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Show The Hijlory of P L A N T S. MENISP·ERMUM. T HE calyx is a deciduous perianthiutn, compofed of fix ovate-oblong leaves, ereB:o-patent, and of the length of the corolla: the corolla confifi:s of fix .ovateoblong, obtufe, hollow petals, ereB:o-patent, as the leaves of the cup : the fi:amma are fix very (hort filaments; the antherre are fimple; and fhor.ter than the corolla : the germina are three, fuboval, and terminate in as ma~y patenti-refle~ fi yles, of the length of the corolla ; the fiigmata are obtufe and emarg~nat.ed : the frutt IS compofe~ of three oval berries, each containing a fingle cell, and m It a large, fingle, lunulated, com-preffed feed. ' . This is the general number of the parts of fruCtificatiOn, but they vary extreamly in this genus. Menifpermum Joliis pelta~is angulojis. The peltated and angular-leaved Menifpermum. ~trgtntan :Jibp. The root is large, woody, and divaricated; the ~em ~s woody, 1:ound, and £lender, and fupports itfelf by means of trees and bu{hes; m th1s manner It grows to a great height : the leaves fiand fingly on long pedicles, inferted not at the edge, but near the center; they are oblong, angulated, and f?mewhat refemble thofe of the common g1:eat convolvulus: the flower is fmall; the fruit compofed of three moderately large bernes. It is frequent in North America. Plukenet calls it, Hedera monophyllos convolvuli foliis Virginiana. SAURURUS. T HE calyx is a permanent perianthium, formed of a fingle leaf, oblong, co.: loured, and lateral ; there is no corolla : the fl;amina are fix long, capillary filaments, three on each fide, and placed oppoftte : the anthera~ are oblong and ereCt; the germen is of ari oval' figure, and formed of three .lobes; there is no fiyle: the fiigm ata are three, obtufe and permanent: the fruit is an oval berry, with a fingle cell ; the feed is fingle and oval. Saururus Joliis cordatis petiolatis, fpicis folitariis recurvis. I! The cordated, petiolated-leaved S,aururtts, with . Jingle crooked /pikes. ' ~tatt::;ltabtil JLt~ ;arn' g 3Catl. The root is fpreading and whiti.lh; the ftem is ridged, folid, and confiderably thick, but not robufi enough to fupport itfelf ereCt: the leaves !land fingly at the joints on pe~ ·dicles of three quarters of an inch long; they ate three inches, or more, in length, near two and a half in diameter, and fomewhat refembte thofe of our black bryony, being cordated at the bafe, and terminating in a point : The fpikes are flender, five or fix inches long, and compofed of very fmall flowers of a yellow'fh colour; they grow fingly, oppofite to the leaves. It is a native of Virginia and Maryland. Ray calls it, Saunirus Marilandicus folio cordata ; Plukenet, Serpentaria repens folio bryonire nigrre. 2. Saururus foliis ternatis jpicis terminatricibus. The ternate-leaved, termi~atory-fpiked Saururus. 3/:ttfoltate JLt~ ;atn's '3tntl. The root is compofed of a number of fibres, long~ complicated, and ramofe; the fta.\k is firiated, hairy, firm, and hard, but does not fupport itfelf ereCt, but climbs on trees in the manner of our ivy. The leaves fiand three at a joint; they are of ~n oval figure, half an inch long, and nearly as much in diameter, a little hairy, efp~~lally about the edges, and marked with three large, longitudinal ribs. The extrernmes of the branches are terminated by long fpikes of flowers, three inches in length, and f~arce a .fixth of an inch in diameter, much refembling the tail of a rat. It 1s a nattve of Jamaica. Plumier calls itJ Saururus hederaceus triphyllus. The The Hi)Jory of P L A N T S. 393 The other fpecies to be mentioned are, 1. The round-leaved, creeping Saul't.lrus. 2 • The ivy-leaved Saururus, with fpotted fialks. 3· The. fhort-fruited, pli\Qt~ipleaved Saururus. 4· The little, procumbent Saururus, with thick, heart-falhioned leaves. 5· The great, cordated-leaved, tree Saururus, called St Maria leaves. 6. The low Saururus, with a fleiliy, pointed leaf. 7· The grert, arbor~fcent Saururus, with round, umbilicated leaves. 8. The pendulous-fpiked Saururus. 9· The .lhort-fpiked, Surinam Saururus. · Clafs the Sixth. Order the fourth. HE X ANDRIA TETRA G Y'N I Pl.. ' I I' P !ants which have fix flamina and 011ly four }lyles in the flower. Of this order there is only one known genus. PET IV E RIA. T HE calyx is a permanent perianthium, compofed of four ereCt, linear, obtufe, equal leaves: there is no corolla; but the calyx, being coloured, has much the appearance of one. The fiamina are fix ereCt, equal, fubulated filaments, of the length of the cup ; the antherre are fimple : the germen is compreffed and oblong; the fiyles are four in number, fubulated, and placed in a right line: the fiigmata are obtufe and permanent : there is no pericarpium but the crufi of the feed : the feed is oblong, fingle, narrowefi at the bottom, broader at the top, and flatted, emarginated, and armed with the four fiyles, become rigid and acute, and turned back; the intermediate two are longefi. It is an American defcribed by Plumier. Clafs the Sixth. Order the Fifth. H E X A N D R I A P 0 L Y G Y N I A. P !ants which have in every flower fix jlamina and a great number of jlyles. 1 ; • , · Of this order a!fo there is only one known genus. ALI s ·M A . . T HERE are various, trifoliate,· acute involucra: the perianthium is compofed of three oval, hollow, permanent leaves : the corolla coniifis of three large, r9und~ifh, plane, and very patent petals : the /lamina are fix fubulated filaments, fhorter than the corolla; the antherre are roundi0.1: the germina are numerous; the fiyles are fimple; the fiigmata are obtufe : the fruit confi!l:s of capfules arranged together, in a roundi0.1 or trigonal form; the feeds are fingle and fmall. This genus comprehends the Damafonium of Tournefort, and the Alifma of ;Dillenius. In the Damafonium, Tournefort mentions fix large, diflinet, acuminated capfules; in the Alifma, Dillenius mentions numerous fmall and obtufe ones. I <15ttat cratattrs· i 'l~lantarn. IJ 1 'F-' . dJ I. Al!fma jruElu obtufo, trigona The obtufe, trigonal-fruited Alifma. The root is compofed of a great number of thick, whitilb fibrd. 'rheL· rafli~~~"' leaves fiand on pedicles, three or four inches long; they are of a fuboval, acum1-: nated figure, three inches long, ~nd two broad, fmooth, of a pale green, and .even at the edges : the fi:alk grows to t'wo or three feet high ; it is round, thic.k, fingJe, and fends off on every fide a multitude of branches ; they are fmall, an<\ are divided1 at their extremities into numerous others, and on thefe !l:and the flowers, wHich are moderately large, and of a reddilh white. sH The |