run to twelvefeet in length, fending out numerous fpiral tendrils, by which they lay hold of every thing they comenear. Theleaves are large, and ofa beautiful fhape : they are broad, cornered, and in fome degreelike thofe of the vine, but longer pointed, and of a greyith green. The flowers are numerous, fmall, and of a greenifh white: they are placed on fhort footftalks, two, three, or more, on each; and thefe rife from the bofoms ofthe leaves, The berries are red when ripe, and contain a few large, oval feeds, which grow to the rind. It is common in hedges. It flowers in July, and the berries ripen in Auguit. C. Bauhine calls it Bryonia afpera feu alba baccis rubris. Others, Bryonia alba. Tt is poffefied of great virtues ; but is violent in its operations, if not well managed, It is excellent againft obftru@ions of the vifcera, andparticularly in uterine diforder s : it promotes the menfes, and affifts in bringing on delivery. It is for this purpofe belt given in very {mall dofes of the Juice expre fied with white wine. The compound water called after its name, and by the vulgar Ayfterick water , has alfo thefe virtues, butin alefs degree. SP Cle, S. N it may be fo called, without petals. The cup is formedof 4 into fix fegments, of an oval form, but pointed, and difplayed The fruit is a berry, of an oval form, divided within into two feeds. There are in this genus male and female plants. plants, and the threads in the male fix in number. and writes it tamus. DNL Sy FS OUT, Bryonia alba, baccis nigris. The root is large, like that of the common kind. The ftalks are numerous, weak, and climbing ; and they are very roughto the touch. The leaves are large, broad, fhort, and of a dufky green, The flowers are whitith ; and the berries, when ripe, not red, as in the other, but black. It is not a variety of the former, but a diftin& fpecies: the feeds of one will not produce the other. Tt is found in hedges in fome parts of the kingdom commonenough, as about Cambridg The berries are ripe in Auguft. C. Bauhine calls it Bryonia alba baccis nigriss a name copied by moft others, Its virtues are the fame with thofe of the former. * DIVI- The flowersdiffer in this, that in the male there Heis difpleafed with the received name tamnus, BRET Ys Ho 1, CommonBlack Bryony. Tamnus vulgaris. Po 4 Gre It kills worms in the inteftines ; and in this re- 2. White Bryony with black berries. Il. ate within the cup fix fhort filaments or threads, with their buttons; and in the female there is the embryo-fruit, plainly diftinguifhable under the flower, Linneus places this among the diwcia bexandria; the male and female flowers being on feparate is good in afthmas, lin long ago experienced and publifhed ; but it has not been enough regarded. Forthis purpofe the beft methodof giving it, is to prefs out the Juice, and let it ftand to fubfide; then pouring off the clear part, the fettlings are to be dried. A flight infufion ofit is ufeful in hyfterick cafes, and externally it is a very good addition to cataplafms for hard and painful fwellings, Sara TAMNUS. ae is in this genus a flower, if fingle piece, divided at the edge in an expanded manner at the points. three cells; in each of which there are The juice, in a fomewhat larger dofe, has been given with fuccefs againft dropfies; and a fyrup madeof it, with honey and little vinegar, fpect is fuperior to moft medicines. This Bartho- The flowers are large, and they are placed on long footftalks. The berries are red. It is a native of Crete, and flowers in June. C. Bauhine calls it Bryonia Cretica maculata. BLACK BRYONY. HE flower is compofed of a fingle petal, hollowedlike a bell, and divided into five fegments, of an oval form, at therim. The cup is formed of a fingle piece, hollowed like the flower, and di. vided alfo into five fegments; which are narrow, and fharp-pointed. Thefruit is a berry, ofa fomewhat oval form. There are diftinét male and female flowers on the plant; but they agreein thefe charaéters. The difpofition of the internal part only varies: in the male flowers there are three fia SPECI#£sg, gant manner: they ate rough, of a pale green 3 Bryonia foliis palmatis, hole of which one or more fpecies are naturally wild in this country, HERBAL, Theroot is very large, long, and thick, black onthe outfide, white within, and full of a white juice. The ftalks are nutnerous, long, flender, and green: they climb among butfhes, and by that means grow to ten feet or more in length. The leaves are large and beautiful: they are SP Be Fes, The root is a very powerful remedy in nephri¢ tick cafes, though not known in the fhops, or ufed in the modern practice. The beft method of giving it is in the juice prefled out, when it has been bruifed, with white wine. This works powerfully by urine, brings away gravel, and cleanfes the paffages in a furprifing manner. placed on long footftalks, and are of a heart-fa- It is alfo excellent againft obftruétions of the menfes, taken in the fame way, but in fmaller dofes, for a continuance oftime. fhioned fhape, fharp-pointed, and of a fhining deep green. The flowers are greenifh, and are placed fevetal together on long footftalks, each having alfo its feparate pedicle, The berries are large, and, when ripe, of a beautiful red. It is common in hedges, and the berries are A fyrup made of it with honey is ferviceable in afthmas, and all obftruGtions of the breaft. The young fhoots, eaten in the manner of afparagus, are very pleafant, and work powerfully by urine. The bruifed root, applied externally, has done fervice in paralytick cafes. This | write from ex- Tipe in Auguft, perience ; nor was it unknown ofthe plant to the C. Bauhinecalls it Bryonia Levis five nigra racemofa, Others, Bryonia nigra, and Tamnus vul- earlier writers; though it has unhappily of later time been difufed. farts. DIVISiIO.N IE FOREIGN Black Bryony withtrifid leaves. Tamnus folio trifido. ; The root is long, thick, and full of a tharp Juice, Theftalks are numerous and weak; but they fupport themfelves by climbing. The leaves are large, and of a frefh green: SPECIES, they are broad, fhort, and divided into three parts. Their colouris a deep, dead green. The flowers are {mall and greenith. The berries are large and red. It is a native of the Greek iflands, and flowers in July. Tournefort calls it Tamuus Cretica trifidofolio. |