Flora Diaetetica: Or, History of Esculent Plants, Both Domestic and Foreign. In Which They are Accurately Described, and Reduced to Their Linnean Generic and Specific Names. With Their English annexed, and Ranged Under Eleven General Heads, viz. Roots, Shoots, Leaves, Flowers, Berries, Stone-Fruit, Apples, Legumens, Grain, Nuts, Funguses, and a Particular Account of The Manner of Using Them; Their Native Places of Growth; Their Several Varieties; and Physical Properties: Together with Whatever is Otherwise Curious, or Very Remarkable in each Species. The Whole so Methodized, as to Form a Short Introduction to the Science of Botany. First Edition.

"Flora Diaetetica: Or, History of Esculent Plants, Both Domestic and Foreign. In Which They are Accurately Described, and Reduced to Their Linnean Generic and Specific Names. With Their English annexed, and Ranged Under Eleven General Heads, viz. Roots, Shoots, Leaves, Flowers, Berries, Stone-Fruit, Apples, Legumens, Grain, Nuts, Funguses, and a Particular Account of The Manner of Using Them; Their Native Places of Growth; Their Several Varieties; and Physical Properties: Together with Whatever is Otherwise Curious, or Very Remarkable in each Species. The Whole so Methodized, as to Form a Short Introduction to the Science of Botany." First Edition by Charles Bryant.

"Flora Diaetetica: Or, History of Esculent Plants, Both Domestic and Foreign' by Charles Bryant is a fascinating early work exploring edible plants from both domestic and foreign sources. Plants are described according to their Linnaean generic and specific names, with English names provided, and organized into eleven categories including roots, shoots, leaves, flowers, berries, stone-fruit, apples, legumes, grain, nuts, and fungi. Bryant also discusses their various uses, native places of growth, varieties, and physical properties, making the work both a study of edible plants and a concise introduction to the science of botany.

First Edition. 8vo. (5" x 7.875"), xvi + 379 + 12 pp. (index). 1783, London: Printed for B. White: Quarter brown leather with tiny corners over marbled boards. Spine with five raised bands, gilt lettering to red leather in the second compartment framed by a gilt rule, and an old decorative paper title/author label affixed to the third compartment.

The binding has edgewear, with bumped and rubbed corners worn through to the boards. Head and foot of spine are chipped with loss. Both joints are tender and the hinges are split with early repairs, although the boards remain securely affixed. Board edges are bumped, with scuffs, rubbing, and soiling.

An armorial bookplate of William Bullock Webster is affixed to the front pastedown, with an old ink signature directly above. Internally clean and complete, with no evidence of any missing pages.

A particularly interesting First Edition for collectors of early botany, edible plants, food history, and Linnaean classification.