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HORTI/sTjAMAICENSia

OB. A

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(ACCORDING TO THE LiNNEAN SYSTEM)

AND AtT

ACCOUNT OF THE VIKTUES,,&G.

OP ITS

INDIGENOUS PLANTS HITHERTO KNOWN,

AS ALSO OF THE MOST USEFUL EXOTICS.
COMPILED FROM THE BEST AUTHORITIES, AND ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGEDj,

IN "fWi^VpllJRlES,

iNEVV YORK

BOTANICAL

OARDisN

Bij JOHN L UN'k'N.

^;

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^'•::i;:^-kl^^-"

JAMAICA ,

TRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE ^T. JAGO DE L\ VEGA GAZEfTE.

1814.

i-'.i

.:)

*'.J

TO THE SUBSCFiIBEri8.-

On the conclusiou 6f a work which lias l>een attended with verv cop>-
siderable labour and expence, the compiler would be ^^'antillg• io
that respect due to the tew gentlemen \^ho hav^ patronised it, if he
failed to rtturn to them his sincere thanks. Although, at the com-
mencement, dnd on the cover of every number, he solicited assistance
and information, very lew indeed have been the contributions received.
The greatest assistance afforded has been the perusal of the manu-
scripts of the late Mr Anthony Hobinson, an; I several papers of the-
late Dr. Broughton and others, most obligingly communicatcf* to him
by Alexander Aikman^ I'sq. one of the representatives in assembly
for the parish ot St. George, iu v.'^hose posaessiou they now are. From
these papers several valuable extracts have been made:^ — In addition to
which, although the original proposals only promised a compilation,
many new oi)senations atid descriptiotis will be found interspersetl, as-
they occurred to the compiler in the course of" his vaious reseaiches.
Upon the wh(jle, lie trusts, . h nvever imperfeet the attempt, that it^
will be found the most complete system of Jamaica botany extant.
Had encoufagement oHeredy it was the comjnler's intention not only
to have fiirnished plates, but to have extended the work to the animal
and mineral kmgdiims of Jamaica; and tlius. have formed an entire
natural history of the island, on the same plan. He has. however^,
performed, though at a loss, all he at first promised, and must leave
it to others, blessed with more leisure, or more able and indefatigable
than himself, to perfect the plan, and to correct the many errors and*
deficiencies he iscoascioi.s will be luund in every part ol what hcliae:-
aeconiplishedo

NEW YORK

BOTANiCAL

QARDfeN

PREFACE.

liiE many advantages which would result from a work of this na-
ture, properly executed, and supported by the assistance and contri-
butions of the well-informed part of the conuTiunity, must be so obvi-
ous as to require no observation. The ccnipiler has onl}^ to i egret,
that his abilities, and his opportuaities of acquiring knowledge on the
subject, are not adequate to the task of rendering it perfect: a task,
indeed, hardly to be perlbrmed by au individual.

The principal motive wlrlch induced to this collection was a consi-
deration of the great scarcity of almost every valuable work which
treated of the plants of Jamaica, and the little probability ot their re-
publication. Possessed of these books, as well as many others on the
science of botany, which he had studied as an amusement, a:*d hav-
ing occasionally leisure time, the compiler thought he could not bet-
ter employ such advantages, than by collecting together the observa-
tions of different authors on each particular plant, and comparing

them.

ij. PREFACE.

them, as far as in Iiis power, with the plant itself. In this way he
has gathered and arranged a considerable mass of materials, of which
the present humble specimen is offered, with ail due delerence, for
the opinion of tlie public. Should that opinion jjrove, lortunatelv,
favourable the publication will be continued, or, if otherwise, relin-
quished; and it may not, perhaps, be thought improper to state, in
this place, the general nature of the work, as now prejiared lor the
press, and the authors principally quoted from, that the public expec-
tation may not be dissappointed.

It claims no other merit than that of a careful compilation froni
Barham, Sloane, Browne, Long, Grainger, Wright, Swartz, the
Encyclopedia Britannica, Chambers's Cyclopedia, Marty n's Miller'3
Gardeners' Dictionary, (a work of inestiirxable \alue, and liom which
the greatest assistance has been derived in the scientific part), besides
many other valuable books, as, in its progress, the discerning reader
will easily perceive.

As Barhamhas treated of, and pointed out, more of the virtues of
the plants of this island than any other writer, and as the very limited
edition which was printed of his Hortus Americanus has long ago
been exhausted, the whole of that book will be iound interspersed
throughout this work. Dr. Barham came to this island earlv in tiie
last century, was a member in asiembly about the year 1731, and
returned to England in the year- 1740, He was a man of great pro-
bity, an able physician,, and a skilful naturalist. . He collected and
arranged a number of the plants of" Jamaica, which he presented to
Sir Hans Sloane, who acknowledges his obligations to him in several
parts of his Natural History, and made some communications to tha

ilovd

PREFACE; iu

Fvoval Society: he also published a Treatise on the Siik Worm, in the
year 1719, aad, in the same year, a Practical Kitchen Gardener, in two
octavo volumes, made its appearance, with the name of Barham as the
author, whxh most probably was his composition. Excepting some cx-
ti-acts published by Sloane and Long, no part of his Ilortus Americanus
was printed until the year 1794, the manuscript of which was rescued
from d-jstriiction bv a tbrtunate accident ; having, it is asserted, been
thrown, into an out-house, wliere it was discovered by a gentleman
uho kuf w how to estimate its value. A more complete copy is, in-
deed, mentioned to be in the possession of a gentleman in the parish
of St. Ann, which, if so, it is to be hoped he will no longer withhold
fi-omthe public eye. The compiler wouid rejoice in the opportunity
of enriching this publication by any extracts he might be fkvoured
with from so valuable a manuscript.

The celebrated naturalist. Sir Hans Sloane, arrived in this island
in December, 1687, in quality of physician to his grace the Duke of
Albemarle; but, owing to the death of his grace, his stay here was
onlv fifteen months; yet, in that short space of time, it has been
justly observed, he converted his minutes into hours, and brought to-
gether such a [jrodigious number of plants as astonished the learned
in Europe. These plants formed the materials for the greatest part
of his Natural History of Jamaica, in two folio volumes, the first of
Avliich was published in the year 1707, and the second not till eight-
een years altenvards.

From the preface of Dr. Patrick Browne we understand that he
resided several years in this island, during which time he practised as
a physician, and that all his leisure hours had been employed in col-
lecting

IV' r Pv E F A C E^

k'cting materiols for liis Civil and Natural History of Jamaica. IIg
was an expert botanist, contemporary witli tiie great Liuneus, witii
whom he corresponded, who is one of the subscribers to his book^
and who adopted most of iiis classifications of plants into his system.
His elegant work contains a more correct and scientific description,
of the indigenous plants of this isUiid, than any other book, previ-
ously published.

The very valuable observations of Dr. William Wright, formerly
surgeon-general ol this island, on its medicinal plants, were first and.
principaliy published in the London iMedieal Journal, and some have,
been gleaned from his other publications, as well astrom his notes u-
pon Grainger, who has likewise afforded some useiul information.
The Synopsis of Mc- Long has also furnished many extracts which
are of considerable value.

The learned and indefatigable professor Olob Swartz, lately libra-.-
rian to the King of Sweden, travelled through most of the West-In-
dia islands, in pursuit of botanical knowledge, between the years
1783 and 1787, and has published three able ^vorks, frequently re-
ferred to, containing an account of the discoveries and improvements
he made in his favourite science. In these he has very coireetly de-
scribed and arranged a vast number of the indigenous plants cf this,
and the other islands, which have been appi'oved, and his arrange-
ments adopted, by the most eminent modern botanists. ,

In quoting from the before-mentioned or other authors, care has
been taken to avoid repetition as much as possible, and where the.
descriptions are nearly the same the best has been preferred. Refer-
ences

P R E F A C- E, %

wntes are made, at the foot of each article, to every plant of the same'
genus, or family, v.hich may be described in the progress of the
work, as well as to the page and the plate of cv^vy autaority that
inay be quoted.

The popular mode of alphabetical arrangement, under familiar
names, has" been adopted, as the most agreeable to readers in general ;;,
but, for the benefit of the more scientific, a c!a!>sical table will be
given, at the conclusion of the work, according to tbe Linnean sys-
tem, M'hich has been strictly adhered to, with references to the page.
in wh.ch each j)]ant is described. Systematic ibrms certainly yield
^reat advantages to the professional student, but they only tend to
confuse and embarrass the general reader, though it was as easv, per-
iiaps more so, to have thrown the whole under a classical rather tnaa
aa alphabetical. arrangenjeat» It is very diihcult, in a work ot this
nature, to steer a course that will please all. The few learned, who
may be judges of the science, will find fault with the least deviation
from system; , others will be inclined to condemn the work, bee luse
too much of it, is occupied by scientific and, to them, unintelligible
terms. In attempting to |)lease both, it may so hajjpen that neither
will be satisfied, and it is jwobable that a strictly popular form was the
most likely to succeed, lie this as it may, aii attempt has been made
Jo uuite both objects. .

Aware of the great difficulty of such an undertaking, so general
in its plan, so uncerLain in many of its minutia?, the compiler feels,
that, with all the attention in liis power, mistakes will be committed;
he, nevertheless, trusts to the liberality of the public for indulgence,
to the better iriibnncd for correction ; and let it be reiiieiiibered, that

his

VJ

PREFACE.

his main o1»jec!: is to rouse attention to so interesting a sul ject, an3
thereby create a spirit ot enquiry. To attain this purpose, no mode
ot" jiuhlication can be better calculated than that ot distinct numbers
at distant intervals; and, to afford every opportunity of" communicar
tion, either for improvem.ent or correction, the articles to be contain-
ed in each succeeding number, vviih occasional oueries, will be enu-
merated on the cover of the one previously published.

Should the attempt, thus ushered before the public, be \vell sup
ported, it is not easy to antiei|)ate the benefical consequences that
mav arise therefrom; and it is presumed that no one will be so selfish
as to conceal fi'om his fellow-creatures any useful information, con-
( erniu';? the plants of this island, while so ready a channel is open
for its conveyance. No o!)ject can be more laudable than that of
contributing towards the improvement of the human understanding,
or of extending the common stock of useful knowledge, and thereby
iucreaiing the general comforts ot mankind.

Of all the branches of science none is of more importance or of
more universal utility, none more pleasing to the student, than bota-
ny-,* and none where the materials of study are so easily procured ;

for

, * 'Mr. Smilh, the prcsidont of the Linnrnn Society, very justly observes, in his Introduction to
Botany, that to medical grnlleimn a knowledge ot that scirnce is indisiKnsaldy mcissary, and
siiould form an essential part of tluir cducalion. The loUowing relation, <Mracied Ironi Ciirlis'
Lectures on Botany, evinces the necessity, and cannot be too gm. rally known; it was conuuu-
nicaled to Mr. Curtis, by Mr. Lowe, suryrijn at Preston, in the foUov. iu^ woids:

" On Thursday the 3lh ot June. Mr. I'r. ckletoii, a healihy strong man, about thirty-five years

•of a?e, a publican in the town, eat a handful of fools pai-sley, with nearly the same qunntity of

young leltuce, about one o'clock at noon ; in about ten minutes he was all' cted with a [>ain and

iicirdness in his stomach and bowels, atieuded with a rumbling. lie walked out into the fielils,

but

PREFACE.

Vtt

for the delightful verdure of the fields is continually before our eyes,
continually inviting the researches of the curious naturalist, —

Who, when young Spring protrudes the bursting gems,
Marks the first bud, and sucks the healthful galo
Into his freshen'd soul ; her genial hours
He full enjoys ; and not a beauty blows.

And not an op'ning blossom breathes, in vain. ~''

Thomson;

There is not a planter in the island but has some leisure time to cul-
tivate this agreeable study, and his very hours of business will att .rd

hiin

tut was feizcd with siicli langu'ir, wraiitiPss, nnd weakness, tluif it was with difficulty lie sud-
jjortoil liiniit'lf lill he got Iioiik' ; he uas much troubled with giddiuess in his luad, his vision w:is
confused, iind soiiu'tinns objects appraied double : at sev< n o'clock he took an emetic, wiiich
brouj;ht up, as he supposes, all ihu tools paisley he had eaten, but not any of the lettuce ; this
considerably relieved him iroin the uneasy sensations in l-.is boweis, but the other sjinptoms con-
tinued, and he passed a restless nii;ht. Next day ho had much pain in his head and eves, which
last were inllanied and bloodshot ; he had different circumscribed sweltinus in his (ace, which \vt>re
painful ami inllamed, but they were transient, and flew tioin place to place ; this night he took a
powder which made him sweat profusely. On Saturday his eyi.s were hi^hly inflamed, painful,
and entirely dozi d by the surroumlinj; inflammation ; this day he Wiis bled, which gave him much
ease in his head and eyes. Fn in this tim» until JMoiuhiy he contmuvd to get better; but liad,.
even then, pain, heat, and inflammation in his eyes, with cedemaliu^ swellings of his cheeks ; his
remaining symptoms went otl' gradually, anil he is now well. ■ He had been told that the j)laai he
Jia<l eaten was heml.ick ; to be satisfied I accompanied him into the garden where he had giilhered
''^ht^-p'tint-, and found it to be cclhusa cynii/nu?!/, or fools parsley. 'J'o be coniineed of this beyond
a "doubt, I compared a specimen of it wiih the ligure and description of the plant in the l^'lora
Londiiienais, wiih which 1 found it exactly to correspond."

" hidcpf ndeni of the singular salisfaclion (continues Mr. Smith) wdiirh Mr. Lnwo must feel .
from knowing the plant in question, an advantage has arisdi ii> ihe public ; llie poisonous (]Ualily
of the fools paisley is ascertained, which betore was only suspected, 'lime, and a tasti- for science,
which of lat'.' years have made such rapid a-ivances, and suck material improvements in every
branch of medicine; which has introduceil a rational practice, founded on an intimate knowledge
of the animal ceconomy, and an accurate history of diseases;- which has rescued sui^iery from the
hands of pretemlers, and taught mmkind to repose a confidence in those only who have laudably
(xrrted themselves in acquiring anatomical knowledge; which has redeemed chemistry from em-
pirics, and made it subservient to the practice of phyic ; will, it is presumed, in a few years^
place botany in a more favourable point of view, and cause its utility to be mure generally ac-»
ktcwhdged."

Viii r R E F A C E.

him the means of improving his knowledge. To those whose occtt-
pations confine them to town, the pleasures of a ride or a walk wiU
be much enhanced by some acquaintaaee with the surrounding ob-
jects:— besides the general landscape, their minds would be amused
by the indescribable beauties of nature in h(T minutest recesses, and
by studying how to rea|) the fruits of the wonderful vegetable trea-
sures which the bounteous hand of the Almighty has so abundantly
scattered around. Should so laudable a spirit of enquiry be aroused,
the compiler will icjoice in having undertaken the humble office of
pioneer to Jamaica botany, and hope to see, at no distant period, a
superstructure ra'sed, on the materials he has selected, that will be a
lasting memorial ol the good taste and discrimination ol this coinmu-
nity.

HOKTUS

HORTUS JAMAICENSIS,

i

Acacia 0)' AcACEE, — ^ee Cashaw. .^U"-^ /

Acacia, FALSE, — 5ct' Robin u. -ff^-,"

Acajou, — see Cashew^. "■■^-'ii), : "'

No English Name. ACALYPHA.

Class 21, orders — Monteciavwnodelphia. Natural order — Tricoccar.

THE generic name of this plant is derived from a Greek word, vvhicii , gn.' es 'nofe
jjleasant to handle.'

Generic characters. — Male calyx three or four leaved ; no corolla; staiiiina eight
to sixteen : Female calyx, throe leaved ; no corolla ; styles three; capsules three-
grained and three-celled ; seeds solitary. There are fourteen species, seven of
which are known to be natives of Jamaica, viz.

1. reptans.

Urtica viinor mers spicata folio suhrotunclo sotato fvuctu tricocco.
Sloane's Jam. v. 1, p. 125, t. 82. f. 3.

Sjjikes terminating erect, flowers mixed, females lower ; involucres cordate-
serrate; males leafless ; leaves ovate-serrate ; stem creeping.

This plant is described by Sloane as having a large brown root, sending out small
-stems along the surface of the earth ; the leaves small, mthout order, with short foot-
stalks, round, smootli, and serrated. The flowers come out in spikes terminal erect,
anil are purple intermixed with white ones, succeeded by capsules, which become red
and rough on the outside. In each of these are three roundish seeds, everj' one co-
vered with a membrane.

2. VIRGINICA.

Huviilior, foiiis cordato crenatis, spicis mi.vtis ; alaribus ct terminali-
hiis. Browne, p. 346, t. 36, f. 1.
Female involucres heart-shaped gashed; leaves ovate-lanceolate, longer than
the petiole.

This is a suiail twiggy shrub, seldom exceeding four or five feet in ii ight, the
-leaves and flowers are much like tliose of pellitory of the wall.

B 3. VIRC.iTA

2 liORTUS JAMAICENSIS aciiama

3. VIRGATA.

Erccia -jirguUiTsa, fcUis ovato acuminatis alqiie crenatis, spicis uniform
mibits alaribus. Browne, p. 346, t. 36, f. 2.

FfWialc ir.vol'.ici'cs heart-shaped, serrate; male spikes, distinct, naked; leaves
ianco-ovate

This grows in great plenty in Jamaica. Its leaves resemble those of the annual net-
tle and sting full us much when tosched.

4. TOMENTOSA.

Female spikes terminating solitary; involucres manj'-parted ; males erect;
leaves ovutc-lanccolute ; serrate scabrous, villous-tomentose underneath.

S. ANGUSTirOLIA.

Female flowers sub-sessile terminating, involucres serrate ; males in spikes 3
leaves linear serrate.

6. SCABROSA.

Female spikes with cordate gashed involucres : leaves oblong-lanceolate serrate -
scabrous.

7. betui..5:folia.

Fernale flowers axillary sessile, involucres cordate crer.ate ; males in spikes :
leaves roundish, crer.ate, smooth.
The above plants are easily propagated from their seeds, but are possessed of no
beauty. The last four species are from Swartz's Prodromus.

No English Name ACKANIA.

Cj.. 16, OR. 6 — Monoddphia pnlyandria. Nat. or.- — CoIumrJJcne.

The name is derived from a Greek word, signifying ' not to open,' as the corolla
docs not open.

Gejj. char. — Calyx double, outer many-leaved, inner one-leafed; the corolla,
subclavate, convoluted, petals five; berry sub-globular, fleshy, five-ceiled, five-
seeded ; seetls solitary, convex on one side, angular on tiie otiicr. Tiiere are
three species, all natives of Jamaica.

1. MAI.VAVISCVS.

Frutefcen.", folii.': angulutis, cordato acuminatis, crenatis i petalis ab
uno latere auritis. Browne, p. 284.

Leaves somewhat scabrous, acuminate, leaflets of the outer calyx erect.

This plant is named scarlet achania, or l)astard hibiscus; it is common in the woods,
but seldom seen in the lowlands. Tiie stem is arboreous, about ten feet high, and is
branched. Leaves petioled, cordate, crenate, tomentose, sometimes sliglitiy three or
five lobed, the middle lobe most produced. Stipules bristle shaped, small, withering-.-^.
Flowers'avUary, solitary, on villous peduncles shorter tlian the petiole. Outer calyx '

eiiiht.

^CHiMEXES HORTUS JAMATCENSIS, j

cigbt-leaved, the leaflets coalesceing at the base; inner marked with ten streaks, five-
toothed at the tip. Corolla and tube scarlet, the latter twisted into a spiral, uprii>ht,
very long. Stigmas hisped, blackish.

2. MOLLIS.

Leaves tomentose, leaflets of the outer calyx spreading.
This is called the wcolhj achanta. Tiie brandies, petioles, and leaves, are covered
with a very thick nap. Tne leaves are sometimes cortlate-ovate acuminate, and some-
times angular, slightly three-lobed.

3. PIL03A.

Leaves'hairy, obtuse, acute. S-.v. Pr. p. 102.

The hairy achania has a very different appearance from the two formei . It is shrub-
by, as they are, but the stem and branches are smaller, thinner, and not downy. The
leaves are hairy, cordate-ovate, with broad irregular senatures about the edge ; some
of them blunt and even retuse, but others acute. The stipules are subulate. The leaf-
lets of tiie outer calyx spread out towartls the end and sjiatulate. The flowers are snial!,
convolute, and closed. These plants may be propagated by cuttings or seeds.

