Caterpillars; a genus of dendria order, belonging to the diadelphia class of plants. There are four species, the most remarkable of which is the vermiculata, a native of Italy and Spain. It is an annual plant, with trailing herbaceous stalks, which at each joint have a spatular shaped leaf with a long foot-stalk. From the wings of the leaves come out the foot-stalks of the flowers, which sustain at the top one yellow butterfly flower, succeeded by a thick twisted pod having the size and appearance of a larger caterpillar, from whence it had this title. This has long been preserved in the gardens of this country, more on account of its odd shape than for any great beauty. It is propagated by sowing the seeds on a bed of light earth; and when the plants come up, they must be kept free from weeds and thinned, so that there may be a foot distance between them.

SORZONERA, Viper-grass; a genus of the polygamia aquatica order, belonging to the syngena class of plants.—The most remarkable species is the hippanica or common scorzonera, which is cultivated in the gardens of this country, both for culinary and medicinal purposes. The root is carrot-shaped, about the thickness of a finger, covered with a dark brown skin, is white within, and has a milky juice. The stalk rises three feet high, is smooth, branching at the top, and garnished with a few narrow leaves, whose base half embrace the stalk. The flowers are of a bright yellow colour, and terminate the stalks in scaly empalements composed of many narrow tongue-shaped hermaphrodite florets lying imbricatim over each other like the scales of fish, and are of a bright yellow colour. After these are decayed, the germen, which fits in the common empalements, turns to oblong cornered seeds, having a roundish ball of feathery down at the top. This plant is propagated by seeds; and must be carefully thinned and kept free from weeds, otherwise the plants will be weak.

The roots of scorzonera were formerly much celebrated for their alexipharmic virtues, and for throwing out the small-pox; but have now almost entirely lost their character: however, as they abound with an acrid juice they may sometimes be of use for strengthening the visceræ, and promoting the fluid secretions.