or ROSE BAY, Nerium: A genus of the pentandria monogyne class. Its characters are these: The emplacement of the flower is permanent, and cut into five acute segments; the flower has one funnel-shaped petal, cut into five broad obtuse segments, which are oblique; it hath a nectarium, terminating the tube, which is torn into hairy segments; it hath five short awl-shaped stamens within the tube; it hath an oblong germen, which is bifid, with scarce any style, crowned by single stigmas; the germen afterwards turns to two long, taper, acute-pointed pods, filled with oblong seeds lying over each other like the scales of a fish, and crowned with down. There are four species.

These plants are generally propagated by layers in this country; for although they will take root from cuttings, yet that being an uncertain method, the other is generally preferred; and as the plants are very apt to produce suckers or shoots from their roots, those are best adapted for laying; for the old branches will not put out roots: when these are laid down, they should be slit at a joint, in the same manner as is practised in laying of carnations. There are few plants which are equal to them either to the sight or smell, for their scent is very like that of the flowers of the white thorn; and the bunches of flowers will be very large if the plants are strong.

It is called Nerium from μέρος, "humid," because it grows in humid places. The plant itself has a force which is insuperable; for its juice excites so great and violent an inflammation, as immediately to put a stop to deglutition; and if it be received into the stomach, that part is rendered incapable of retaining anything; the pernicious drug exerting its force, and purging both upwards and downwards.

Nerium in qualities resembles the apocynum. See Apocynum. But when handled and examined upon an empty stomach, in a close chamber, it causes a numbness coming by degrees, with a pain in the head; which shows that something poisonous belongs even to the smell, though there is no danger if it be received in the open air, as may be found upon trial. Antidotes against its poison are vinegar and all acids.