Musæum regalis societatis, or, A catalogue and description of the natural and artificial rarities belonging to the Royal Society and preserved at Gresham Colledge made by Nehemiah Grew ; whereunto is subjoyned The comparative anatomy of stomachs and guts by the same author.

CHAP. I. Of STALKS and ROOTS.

THe BULBIFEROUS GARLICK. Given by Dr. Daniel Whistler. So called, because in the place of Seed, it bears Bulbs at the top of the Stalk. Described by Bauhinus a 1.1 with the Name of Allium proliferum: al∣though Bulbiferum, be more apposite; for that every Plant which bears Seed, is proliferous; the Seed being Plantae Proles, or the Foetus of a Plant. The Bulbs (not fully described) are about twenty; in a round Head or Cluster as big as a Nutmeg; each Bulb equal to a mid∣ling Peas; consisteth of four or five shells; of which, the outmost is shrunk up to a dry Skin, on one side, of a pur∣plish colour; the inmost incloseth that little Particle which in time becomes another bulbiferous Stalk, with a Root.

The STRINGY BRITHWOORT. Aristolochia Polyr∣rhizos. So called in distinction from the other kinds with tuberous Roots. Described a 1.2 by Bauhinus. It grows in France and Spain; but this came from Virginia. Of all the Species the most Aromatick, as by tasting the Roots, although now very old, may easily be perceiv'd.

The upright PENYROYAL. Pulegium erectum, Virgi∣nianum. It hath a Leaf almost as large as that of the Pulegium montanum. Yet smells rather like Thyme. Which is all the description it admits, now wither'd.

A sort of SNAKEWEED, growing near the River in Connecticut. So called, because the Root is used for the biting of the Rattle-Snake. The Roots, especially pow∣der'd, are of a fragrant smell, and very Aromatick tast. Yet seems a different Plant from the Serpentaria of the Shops, as having a Leaf deeply jagg'd or scallop'd, as that of Ladies-Mantle.

The ROOTS of a sort of Asarum, found about Stani∣ford in the Western parts of New England. It seems the same with the Serpentaria of the Shops, i. e. the Virginian Snakeweed. A Plant of excellent use in some Feavers.

The ROOT NINZIN, corruptly called Gensing. Taken from a parcel sent over by a Chinese Physitian, and given by Dr. Andrew Clench. Described b 1.3 by Guliel. Piso. Almost of the colour of a Parsnep, with something of a yellowish hue. No bigger than a little Skirret; and of like consistence. Not stringy, as that in Piso, but divided, as often the Mandrake and some other Roots, into two Legs. Of a sweetish Tast, as Piso saith rightly. But this here is also bitter; sweet in the first or lowest degree, and bitter in the second.

This Root is not known to grow (wild) any where, but in the Kingdom of Corea. In which place, as also in Tun∣quin, China, and Japan, it is much used, and relied upon in Epilepsys, Feavers, and other both Chronick and Acute Diseases; either alone, or in composition c 1.4 as the Basis. In China, accounted so great a Cordial, that one pound hereof, is there sold for three d 1.5 pounds (weight) of Silver. Which shews, That there 'tis no Native, but only a Drug. So that if the Root or Seed be desired fresh for propaga∣tion, or other purpose, it were better sought for, where it grows wild, than from thence.

The ROOT of the Aegyptian ARUM. Described by Fabius Columna, a 1.6 with the Name of Arum Aegyptiacum: but called by Alpinus, b 1.7 Colocasia Strogulorhiza s. rotundâ Radice; not rightly, as Columna notes. Nor do either of their Descriptions well reach it.

This here (as it is often) is a double Root; each of them round, and somewhat flat. The uppermost like the dry'd Root of Arum, white and friable; but the Tast is extinct. Full and frim, in breadth or transversly, two inches; encompassed with three or four very small Circles, whereupon several Leaves did once grow: underneath, are the portions of several small dead Stalks; on the top and sides, the Buds of others to come. To this, by a short Neck between, hangs the lower; which being also the elder, is more fuzzy and shrunk up.

This Description cannot be understood, without know∣ing that, which is very observable of this, and a great number of other Plants; and whereunto, no one Botanick hath adverted: viz. That the Root is annually repaired, or renewed out of the Stalk it self. Particularly, of this Plant, that one of its two Roots doth every year perish, the other is new made; not out of the other Root before it perishes, but out of the Stalk it self. The Stalk descending by such degrees, as that part thereof which, the last year, was the lowermost above ground; this year, being sunk (or rather by the appendent strings pulled) under ground, becomes the upper Root; the next year, the under Root; and the year after, rots off; another new Root being still yearly made out of the Stalk. By which way, and not as Trees by the same numerical Root, this and other like Plants are perennial.

This Root, the Egyptians eat very greedily, both raw, boil'd, and all manner of ways; supposing them, praevalidè excitare venerem. The Roots of the common Arum boil'd, were heretofore eaten among the Greeks: and may tast as well as boil'd Onions.

A pair of large GINGER ROOTS; one of which, when green, might weigh four or five ounces. And is said to be dug up, sometimes, of fourteen Ounces. The Plant un∣certainly describ'd. Acosta compares it to that call'd La∣chryma Jobi; Lobelius, c 1.8 to a Reed; Garcias, to a Flag;

and Bauhinus pictures it accordingly with a trivalvous Cod. Piso, out of Bontius's Papers, gives two Figures, one of the Male, the other of the Female: and supposeth, that the uncertainty of Relations hereof may proceed partly from the not distinguishing betwixt them. The Stalk of the Male indeed seems to have some little likeness to a Flag. But the Seed-Cod is there neither figur'd nor describ'd.

The best Ginger grows upon the Coast of Malabar. That which is preserved with Sugar, comes, or did at least in Lin∣schotus's time, from Bengala and China.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Lib. 19. c. 3.
• a 1.2

  Lib. 32. c. 8.
• b 1.3

  Mantissae Aromat. c. 15.
• c 1.4

  Ibid.
• d 1.5

  Phil. Trans. N. 14. out of The∣venot's Voy∣ages, Tom. 3.
• a 1.6

  Pars 2. c. 1.
• b 1.7

  Rarior. Pl. lib. 2. c. 18.
• c 1.8

  Lib. de Bals.