ACHIMENES. COLUMNEA.

Cl. 14, OR. 2.—Dulynamia angiospermia. Nat. ok. — Fersonat,c.

The name columnea was given by Plumier, in honour of Fabius Columna, or Co-
lonna, of Italy.

Gen. CfL\R. — Calyx a large one-leafed perianthum, five-parted ; corolla laiTe,
one-petaled, ringent, gaping, tubular, upper lip three-parted, middle part vaulted,
emarginate ; the stamina in the upper lip ; anthers connected ; germen roundish;
capsule one or two-celled ; seeds numerous, small, nestling. Thel-e are six spe-
.cies, three of which are found in this island.

1. HIR.5UTA.

' Rapimcidus fruticcsiis, foliis oblongis, integris, rillosis, ex advcrso si-
tis, fore put pureoxillnso. Sloane, v. I,"p. 157, t. 100, f. 1. J/(7-
jor, herlnicca, siibhirmta, oblique assurgens, Kc. Browne, p. 270,
t. 30, f. 3.

■T.eaves ovate, acuminate, serrate, roughlj- hairy on the upper surface, calycine
leaflets tooth-letted lanceolate ; they and the corollas hirsute, the uj^per lip
bifid.

The larger hairy achimenes. This beautiful vegetable is a native of tlie cooler moun-
"tains, and most commonly met with in the woods of New Liguanea and St. Ann's. It
is a ver^' succulent plant, and grov.s luxuriantly in every rich and shady soil ; tb-owin^
its branches frequently to the heigbt of four or five feet, and higher, "when supported
by some neighbouring shrub or stump. The stem is pretty thick, and tlie leaves op-
posite and alternately larger. Tlic flowers are large, beautifully variegated, and hairv
on the outside, like the other parts of the plant. Tiie divisions of the cup are of a siu'-

B 2 gxdar

4 HOllTUS JAMAICENSIS. ACirYRANTiiEa

gularsh-uctiire, and pinnated on the sides, somewiiat like tliosc of tlie garden rose. The
wliole plant iias an uncommon, but beautiful, appearance, and deserves to be cultivated
ill ail ilower gardens in tlie cooler parts of the island, where it is most likely to thrive.

2. HISPIDA.

Leaves ovate, obtuse, tooth-letted, hisjiid-hirsute, leaflets of the calyx lancco*
late, entire, hairy, stcna hair^ rugged. Sxi'. Fr.

3. RUTILANS

Leaves ovate-lanceolate, villose, denticulate, coloured underneath ; divisions
of the calyx jagged, villous; corolla villose, upper hp two-parted. Hw. I'r,

These plants are propagated from seeds.

No English Name. ACHYRANTHES.

Cl. 5, OR. 1. — Pentandria monogyiiia Nat. or. Miscellanea.

This genus takes its name from two Greek words, signifying chaff and a flower.

Gen. char. — Calyx a double perianthium, outer three-leaved persistent, inner-
five-leaved also persistent; no corolla or scaixely perceptible ; nectariuni five-
valved, surrounding the germen, bearded at the top, concave, and falling off; the'
perianthium is a roundish one-celled capsule ; the seed single and oblong. Tiie_
tbllowing sj)ecies are natives of Jamaica :

1. ASPERA.

Amarayxthus siculus spicatus radice perenyii boccone. Sloane, v. 1, p.
142. Caule geniculato erecto, foliis ovatis oppositis, &c. Browne^
p. 180.
Stem shrubby erect; calj'x reflex, pressed to the spike.

It rises three or four feet high, bv a square jointed .stalk, opposite branches; the
leaves are dark green, woolly on both sides, oblong, smooth, j^ointed. Tiie flowers
are in sjjikes at the end of the branches, appearing first like short reddish hairs, after
•nhich follow rough, prickly, green, reflected, capsules, containing five seeds, oblong,
reddish. It grows in ditches.

C. ALTISSIMA.

Foliis ovatis, Jlorilms spicatis,Ctppcndicibus hisetis. Browne, 180. Bli->
turn album majus scandens. Sloane, v, 1, p. 142.

Stem suffruticose scandent, panicles terminating axillary, hranched.

This has a green stalk as thick as ones thumb, supported by shrubs and trees, on
which it leans, grows five or six feet high, putting out here and there branches, hav-
ing leaves about an inch and a half's distance, on inch-long footstalks, three inches
long and half s.s broad. The leaves are ovate, acute, smooth, soft, of a dark green co»
lour, six inches long. The flowers grow in spikes, of a pale green or herbaceous co-
lour^ a great many together. The semuial ve;>seis or husks break horizontally, and

coiitaiii

(Contain small black, Siiiiiing, Qocn^iCs^ai, lainoy-shaped, sead*.
banks of the Rio-Cobre, and on t!;e read to Passage-Fort, very pieniiiuliy. — ^lout,'.

iJi-ov.ne calls this bastard lio-op-rt'itiie. These [jiaats are raised irora tiio seeds, aa.l
grow commoniy among-,, low bushes.

No English Name. ACIDOTON.

Cl. 21, OR. 7. — Monoccia pGJjjandria.

Gent. CHAR. — Male calyx five-leaved, leaves ovate-lanceolate, refiex ; no corolla;'
stamina numerous, placed on a globular receptacle : Female calyx six-ieaved ;
leaflets linear, lanceolate, spreading ; no corolla ; style short, germen three-cleft ;
capsule three-grained, hirsute, three-celled; seeds solitary, ovate. There is only
one species, described as follows by Sloane : -

Urlicaurcns arborca, foliis oblong'ii, angustis. Sloane, v. 1, p. 124,
t. 83, f 1.
This shrub rises eight or nine feet high by a round straight woody trunk, of the big-
Bess of ones finger, covered with a smooth brownish bark. The leaves come out to-
wards the top alternately, tliey arc narrow, lanceolate, three or four incnes long, and
a cpiarter of an inch broad, with often a tooth near the top ; of a dark green colour,
several ribs on the under side, and on the surface and edges many long smallj prickles,
wliidi are said to be very burning. The petioles are short and ribbed.

See Adelia.

ACISANTHERA.'- RHEXIA ACISANTHERA.

Cl^S, or. 1. — Octandria monpgynia. 'Nat. or. CalT/canthema.

The generic name is derived from a Greek word, signifying to break or burst.
Gen. char. — Calyx one-leafed, four-cleft, permanent ; corolla four petals,
roundish and inserted into the calyx, spreading ; stamina filiform, anthers declin-

in Jamaica, viz.

1. ACISAirniERA.

Erecia ramosa, raviidis qiiadratis, Jolii.'! trinerviis ovato crejjaiis, oppO'-
sitis ;Jiorihus singularibusad alas alternas. Browne, 217, t. 22, f 1.

Flowers alternate, axillary, penduncled, five-cleft.

This plant grov.s in the pastures eastward of Luidas, and seldom rises above fourteen
or sixteen inches in height. The stem is pretty firm and square, and emits a good
many square branches towards the top ; the leaves are small, three nerved, ovate, ere-
Bate, and opposite. The flowers spring singly from tlie alternate axils or bosoms of
the leaves. Tl.e calyx is deeply five-cleft at the mouth. Petals five, obovate; inserted

into

'€ IIORTUS JAMAICENSIS. adeua

into the throat of the ralyx. Fi!a;neius ten, sliorter t'.iaii the corolla. Anthers oblon t,
suwitiite, and snh;irciuue, vcr.satiic. Germ crowdca with the calyx. Style short.
Stig-ma shaqi. Capsule two-cclleJ, tilleJ witii two little placentas. — lirowne.

2. LEUCANTIIA.

Leaves op]>o.>itc, cartilaginous-tootii-letleci, coriaceous, shining, branchleti?
four-cornered ; flowei;; tcriiiinating-ten-stainened. — Sxc. Pro. 61.

?j. PURPUREA.

Leaves opposite tooth-letted, coriaceous, branchlets round, flowers axillary ten-
stanicned. — Sxv. Pro. 61.

The stamens in some phmts of this genus are inconstant, from seven to twelve, and.
there is a plain alliance between it and osbeckia and melastoma. The diH'erent species
are propagated bv seeds.

AcHROSTicuM — See Fern.'!.
•jIdam's Needle — Sec Dagger Plant.

A'o English Name. ADELL\.

'i

Cl. 22, OR. II. — Diccciamonodclphiu. Nat. OR. Tricocc.c.

The name is from a Greek word, signifying obscure.

Gen. char. — Male calyx one-leafed three parted, leaflets oblong curved back ;
no corolla; the stamina consist of many capillary filaments, the length of the calyx,
vinited into a cylinder at the base ; the anthers roundisii : The female calyx is live-
parted ; no corolla; pistillum a rouniiish germen ; styles three, very short
and divaricated; the stigmata torn ; the .perianthium a three-grained, naindish,
three-celled, capsule ; seeds solitary and roundish. There are three species, ail
natives of Jamaica :

1. bernardia.

Frulicosa, foUis tamentosis oralis scrratis alternis. Erov.ne, 3G1.
Leaves oblong tomentose, serrate.
This Browne calls the shrubby bernardia with villous leaves.

2. ricinella.

Friificosa, foliis subrotundis nitidis confertis Jioi-ibiis associalis.
Browne, 361.
Leaves oblong-ovate, quite entire.
The smooth leaved bernardia has slender flower stalks, and is common in all the low-
lands about Kingston, it rises to the height of eight or ten feet. — Browne.

3. ACIDOTON.

. Frufeaceiis accuieatim et difusuvi, ramidis ffracilihus terrtihus,foUolis
confertis flare unico vel-altero associatis. Browne, 35 J.

Braricfacs fiexuose, spines gemmaceous.

The

jtoRUK HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 7

The small shnibhy acidoton is pretty common in the savannas about Ne-.v-Greenwirb,
where it seldom rist-s above four feet in heiglit. The brandies are very slender i.nj
flexile, and the leaves small and delicate, and shoot with the tiovvers early in Apni or
May. The whole plant has a good deal ot the appearance ot" a young chon^. —Biowiie.

These plants are nearly allied to the croton. Dr. Houston constituted a genus of the
two first by the title of beniardia, in honour of Dr. Bernaixi de Jussieu. They are pro-
"jjagated from seeds.

•No English Name. ADENANTHERA.

Cl. 10, OR. \.—Decandriamonogi/nia. N.^T. ok. — Loinentace^.

This name is derived from two Greek words, signifying a glandulous anther.

Gen. CHAR. — Calyx small, one-leafed, five-toothed; corolla fivepetalled, bell-
shaped; stamina shorter than the* corolla ; anthers roundish, incumbent, bearing
a globose gland at the outer' tip ; ^ermsn oblong and gibbous belov.- ; style suba-
late and tlie length of the stamina ; stigma simple ; the pericarpium a long com-
])ressed membranaceous legumen ; seeds many, round, remote. This is un East-
India tree, of which three species are known, the most remarkable is noticetl in
the Hortus Eastensis as having been introduced into tliat garden by Mr. Wiles, in
the year 1S02. The following account of it is quoted froniGaertner and Forster, iu
J)r. Martyn's dictionary :

PAVOXINA.

Leaves sm.ootb -on both si Jos.

A tree with prodigious decompound or doubly pinnate leaves, leaflets ovate, obtuse,'
fjuite entire, on very short petioles, sometimes alternate, sometimes o]inosite. Panicle
of sini]ile thick racemes, with the flosjules on equal pedicels. Flowers coniparatively
Very small, and yellow. Legume nearly a foot in length, repand at the sutures and
obscurely torulose at the seeds, smooth, one-celled, two-vaived. The valves after liiey
open are loosely and spirally tuisted. Seeds from eight to twelve, obuvate-rouiJed,
convexly lens-shaped, highly polished, of i^vivid scarlet colour, wuii a circuh.r streak
in the middle on each side. This is one of the largest trees in tue Eust-Indies, a:ul the
timber is in common use, on account of its solidity. It flowers in September, bears
Iruit at the beginning and end of the year, and is never without leaves. The duration
is two hundred years. The natives use the powder of the leaf in their ceremonies. The
seeds, besides being eaten by the common people, are of gre; t use to tne ieweliers
and goldsmiths, on account of their equality, for weights, eacn or tiiem weigiiing f.jur
grains : They also make a cement, iiy beating them up witii water an,, boras. Of the
bruiicd leaves tiiey make a drink which they esteem good ag.uust pains of ine loins.

ADRUE. CYPERUS:

Ci.. 3, OR. 1. — Triandvia mcnogijnia. Nat. o.n. — Calamaria.
G EN. CHAR. — The glumes are cha%, imbricate in two rows ; scaies ovate, keeled, flat-
. . iiiii^ctedj.

8 HORTUS JAMAICEXSIS. adjiub

inflectecl, separating the flowers; no corolla; stamina three, short, nnthers oh-
4ong anil furrowed; gernicn small; style long-; stigmis three tiipil!arv : Seed
single, three -sided, aciuiiinato, destitute of villus. There are many species of
this genus, for which see sedges, the specific name of adrue or jointed stalked
cyperus is

AUTICULATUS.

Jinicuf eijperoides creberrimc geniculatua, medullafarchis, aquaticus,
radice rubra, tiiberosa, odorata. Sloane, v. 1, p. 121, t. 81, f. 1.

This rush has a tuberous, red, knobbed root, having a very grateful smell, like that
cf calamus aromaticus, covered with brown withered leaves, as well as the under part
of the stalk, like other rushes, and having severa' red strings going from the root of one
to that of another. The stalk is round, green, three feet high, smooth, having within
it very strong and frequent transverse partitions or membranes, making it jointed with
a pith between. At the top stand several brown chafty panicles, like those of cyperus
grasses, the small, long, spikes, being made up of several reddish scales, lying over
another on the same footstalks, all coming from the rushes top, as from a common
centre. This having a very graceful scented root, I question not but that it may bevery
successfully used in jjlace oi calamus aromaticus.'''' Sloane also mentions another plant,
j'uncus, cypernides. cuimo coinpresso striata, radice odorata tuherosa, capitulo rotunda
rompacto, a variety of the adrue, which he received from the Bay of Honiiuras; and
Jie was informed it grew upon the sand near Truxillo, where the Indians used it as a
cure for the belly-ache. — Sloane.

The roots arc esteemed cordial, diuretic, and cephalic, serviceable in the first stages
of the dropsy, resistors of poison, and expcllets of wind. They cure ill-scented
breaths, and are good in nephritic dicorders and colics.

The roots, aromatic and stimulant, may be used in the place of Virginian snake root.
Infusion sfood in vomitings, fluxes, &c. — Dancer, p. 387.

The following account of therirtues of the adrue or anti-emetic grass is from the ma-
nuscript of Wr. Robert Cowan, member of the royal college of physicians in London :
" The discovery of itssurprising properties was made by Dr. Howell of Jamaica, in
ch.ecking and restraining black vomit in yellow tever. A strong decoction or infusion
of this plant is as much a specific in restraining vomiting in yello-iV fever, as the^Peru-
vian bark in cure of remittents. It gives out its virtues in water in decoction, or warni
infusion, to be taken when cold, when it assumes the colour of Madeira wine. It grows
by rivers and marshy lands, rises two and a half feet high, resembles the sedge or bull-
rush, the leaflike gi'ass or sedge of a large coarse kind, and has a ridge on the back,
which, when dry, cracks into two parts. Tlie rootc are much like the serpentaria or
snake root, fibrous, bushj-, and matted. The seeds are like grass, but placed in little
bushes or clusters at tlietop of the stalk. 'The first tea-cupful of the decoction represses
the vomiting, and the second or third cures. By experiments made on the use of the
different parts of the plant, it is foimd that the strongest is made b}' boiling the whole
plant, cut or sliced, roots, see Is, leaves, and stem, altogether. The quantity two
liandfuls in three pints boiled to the evaporation of one-third."

The

,^KE5 HOPtTUS JAMAICENSIS. 9

The effjoacy of the adrue deaoction in repressinq continued vomiting was lately es-
peiiericed by a gentienian in Spanish-Town. Tiiero are several specie:; of the cyperus,
not unlike the adrue, which may be mistaken for it ; and it is worthy of experiment to
ascertain whether these other kinds possess the same virtues.

See Sedgks.

AESCflYNOMENE — SeC BASTARD SEN'SiTIVE.

Acrimony — See Hemp Aguijiony.
Aizoox — Sec Samphire.

AKEE. Genus doublfiil.

Cl. 8, OR. 1. — Octandria moiingi/nia.

This plant was hrought to Jamaica in a slave ship from the coast of Africa, and, hav-
ing thriven well, has been generally propagated, and succeeds in most parts of the island.
The late Dr. Broughton described it particularly in the Hortus Eastensis, from which
the following characters are taken :

Gen. char. — Calyx five-leaved and inferior, with concave, acute, ovate, small
leaves, persistent and hairy; corolla hve-petaled, oblong-lanceolated, acute, hairy,
bent at the base, and pressed to the receptacle, alternate with the calyx, and longer ;
stamina eight short filaments, hair}', inserted at die base of tlie glandulous recept-
acle of the gcrmen ; antherte oblong, disposed in an orb, and almost of the same
length, round the germen ; geruaen sub-ovate, three- sided and hairy ; the
styli the length of the germen, cylindrical and hairy; the stigma obtuse; pcri-
carpium, a fleshy capsule, oblong, obtuse on both sides, triangulai-, trilocular,
trivalved, and gaping from the apex ; semina, three, orbicular, and glossy, having
a rising appendice.

This tree often rises to the height of fifty feet. The trunk is covered with a rou"-h,
somewhat brown, bark, hath many long, thick, irregular branches, the lower inclinin"-
to the earth. The leaves are pinnated, ovate, lanceolated, full of veins, entire, op-
posite, smooth, and bright above, about a span long, four or five on each side, with
short turgid footstalks. The branches are simply spread, the twigs have many flowers,
with each its stalks, spike fashion. The flowers are small, white, and scentless. The
fruit is as large as a goose's egg, of a yellow, red, orange, or mixed, colour. The seeds
arc three, black, as large as a nutmeg, one of which is often abortive. To each seed
grows a white substance, exceeding the size of the seed, of the consistence of beef- fat,
and which, gently boiled with water, scarce differs from marrow. This, by the inha-
bitants of Guinea, is .served at table alone or mixed with broth or pottage.

The delicacy of the white lobes of this, fruit when fried o/- boiled, and eat as marrovi',
or sweet-breads, or in soups, renders it well worthy of cultivation. It thrives best in
the lowlands. In the mountains it seldom bears fruit, and the north winds are extremely
injurious to it. If die tops be blasted or broken off it throws out new and vigorous
shoots from the root and stem. When in bearing it has a most beautiful appearance
from the contnist of colour in the different parts of tiie fructification. This plant is
easily propagated from the seeds.

e ALDEH

10 IIORTUS JAMAICENSIS. n.vm

ALDER OR BUTTON TREE. CONOCARPUS.

Cl. .5, OR. I. — Fenlandria monogi/nia. Nat. oR. — xlggregattc.
This tal;cs its name from two words, signifyinc; cone-fiiiited.

Gkn. ctiar. — Calyx onc-lcafed, very small, five-parted; corolla five-petalled, con-
verginij, or none; stamina five or ten, .subulate, erect, anthers ojobose ; germen
larsT'', stvle short ; no pericarpium ; seeds solitary, ohovatc, with a menihranace-
ous thi('k maroin, on fiicii side. The flowers, are aggregate. Tiierc are tiiree
Bpecie.s, two of wi.ich are natives of Jamaica.

1. ERECn'.V.

Jlvifruc'v. laurlfoUa arhor viarilima. Rlpnne, v. 2, p. IR. t. 16!,
f ?. Foliis oblovgis, petiolis brevrbus, Jioribus in caput conicum
tollectis. Erowne, p. 159.

