GARDEN BURNET:** A genus of the polyandria order, belonging to the monocota class of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 54th order, *Hifflanceae*. The male calyx is tetraphyllous; the corolla quadripartite; and there are from 30 to 40 stamens. The female calyx is tetraphyllous; the corolla quadripartite; there are two pistils; the berry is formed of the indurated tube of the corolla. The species are:

1. The languiflora, or common garden burnet, hath fibry perennial roots, crowned by a large tuft of pinnated leaves, or six or seven pair of sawed lobes, terminated by an odd one; upright angular stalks, dividing, and branching a foot and a half high, terminated by oblong spikes of purplish red flowers. This species grows wild in England, in chalky soils; but has been long cultivated as a choice salad-herb for winter and spring use, it being of a warm nature; the young leaves are the useful parts. It is perennial in root, and retains its radical leaves all the year, but the stalks are annual.

2. The hybridum, hybrid agrimony-leaved Poterium Montpelier burnet, rises with upright, taper, closely gathered stalks two feet high; pinnated odoriferous leaves of three or four pair of sawed lobes, terminated by an odd one; and the stalks terminated by long footstalks dividing into smaller, each supporting a small roundish spike of flowers. This species often proves biennial; but by cutting down some of the stalks before they flower, it will cause it to multiply at bottom, and become abiding.

3. Poterium spinosum, shrubby spiny burnet of Crete, hath a shrubby stem and branches, rising a yard high, armed with spines; small pinnated evergreen leaves, of six or seven pair of lobes, terminated by an odd one, and the branches terminated by small heads of greenish flowers.

All these species flower in June and July, succeeded by ripe seeds in Autumn. They are all naturally perennial; but the two herbaceous ones are abiding in root only; the other in root, stem, and branches; the two former are hardy, and the third requires shelter in winter. The first sort merits culture in every kitchen-garden for winter and spring salads. Some plants, both of the first and second sorts, may be introduced in the herbaceous collection in the pleasure-garden for variety. The third sort must be kept always in pots to have shelter in winter. They are all easily propagated, the first sort by seed and by parting the roots. The second sort may also be increased by seeds and slips off the root, as for the former sort. And the propagation of the third is by slips or cuttings of the branches in spring and summer, planted in pots, and placed under glases, giving shade and water; or might be forwarded more by plunging them in a hot-bed.

Burnet is of a heating, drying nature, cordial and alexipharmac; in summer, the leaves are used for cool tankards, to give the wine an agreeable flavour. The powder of the root of the first species is commended against spitting of blood, bleeding at the nose, dysenteries, and diseases attended with violent secretions. In winter and spring, the young tender leaves are used in salads. For its uses as food for cattle, see Agriculture, no. 184.

**POTHOS,** in botany; a genus of the polyandria order, belonging to the gynandria clas of plants. The spathe or sheath is a simple spadix covered; there is no calyx, but four petals, and as many stamens; the berries dispersome.

**POTION,** a liquid medicine, consisting of as much as can be drunk at one draught.

**POTIPHAR,** or **PUTIPHAR,** an officer of the court of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and general of his troops, according to our translation, Le Clerc, and the version of the vulgate; but according to the Hebrew and Septuagint, the chief of his butchers or cooks. The Hebrew text, the Septuagint, and vulgate, call him Eunuch. But it is probable it in this place means only an officer of the king’s court, for he was certainly married and had children. We have no other accounts of him but what appear in scripture; and that account is too generally known to require to be enlarged on in this place. See Genesis xxxviii. xxxix. &c.

**POTOSI,** a city of Peru in South America, situated at the bottom of a mountain of that name, in which is the richest silver mine ever discovered. To give an idea of its richness, we shall mention its produce at differen Potter, ferent times. Exclusive of what was not registered, says Abbé Raynal, and was smuggled away, the fifth part belonging to the government, from 1545 to 1564, amounted to 36,450,000 livres * per annum. But this abundance of metals soon decreased. From 1564 to 1585, the annual fifth part amounted to no more than 15,874,480 livres four sols 9. From 1585 to 1624, it amounted to 12,149,994 livres 12 sols †. From 1624 to 1633, to 6,074,997 livres six sols ‡. From this last period, the produce of these mines hath so evidently decreased, that in 1703 the fifth part, belonging to the king, did not exceed 1,364,682 livres 12 sols §. Situated in W. Long. 67° S. Lat. 22°. See the article Peru, p. 220, col. 2.