Tills tree grows erect, nearly thirty feet ; with lanceolate leaves,- v.liich are greasy
'to the touch. The younger branches are angular. It is esteemed a. good fire-wood.
'Slonne de=;rribes it as foUo.vs : " It has a ti'unk as thick as one's thigh, having a smooth
'whitish or cjrey bark. The leaves are nlmost oval, onl}- somewhat broader towards their
cnci ; towards the tops of the branches, among the flowers, they are narrow and pointed,
of a vellow'sh green colour. The tops of the twigs «re branched, sustaining at first
some small rovmdish heads, no Wgifer than those of pins, grawing larger, hairy, do'.rnv,
or mu'^osp, of a yellowish green or rod colour. They augment to so many round red
Vn'U, like alder cones or i)Uttons, sticking to tlie branch by a quarter of an in'-h lonor
footstalk, each of wliich is made up of a great many reddisli cornered seeds, sticking
o'l a fnne uis matter on its outside, and regarding its centre, so that by their means it
is rough or erhinated. It grows near the sea-side by Passage-Fort and Old-Harbour^
■among the mangroves. ; Butterflies swarm very much about this tree."

2. RACEMOSA.

• Man.<T}!'foilix rir'pficis ex adverso nascevfibus. Sloane, v. 2, p. GG. t.
lS7,f. 1. Foliis elliptico-ovaiis, petiolis biglandulatis, racemis la.vis^
frdctihus sejtmctis. Browne, , 159.

Leaves lanceolate-ovate bluntish ; fruits segregate.

This is a lofty and branching tree, growing from thirty to forty feet high, sometimes
di'i ling into three or four trunks, close to the ground. T'he younger branches are
shining, re', and opposite. Leaves quite entire, shining, thickish, greasy to the touch,
deep green, opposite, three inches long, on a red petiole, with two glands at the top

-of it. Racemes simple, terminating, commonly by threes. The flowers are small and
sessile, and have a shght net unpleasant smell. Tiie petals are whitish. Stamens ten,
five alternately shorter, prob^hlv s jmetimes overlooked ; (hence Browne only attributes

■fivpstame-is to the flower). The seed inclosed witiiin a coriaceous pericarp, is composed
of tw^ greeni'ih ovate lamel'«>, wrapped up into a round body, and involved in a very
thin memkrane. The Irmir^; rr in the ha5e of the pericarp become a round olitnsc, shin-
ing boily. for ning the a^is of the seed, destined to put forth the roots : for, when the
capsule falls to the ground, it penetrates the crowned apex, and, when the fibres take
possession of the soil, it constitutes the ruJiment of the future trunk ; then the lamellae
increasing in bulk, burst the capsule, and become thv radical leaves. Sometimes there

are

iiAicvTOTl HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. u

are two seeds inciosed in the same pericarp. From the above description it appears .
that tiiis tree, altliough it agrees in many respects, yet differs very much from the for-
mer si>ecies. The Spaniards call it viunglt bobc, ur I'oolish mangle. Sloane calls it .
the white mangrove.

These trees have no great beauty. They grow in most of the sandy bays and marshes
about the island, and may be propagated by seeds, slips, or cuttings. The fruit is
drying, binding, and healing; and the bark tans leather well.

All-heal — Sec Self-heal.

ALLIGATOR APPLE OR CORKWOOD ANNONA

Cl. 13, Oft. 7. — Pvlyandria polygynia. Nat. Oil. — Coadunatte.

This plant has also been termed the shining leaved custard apple. The name of t':e ge- ,
nus can boast of no learned derivation, Linnens having adoptej it fronian jVnierican term
fdr a mess, on account of the fruit of some of the species being so called b, tiie natives. '

Gen. CHAR.— Calyx a small three-ieaA'ed perianthium ; corolla six- petalled, cordate,
and sessile, the three alternate interior ones less ; the stamina have scarcely any fila-
ments, the anthers numerous and placed on the receptacit- ; gern.en roundish, and
placed on a roumlisli receptacio, no styles ; . numerous obtuse stigmas covering the
whole germ ; the pericarpium a large roundish berry, one-celleJ, witli a scaly bark ;
seeds many, hai J, ovate-oblong, [)laced in a ring, nestling. I'licre are several spe-
cies indigcnoas to this island, referred to below ; the alligator appie is the

FALUSTRL^;.

Annona aquatica foliis lauririis atravirentibus, fruclu rainore conou'e
luten, cortice glabro in area/as distincto. Sloane. v 2, p. 169, t. 228,
f. 1. Uliginosa, Joliis nitidis oiaiis, Jractibiis arcclatus odoratis,
Browne, 256.

Leaves oblong, rather obtuse, smooth ; fruits ai'eolatc.
This tree rises thirty or forty feet, the trunk as thick as one's middle ; the leaves are
shaped like those of the bav, smooth, dark green, and hard. The truit is as big as
cole's fist, turbinated like a sour sop, hanging by an inch-long foot-stalk, wh;ci; .briogs
out some of the pnip with it, when ripe, leaving a hole in the fruit. Taeoucvvdid
i.kin is first sreen, thtn jellow, smooth, only it bath some checqutred lines on its sur-
face, as the custard apj)le. The seeds lie from the centre to the circumference ot cne
fruit, and are as large as a betm, oblong, almost round, of an ash colour, having a ci- st'
running their lengths, lying in an orange-coioured pulp, of an unsavouiy laste, but
has something of the smell and relish of an orange. — ■Sloane.

It grows in great abundance about the south side lagoons, and on the banks of spve- '
ral ii\( rs. The fruit or E{.'ples are large, and of a cold watery quality, esUca ed hijjhly
narcotic, and even poisonous ; but of the latter we have no ctrtaiu proof. Wnen tiiey •
are ripe, and drop into the .v;,;-. r. the a.ligators watch their tailing, and, at tise projir
Sicasoa of the year, are sui lit thietiy upon them, They have a sweetish Uis'.o '

"'■■■• • C 3 ' and*

12 HORTUS JAMAICENSiS. aloes

and smell ; but, pcrhn])s, the crudity and coldness of their juice might make them a
sort of poison to the stomach ill this climate, where even melons and cucumbers^ not
duly corrected, will sonietimes convulse it. The wood of this tree is so extremely lighi
that it is commonly used by way of cork to stop jugs, bottles, and casks ; and it makes
excellent lloats for fishing nets.^ — -Long, p. 832.

See CiiERiMOLA — Custard-apple — Soltv and sweet sops,

AlLTGATOR-WOOD— -yC(? MUSKWOOD.

Allspice — See Plwenta.

ALOES. ALOE.

Cl. 6, OR. \. — Hexandriamonogi/nia. Nat. or. — Liliacccvl
The derivation of this name is uncertain.

Gen. CHAR. — No cdlyx ; corolla one-petalled, six-cleft, erect- and oblong, the -tube
gibbous, the border spreading and small, with a nectary-bearing bottom ; the sta-
mens are subulaled filaments, rather surpassing the corolla in length, and inserted
into the receptacle; the anthers are oblong and incumbent; the pistillum has an o-
vate germen, style simple the length of the stamens, stigma obtuse trifid; the peri,
carpium is an oblong capsule, three-furrowed, three-celled, and three-vah'ed ; the
seeds are many and angular. There are a great number of species and varieties of the
aloe, and it is said the perfoliata, the most useful, was brought here from Bermudas.
The medical substance known by the name of aloes is the inspissated juice of the
barbadensis and succotrina, which are varieties of the species

PERFOLL\TA,

Aloe dioscorid. et alicrum, ^c. Sloane, v. 1, p. 2-I-5. Fcliis turgidis
ciliato dentatis purpurascentibus, scapo Jiorifero assurgenti spicato.
Browne, 197. Sempervive. Barham, 172.

1 Var. the barbadensis, has toothed upright succulent subulate leaves, flowers
yellow, hanging down in a thyrse.

2 Var. the succotrina, has leaves very long and narro^v, thorny at the edge, the
flowers in spikes.

1. The leaves of the Barbadoes aloe are about four inches broad at their base, and
nearly two inches thick, they have a few indentures on their edges, are of a sea-green
colour, and, when young, are spotted with wliite. The flower stem risci near three
feet high, and the flowers stand in a slender loose spike, with very short peduncles,
and hang downwards; they are of a binght yellow colour, and tlie stamens stand out
beyond the tube.

Of the cultivation and preparation of hepatic or Barbadoes aloes we have the follow-
ing account, by Millington, in the London Medical Journal, vol. 8. art. S.

The lands in the vicinity of the sea, that is, from two to three miles, which are ra-
ther subject to drought than otherwise, and are so strong and shallovv as not to admit of
the planting of sugar canes with any prospect of success, are generally found to answer

best

JlLOESf

HORTUS JAMATCENSIS!. 13

best for the aloe plant. The stoTies, at least the greater ones, are Rrst piclvcd up, and
cither packed in hc.nps, upon the most shallow barren spots, or laid round the field as
a dry wall. The land is then lightly ploughed and very carefully cleared of all noxious
weeds, lined at one fool distance from row to row, and the young plants set like cab-
bages, about five or six inches from each other. This regular mode of lining and set-
ting the plants is practised only by the most exact planters, in order to facilitate the
Tvecding of them by the hand very frequently ; because, if they are not kept perfectly
clean and free from weeds, the produce will be but very small. They will bear being
planted in any .season of the year, even in the driest, as they will live on the surface
of the earth for many weeks without a crop of rain. The most general time, however,

• of planting them is from April to June. In the March following, the labourers carry a
parcel of tulis and jars into the field, and each takes a slip or breaddi of it, and begins
by laying hokl of a bunch of the blades, as much as he can conveniently grasp with one
hand, while, v\ith the other, he cuts it just above the surface of the earth, as quickly
£6 possible, that the jnice may nob be wasted, and then places the blades in the tub,
bunch by bunch. When the first tub is thus packed quite full, a second is begun,
(each labourer having two) and, by the time the second is filled, all the juice is gene-
rally drained out of tlie blades in the first tub. The blades are then lightly taken out,
and thrown over the land by way of manure, and the juice is poured into a jar. The
tub is then filled again with blades, and so alternately until the labourer has produced
his jar full, or about four gallons and a half of juice, which is often done in six or se-
ven hours, and he has then the remainder of the day to himself^ it being his emploj'er's
interest to fret each day's operation as quickly done as possible. It may be observed,
that, although aloes are often cut in nine, ten, or twelve, months after being planted,
they are notin perfection till the second or third year, and that they will be productive
for a length of time, say ten or twelve years, or even for a much longer time, if good
dung, or manure of any kind, is strewed over the field once in three or four years, or
oftener, if convenient.

The aloe juice will keep for .several weeks without injury. It is therefore not boiled
-until a sufficient quantity is procured to make it an object for the boiling-house. In
the large way three boilers, either of iron or of copper, are placed to one fire ; though
some have but two, and the small planters only one. The boilers arc filled with the
^aice ; and, as it ripens, or becomes more inspissated, by a constant bat regular fire,
It- is ladled forward from boiler to boiler, and fresh juice is added to that farthest from
the fire, till the juice in that nearest to the fire, (by much the smallest of the three, and
commonly called by the name oi tache, as in the manufactory of sugar) becomes of a
proper consistency to be skipped or ladled out into gourds, or other small vessels, used
for its fii.al reception. The proper time to skip or ladle it out of the tache is when it
is arrived at what is termed a resin height, or when it cuts freely, or in thin flakes, from
the edges of a small wooden slice, that is dipped from time to time into the tache for
that purpose. A little lime water is used by some aloe boilers, during the process,

■^■when the ebullition is too great.

As to the sun-dried aloes (which are most approved for medicinal purposes) very
little is made in Barbadoes. The process is however very simple, tliough extremely
tedious. The raw juice is either put into bladders, left quite open at top, and suspended
in the sun, or in broad shallow trap's of wood, pewter, or tin, exposed also to the sun,
every drv day, until all the fluid parts are exhaled, and a perfect resin formed, which
is then packed up for use, or for exportation.

The

IJ HORTUS JAMAICENSrS. ^t.oi:&

Tlie following accoiml of preparing aloes in J;iuiaica is given, by Di". Wright, in tlie--
sarne volume of the Me<!icai Jomiial, art. 1: " Tlie pkiat is pulled up by the roots,
;m:l carefully cleaned from the earth or other impurities. It is then sfieed or cut in
j)iecea into small hand-baskets or nets. These nets or baskets are [;ut into large iron
boilers with water, and boiled for ten minntes, when they are tal.en out, and fresh
parcels supplied till the liquor is strong and black. At tins pcritAl the licjuor is thrown
through a strainer into a deep vat, narrow at bottom, to coo), and to deposit its foecu-
Jent parts. Next day the clear liquor is drawn off by a cock, and again committed to
the large iron vessel. At first it is boiled briskly ; but, towards tie end, evaporation is'
slow, and requires constantly stirring to px-cvent burning. When it becomes of the con-
sistence of hone^,' it is poured into gourds or cahi'vasneslbr sale. Tins hardens by age."

2. The leaves of the true succotrine aloe, from whence ths best sort for use in medi-
cine is prociu'ed, are long, narrow, and succulent, coming out without any ortler,
and form large heads. Tlie stalks grov>f three or four feet high, and have two, three,
and sometimes four, of these heads, branching out from it : tiie lower leaves spread out
on every side, but the upper leaves turn inward toward the centre ; the flowers grow in
long spikes, upon stalks about two feet high, each jtaading on a pretty long foot-
stalk ; they are of a bright red colour, tipped with green. 1 he island of Zocatra or
Socotora, in the Straights of Babelmandel, being formerly most tani(jus for the prepar-
ation of the extract, that of tlic best quality has tlie name of Succotrnie aioe. It is of
a yellowish brown colour, approaching to purple, and, when reduced to powder, is a
sort of gold colour. The hepatic aioe of Barbadoes is darker than tne succotrine, and
more bitter and nauseous.

Aloe cahallina, fetid caballine, or horse aloes, is supposed to be a coarser sort, ol)-
tained from the same spe;;ies with the foregoing ; acc(jrding to others it is the produce
of the. disticha... It is chieriy chstinguished by its strong rank smell.

All the different kinds- are gum resins, which contain more gummous than resinon.'s
parts. Water, when of a boiling lieat, dissolves ail tlie soluble parts of aloes; but, if
lot stand till it grows cold, it lets drop most of its resm. A strong spirit dissolves and
keeps suspended almost the whole of aloss, though it- contains such a large proportion
of giimmous parts; hence it is evident that aloes contain some principle, saline
or other, which renders water capable of dissolving resin, and spirit capable of dissolv-
in<c ouni.

Aloes IS a stimulatmg stomachic purge, which, given in a small quantity, operates .
mikily by stool; but, in l;;rge doses, acts roughly, and often occasions an irritation about
the anus, and sometimes a discharge of blood. It is a good opening medicine to people
of a lax habit, or who live a sedentary life ; and to those whose stomach or bowels are
loaded with phlegm or mucus, or who are troubled with worms, or are debilitated, be-
cause at the same time that it carries off those viscid hutnours which pall the appetite,
and overload the intestines, it sen'es as a strcngthener and bracer. In small doses, re- .
peated from time to time, it not only cleanses the pn'nue viu-, but li!;ewise tends to
promote the menstrual discharge in women ; and therefore it is frequently employed in '
chlorosis, or where the menstrua are obstructed. It is a good stomachic purge, and is
given in all cases where such a one is wanted, but it is looked upon as a heating medi-
cine, and not proper in bilious habits, or where tlu re is much heat or fever; and its
continued use is apt to bring on the piles. It is given in substance from five grains to. .

ALOES IIORTUS JAMArCT* XSIS. 'i^

-a scrapie, larger doses soinetiraes bring on troublesome svmptoms. As ii i- , ' ■
working- purge it is c;cnerally taken at bed-time, and it operates next day.

With regard to this, as well as all other resinous purges, it ought to be observed,
that, when they are given in substance, without any mixture, they are apt to adhere
to the coats of the intestines, and to occasion grijjing and imeasi;iess. The snbstanct s
which are most used for this purpose f.re, a small quantity of the fixed alkaline salts;
soap ; the yolk of an egg ; and gunur.ous vegctabic extrac ts. I\Ir Barton aliedges, in his
treatise on the manufacture of drugs, that, by triturating aloes with a small quantity of
alkaline salts, its tenacity was more elfectually destroyed than by any other thing he tried":
that castile soap and the yolk of an egg answered best, next to it; that manna, sugar,
and honey, were far inferior to them ; and that gununons or nnicous vegetable extracts,
snch as the extracts of gentian or of liquorice root, triturated witli the aices, in the pro-
■ ))Oriion of one part of the extract to two of the aloes, and then made uj) mto pills, wkh
a suSicient quantity of syrup, destroyed the viscidity of the aloes, and rcnd(^^ed its ope-
ration mild. — Ency. Brit.

Purgatives are imdoubtedly useful in the expulsion of worms; and among them the
"luice of aloes, says Grainger, justly claims the pre-ciiiinence. On this passage Dr.
■\\'rijlit observes that a tea-spoonful of the juice of the fresh leiives of the common aloes
is very good ; but, as oil is poisonous to all insects, especially to hnnbricales, or earth-
worm, the castor-oil is to be preferred.

This is the common aloetic plant which aloes is made from, and is so «ell known
in America,- where it grows in great plenty, that there needs no particular descrip-
tion of it. It is common for planters to give their children of its thick slimy juice, for
worms. Aloes, which is only the condensed or inspissated juice of this plant, purges
tind fortifies the stomach, and is gool against crude humours, opens obstructions, and
cures surfeits from o\cx eating and drinking; and, if disso.ved '\v. v/ater, and inspissated
again, it fortifies more and purges less. It preserves dead bodies, heals and cleanses
ioid sores. The Indians have a medicine, made of myrrh r»nd aloes, called mcceher,
which I have used with wonderful success in cleansing old ulcers, and it will also in-
carnate and heal them if the very bones were bare, wnereas other greasy medicines
would foul the bone ; it also destroys maggots or worms in sores, which are very apt to
breed in these hot climates. The juice, drank with milk, heals uh-ere in the kidnies
or bladder, and kills worms in man or beast. You must forbear giving aloetic medicines
--to those troubled with the bleeding piles, or overflowing of the menses, to those that
spit or vomit blood, or to women v.-ith chil.l. Aloe consists of two parts, resin and sa-
line; the one dissolves in common water, the other will not but in spirit of wine. — ■
IDiirham, 172.

As the drossy resinous parts oF aloes is not soluble in water, it has l)een found, v.heii
Combined witii other mixtures, an excellent preservative to ships' bottoms against the
worm, and was first applied to tiiis use by the Indians. The shijis trading in the East
and Wcst-I idles are particularly subject to the annoyance of this worm, whicli i're-
quenilv I;urrnvs through all the planks that lie below the surface, especially in harbours.
The result of several experiments, tried by a person at Bermudas, upon difiVrent sorts
of woo 1, proves, tliat a mixture of one ounce of aloes, allowed to two superficial square
ffcit of plank, is the just projjortion. There are various coats with which it may lie, in-
corporated :

IS H OUT us ja:',iaici:nsis.

ALOES

ccrporated: One of t!ic best is sik pounds of pitchj one pound of Spanish Lrown or whitinr,
ar;d one part of oil; or the like proportioas of turpentine, Spanish brjivn, airl tallow,
may be uscJ. Such a coat, incorporated with aloes, will jjreserve a ship's bottom for
eiglit moftths, proviJcd it h made tenacious and binding, and is not rubbed off by any
accident. About twelve pounds are suiEcient for a ves'tel uf fifty tens burthen, and sa-
in j)roportion ; according to which, about three-hundred ])ouad will be found enough
for a first-rate man of war.

In preparing the aloes to be more effectual for this purpose, a large proportion of
water may be mixed \-/ith the juice when set on to boil, viz. t.vo quarts of water to every
gallon of juice; and, after suffijient boiling, or when the water is thoroughly impreg-
nated, it should be shifted into any coinmodious vessel ; suffered to stand for twelve
hours, and the water then poured off : by this process the soluble part or gum, which
is of no use in the operation, will be extracted, and what remains in sediment is the
dross and resin, which, bting left to remain until it is pretty well d-ried and brought to
consistence, exposed to the air and sun, will be fit for use.

It is but justice to this commodity to recite the effects of one experiment, tried by the
person before-mentioned. He took several piecemjf oak, cedar, and mahogany, plank,
of two feet in breadth, and four feet in lengdi, and, with particular distinct marks, to
prevent mistakes, put on different coats or compositions, some with and some without
aloes mixture : these were suffered to lie under the sea-water for eight months; and,
upon taking them up, he found that, where the aloes had made part of the composi-
tion, there were few impressions made ; one piece, in particular, was as fresh, sound,
and untouched, as on tlie day when it was put in ; this had been besmeared with tur-
pentine, tallow, Spanish brown, and aloes ; but the other pieces, which had none of
the aloctic mixture, were perforated and eaten into a honeycomb. The use, tlierefore,
cjf this ingredient would certainly produce a saving of many thousand pounds per an-
num, borh to the merchants and the crown. It is the bitter, nauseous, acrimou}-, which
resides in the resinous part, that renders it a verv proper defence against every species
of insects; and this part, being indissoluble in water, will adhere to the plank unim-
paired, so long as the composition lasts with which it is blended. Neither an extrava-
gance of price, nor apprehension of a scarcity, need be any objection to the general
iise of it. The savannas and other barren places in Jamaica, are capable of pruducinT
much more than could be employed by all the shiping belonging to the British domi-
nions ; and, was it encouraged by a regular demand,. Bermudas and other colonies
wordd enter upon the cultivation, so that the price would probably never rise high.

The same composition may be used with great advantage in Jamaica, for preserving
the rafters and other timbers belonging to the floors and roofs of buildings, from that
destructive insect the wood-ant ; nor would a prepanaion of the aloes be less efficacioiis
in securing books from the depredations of the scarabaeus, which, in its reptile state, is
a great enemy to all that are newly bound. If,, in binding books intended for this island,
and other parts of the West-Indies, a small quantity of the aloes tincture, made by a
solution in spirits of winej was mixed up with the binder's paste, it would effectually
prevent the attacks of this insect. — Long, p. 708.

An aquatic solution of hepatic aloes presen-es young plants from d-estruction by in-
sects, and also dead animals and vegetables from putrefaction ; which renders it of great -
use in the cabinets of naturalists. The spirituous extract, however, is best for the ])ur-
pose, though, in this respect, it is inferior to that of cantharides, prepared by infusing
two grains in one ounce of spirits, which has been found to be so effectual in the extir-
pation.

ALYSsoN HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 17

pation of bugs.* Prerner asserts, that a simple decoction of aloes communicates a fine
brovva colour" to wool. Fabroni, of Florence, h is extracteJ a beautiful violet colour,
which resists the acids and alkalis, from the juice of tlie fresh leaves of the aloe exposed
to the air by degrees. The liquid first becomes red, and, at the end of a certain period,
turns to a beaulTful purple violet, which adheres to silk by simple immersion, without
the aid of acids.

Upon the whole, as the aloe is so useful and so hardy a plant, growing in the poorest
soils and in the driest seasons, while the manufacture is so simple and so cheap, it is to
be regretted that its cultivation has not been more attended to m this island.

See Bastard Aloe.

Ai.PiNiA — See Wild Ginger..
Alsines — See Chickweed.

ALYS30N ALYSSUM.

Cl. 15, OR. 1. — Tetradynamia siliculosa. NaT. or. — Siliqiiosa.

This name comes from a Greek word, signifying madness, as the herb was believed
tahave the virtue of curing madness-.

Gen. Char. — Calyx oblong, four-leaved; corolla four-petalled, cruciform, with the
clavvs the length of the calyx; the stamens are six, tne length of the calyx, two
rather shorter and denticulated ; anthers erect and expanding; the pistilium has
a sub-ovate germen, style simple; the peritarpiuni a sub-globular emarginate
siiUcle, with a biiocular stylus, having an elliptic partition; the seeds are fewj
orbicular, ana afHxed to fililorm receptacles. Two species of this genus have been
introduced.

I . INCANUM.

Stem erect, leaves lanceolate, hoary, entire, flowers in corymbs, petals bifid.
Hoary madwort grows to the height of two feet, having woody stalks, which divide
into several branches toward the top. At the extremit , of every slioot the dowers are
pi-oduced in round bunches, which are small and white. Tiie silicie is entire, oval, and ■
full of brown seeds.

2. IIALI.MIFOLIUM.

Stems procumbent, perennial, leaves luncedinear, acute, quite entire.
Sweet madwort spreads itself upon the ground. The root is long, wane, and woody ;
stalks numerous, seven or eight inches long, rougn, anU or a gL;_yiiu green colour.
The leaves are oblong, narrow, punctated, and very rougii to tiie loucu. At the ex-
tremities of Its branches it produces very pretty tufts ot small yciio-visli while flowers.
Both these plants are propagated from seeds. The nanimlonum grovvs very luxuriant-
ly in this island in almost any soil or situation.

D AMBROMA.

* M. S"cnl(ff, in tlip Trnnaactinns of l!ie Imperial AcaHemj of Sciences at PftersbnrL'li, saji, th:it he has repeat-
«dlv eipeneci td tiat ioliaint; more fpvedil^' or elfcctuallj ileiltuys bugs tlijii llie uilj pi>,Kle luul reuwiu; tu wska lu
>»bicb htiraigs tuvc been packed.

13 11 OUT US JAMAICENSIS. ammaxnu

AMBROMA. ABROrJA

Cl. 18. OR. 2.' — Polj/iuh'lphia dndccandria Nat. 0!t. — Colinnnifow.

This takes its name from a Creek word signiiying not fit for food.

Gex. CTIAR. — Calyx five- leaved; corolla five-petalled, claws ol)-cvRtc, .irched, in-
serted into the base of the nect;iry, wliich is short, pitcher sli;iped, and divided
into five seo'ments ; stamina five, menibranaccons, very small, growinp; on the
nectary; anthers on each filament tiirce, twin, kidney-form; the pislilium has «
sub-cylindrical n;ermen, styles five, subulate, approximating, with acutt;. stigmas;
tapsule ovate, membranaceo-us, veined, five-winged, iive-beaked, five-celled,
gapin<T at the top into five parts ; partitions folded ; seeds many, sub-o^ate; no
receptacle. There are two species, one of which, the following, was iuifuduced
by Mr. East, in 1791, but is at present in u very sickly state.

ANCUSTA.

Leaves cordate orangular, sharply serrulate.

The maple leaded amhroma is a ti-ee with a straight trunk, yielding a gum ^^lien rut,
an;l filled with a white pith like the elder. Some of th.e leaves are hcart-sliapod and
acuminate ; others angular, having five or seven lobes, wliich are acute, and the an-
terior ones most produced ; they are ail veined, alternate, green on both sides, but
paler underneath, and tlie petioles arc round. The whole plant is covered with stiff^
whitish, shining, decumbent, bristles, scarcely visible to the naked eye, easily sepc-
rating, and stieking to the hands, but harmless. The peduncles arc generaily bifi;i
and bear two flowers. There is one stipule on each side to everj- petiole, but four at
the division of the peduncles, lanceolate and acute. The flower nods, is elegant, bui
ha.s little smell, and is dark purple. I-t is ])ropagated by cuttings.

AiMnRO?:iA— A'ei? Oak of Cappadocia.
Amfxlus — Sec Star-wort.
American honeysuckf-e — See Honeysuckle.
American nutmeg — See Nutmeg.
Amekimnon— --Jfe Jamaica ebony.

i\^o English Name. AMMANNIA

Cl. 4. OR. 1. — Tetrandria movogynia Nat. or. — Calycanthem<^.

This was so named by Houston, in honour of John Ammann, professor of botany at
Petersburgh.

Gen. ciLAK. — The calyx is an oblong, erect, ])ell-shaped, perianthium, with eight
stri^, quadrangulated, eight toothed, and persistent; the corolla is eiilier want-
ing or consists of four ovate expanding petals, inserted in the calyx ; the stamina
are four bristly filaments the length of the calyx ; the anthera; are didymoij.s ; the
pistiUnm has a large ovate germen al)Ove ; the styles simple and very short, the
.stigma headed ; the pericarpiuni is a roundish four celled capsule, covered by the
calyx ; the seeds ai'e numerous and small. There are two species both natives of
Jamaica:

I. LATIFOLU,

JiKCHOVY HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 19

1. 1.ATIFOLIA.

Aparines folio anov}alaxas:cido scminaU ro'umlo midia semir.a viuiu-
tissinm contininie. Sloanc, v. 1, p- •!-!•, t. 7, f. 4. Fcliis sessildms
lanceohitis cntritis quasi aniple.iantitus, cppositis seu -jsrticiiiatis ;
Jloribus icvnatis ad alas. Brov.nc, p. 118.

Leaves half-stem-clasping, stalk square, branches erect.

The root is amuial; stem obtn.se-angleu, tiie alternsto sides convex. Flower rerti-
ciilate, three on each side, sessile. Alternate teeth of tlie calyx convergent; tliestvle.
shorter than the germ ; the petals four white ones or none. It gro\vs in moist pkices.
Sioane says the branches are wood}- with smooth bark, about a foot and a nali long, cor-
nered. The leaves placed at the joints, two always ojiposite, abtnit an inch and a half-
long, one-eighth of an inch broad at the base, decreasing to a point, tiiey are smooth,
equal on the edges, and carinated ; e.v alis Jalicruvh comes a roundish sir.aii body, a
httle prickly or hairy at the top, which augments till it is as oig as a pepper corn, as
it were crowned on top, containing a capsule full of small seed, sticking to a body in.
tlie centre.

This plant is Browne's Ifnartlia, which, he saj's is pretty common about the Ferry,,
and that it grows generally by a simple stalk when young, but t!iro\vs out a few bran-
ches the second year, and seldom pises above twenty-four or thirty inches in height;
the stem is commonly quadrangular, and fnrnishetl with long lanceolated leaves, with-
out footstalks, whose lobes shoot obtusely backwards on cither side, by \il)ich tlie}' seem
to encompass the main stalk ; they are disposed in an opposite or ternate order, and
embrace the flowers at their insertions, but there arc seldom more than three together,
and always joined bv short footstallis to a common pedestal, fixed close to the stalk in.
tiie bosoni of every leaf.

2. -SAKGUINOLENTA. .

Leaves half-stern-clasping, cordate at the base, flowers sub-peduncled, eight*
stamened, petal bearing. — Sn:. Pro. 33.

Both species are propagated from seeds.

See Hedyotis.

Anacampsekos — Sec Purslane.-
Anana— SVc Pine-apple.
Anchoaca — See Mallows.

AKCHOVY PEAP. GPJAS.

Cl. 13, on. 1. — Poijjandria monn<ri/nia Nat. ou. — Doubtful.
Tlie generic name is taken from a plant in Apuleius^

Gen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed coriaceous perianthium, cup-shaped, the montc
having four blunt clefts, finally lacerated ; coxoUa tbur-petaled, roundish, con-
cave, coriaceous; the stamina are numerous setaceous hluments, longer than the
corolla, and inserted into the square recejitacle, united at the base in a five-fold
row, bent in, inner ones sliortcst, roundish anthers ; the pistiliuni has a somewhat

D 2 depressed

iO HORTU.S JAMAICENSIS.

AKDROWEPA

depressed gei-mcn, immersed in the calyx, no siylc, tho stigmn thickish, four-
eonicred, l.olLowed out crosswise ; the pericarpiu in a large drupe, oiie-colied, a-
cuuiinate at the base and tip, crowned with the cal_yx ; the seed is a nucleus scored
with eight furrows. There is only one species, which is a native of Jamaica :

CAULIFLORA.

Pal mi.'; a (fin is mains persica maxima caitcJice non ramnso, foliis lon^
ffissimis, J/orc tclrapctalo puUide liitco, J ruciu ex arboris trunco
prodeioitc Sloanc, v. i:, p. 122, t. 216&"217. Foliis tripcdalibus
obovalis, Jloribus per cau/ciii et ramos sparsis. Browne, p. 245.

Tins has an undivided trunk, no bigger than one's leg, covered witir a grey hark,
tapering towards the top, rising to twenty feet high, having near its top the vestigia of
several leaves which have formerly dropped otf The leaves come out only round near
the top for half a foot in length, they have no foot-staUvs, are two and a lialf I'eet long
and six inches broa 1 in the nnddle, where broadest; beginning very narrow, they grow
v\'ider in the middie, and thence decrease, ending biuntiy. Ttiey have one iiiidiUe rib
and several transverse ones, they shine, and are smooth and tiiin. Two or three feet
below the top, along the trunk, come out the flowers, without almost any footstalk,
sometimes singly sometimes in tufts; they are at first a round knob or button, vvhicii
afterwards opens into a teti-apetalons flower, ttie petala being thick, pale yellow, and
full of a great many stamina, smelling very sweet, to winch follows a fruit hke to the
mammee saj>oia in bigness, shape, colour, &c. It grows going to Sixteea-Mile-Walk,
on the river-side, and in several other places. — Sluane.

This tree fr<!quently grows to the height of fifty feet. Branches at the toj) simple,
short, or none. The upi igiitness of tiie growth, and the largeness of the leaves give
it a very elegant appearance. The fruit is about the size of an alligator's egg, and hke
itinshaj3e, only a little more acute at one end, and of a brown russet colour ; when
pickled it resembles the mango. This tree is frequent in many parts of Jamaica, and
grows generahy in low moi;it bottoms, or shallow waters. The seeds grow \cvy readily
wherever they meet with a sufticient quantity of moisture, and propagate so thick that
they are frequently found formed into thickets or large clusters. — Barluim is Bnxcne,

Yo English Name. ANDROMEDA.

Cl. 10, OR. 1. — Decandria monogi/nia. Nat. or. Uncertain.

This plant is named from the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiope, who was rescued
•from a sea-monster by Perseus.

Gen. CHAR.— Calyx five-parted, acute, small, coloured, permanent; corolla mono-
petalans, campannlate, fi\e-cleftcd, clefts reflex ; stauiina shorter than the co-
rolla and scarcely fixed to it ; anthers two-horned, nodding ; the pistillum has a
roundish germen, style cylindric, longer than the stamens, permanent; stigma
obtuse; capsule roundish, five-cornered, five-celled, five-valved, opening at the
corners, partitions contrary ; seeds very nianv, roundish, shining. Ther« are
tiiree species noticed by Swartz as natives of Jamaica, as follow-;

1. JAMAICENSIS.

ilXISEES 11 OUT US JAMAICENSII5, «'

1. .TAMAICENSIS,

Peduncles aggregate, corollas ovate transparent, leaves alternate broad- lanceo»
late, obtuse, entire, beneath ash-coloured and membranaceous.

2. FASCICULATA.

Peduncles aggregate, leaves alternate, ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, slightly cre-
nulate, coriaceous,

3. OCTANDRA.

Peduncles aggregate, corollas cylindrical, having four clefts, with only eight
stamina, leaves alternate, ovate lanceolate, very entire, membranace-
ous.

Angelica tree — See Galapee.
Angola pea — See Pigeon pea.

ANISEED. PIMPINELLA,

Cl. 5, OR. 2. — Pentandria digi/nia. Nat. or. — Umhellifera.

Gen. char. — The general umbel is thin and piano-patent, the partial ones similar,
neither has anv involucrum ; the perianthia are scarcely observable ; the general
corolla is uniform ; the single flowers consist each of five oval inflex petals; the
stamina are simple fiiamcnts, antliers roundisli ; germen under the cup, stjles re-
flex, stigmata (jbtuse; fruit naked, of a roundish figure, striated, and separable
into two parts ; tlie seeds are twoj roundisii, convex, striated on one side, and
plane on the other.

JINISUSI.

Root leaves trifid gashed.

The root is oblong, slender, and white ; the radical leaves stand on long pedicles,
and are simple, small, roundish, foliola, crenated at the extremities, of a pale green,
and strong smell; the stalk is round, hairy, striated, ramose, and so weak that it is
scarcely able to support itself erect ; the leaves on it are narrower and more deeply cut
in all the edges; tlie umbels are verv large, the flowers of a yellowish white. It is a
native of Egypt and Syria, and was introduced into the botanic garden at Bath many
years ago. The roots have a grateful, warm, pungent, taste, and are considered an
excellent stomachic. The seeds have an aromatic smell, and a pleasant warm taste,
accompanied with a degree of sweetness. They are useful in cold flatulent disorders,
where tenacious phlegm abounds, and in the gripes to which children are subject, by
boiling them in a small qiumtity of water, which aifords a stronger infusion than by de-
coction, and giving it in tea-spoon-fii!ls. Frederic Hofihian strongly recommends
them in weakness of the st(;macii, diarriiaas, and for strengthening the tone of the vis-
cera in general.

Infused in water the seeds impart a little of their smell, but scarcely any taste. In
distillation they give out the whole of their taste. Along with the water there arises an

essential

>?t! ri^OKTUS JAMAICKNSIS'. amtidote

essential oil, to the quantity of an ounce or more from three pounds. They also yield
■on oil upon expression.

The essential oil obtained from a-niseeds is the only ofHcinal preparation in the Pliar-
macoott'ia; it is grateful to the stomach, and may be taken in a dose of t\venty drops.
In ui-eases of tiie i^reast the oil is prcfei'red, but in flatulcniics and colics the seeds itl
substance are said to be more effectual. It is asserted that the oil is a poison to pigeons,

Anthemis — See Ox-eye.

AxTHOLYZA — S'ee Ethiopian antholvza,

AnTIDESM.A .Jte MAJOE-BlXrER.

ANTIDOTE COCOON. . FEUILLEA.

Cl. 22, OR. 5. — Dicecia pcnlandria. NaT. OR. — Cuciirbitacetc,

This is named in Iioaour of Lewis Feuillee,, a French Franciscan monk, who travel*
led in Peru.

Gf.x. CHAR. — The male calyx is bell-shaped, half five-cleft ; the corolla is also half
five-cleft and wlieel-shaped ; there are five stamina with twin roundish anthers,
and the nectarium consists of five filaments, connivcnt or closing,, placed alter-
nately v^ith the stamina : the female calyx and corolla as in the male, but with a
green geiTn at the base ; stigmas heart-shajjed, styles three or Aac, and the fruit
is a large trilocular apple, wiili a hard bark; the seeds generally twelve, flatted,
and orbicular. Tliere are two species, one a native of tlie East the other of the?
West Indies, but it is doubtful whetlier they be distinct, Swartz aJhrms that they
are not as much as varieties^

COREiFOLTA.

Ghandiroha rel nhandiroba brasiliensihiis. Sloane, v. 1, p. 200..
Foliis crassiorihus gtabris, quandoque cordatis, qiunidoquc trilnbts,.
Browne, p. 374.

Leaves heart-shaped angular..

The stem is sufFrutcscent at bottom,, divided at top, with herbaceous. branches,.
Climbing frequently to the tops of trees, roundish and very smooth. Leaves petioled,
idternate, usuall}' cordate, when more adult, cordate iobed, the lower ones three-iobed,,
the lobes angular, thick, nerved, vety smooth on both sides. Flowers racemc.l, dusky,
yellow. Racemes in the male divaricating,, loose, the subdivisions almost upright, yU
ternatc, many-flowered; flowers pcdicelled. Caly.K five-parted, the parts are con\ex^,.
spreading, ovate, dusky. Filaments converging at the base, refie.v, club-shaped,,
gibbous, with a sort of head at the end to which the anthers are fastened ; these are
ovate, open longitudinally in the middle, and are whitish. 'i'he five other threads '
forming the nectary are yellow.

Barbara gives this plant its old name o'i nhandiroba, or f^handiroha, and says, " The
first time I met with this jilant was in St. Thomas in tiie Vale, in that part called Six-
teen-Mile ^Valk, in Jamaica; where I saw it climbing and running u;i to the to])s of
very high trees. It happened to have its fruit upon it. Its leaf \ cry much resembles

the

ANTIDOTE HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 25

the English ivy leaf; but its fruit is like p. gr^en calabash, only it has a circular black
line round it, and t\vo or three warts, or little knobs; the inside of the shell is full of
white flattish beans, inclosed in a white membranous substance; and, wlfen thorou',di
ripe, the fruit turns brownish as a ripe calabash, and tlie beans or nuls are then of ;i
lightish-brown colour, and have a thin hard crust, in which is a whitish kernel, full of
oil, and excessive bitter. The nuts or beans, which arc generally ten or twelve in a
shell, are so close and conijiressed, that when I have taken them out, I never could
place them so -again as to make the shell contain them.

" Piso saith, that he has seen whole families in Brazil, that have had violent aches
.and pains, got by the night-air, who have been cured with the oil of these nuts, wiiich
they may easily have growing in great plenty in most parts of America. It cannot be
used in victuals," Iieing so excessive bitter. A Fi'ench gentleman some years past,
brought me from Peru some of these nuts, and asked me if I knew what they were r I
did not saiisfy him whether I knew them, ))ut asked him what tlie Spaniards called
tliem, and what use they i)ut them to ? He told me, that the Spaniards called thcni
avilta ; and that they were worth their weight in gold to expel poison, and wished I
could find them growing in Jamaica; v^1iicll they do in great plenty, and the negroes
i employed to get them for me called them suho.''' — Barhcan, p. 113.

This ])lant is frequent in the moimtains, and generally found c!iml)ing among tlie
'tallest trees in the woods. It bears a ])od \>l)ich contains several broad. Hat, seeds, of
a reddish colour, when ripe. The seeds are largely impregnated with an oil, which is
extracted by pressing, and burnt in lamps. The negroes burn the seeds themselves.
They fasten a number of them upon a skewer, and, setting fire to the uppermost, it
^descends very gTadaally to tlie bottom. They aire extremelv bitter, and. when grated
. and infused in rum, or other spirits, a small dose opens the body and provokes an ap-
petite. The infusion is also made with Madeira wine, and taken to relieve pains in the
stomach. The oil gi'^es a clear fine light when burnt in lamps, and emits no disagree-
-able smell. It is easily cultivated, by planting the seed at the foot of a tree or pole, it
'bears very luxuriantly. — Long, p. 718.

The kernel sliced and infused with orange-peel and a little wild cinnamon, in rum,
-,sn excellent bitter and opening medicine : Infused in water and rum, good in all cold
poisons. — Dancer, p. 387, 391.

The seeds are said to be good for a person going into a dropsy, or a swelling of the
face, feet, &c. and the following is the receipt : — Take eight or ten of tlie kernels,
scrape and bruise them fine in a mortar; put the same into a bottle, pouring thereon a
pint of old rum or brandy and the like quantity of water : let it remain in the sun two
<)r three days, shaking the bottle frequently : take a wine-glass full every morning,
fasting, and u'sing moderate exercise before breakfast.

An anonymous writer, in tiie Columbian Magazine, for .July, 1793, who gives the
foregoing receipt, states " that a young girl had been pronounced by the medic ;d
gentlemen in Spanish-Town in a drojisicai state, and evcrv thing administered as they
thought nefess.iry in such a case, but all in vain ; for, on my subsequent removnl U')
Kingston, I found the sucliing much increased in her face, legs, jmd thighs, with a
puthness in her belly. A planter from Above-Rocks breakfasted with me ; 1 called the
girl to get some water ; he was alarmed on seeing her condition, and advised the use

of

24 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. - arbor

of the cocoon or antidote, observing that he had made a perfect cure of a girl in the
same state. I jjroceeded according to his directions, and with the hke success ; it is-
now eighteen months since, and, thanks be to God, she is now in perfect health. I
therefore think myself in duty bound to publish the same for the benefit of ray feiiow-
creatures."

■APPLE. PYRUS.

Cl. 12, OR. 4. — Icosandria, pentagynia. Nat. OR. — Pomaceie.

The generic name is from a Greek word for fire, as the pear or fruit draws up to 3.
point like a flame.

Gen. char. — The calyx is quinquefid ; there are five petals ; the fruit is inferior,
quinquelocular, and polyspermous. The tree grows twenty or tliirty feet high,
having oval serrated leaves, and sessile umbels of whitish red flowers, succeeded
by large roundish and oblong fruit, concave at the base. There are a great many
species and varieties, but none yet introduced tlirive well in Jamaica; they dege-
nerate and become dwarfish and sour. The best grows in St. Andrew's and Port-
Royal mountains, but the trees do not bear many fruit, shooting too much iut© ■
wood. The fruit has seldom any seeds.

See Quince.

Apricot — Sec under Cherry, Bird.
A Arabian Costus — See CardamoiS.

ARBOR VIT^. THUJA.

Cl. 21, OR. 8. — Monoscia monoielpMa. Nat. or. — Connifcrie.

Gen. char. — ^The calyx of the male flower is a squammse of an amentum ; there is
no corolla ; the stamina are four, scarcely manifest • In the female flower the calyx
is a squammse of the strobilus, and contains two flowers; there is no corolla; the
pistil has a small germen, awl-shaped style, simple stigma ; and the seed is sur-
rounded with a membranaceous ala. Two species have been introduced.

1. OCCIDENTALIS.

Strobiles smooth with blunt scales, branches spreading.

This, the common arbor vitEc, has a spreading root, and the tree grows to a moderate,
height, it was introduced and planted in the botanic garden, Bath, by Dr. Clarke. Jt
has a strong woody trunk, erect, and knotty, rising forty feet or more ; the bark,
while young, is smooth, and of a dark brown colour, but, as it advances in age, it be-
comes cracked. The wood is reddish, firm, and resinous. The branches are ])roduced
irregularly on every side, spreading nearly horizontal, and the young slender shoots
frequently hang downward, thinly garnished with leaves ; so that when the trees are
growl large they make but an indifferent appearance. Tiie young branches are flat,,
and their small leaves lie imbricated over each other like the scales of a fish ; the flowers
are produced from the sides of the young branches, pretty near to the foot-stalk, they

are

ARDisiA HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 2^

are small and yellowish ; the male flowers grow in oblong catkins, and between these
the female flowers are collected in form of cones. When the former have shed their
farina, thej' soon after drop off; but the female flowers are succeeded by oblong cones,
having obtuse smooth scales, containing (Mie or two oblong seeds. Tiie leaves of this
tree, which is a native of North-America, are divided into many parts, oblong, com-
pressed, and s(]uamir.osc, they are of a bright green, and ha%e a rank ody scent, when
bruised. There are three other s])ecies of this genus, orientalis, aphi/lia-, and dolohrata.
All of them are propagated by seetls, layers, and cuttings.

This plant grows naturally in Canada in swamps and marshes, and is used, according
to professor Kalm., for many medicinal j)urposes. It is much extolleil for rheumatic
j);iins. Thefresh lea^■es are pounded in a mortar, and mixed with hog's grease, or
any other; this is boiled together, till it becomes a salve, which is spread on linen,
and applied to the ])art where the ])ain is. This salve gives certain relief in a short time.

Against violent pains which mn\e up aivd dowu, and sometimes spread ail over the
body, thej' recommend four-fifths of the leaves of (polypody fpolvpodium frondc pin~
natti, i<c.J and one-fifth of the cones of the thuju occUlcntalis, reduced sejierately to
a coarse powder, and afterwards mixed. With this j^owder, and milk-warm water, a
poultice is made, spread upon linen, and wrapt round the body; but a cloth is com-
monly laid betweei! it and the body, otherwise it would burn and scorch the skin.

The deroction of the leaves is used as a remedy for the cough ; and tliey use this at
Saratoga for the intermitting fever. The wood is very durable, and used in buildings
of all kinds, as well as cabinet-makers work.

2. ORIENT.^LIS.

Strobdes squairosc with sharp scales, branches erect.

This is a native of China, and rises to a considerable height. Its branche-s "■rovf
closer together than the other, and are miu:h better adorned witii leaves, which are of
a brighter green colour, so make a much better appearance than the other, and beinw
very hardy, it is esteemed preferable to mast of tlie evergreen trees with small leaves
in gardens. The branches of this tree cross each other at right angles. The leaves are
flat ; but their divisions are slender, and the scales are smaller and lie closer over each
other than those of the occidtntalis. The cones are al«o much larger, and of a beauti-
ful grey colour; their scales end in acute reflexed points. These trees are pro])a gated
by seeds, layers, or cuttings. One oi t\ie orientalis, it is believed the only one in Ja-
jnaica, grox^s oa Mr. Wiles's mountain, in Liguanea.

'AuCH.iNGEL — See Hemp- AGRIMONY.

Arctotis — See Marigold.

No English Ntime. ARDISTA.

Cl. 5, OR. I. — Pentandria monogi/nia.
Gex. char. — Calyx a one-leafed perianthium, five-cleft, clefts subulate, upriHit,
coloured, permanent; corolla one-petailed, five-parted, tube short; filaments
subulate, upright; anthers acute, bifid at the base, converging at top round
the stjde; germen superior, ovate, very small; style sulndate and lonn-cr
tlian the stamens, stigma simple ; the pericarpium a roundish berry ; seed single,

E rouiicliiii.

26- HORTUS JAMAICENSIS.

AnGYTHAMNlA

rounilish, covered with a hard brittle bark, like a luit. There are several species,
two of which have been found in tliis island.

1. TIMrOUA.

Jasmiuum forte, arboreiiw, foliis lanrinis, oh/usis latioriliii.<! atrovi-
rciitihus, Jiore pcntapetalo racemosa purpurea rcficvo. - Stoane, v. 2,.
}). 98.

Flowers panicled, leaves elliptir, entire, neiTcd, stem arboreous.
This rises about thirty feet high, having a clay or ash coloured smooth baric ; its t'^ igs .
are set with smooth duvk-green leaves, four inclies long and two broad in the middle,
haviaj an eminent midrib and footstalks a quarter of an inch long. The flowers are
pnrple and rcflexed. It grows in Liguanca mountains. — Sloane.

2. CORI.\CEA.

Flowers panicled, leaves oblong, entire, veinless coriaceous. S:c Pr. 4S.-

No English Name.- AHGYTHA.MNIA."

Cl. 2], OR. 4. — Monoecia tctrandrla. Nat. or. — Trieocciv.-

The name is derived from two Greek words, signifying a little' white shrub.

Gek. char. — Male calyx fom- lanceolate leaves ; corolla four petals lanceolate-ovate',
ciliate on the m.argin, shorter than the calyx ; nectary i'our glands between the
jietals, roundish, depressed; filaments four, longer than the petals, approximat-
ed at the base, dilated, anthers simple; the pistilhnn the rudiment of the style : .
tiie female in the same raceme under the male, calyx a five-leafed perianthium,
leaflets lanceolate ; no corolla; gernien ovate, somewhat three-cornered; styles ^
three, spreading, half two-cleft, each of the clefts bind; stigmas lacerate ; "tJic
pericarpium a tricoccoas capsule, three-celled,. six- vah cd ; the seeds sohtary and.
rov'ndish. Tiiere is only one species :

CAXDICANS.

liicino (iff.nis odorifera frulicosu viinor, tencrii folio, fructu tricocco ■
dilute purpiireo. Sloane, v. I, p. 1:33, t. 86, f. 3. I'rutivosa, io-
ta (tlhida ; foliis ol)'o7igisy7iertis paucioribus nrcuatis. Browne, 338.
This shrub seldom rises above five feet in height, and the trunk and branches are co-
vered with a whitish bark. The branches are four or five feet long, sometimes risin"-
upward, and at other times lying along the surface of the earth. The twigs have leaves
at their ends, standing. round them, about an inch in breadth, oval, senate, and of a
■\ery dark green colour, something like germander. Plovvers axilinry^on very short pe-
tluncles. Calyx five-leaved ; stamens six, greenish ; ■ seed-vessel tricocccus, green,
becoming as big as that of heliotropium tricoccon, only it is smooth, and of a very
pleasant pale purple colour. The leaves, when bruised, are very odoriferoiis. This
plant grovi's chiefly in the lower hills of this island, in dry gravelly soil. SI. &' Broxcne.
The (itcraniruis of Browne has been referred to this gejius, and boUi united to. the
order of euphorbias.

jlRNOTTO HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. £7

j\';> English Name. ARISTEA,

Cl. 3, OR. 1, — Triandria mo)wgynia. Nat. or. — Ensatte.

Gen. CHAR. — "Calyx sexpartite ; corolla hexapetalous ; style declining ; stigma s';-n-
pie anJ bell-shaped; capsule oblong trigonal ; seeds many. 'V\\c. capitatsiwis,'x\^
troducedby Mr. W'allen, and is the monea cerulea of JNjliller,

c.vriTATA.
Scape round, leaves distich, hcails of flowers alternate, spathes nicnibraaa-
ccoiis entire.
This is a large and ornamental plant, the stem three or four feet high, nearly twice
ihc length of tlic leaves round, somewhat wingeil by the alternate, decurrent, cauline
.leaves, Upright, subiignesccnt. Leaves linear, ensiforni, stiihsh, finely striated, wiiii-
ont any prominent rib-likc nerve, polished, dark green. Spathes and involucre;
meinbranous, scariose, and acute. Corolla blue, the segments obovate, equal, tvv'ist-
■ing round each oiher in a spiral form, when they close. Jtbears an aljundance of seed,
of which there are two or thre<: in each cell, and by which it is easily ]:)ropagated, as al-
;SO l)y the otYsers or suckers, which it throws up, but i.otin j^reat numbers. This only
.-thrives in the coldest mountainous situations in Jamaica.

See MOUJ5A.

ARNOTTO OR ROCOU. BIXA.

Cl. 13, OK. \.—Poii/andi'iamonogynia Nat. OR. — Cvlumnifertv.

The generic name was adopted from the Indian name used by Oviedo in his Histoiy
■ •of I-iidia or Spanish Ameuca.

Gen. CHAE. — The calyx is pcrinancnt, five-parted, obtuse, flat; the corolla double,
the exterior five ol)long thick petals dropping oil as they expand, the interior like
but thinner ; the stamina are numerous setaceous filaments, half the length of the
corolla ;. the anthers erect, roundish, and purple; stigma bifid comjiressed ; the
fruit an heai't-shaped compressed capsule, surrounded with hairs, formed of two
valves, opening at the angles, containing only one cell, but with an interior bivalve
membrane; the seeds are numerous, turbinated and truncated at the undjilicus ;
tlie receptacle is linear, longitudinal, and grows to the middle of the valves. — •
There is only one species known.

ORELLANA.

JJriicu. Sloane, v. 2, p. 52, i. IS I, f. 1. Foliis cordatis cum acumi-
■nc, floribus i-acemcsis terininalibus. Browne, p. 254.

Tliis rises vvith an upright stem to the height of ten or twelve feet, sending out ma-
ny branches at the top, formiug a regular head, garnished with heart-shaped leaves,
cndinfT in a point, and having long footstalks. The flowers are produced in ]oo.';e pa-
nicles at the ends of t!ie branches, of a pale peach-colour, having large petals and a
great number of bristly stamina of the same colour m the centre. After the flower is

E 2 passett

.28 11 OUT US JAMA IC EN SIS, auxotto

passed the germon becoincs a heart-shaped, or rather a mitre-shaped, vessel, covered
Oil the outside with bristles, openinj^ with two valves and tilled with angular seeds, co-
vered with a re<l waxen pulj) or pellicle, from which the c(jiour called arnotto is prc-
])ared. These plants thrive best in a cool rich soil, ajid shoot most luxuriantly near
springs and rivulets. They are easily propagated from seed.

This plant hath many names, as vrucii, mucou, rocavr, orleana sen o-rellana, our'
oucoii. Tournefort calls it mitellu ^Imcricuna maxima linctoria, and so doth Piumicr.
Hernandez and the Indians call it achhtl, seu vicdicina tingendo upta.

The figure of the plant, w ith Us flower and fruit, is extraordinary well desigited in Piso.

The leaves are cordatcd, or in the figure of an heart, about four inches long and about
two broad, coming out alternately from the stalks and branches, having a sort of foot-
stalk, and a nerve running through the whole leaf, with transverse or oblique veins on
each side ; at the ends of the branches come out, upon a short foot-stalk, many flowers
in clusters, every flower the bignes.; of a small rose, with five leaves of a carnation co-
lour, with a great many yellow stamina, or thrums, with purple tips ; after the flower
follows the fruit, or cotl, which is in the shape of the leaf, but not so broad, covered
with a very rough coat, like the chesmit, which is first green, and, as it ripens, grows
of a dark brown, and then opens of itself. Every cod contains about thuty or forty
seeds, about the bigness and shape of buck wheat, having a splendid red colour, and a
little oily ; so that it tinges or paints the fingers of a reddish colour, not easily got out
with washing ; and it is what sticks to the outside of the seed which makes the paste
called anotto ; which the}- get hy washing it off with water, and after separate the water
a.nd make the paste up into balls. This the dyers use to make a colour they call aurora.
I have known it sold in America for nine shilhngs per pound, but now of low price, and
much out of use.

There is a magisterj' prepared with the paste, as foUoweth : Take fine flour of cas-
sada, orange-flower water, white sugar, Brazil pepper, and the flowers of nhambi, all
finely mixed. (See more of the preparation in Piso, p. 116.) This uiagistery is given
to persons that are poisoned, in wastings and consumptions, hectic fevers, and imfno-
derate sweatings ; it stops bloody fluxes, strengthens the stomach, and provokes urine
and the gravel ; there is also an extract to be m.ade out of the roots, which is of the
same nature as the paste. Anotto is commonly put in chocolate; and the Spaniards
mix it with their sauces, and broths, or soups, which gives them a saffron colour, and
a pleasant taste. — Barhani, p. 4, 5.

When a sufficient number of seeds are collected they are thrown into any convenient
vessel, and as much hot water poured upon them as is necessary to suspend the red fa-
rina, which is gradually washed olf the seeds by the hand or a spoon. When the seeds
appear quite naked, they are taken out, an 1 the wash left to settle ; after which the
water is gently poured away, and the sediment put into shallow vessels, to be dried by
degrees in tlie shade ; . and, after acquiring, by this means, a due consistence, it is
made into balls or calies, and set to dry thoroughly in any airy place, until it is joer-
fectly firm, in which state it is fit for market. Long, p. 7 14.

Another mode is to pound the contents of the fruit vnth wooden pestles ; thert cover
them with water and leave them to steep for six days. This liquor being passed
Shroagh a coarse sieve, and afterwards through three finer ones ; it is again put into
tii^ yittor wooden vessel, and left to fenacutti week. It is then boiled uutii it becomes

pretty

ARiiPvr-i!CA9 H OUT US JAMAICEJS!3iS, 29

pretty thick, and, when cool, is spread out to dry, and then made up into balls, which
are usvialiy wrapped up in leaves. Arnotto ol" a good quality is of the colour of fire,
bright within, soft to tiie touch, and dissolves entirely in water.

The arnotto is said to be an antidote to the poisonous juice of manioc or cassada.
Labat informs us that the Indians prepare an arnotto greatly superior to ours, of a bright
shining red colour, almost equal to carmine. For this purpose, instead of steeping and
fermenting the seeds in water, they rub them witli the hands previously dipped in oil,
till the pellicles come off, and are reduced into a clear paste ; which is scraped off from
the hands with a knife, and laid on a clean leaf in the shade to dry.

It is sometimes used to give a riciiness of colour to butter, cheese, and soups, in
small quantities. Hughes tells us that the wood of this tree, being rubbed, produces
fire, and that th^ bark makes long durable lines. The root is of a grateful taste and is
used as sallron ; they have much the same properties as the wax, but are said to work
more powerfully by the urinary passages. Tiie Indians paint themselves with the ber-
ries, mixed with lemon-juice and rum. The arnotto was formerly used by dyers^
but at present it is not held in such estimation as a dye, though it still maintains its
ground with painters.

ARROW-HEAD. SAGITTARIA.

Cl. 21, OR. 7. — Monwcia polyandria. Nat. ob. — Tripetaloidice.

This plant takes its name from the form of the leaves resembling the head of an
atrow.

Gen. char. — ^The calyx of the male flower is three-leaved, the leaves ovate, coacave,
permanent ; corolla three-petalled, petals roundish, blunt, flat, spreading, three
times as large as the calyx ; the stamina numerous, often twenty-four, awl-shaped,
collected into a head, anthers erect : the female calyx has three leaves, and the
corolla three petals, as in the male ; there are no pistils but numerous genuens,
collected into a head, gibbous outward, ending in very short styles, with acute
stigmas; the receptacle globular ; seeds numerous and naked. There are two
species which grow plentifully in Jamaica.

1. SAGITTIFOLIA.

Sagitta. Sloane, v. 1. p. 188.

Leaves arrow-shaped acute.

This grows in great plenty in Jamaica. Sir Hans Sloane saith, he hath seen the same,"
ptant sent from Fort St. George, in the East-Indies, by the name of coolette yella. It
grows much like our European arrow-head, and hath its name from its shape ; viz.
sagilta si\'e sagittaria. Tournefort calls it ranunculus palustris folio sagittato maximo.
It generally grows in standing waters, and is counted a peculiar wound herb, whether
inwardly taken or outwardly applied ; the root, bruised and apphed to the feet, helps
the crab-yaws in negroes. Barham, p. 6.

2. :lancifolia.

Plantago aquatictt. Sloane, v. 1, p. 187. Foliis maximis, smph'ci-
bis, ohlongis, utringne produces ; ramidU xxrti.cillatis ; caule glu"
kro, Browne, p. 345,

Leaves.

^ HORTUS JAMAlCENSia ARKOW-root

Leaves lanceolate orate.
It grows near Biack-lliver bridge, going to 01d-H;ul)0ur, and in many other places.
It is tliougiit to have tiie same qualities with land plantain, the seed to be astringent,
and tlae leaves good against burns, and to be applied to hydropic legs. The juice ap-
plied to i)reasts is a great secret in clearing tiiem of milk. — Sloane.

Great quantities of this plant grow near the Ferry-Tavern, on the i*oad between
Kingston and Sp,iiiish-Town, wiierc the stem grows very luxuriantly, and rises fre-
q'aently to the height of two or three feet above the foliage. The branches of the low-
er verticiilre seiJotu exceed three in number, and are generally sub-divided in the same
manner themselves ; but those of the higher orders consist of chiefly five long siuqjle
flovver-staiks, and those about the top of three only. The flowers that grow about the
cxtreniilies of the stem and i)ranches are generally male, and adorned with a great ma-
ny filaments, which are always observed to stand on longer footstalks than tlie icniale
flowers, which commonly occupy the lovvci part of the main as well as of the luteritl
flower-spikes. Both the stalk and branches are smootii and roundLsh. — Browne.

ARRO W-RO OT. M AR ANTA .

Ci.. 1, OR. 1. — Monandria monogynia. Nat. ok. — Scilamimtr,

The generic name was given by Plumier, in honour of Bartolommco Maranta, vAlO
Tvrote three books on simj^le medicines, and was esteemed a man of considerable geni-
us, who died in 1.).3 1-.

• Gf.n. ciiAPi. — Calvx a r.mall, three-leaved, lanceolate, pcrianthiun; ; corolla or.e-
petaliccl, rlngent, with an oijlong compressed tube, bent in, border six- cleft, al-
ternate outer segments ovate, equal, smaller, two alternate lateral very large and
roundish, representing tjie lower lip ; iippermost stnall,- two-parted ; the stamen
a mcriibranaceous filament, resembling a segment of the corolla, with a htvear an-
ther fastened to its edge ; the pistillum a rountiish germcn, inferior ; style siniple,
the length of the corolla ; stigma obsolctely three-cornered, bent in ; j)eri(uijji-
um roundish, obscurely three-sided, three-ceiled, three- valved; seed single, «-
vatc, wrinkled, and hard. Five or six species have been reierred to this gcims,
init all ilouhtiul, (some of them indeed now diliorently classed), except the Indiau
arrow-root, or

_ ... AUUNDINACEA.

Camui Indicamdice alba lile.fipharmaca. Sloane, v. 1, p. 253, t*149./
f. 2. Fidiis ianccoluto cvatis, peliolis superne gangUonosis JnictK,
glabra. Browne, p. Ii2.

Culm brandied, -Jierbaceous, leaves ovate-lanceolate, somewliat hairy below.

This plant has thick, knottv, creeping, perennial roots, Imving annular protuberan-
ces or rings, crowned with long, broad, arundinaceous, le'aves, ending iii points, and
upright stalks, terminated by bimches of white fl.iwers Tiic plant is propagated by
cuttings <jf the roots, which spring at the joints, and in about twelve, monviis is fit t j
be dug. It is very generally cultivated in Jamaica, where it was intrcuuccd from ti;o
island of Earbadoes.

Ti;is

ARROW- HOOT HORTUS jAMAICENSIS. 3t'

This root is so call-'d from its curing and expelling the poisoii which Indians put to
their arrows when they shoot at their enemies, which, ii' the\- make but a slight wound,
certainly kills the person if the poison he not expelled; and that this ]-;!a;";t doth, bv
takini- the juice iawardl}-, and applying the bruised root as a poultice outwardly : This
ivas discovered by an Indian, taken after he had wounded an European with one of these-
poisoned arrows, whom they tortured until he promised to cure him, which he did c<-
fcctually with the I'oot of this plant. It hath a stalk and leaf exactl}- like Indian shot,
only that hath a bfMutiful scarlet Hower, and this hath a milk-white one. The leaves of
it fall in Deceniber, and the root is fit to dig in January. Sir Hans Sloane calls it canna.
Jndica rddice alba alexipharmaca, from its known virtues in e:;petling poison. I knew
a gentlewoman ia .Jamaica that was bit or stung with a black spider (which is venomous
liere) upon one of the fingers, which immediately inflamed and pained her up to tlie
elbow and shoulder, and threw her into a fever, wit.h symptoms of fits; and all this
happened in less than an hour. They sent away for this root, which they took and
bruised, and having applied it to the par: aiTecte 1, in half an hour's time she found
much ease: in two hours afterwards chevtook that away, and applied afresh root, which
still brought more ease and quietness of her spirits > her fever abated,, and ira twenty-
four hours she was perfectly well. 1 knew another person that was cured in the same
manner, that was bit by one of these spiders, at the nccessar^'-house, upon the but-
tock ; And about three miles from St. Jago de la Vega, happened an accident of.poison
not designed, which was done by an ignorant- rregro slave, by stopping a jar of rum
with a weed, which wilt be described hereafter*. The rum stood siojjped all night, and
some of the leaves had fallen inio it : In the morning, a negro drank of it, and gave
some to two o: three more of his ccantry ; and in less than two hours they were all verv
sick v/ith vlole: it vomiting and tremblings. This alarmed the plantation, and the master
of it was sent ft>r, letting him know that some of his negroes were poisoned, but how
they could not tell, lie took a surgeon with him. ; but before he got there two or three of
them were dead, and another just expiring. The surgeon was at a stand what to do ;' but
somebody advised Indian' arrow-rtiot, which they got immediately, and bruiscfl it, being
a very juicy root, and pressed out the juice, and g:we it to tlie'Tiegro, who was secmingl-v
adyirig" : The fiist glass revived him, the second brouglit him to himself, so thai? he said
he f^jund his heart honn, and desired more of it; upon which he mended, and in a little
time recovered. - T'his is-Lopezcle Gomara's counter-poison, and is one of the ingve-
dierits of Hernandez's grand elixir, or great antidote. I have seen this root frequent])?
priven in malignant fevers with great sr.ccCss,- when all other tiviu2:s have failed, ^\'he^^
i make up idpis cnntraijerva f<)r vcij own practice, I always put i-n a good quantity of ibl.
I have given it decocted, but it is best in powder, w hich causes sweat ; the dose is
from a draclmi or two. I have observed, that altliough this is a very flowery root, jet,
if vou keep it ';even years, no vermin will meddle uilh it, when all other roots in this
countrv are very subje'ct to be destroyed uith vi^:>rros and Weevils. It luith no mani!c:»
of ill taste or smell ; it works by sweat and uriiie, and yet is a great cordial ; it pwivokcji
the terms, and clears lying in women ; it drives out tlie t>mall-pox or measles ; and if
it was candied as eringo-root, it woidd make a pleasant preserve, for it possesses thtj
iike prolific virtue. — Barhani, p. T, 8.

Prepared as follows, this root makes excellent starch, and i's frcq'.-.entlv used instead
of the common sort. The roots, when a year old, are dug up, well washed in uater,^

atid-

»

• See Savanna Flouer,

32 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. ap^smart

and beaten to a pulp, which is thrown iato a large tub of clean water. The whole is
then well stirred, and tlic fibrous part wrung out by the hands and thrown away. The
milky liquor being passed tlirough a hair-sieve, or coarse cloth, is left to settle, when
the water is drai;ied off, leaving a white mass, wiiich is again mixed with clean water
and drained ; the mass is then spread out and dried in the sun, and becomes a pure
white flour, v/hich will answer all the purposes of starch. Boiled with miik and water,
it is a most nourishing and extremely palateabie food, which m^ay be retained by the
weakest stomach. It is, for many domestic purposes, preferable to the best wheaten
flour, especially in making puddings.

Dr. Wright says a decoction of the fresh roots makes an excellent ptisan in acute
diseases. Its juice is also said to stop a gangrene, if applied in tinae, and tliat with wa-
ter it is good against all acrid poisons. The Indians call it touloUt.

ARSMART. POLYGONUM.

Cl, 8, OR. 3. — Octandria trigynia. Nat. or. — Holoraceie.

Tlie generic name is derived from two Greek words signifying very knotty', on ac-
count of the many knots on the stalks.

Gen. CHAR. — ^There is no calyx ; tiie corolla is five-parted and calycine, or serving
iustead of a calyx ; the stamens eight short filaments, .\\ ith roundish incumbent an-
thers; germen triquetrous, st3'ies short, stigmas simple ; there is no pericarpium,
but the corolla remains, and surrounds the seed, which is single, triquetrous, and
acute. There are many species, three of wiiich grow in this island, tiie following,
. and the scandeiis, coimnonly called buck- wheat ■•

1. PERSIC ARIA.

'Perskaria urem; she hydropipev. Sloane, v. 1, p. 140. Glabrunty
Jiorihus hexandris, afj/l/s hifidis, vas'inis siil)mittifi.<i. Browne, 212.
Flowers hexandrous semidigynous, spikes ovate oblong erect, peduncles even,
stipules ciliate

This grows very commonly on the muddy banks of (he Rio Cobre, and sends out
from every joint, touching the water or mud, a grert mauy fibrils. Tiie stalk is round,
jointed at every incli and a half, each joint incUning a little downwards, and about two
feet long. At every joint there is a protuberance, and at it upwards is a half-inch long
membrane covering the stalk. The leaves come out at each joint akernatively, on
inch-long footstalks, they are eight inches long and two broad where broadest, smooth,
and in every thing like English arsmart leaves. The flowers stand on the tops of the
branches, spike-lhshioned, like in colour to the ordinar}- persicarias, and to them fol-
lows a black, fiat, roundish, shining, smooth, seed, having two small prickles or points
at eacii end. It grows bv river sides and in moist grounds all over the island, and comes
very near, if not altogether the same, as our common Eun^pean persicaria. Sloane,
alter gi\ iiig the foregoing description, cites various aiUhorilies for the following virtues
which this vegetable is reputed to possess: A fomentation of the leaves tjikes away old
aches and colds of the joints. It is a good caustic, and used in putrid and wormy ulcers
for that cause. It takes away hardened tumours, and dissolves congealed blood. The
Juice kills worms in the ear. Boiled in water, and applied, it carries away bad humours

fiona

AitsMA-RT H OUT US JAMAICENSIS. SU

from the c^-es. If beaten luul applieJ with the juice, it helps jjuriilent eye. It takes off.
spots from the hod}-, if its juice 'jo rubhed on them aioniing aiid evening. T'tie juice
*)f the whole plant, except the roof, boiled iu sergelini oil, u a cephalic liniment, even
to be a])plied to bleedings of the nose. This is iiiso a liiiinient for the gout. Tlie root,
taken with hot water, loosens the bellv ; and the leaves, given in sour milk, assuage the
sweliing's of the beilyand gripings. Flics, gnats, or lleas, come not near this lierb
or its juice, and, tiiercfore, it is good f;r ulcers, and keeps these vermin fr(;m rooms
strewed with it. Suioe of it put under th.e sadalc, and rubbed on a horse's back, re-
frcKhes hiai- when tired. — Stoune.

V/e have twa sorts of arsmart in America, the same as grow in England, one without
spots, the other With. • It is known, as the great and learned Boylt; commends it, as a
specific to break the stone and expel the gravel in the reins or bladder, and that by a
.simple water distilled from this plant ; but its juice or essence, in mv opinion, is imirli
better, sweetened with a little syrup of marsh-mallows. The root, Lruised and applied
to an aching to(jtb, takes away the pain ; the iuice or essence, mixed with equal quanti-
ties of ox-ga!!, oil of spike, and mustard, well niixedj discusses all cold swellings, scro-
fulous and schirrous tumors, and whitlows or felons ; the essential <jil is good for knotty
gouts ; or this : Take the oil of arsmart (made by infusion), Jovage,. and shepherd's
purse, of each a handful ; the heads of five sheep and fifteen frogs ; boil all together
in two or three quarts of oil, until the flesh is consumed, and then strain, 'i'iiis is
excellent for knotty or chalky gouts, rubbing it well into the parts. — Barham, p. 8.

Dr. Dancer says the dose of the fresh plant, fpersicariaj in decoction, isa wine-o-lass
full, as a diuretic ;, and, on the authority of the late ingenious Mr. Samuel Feinted, that
an infusion of the dried plant is powerfully diuretic, and very useful in gravtdly com-
i^laints. — Mtdical Jlasistant,* p. 383. Tlie following is copied from Mi-. l<elsted's ma-
nuscript : " A decoction of the stalks of this plant, fresh gathered, drank, a wine glass-
full at a time, at short inteiTals, has very speedily removed a dangerous suppression of
urine, of two days continuance, after all the medicines which were used had failed. —
Also a decoction of the dried stalks and leaves has afforded relief in an arthritic com-
plaint, by evacuating sand and gravel."

2. BARBATUM. BKARDED.

Persicaria procuinbens longisslma, ungustifvlia, non maculosa, spica
longiori, la.viuri et graciliori. Sloane, v. 1, p. 17, t. 3, f. 1. i)ub~
hirsntuvi yvaginis setosis, Jioribus octandris, sti^lis ir/fidis. Browne,
p. 212.

Flowers hexandrous trigynous, spikes rod-like, stipules truncate setaceous-
ciliate, leaves lanceolate.

Sloane says the root of the barbatum has several protuberances, and great numbers of
xeddish brown strings. The stalks are spread round, trailing on the surface of the
earth for about four feet iiv length, round, reddish, smootli, jointed at every inch. —

F Tiie

" The compiler lias to apologise to the learned autlior of the Medical Assistant, for having oraitled, in his preface,,
to acknowledge the aisistance lie has derived I'roifl tbat v«ry usel'ui work, whitli ought to be ia the pusacjjiou of
«icrj{ fainilj: liiroughout the VYcJt ludiu.

e* KOKTUS JAMAICENSf?: ARTicKeKB

"^I'lic floweiN stand on footstalks at tlie tops of the branches, iikc those of orclijiain- ars-
nr.irt, hut more hix and slender, followed bj- sniall sliining black seeds in green husks,
seed.< an^idiir, witli two 2)ricki_y eiid>. It frrows in moist and muddy places. — Sioanc.

See Buckwheat.

ARTICHOKE. CYXARA.

Cl.. 1.9, Olt. 1. — S_yugenesia polygamia (rqualis. Nat. on. — Compesitee.

This generic name is said by sonic to be derived from the word ciiierc, becanse, ar?-
^'ording to Columella, land for artichokes should be manured wkh ashes. Parkinson
says, it is so calletl from the ash-coloured hue of the leaves.

Gen. CHAR: — -'Calyx oonimon ventricose inibricate,tvith nurrierous scales ; corolla com-
pouiid tuhu'ons, niiiforni •eoroJlets heniwjjhrBdite, nearlveciual, proper, one-pe-
talled : stamina five-fi'a?nei>ts, very short ; anther -cylindric, five-to(jthed ; gir-
men ovate, style filiform, .stigma simple; no pericarpium ; seeds solitary, ob-
long-ovate ; down sessile, long ; receptacle bristly. There ai'e six species, two
only culti%-atedfor use, the cafdunculus or cardoon, and the

SCOLYMUS.

Leaves somewhat spiny, pinnate and undivided ; calycine scales ovate.

This is the common garden artichoke, of which there are two varieties. 1. Theco-
ftical green headed French artichoke, having small leaves, terminated by spines, a tall
stalk ; the head somewhat conical, and of a light green colour, with the scales pointed
fit top, opening and turning outward. 2. The globular headed red Dutch artichoke,
having leaves without spines, a strong stalk, the head large, globular, a little com-
pressed at top, and of a reddish green colour ; broad obtuse scales emarginated at top,
growing ciose, and turning inward. This last , is deservedly the most esteemed, both
on account of its superiority in size, and the agreeableness of its flavour. The Hout-rs
and seed of all tlie plants of this genus are produced in the centre of the head ; the
scales of which are the proper calyx of the flower, which consists of numerous small
blueish florets, succeeded by downy seeds sitting nAked on the receptacle. Both the
varieties are propagated by slips or suckers, and thrive very vveii in rich land, and high
cold situations in Jamaica. Very fine -ones may often be met with in the Kingston
market, the produce ef Port Royal, Liguanea, and St. David's, mountains. The
ground where they are planted should be well duo-, freed from weeds, and so thrown
up as to prevent water lodging about the roots. It is best to leave only one shoot and
head to each root ; by which means the artichokes will be much finer and larger.

■ The artichoke is a native of the soutiiem parts of Europe. The receptacles or bot-
toms of the heads, and the fleshy parts of the scales, are usually eaten, and though
thought by Galen to generate bile and melancholy, are wholesome and nutritious. —
The leaves are bitter, and afford, bj' expression, a considerable quantity of juice, which,
when strained and mixed with an equal part of white wine, has been given successfully
in dropsies ; for this purpose, two or three spoonfuls of the mixture are to be taken
night and morning. An infusion of the leaves are likewise diuretic, and may be em»
ployed with the same intention, — JVoodville''s Medical Botany, p. 69, pi. 28.

. See Cardoon.

ASPARAGUS,

JKPHODEi. 11 O R T U S J A M A I C E N S rs. SS

ASPARAGUS. ASPARAGUS.

Cl. 6, OP. 1. — Ile.vandria monogynia. Nat. or. — SarmcnfacetP.

This takes its name from a Greek ward, signifying a yotiiig shoot, before it unfolds
its leaves.

Gen. char. — No calyx ; corolla sis pt>ia]leil, cohering by the claws, oblong, and
caaipanulakod ; the petals rctlex at the extremities ; stamina fiiiibrm capiliauientF,,
inserted into the petals, erect, and half the length of the corolla ; antliers round-
ish ; germen trigonal, s-tyie short, stigma a prominent point ; the fruit a globose
three-celled berry ; seeik two, round, angular inside, sinooth. There are.seve--
ral species andTariedes, the most useful is -the

OFF ICINALIS. OmcrNAL. .

Stem herbaceous, round, erect ; leaves setaceous ; stipHlesalilve.

The root is perennial, large, composed of many succulent round bulbs, forming a
Icind of transvei-se tfiber, wheiice spring nimierous stems. The pro]iagation of this
■useful plant is from seeds. It thrives well ir> Jamaica, and will grow almost any where,.
and a bed of it once. established will siipplya family for many yc;ws, wuh frequent cut-
ting and manuring. The seeds iire collected by bruismg tlie berries in any vessel, and
afterwards washing^off the pulp. They sh&uld then be dried and sown in small trenches
well manured. I'liey must be kept dear of weeds, and, when tlie stalks are dry, a lit-
tle rotten dung siioukl be thrown over the bed. When they grow up again, they will
be fit to cut lor the talile. They produce goodruttings, in this inland, twelve months
after they are sown. The ro(jts of the asparagus have a bitterish mucilaginous taste, in-
clining to sweetness : the truit hasniuch the same kind of taste ; the young shoots are
more agreeable tliEH either. Asparagus promotes appetite, batahbrUs lili.le nourish-
ment. It gives a strong ill smell to the urine, in a little time after eating it, and, for
this reason, chiefly, is supposed to be diuretic ; but neither the roots, nor the staiks
when branched, have thisetiect : it is likewise esteemed aperient and deobstruent.

M. Roliquet has lately, it is said, discovered a new vegetable principle in asparagus j
it is a triple salt of lime and ammonia, of which the acid is unknown. Tins chemist,
and M. Vauquelin, have found a substance, in the juice of this vegetable, anaiagous.
to manna.

ASPHODEL, OR KING'S. SPEAR. ASPHODELUS.

Cl. 6, OR. 1. — Hexandriamonogytiia. Nat. or. — Covonarue.

tjEN. CHAR. — ^Thcre is no calyx ; the corolla is raonopetaious six- parted ; the nec-
tarium consists of six small valves, forming a globe ; the stamina subulate, bowed,
inserted lato the valves of the nectary, alternately shoi'ter ; anthers oblong, in-
cumbent ; gennen roundisli, style subulate, stigma truncate ; the capsule is Heshy,
globose, three-lobed and three-celled ; seeds numerous, triangular, and gibbous
i)n one side. There are three species, only one of wiiich has been introduced.

ramosus. branckv.
Stenx naked, leaves ensifonn, keeled, polished,

^ 2 Brancky

S6 IIORTUS JAMAICENSIS. avens

Branrhv asphodel hath roots rompose<l of fleshy fibres, to each of which is fastened
an oblong bulb as large as a small potatoe ; the leaves are long and flexible, having sharp
edges ; between them come out the flower stalks, which rise more than three feet higii,
sending forth many lateral branches. The upper parts of these are adorned witb many
white star-shaped flowers, which grow in long spikes, flowering gradually upward.—
They are easily propagated by parting their roots, and are pretty ornaments to a flower
garden.

The roots are of an acrimonious taste, and heating quality ; being drank they pro-
mote urine and the menses ; and the weight of a drachm, taken in wine, is used with
success in pains in the side, coughs, convulsions, and ruptures. Tliey are good
against bitos of serpents, and make a good cataplasm for foul spreading ulcers, inflaTu-
mations, &c. The ashes of tlic burnt root, rubbed on an alopecia, cause new hair to
spring. — Chambers' Cj/c/op.

AsPLENiUM — See "Harts Tongues and Spleen Wort.

Aster — See Star-Wort.

Atropa — See Tree Atropa.

Attoo — See Chaw Stick.

AucuEA — .S^ir Japan Aucuca.

Auricula — Sec Primrose.

AVENS. GEUM.

■ Cl. 12, OR. 5. — Icosandria moiiogynia. Nat. or. — Lenticoste.
The derivation of this name is uncertain.

Gen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed, ten-cleft, upright, perianthium, segments alter-
nately small ar-'l sharp ; the corolla has five petals ; the stamina are nun>erou9
filaments, length of the calyx ; short anthers ; tlie pistillum has numerous germs,
collected into a head ; styles hairy, long ; stigmas simple : there is no pericarpium,
the common receptacle of the seeds oblong : seeds numerous, compressed, Lisped,
avvned, with a long style. One species is a native of this island.

VIRGINUNUM. VIRGINIAN.

Caryophyllata foliis alatis. Sloane, v. 1, p. 224.

Flowers upright ; awns hooked, naked ; stem-leaves tcrnate, the irpper ones
lanceolate ; petals shorter than the calyx.
There are two or three sorts of thorn growing '.4' \merica. One sort, Pere le Feu-
ville calls canjophyllata foliis (ileitis Jlore ample coccineo. It is an aperitive herb, which
the natives make a tea of, to keep tlieir bodies in order. It grows about half a yard
high, on the side of the mountains, and hath a scarlet blossom. The same sort 1 found
growing in Jamaica : It is hot and dry, attenuates, cleanses and opens obstructions ; is
good m bruises and pleurisies, and heals wounds. — Bar/iain, p. 10.

Sloane rays this plant is very common hi the woods of this ii^land.

AVOCADO

AVOCADO IIOTITUS JAMAICENSIS. 37

AVOCADO PEAR. LAURUS.

Ci.. 9, OR. 1. — Ennecindria monogynia. Nat. or. — Hdsraccte.

The name laurus is said to be derived from the Latin word lam, praise.

Gen. char. — ^There is no calyx ; the corolla is calycine, or serving in tlie place of
the calyx, and sexpartite ; the nertarium with three glandules, each terminated
by two bristles surrounding the gennen, the stamina are nine filaments, shorter
than the corolla, compressed, obtuse, and placed in threes ; the anthers adhere
to the edge of the upper part of the filaments, on each side, and there are twa
globose corpuscles affixed by a very short filament to each of the stamina of the
inner series, near the base : the germen is oval ; the style simple, equal, and of
the length of the stajiiina ; the stigma is obtuse and obhc^ue j tlie fruit a niono-
spermous plum.

PERSEA.

Prunl/era arbor, fructii ma.vimo pyri/onni viridi, perirarpio esru-
lento huti/raceo, nuckum unicuyn maximum nullo ossiculo tcctiiDi,
cingentc. Sloane, v. 2, p. 132, t. 222, f. 2. Foliis oblongo o-jutis,
fructu obverse ovale, peruarpio butj/raceo. Browne, p. 214.

Leaves ovate, coriaceous, transversely veined, perennial, flowers corymbed.
Tliis tree, which is said to have been introduced into this island from the con-
tinent, rises to a considerable height, with a straight trunk, of wliich the bark and.
wood are of a greyish colour, the bark very rough and irregular. The leaves are oval,
transversely veined, pointed, of a leathciy substance, and of a beautiful shining greeu
above, and pale below ; wlion young ti>c\' are reddish or fiame coloured. The flowcr.'i
are produced in large corymbed knots or clusters at the extremities of the branches, and
consist each of six petals, disposed in the form of a .star, and of a dirty wliite or yellow
colour, with an agreeable odour, which diiiFuses itself to a considerable distance. The
wood of the tree is soft, and of no use. It is very subject, from its extreme brittleness,
to lose its branches in any high wind, and young trees are frequently snapt in two, they
however soon shoot again many suckers, whicli grow rapidly. Tliis tree is a native of
the West Indies, and easily propagated from the seeds. It begins to bear in three or
four years after planted, and sometimes even sooner. The fruit is pear-shaped, and
from one to two pounds in weight. On removing a green or brown skin or covering,
we come to a yellow butyraceous substance, interspersed with greenish veins ; and, in
the heart, fin 1 a largo roundish seed or stone, which is unequal on the surface, liard,
and woody. This fruit ripens in August, September, and October, and constitutes a
very agreeable article of food for tiiree or four months in the jear. With a little salt,
and one or two plantains, they afford a hearty meal to the negroes, and are introduced
at every table, being by many considered a great luxury. Few people, however, re-
lish them at first, but use reconciles them to the palate, and they soon become agree-
able. When ripe the seeds rattle ; and the yellow or eatable substance, firm, though
soft, parts freely from the external skin, it tastes somewhat like butter, or marrow;
•d.nd\t is hence caWed the vcgefablc viarrow. It is so rich and mild that most people
make use of some spice or pungent substance to give it [loignancy. For this purpose
wine, sugar, lime-juice, but mostly pejjper and salt, is used. But, however excellent
this fruit ir, when ripe, it is very daiigcrous when jjulled and eaten before maHuity. —
t)v. ^^''rigllt says, be has repeatedly known it produce fever and dysentery, which wei-o

removed

33 HORTUS JAMAICEN-SIS. ayekix

remove:! with clifTicultj-. In sHoli cases the decoction of the ketiifis of tliis fniiniresaiJ
to lie useful, as they appear to be of a very astringent qiKilit}'. Tlie leaves of this tree,
ill decoction, are rec)^or;cJ '.lalsainic, pectoral, and vulnerary; the decoction is ot a
KiftVoii cuiour, of a mucilaginous sutistance, and taste not unpleasant. Tkey are also,
with those of the iiead vine or wild liquorice, uiack into jjecLoral decoctions-; and the
buls are sidJ to be used with success in ptisans against tbe venereal (Usease. Au intu-
sioi) of them in v.ater, drank in tiie luorning fasting, is-srroiigly recommended ior dis-
lodging coagulated blood in -the stomach, produced by-ii fall, or a severe str».>ke on tiiut
important ciitr^U. Hogs, dogs, cats, horses, cattle, birds, -aiul many other aimnais,
tilt ihese pears greedily, -and they are generally made us of, during the season, for fat-
tening hogs, which gives tlieir flesh a verv agreeable flavour.

Siihucu istlie liidiaii nuuie. The Sixiniartls, in South America, call it flo-uacrf/f,^ and
under that name It is described by Ulloa. However, in Peru and Mexico, it is better
known by the ajJijellation of /«/i7(/, or put/o.

This tree and friiit are well knwvn in America; in the -kingdom of Peru they are
called pattus.

Tlie fruit is cf a pear fashion, asbigmsthe English pound pears, and green when
ripe; but I have seen a sort ver}' round, with red streaks like a pear-mum. When
they have been gathered some days, they g-row soft, tmd are tit to eat with pepper and
salt ; some mix them with lemon-juice and sugar, others will boil them and eat with
salt beef They are very nonrishing, and are'lhonght to 'he great provocatives ; there-
fore the Spaniart-ls do not cave their wives should e;it mnch of them. This fruit is ripe
in June, and so continues till October. Thej' have a large stone ni tlte nhddle, wtho-
ped up in a'fine thin skin, of the shape of a heart ; and when that skin is taken off, it
is'-ver}- rough, and in wrifikled or little hard protuberances, of a reddish colour ; when
cut through, it is very v.hite ; but the -air soon turns it reddish. If you take one of
these pear-stone.% and write upon a white wall, the letters will turn as red as blood,
und never go o\it untii'the wall is vihite-wiished again, and then with difficulty ; also,
if you take a piece of white cloth and put round them, and with a j)in prick out any let-
ter or figure on the cloth, the figure will be of ajelluvvcolour, not to be -easily washed
«mt.* — Har/iavi, p. 10.

There are two species of the fruit, the green and the red. The latter is preferred,,
having a firmer better tasted flesh tlian the other ; but I have observed that the good-
ness of both depends entirely upon the place of growth ; for the fruit produced in &
wild state is small, and often bitter ; the finest come from the red hills near Spanish
Town, the Liguanea mountains, and the inland parts. — Long; p. 808.

.yt't BENJAMtN — CaMPHIRE — ^ClNNAMON — -'COGWOOD — LaUREL TREES — ^NUTMEG, AmE-^

RiCAN — Sassafras.

'No English Name. AYENIA.

Cl. 20, OR. 4 — Gi/nandria pentandria Nat. or. Colwnniftrie.
This name was given in honour of the Duke D'Ayen, a great promoter of the sci-
ence of botany, who had a noble garden at St. Germaine. GiN.

• It ja assettcd, that lliis stain will disappear, when the pears are in leaton the fulIiKJa"

ia5j-e«.

4YEMA H OUT US- JAMAICENSIS. SiJ

Gex. citar. — Calyx one-leafed five-parted, parts ovate, oblong, acute, coloured
in the middle, reflex, withering ; corolla pcntapetalous, in the form of a star ; the
nectarium bell-shaped, sitting on a cylindric erect column, shorter than the calyx ;
-stamens very short filaments, inserted into the margin of the nectarj-, bent arch-
wise through a notch at tlie end of each petal ; anthers roundish ; germen round-
ish five-cornered ; style cylindric ; stigma obtuse, five-lobed ; capsule five-grain-
ed, roiuidish, muricate, five-celled, tea-valved, elastic. Xwo species grow in
this island.

1. PUSILLA FEEBT.E.

Urtic^ folio avomala, florc pentapetalo jiurpureo^ fructu peiitacoccQ
muricato. Sloane, v. 1, p. 209, t. 132, f.' 2.

Leaves cordate, smooth.
It has a reddish, round, deep, oblong, root, from which spring several round green
l"OU"-li branches, about six inches high, the leaves are oval, snipt or cut on the edges,,
sniootli, anil standing on a snwdl footstalk. Between them and the stalk comes out a
small, pentapetalous, purplish, flower, standing on a very small reddish footstalk,
and having one large stylus, which ii> sometime grows red, large, and afl:erwai-ds rough
and brown, it is pentacoccous or divided into five cellulse, contauiing each a blackish
seed, and all are pendulous or inclining towards the ground. It grows among the grass
ji» town savannas. — Sloane.

2. L(EVIGATA. SMOOTH.

Leaves ovate, entire, quite glabrous j germ pedicelled ; nectary ten-cleft»
jtadiate. — Siv. Pr, 97.

8ACHEL0RS

40 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. BAr.?AS«;

BACHELORS BUTTON. GOMPIIRENA.

Cu. b, OR. 2. — Pcntandria digynia. Nat. or. Amaranlhe.

This generic name is derived I'roni a Greek word signirying a nail, knob, or button.

Gen. char. — Ciilyx a coloured perianlhiuni ; outer tliree-leavetl ; leaflets two, c>)a-
verging, keeled; corolla fi\e-peia!led, nectary a cylindric tube, the Iciigtii of ihe
loroliu, witii a five-tooched patulous mouth ; stamina scarcely observable within
the mouth of the nectary ; anthers upright, closing the mouth of the nectary ;
gennen ovate, pointed; style cloven half way ; stii^mas simple, the length of the
sianiens ; cajjsule roundish, circiimcisetl ; seed single, large, roundish, ^i'ith an
oblique tip. Two species grow in Jamaica.

1. GL0B03A. GLOBUL.AR.

Stem upright ; leaves ovate lanceolate, heads solitary, peduncles two Ic.ived,
This is a very ornamental plant in gardens, and is annual,^ rising with an upright
branched stalk, about two feet high. Leaves, branches, and peduncles, opposite ; the
latter axillary, long, and naked, except that there are two short leaves close under each,
head of flowers. These heads are at first globular, but as they increase in size become
<i\d\. There is a white an^l a purple variety. Tiie Bovvers, if gathcrca before too far
advanced, \riii retain their ijeauty and brilliant colour for a considerable length of lime..
Two varieties grow naturally in the AVcst Indies, the heads of which resemble the others,
in colour and shape, but are much smaller. They are propagated by seeds. Browne
is doubti'ul whether this species is not a native, as he found it growing wild about the-
yavannas, rising twelve or fifteen inches,

2. INTERRUPTA. INTERRUPTED.

Stem almost upright, spike interrupted.

Root annua!. Stem shrubby at bottom, from one to two feet high. Branches jointed,,
sub-decumbent, lanuginose, white. Leaves at the root aggregate, sessile ; above op-
p.-jsite, lanceolate, obtuse, tomenti5se, beneath white lanuginose, soft. Flowering-
stems leafless, stiff, whitish, except that they are often purple towards the end. Flow-
ers in spikes, aggregate, sessile, interrupted, lanuginose. Scales two or three mem-
branaceous, minute, forming an involucre to the calvx, which is five-parted ; the jJarts
linear erect, purple, woolly on the outside. Germ large, compressed, woolly; style
short ; stigma sub-capitate, yellow. ^Capsule largish, involved in the calyx, opening
in two pans at top, woolly, compressed, crested on the edge. This species is a nativej
cf the dry sandy fields, in the southern parts of Jamaica. — ^ia'.

See Rupture AVorth, Hairy.

BALSAM HERB. DL\NTHERA.

Cl. 2, OR. 1. — Diandria nionog7/nia. Nat. or. — Persoiiat^^
This genus takes its name from a Greek word, signifying double anthered.
Gen. char. — Calyx one-leafed, five-parted, tubular ; corolla one petalled, ringent,
tube short, patulous, upper lip ovate, lower with three segments ; stamina shorter

BALSAM IIORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 4j

than tlse corolla, jri-owiiig to its l)ack ; antlicrs double, phlonnf, one a little hirrher •
j^ermen oblong, style the length of the stamina, sligma obtuse; capsule" two-
valved, two eelleil, compressed above and below, but alternatelv, with boat like
valves, bursting asunder with an elastic nail, seeds solitary, in form of a lens. —
This is nearly allied to the genus jusficia, from which its fructification differs onlv
in the stamens ; and to which Swartz united it. Two species grow in this island.'

1. AMERICANA. AMEMCAN.

Spikes solitary-, alternate.
This is a low herbaceous plant, with a perennial root, sending out several weak stalk-;
aT)0ut four inches long. The leaves are roundish, hairy, sessile, of a dark green colour,
and aromatic odour. The flowers are produced from the si<les of the stalks, iu small
spikes, and are in shape anil colour very like those oi cUnopodhnn.

This herb is so called iu .Jamaica, and few or none knov.- it b}' anv other name, al-
though it is a sort of r/H/iV?V//H;;/». This in .Jamaica smells, when rubbed in the hand,
almost like melilot, or some pleasant balsam ; and therefore they call it balsam-weed or
herb, and make a balsam of it. The juice or distilled water is good for sore 63-68. — •
Barham, p. 13.

2. COMATA. TUFTED.

Antirrimim minus angusi\foIi«m, Jlore dilute purpureo. Sloane, v.
,1, p. 160, t. 103, f. 2. Foliis lanceolato ovatis, racevio spaciuso as^
siirgenti, spicillis vcrficillaiis. Browne, p. 1J8.

Spikes thread-form, verticilled, the inferior ones umbelled.
Rwartz makes this plant jK-y/iV/a cOT^w^a'. The stem herbaceous, a foot high, some-
what branched and erect, angular, jointed, smooth, the joints swelling. Leaves sub-
sessile, decussated, opposite, lanceolate, acute, attenuated at the base, smooth, nerved,
on \-ery short petioles. Peduncles axillary, filiforni, terminated by filiform and um-
belled .spikes ; flowers all directed one way, minute, pale blue. Bractes minute under
the flowers. Segments of the calyx linear. Upper lip of the corolla half vaulted,
lower trifid spreading, with very minute bloody dots in two rows on the throat; fila-
ments under the vault of the throat ; anthers two, alternate, black ; germ ovate, style,
short; stigma simple, bent in ; capsule ovate, attenuated at the base, containing four
round flatted seeds. — Szc.

This plant has a haiiy red fibrous root, it grows commonly in the lowlands, some-
times two or three feet high, and is plentifully furnishecl with slender subdividecj-
branches. — Bromic.

See Jl'stitia Balsam and Rosemary, Wild.

BALSAM TREE. CLUSIA.

Cl. 23, OR. 1. — Poli/gamia monoecia. Nat. or. — Guttifertc.
This is named in memory of Carolus Clusius, an eminent French botanist.
Giij:. CHAR. — Calyx four, five, or six, leaved, imbricate, leaflets concave, permanent,

mtenot

42 IIORTUS JAr-.IAICEr:5I3. pamkos

ill terror ones grr.uua'iij- smaller; corolla four, fivo, or six, petals, roundish, sproadlnG;,
concave : stamina niiuiy siuijiie fiiamcnti, willi simple anthers grov.inii- to tlie si.le
ortheti[); tiie pistiliuni has an ovate-ubiong gernien, no style ; stig-iiia starred,
flat, obtuse, pcTinanent ; cap.sulc ovate, iriarkeu with furrows, celleJ, the vaU es
bursting in a radiate manner ; seeds numerous,, ovate, covered with pjip, affixed
lo a columnar angalated receptacle. The female nectary is formed l>y a coalition
of the anthers, inclnding the germ. Some of the flmvers are sterile with respect
to the male, and others nithT'resjrect to the female or^aiis. One soccies is kuoua
to be a native of Jamaiea :

FLAVA. YEI.LOAV.

Tcrebiiithiis folio singiilari vnii altifo, rolundo, sncciilentc, fiore tetrad-
pctalo pallide lufco, fn<cfu:)imjore monap^yremi. Sloane, v. 2, p,,
9 1, t. 200, f. 1 . ylrborca fcliis crassis nitidis, obovalQ sub rotund is ,•
Jiorihus solitariii. Browne, 23,6.
Leaves veinless ; flowers fonr-petalled.
This plant grows very commonly in Jamaica, generally to the height of fourteen to
twenty feet. The flowers are produced at the ends of'tho branches, having a thick suc-
culent cover. The perianth consists of four rows of imbric.ited scales, aiternatel}- three
and two ; corolla foin- thick fle.sliy oblong screw shaped pale yellow petals ; the stamens
numerous, standing in the form of a. licJlow sided square ; the germ th;ck, rounuishj
obtusely quadrangular, with twelve distinct stigmns-in. a circle round tlie top of it ; the-
capsule thick, roundisb, many valved, twelve-celled^ containing many ror.ndish seeds
in a saffron coloured pulp. "Wherever the trunk or brandies are wounded, they throw
out a thick resinous gnm, said sometimes to be u>ed as a vulnerary, but has no smell
or pungent taste. This plant may. be propagated by seeds or cuttings,, and grows.in al-
most any soil.

This tree is so called because so much balsam comes from it, even from the bark.-
Jeaves, and fruit. Sir IL Sloane tiibes it amongst his /t'r(/;;'«/.^?, or turpentine trees;
but it is in no respect like any of the fir kind, it is ccrtiiin. It hath. very thick, round,'
and brittle leaves, and, when broke, comes out a milky juice, wliich immediately turns
yellow, and sticks to the fingers like hjrd-lime ; tiie fruit is tlie bigness of a genetin, or
Indian wild fig, and fuU.of giim. If 30U cut, the barkof tlie trce^ ini.'nediateiy comes-
out a vellow gum, but without scent. I question not but the. gum would be of grcab
use, if experienced ; for we know not as yet the virtues of it, nor ever could meet with
any that could give rne any medicinal wse of it ; if the Inoians know, they keep the use
of it to themselves. They growiin greatplenty in Jamaica ; and are so plentifal in most'
parts of America, that in some places they mix this gum juice with tallow:, and paint-"
their canoes and boats .with it, , to make them glide through the v.ater, and preserve
t]iem from worms. — Barhavu /). 14.

EAMEOO. ARUXDO.

Ci.. 3, OR. 2. — Triandria Digyiiia. Nat. or. — Gramiria.
.This name has been derived from the Latin word area, because it soon beccms.s dsv.

XAMBOO HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. ♦;!

Gen. ciiak.- — Cal3'x a one or many flowered glume, two valved, erect ; corolla two-
valved, \-nlves husk}', the length of the calyx, oblonn;-, acuminate ; the stamina
three, or more ; anthers forked ; the pistiiluni an oblong gernien, the styles are
two, rcHexe..!, the stigma simple : there is no pericarj)iinn ; the seed is single, to
which the corolla adheres witiiout gaping, fiirnislicd with a long down.

BAMBOS. BAMBOO.

Calyx many or on? flowered ; spikes in threes, or nnequal in number, sessile.

The bamboo is a native of the East Indies, and was introduced into .Jamaica by INIr.
"M. Wallen, who procured it from Hispanioia; it was first planted in the ])arish of St.
Tiiomas ni the E».^t, and has since-been very deservedly and very generally propagated,
for it IS a most useuil jjltint. ■

It has a woody, hoiiow, round, jointed stem, growing from forty to sixty feet high.
The main root is long, thick, jointed, spreading horizontalh', sending out many cvhn-
(hical woody fibres, of a whitish colour, many feet long. From the jonits of the main
root spring the stalks, and send out at their joints several stalks jonied together at their
base, which riui up in the same manner as those they shoot from. If any of these be
jvlanted, with a piece of the first stiiik adhering to them, they will perpetuate tiieir spe-
cies. 'I'iiey are armed at their joints with one or two sharp spines, and fui-iiished with
Itjng lanceolate leaves, roundish at the oase, they are rough and striated, eight or nine
inches long, liavmg short footstalks. The tlowers are produced in large panicles from
the joints of the slaiks, placed in parcels close to the receptacles, resembling those of
the common reed, and are succeeded by reeds of tiie same- form, surrounded with
iloivn.

There is scarcely any plant that may be used for a greater variety of useful purposes
than the immboo :, The young shoots are covered with a dark green bark ; th.ese, when
very tender, are put up in vinegar, salt, garlic, and the pods of capsicum, and thus
afford a pickle, which is esteemeil a valuable condiment in the Indies, and is said great-
ly to promote the appetite, and assist digestion. Tiie stalks, in their young state, are
almost solid, and contain a milky juice, of a sweet nature ; and, as the stalks advance
in age, they becon-.e hollow, except at the joints, where they are stopped bv a \voo(iy
membrane, upon whicli this liquor lodges, and concretes into a substance called laoaxir,
or sugar of mombu, which was held in such esteem by the ancients, in some particular
disorders, that it was equal in value to its weight in silver.

The nature of this substance is very different from what might have been expected
in the product of a vegetable. Its intlestructability by fire, its total resistance to acids ;
its uniting by fusion with alkalies, in certain proportions, into a white opake mass, into
a transparent permanent glass:; and its beiiig again separable troni these compouutls,
entirely unchanged by acids, ii^c. seem to afford the strongest reasons for coDsidcring it
as very nearly identical v/ith common siliceous earth. As t:; its medical virtues, tiiougli
the drug be, as befoie observed, in much esteem v.ith the orientalists, yet they are not
such as to cause it to have any regard paid to it in the modern practice of physic ni Eu-
rope. Yet the virtues of the several parts of the bamboo arc very considerable, accord-
ing to I.oureiro, who, in his Flora Cochinchinensis, tells us that the leaves, baik, buds,
ajid root, are used. Tlie leaves, he says, are cooling, emollient, and resolvent ; their
tlecoGtioii is good in fevers, cough, pains of the throat, &c. the thin bark is cooling
and agglutinant, and a gentle astringent ; it is good in feverish heyts, hLeniorrha"ias,
nauseas, and .vomitings : the roots uiid buds are attenuating, proniotc urine, aud puriiy
liLjc^..' ; Oi the

-!t HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. bak-ktkbia

the blood ; ai"e good in ^vandering pains, ol>striicti<)ns, and venereal cases : from the
liesh roots, mixed v.ith tobacco ieav(;s and betcJ, in equal proportion, and infused and
macerated for some days in oil, is prepared an ointment of great efficacy in discussing
iiard and scbirrous sueliings.

The baniljoo is a very ornamental as well as useful plant, and may be formed into
most Ijeautiful arbours. Its growth is very rapid, for, jn a rich soil, the 3'oanii; shoots,
growing in a large clump, have been found, on several days measurement, to have
grown seven and a half inches every twenty- four hours. From the nature of tlieir roots,
wlien planted along the edges of such roads as are made on the sides of stet-j) iiiils,
they not only prevent the road from breaking away, but form an agreeable siiade, and
Ilitie any frightful precipice from the eye of the traveller. As a live fence they are ex-
c'elient, coming ijuicki}- to maturity, and when full grown, which tlsey will be in four
«rii\e years, are not only im])enetra!;le to cattje, bet aiford them food in their leaves
and young shoots, whicli they eat heartily. 'I'he old stalks grow to live, six, or seven,,
inches diameter, and are then of a shining yellow colour, they are very hartl and dura-
ble, and very useful in buildings ; the long dm^ation of these canes was fully exempii-
fied in the lathing of an old house in Spanish Town, which stood near the spot wnere
Rodney's Temple is now erected, and was pulled down to make room for some of the
new buildings. It was a Spanish building, came into our possession at the reduc-
tion of the island in 1635, and was taken down about the year 1790 or 1701, when the
wood of the wild caire, a kind of bamboo, was found perfectly sound. In the East all
sorts of household furniture are made ui it, as also briclges,. masts for their boats, rails,
fences, gates. It is also converted into pipes for conveying water : pajjer is also said
to be made of it, by steeping it in water, and thereby forming a paste. They also make
poles of it to carry their palanquins ; and the smaller stalks ttirnish good walking siicks.
The inhabitants of Otaheite make flutes, of them, about afoot long, wuh two holes oidy, ,
which they stop with the fir.st finger of the left hand, and the middle one of the right,
and they blow through their nostrils. The wood is a good fuel, and it has been sug-
gested that, on estates, where copper wood is scarce, t'.venty or thirty acres planted m
bamboos, would afford an ine.xhaustible supply of that necessary article, as, when cut
down, they grow up again very rapidly and as vigorous as ever.

See Reeds.

B.4N.\NA— .SVe Plantain.

No E7iglisk Na77ie. BANISTERIA.

Cl. 10, OK. 3. — Decandria-trigynia. Nat. or. — Trihilatte,

This was so named by Dr. Houston, in meir.ory of the Rev. John Banister, a curious
botanist, who lost liis life, in the search alter plants, in Virginia.

Gen. char. — The calyx four or five parted, with nectarious pores on the outside of
the base; corolla five-petals, very large, roundish, and angulaied; the stamina
are small and coalescent at bottom ; styles simple, stigmas obtuse ; capsules three,
with membranous wings ; seeds solitary, covered, toothed Bt the lateral edge.—
Four species have been discovered, in Jamaica ;

1. LAURirOLU,

<t^ >ANiS.T£RlA H OUT US JAMAICENSIS. 45

1. LAURIFOUA. LAi;R£L-LEAVi;P.

Acer scamli'iis/oi/is laurim's. Sloane, v. 2, p. 26. FoUis ovatis, sc-
tninUms unialatis glabris, racemis latcralibus. Browaej p. 231. —
Sj/annorc. Barham, p. 1S5.

Leaves ovate, oblong, rigid ; racemes terminal ; branches ferruginous, downy.

Stem shrubby, cHmhing, with loose, reflex-diverging, rounaish rugged branches.
Leaves petioled, ovate-lanceolate, acute, entire, conaceous-membranaceous, nerveci,
smuotii. Racemes panicled, terniinaiing branches, and twigs decui^sate, ferruginous-
tomentose, peduncles coiunionly one-flowered, ferruginous, short, yellow. Leaflets
at the base of the peduncles two, opposite, minute, tomentose. Calyx five-leaved;
leaflets ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, with two round, depressed, green glands, fastened
to tlie base. I'etals spatulate. Anthers elliptic. Genu three cornered, tnfid at the
tip : styles subulate, short-: stigmas dilated, as it were halved. One of the three cap-
sules is usually abortive ; tlie v\ings three or four times longer than the capsules.

This shrub has a stalk no bigger than a swans quill, covered with a whitish coloured
ariooth bark, having a preUy large pith.. It nses by and turns round any plant it comes
near, mounting several feet high, sending forth foot-long branches, with twigs standing
opposite one to the other, the leaves, on quarter inch long footstalks, are three inches-
lone and half as broad, in the middle, whore broadest, endii.g in a point, having one
niidJie rib and several transverse ones, being smooth, hard, thin, and dark green.. —
Tiie tops of the small branches, for three inches in length, are beset with yellow flowers,
spike fashion. It grew plentifully on the banlii of the Rio Cobre, on the road to Pas-
eage Fort, and in a gidly by the church in St. Dorothy's. — Sloane.

I have often seen, as I have rode along, a small plant among the bushes, growing
about six or seven feet high, vvluch seemed not to be able to s-»<'port itself, but yet did
Dot climb about any thing : It had a very small stalk, and but few leaves, as large as a
laurel, but thin and softer. At the top were branches of yellowish flowers ; afterwards
tanae winged seed-vessels, exactly hke the sycamore. — Barham, p. 185.

2. LONGIFOLIA. LOXG-I.EAVED.

Leaves oblong, acuminate, rigid, shining ; panicle terminating, branches
spreading very much.

3. FULGEN3. SHINING.

Acer scandens minus, apoci/ni fucie, folio suhroiundo. Sloane, v. 2,
p. 27. t. 162, f. 2. Foliis orbiculatis, petiolis biglandulis, seininibus
unialatis rugosis, racemis subunibellatis alaribus. Browne, p. 231.

Leaves subovate, . downy underneath: racemes cross armed; peduncles urn-
belled.

This has slender winding stalks, which rise five or six feet high. Tiie flowers grow
in a round bunch at the extremity of the branches, and are of a browiiiih yeiioiv colour.
The leaves are ovate with a point, villose beneath, shining, smooth on the upper sur-
face. A solitary branch comes forth from the axils, furnished with leaves, producin<3-
at top, in a kind of umbel, several filiform, simple, one-flowered, peduncies. Seeds
eirett^ the outer angle decreasing to an edge, the inner more blunt, putting forth a.

small

46 IIOKTUS JAMAlCEXSrS. _ baoe4«

small sharp membranaceous angle next the pibtil ; by the seeds, next the biise, are
three small appr-essed toothkis.

Sloane says the sialk is as big as a goose quill, that the leaves stand opposite, and
that it grew on the entrance ot'thc red hills, on the Guanaboa road.

4. CfERULEA. BLUE.

Leaves elliptic ovate, acute, glabrous ; racemes terminal panicled.

Stem sarmentose, climbing ; branches round, with a whitish bark, somewhat rough.
Leaves quite entire, glaucous, on short petioles ; peduncles short, bracted. Calyx
five-parted half way down. Flower blueish. Filaments short, equal, styles erect. —
Fruit somewhat woody and tomentose, with the wing of a sulphur glaucous colour.

Browne says all the species grow in the gravelly bills al)out Kmgston and St. James's,
they are all climijera, rising by slendei' steujs to seven, ten, or fourteen, feet hiffli, —
Tiiey dilier from the viaipigliui chiefly by the nakedness of their seeds.

BA:;jii.\M— .fe Egg Plant.

BAOBAB. ADANSONL\.

Cl. 16, ou. 5. — Monodelphia Polyandria. Nat. ©r. — Cohmimfevic.

This was named from M. Adanson, a French surgeon, who resided many 3 cars m
Senegal, and brought, home a curious collection of seeds and plants.

Gen. cjiaR. — Calyx a one-leafed perianthium, half five-cleft, cupform, divisions '
revolute, deciduous : corolla five-pctalled, roundish, nerved, revolute, connected
by the claws with each other and the stamens : the stamina are numerous filaments
iniited at bott()m in^u a tube, which the}' crown, expanding horizontally ; anthers
kidney shaped, incumbent ; the pistillum has an ovate germen, the style long, tu-
bulous, variously intorted ; the stigmata are numerous (10), pri.smatic, villous, ray- '
expanded : the pericarpiuni an ovate woody capsule, not gaping, ten-celled, «ii]i
farinaceous pulp, the partitions membranaceous : seeds luunerous, kidney shaped,
rather bonj-, and involved in a friable pulp. This genus is nearly allied to the
bombax ; the fructification ditlering only in the seeds being covertd with meal in-
stead of wool or cotton. It is a native of Africa, and was introdnced by ]\lr. East.
There is only one species.

DIGITATA. rPNGERED,

Leaves in three or five finger-like divisions.
This tree is called Ethiopian sour gourd, monkies bread, or calabash tree, an^ is
perfiaps, the largest production of the whole vegetable kingdom. M. Adanson «avs
though the trunk is not above twelve or fifteen feet high, they are from sixty-five to
seventy-eight feet round. The lowest branches extend almost horizontally ; and as
they are about sixtj- feet in length, their own weight bends their extremities to the
grbund, and thus form an hemispherical mass of verdure, of from one hundred and
twenty to one hundred and thirty feet in diameter. The roots extend as far as the
branches ; that in the middle forms a pivot, whi-ch penetrates a great way into the earth,
tke rest spread near the surface. The flowers are in proportion to the size of the tree •

and

BiiOBAP- HORTUS JAM Arc ENS IS. 4T

snid are followed by an oblouiT fruit, pointed at both ends, about ten inches lo!i_2;, five
or six broad, and oovered with a Icind of greonisli down, under wliicli is a iigneou.s rind,
bard and ahnost black, marked widi rays which divide it length\viso into sides.- Tlie
fruit hangs to the tree by a pedicel two feet len;!; and an inch diameter. It contains a
whitish, spongy, juicv, substar.'e ; with seeds of brown colour, and shaped like a ki 1-
iiey bean. The bark of tins tree is near]}- an inch tluck, of an ash-co!oiired grey, greasy
to the touch, bright, and very smooth ; the outside is covered with a kind of varnish ;
and the inside is green, speckled with red. Tixe wood is white and very soft ; the early
shoots are fircen and down^•. The leaves of the young plants are entire, of an oblong
form, about four or five inches long, antl almost tlu-ee broad towards the top, having-
several veins running from the middle rib ; the_v are of a lucid green colour. As the
plants advance in height, tlie leaves alter, and are divided into tliree parts, and after-
wards into five lobes, which spread out m the shape of an hand. In its native soil, the
tree sheds its leaves in November, and new ones begin to appear in June. It flowers
in July, and the fruit ripens in October and November. It is very common in Senegal
and the Cape de Verd islands ; and is found one hundi'ed leagues up the country at
Gnulam, and upon the sea coast as far as. .Sierra Leona.

The age of this tree is perhaps no less remarkal)!e than its enormous si;;e. IM. Ad.an-
son velate.i, that, in a botanic al excni-sion to the Magdalene islands, in tiie neighbour-
hood of Goree, -he discovered some Calabash tre^s, from five to six feet in diameter,
on the bark of which were engraved or cut to a considerahle depth, a number of Euro-
pean names. Two of these names, which he was at the trouble to repair, we-rc dated,
one the 1 1th, and the other the 15th century. The letters were about six inches long,
but in breailth they occupied a very small part only of the circimifersnce of the trunk ;
■whence be concluded they ha.d not hceacut when these trees were y-Oting. These in-
scriptions, however, he thinks sufficient to determine pretty nearlv the age which these
calabash trees may attain ; for even supposing that those in c|uescioii were cut in their
tiriy yenrs, and that the trees grew to, the diameter of six.feet in two centnries, as the
engraved letters evii!».ce» how many centuries must be re^Adsite to give them a diameter
of twenty-five feet, which perhaps is not the last term of their growth. The inscribed
trees mentioned bv this ingenious PYenclm^an had been .seen in IS.')5, almost two cen-
turies before, by Tlievet, , who mentions them in the relation of his voji.ge to I'crra
Antarctica or A ustralis. Adanson saw them in 1749.

. The virtues and uses of tl^is tree and its fruit are various: The negroes of Senegal
dry the bark and leaves in tiie shaded air, and then reduce them to a powder, which is
of a pretty good green colour; This powder they preserve in bags of linen or cotton,
and call it lil/o. . Tliey use it every^ day, putting two or three pinches of it into a mess,
whatever it happens to be, as we do pepper and salt: but their view is, not to give
relish to the food, but to preserve a plentifid and peqjetual perspiration, and to at-
teinpcr the too great heat of the blood ; purposes which it certidnly answers, as several
Europeans have proved by repeated experiments, preser^■ing themselves freni the epi-
demic fever, which, in that country, destroys Europeans like the plague, and gene-
ra!!v rages during the niondis of Septem!)er and October, when, the rains having sud-
denly ceased, the sun exhales tiie water left by them upon (he ground, and fills the air
with a noxioiTs vapour. M. Adanson, in that critical season, made a light ptisan of the
leaves of the baobab, which he had gathered in the August of the preceding year, and
had dried in the.siiade, and drank constantly about a pint of it every morning, either
before or after breakfast, and the same quantity of it every evening after the heat of the
' - sun

49 IIORTUS JAMAICENSIS: barbadors

sun hogan to abate ; l>e nlsosoTnctiinos took the same qujintity in the rhJdvileof the day,
l)iit this was only when he felt somu sviiijiloms of an ajjpioaciiing fevor. Fiy this pre-
caution he preserved liimseif, dinins tlie five years he resided at Sc;negal, from ilic
diarrhcra and fever, which are so i'atal tlierc, and which are, however, the only dan-
gerous diseases of the place ; and other officers sufleved very severely, only one ex-
cepted, upon which M. Adansou pi-evailed to use this remedy, w.iiich, for its simplix-itv,
vvas despised hy tiie rest. This ptisan alone also prevents the heat of urine, which is
common in those parts, provided the person abstains from wine.

The friiit is not less useful tlian the leaves and tlic hark. The prdp that envelope.'?
the seeds has an agreeable acid taste, and' is catei-, for pleasure: it is also (hi cd and
pov,-dered, and thus used medicinally in pestilential fevers, the dysonterv, and blof)dy
flux : the dose is a drachm, j^assed throuoh a fine sieve, taken either in common water,
OF in an infusion of the plantain. This infusion is brought into Europe tmder the name
of ferra si^i/Uifa lemiiia. The woody barl> of the fruit, and the fruit itself, v/hen spoiled,
helps to supply the negroes «ith an excellent soap, which they make bv drawing a ley
from the ashes, and boiling it with ))alm-oil that begins to be ranciii.

The trunks of these trees, when decayed, are hollowed out and made the burying
place of esteemed characters among the negroes in Africa, and it has been observed,
that the bodies sh'it up in these trunks become perfectly dry v.'ithout rotting, and fcnn
a kind of mummies without embalement. Tliis tree is propagated fcom seeds.

EARBADOES CHERRY. MALPIGHIA.

Cl. 10, OR. 3. — Dccandria trigynia. Nat. or. — Trihilaitv.

This genus was named by Plumier in honour of IMarcello Miilpighi, professor of me-
dicine at Bologna, the famous author of Anatome Plantarum.

Gen. CHAR. — Calyx a five-leaved perianthium, erect, very small, permanent, con-
verging, it has two melliferous glands, oval and gibbous, fastened to the calyciiie
leaflets on the outside and at bottom ; the corolla has five petals, kidney-form,
large, plated, ciliate, spreading, concave, with long, linear claws; stamina are
awl shaped filaments, placed in a cylinder, erect, united below, small ; anthers
cordate ; the pistillum has a roundish germen, small, with three filiform styles ;
stigmas blunt; the pericarpium is a globular berry, torulose, large, one-celled;
the seeds are three, bony, obJong, blunt, angular, with an oblong blunt kernel.
There are many species, of which seven have been found in Jamaica.

1. GLABRA. SMOOTH.

Arhor baccifera, folio suhrotimdo, fnictu ccrashio sulcata ruhro pol>j~
pijreno, ossiculis ccnuwhifis. Sloane, v. 2, p. 106, t. 207, f. 2. — •
Fruttcosa CA-ecta, fuliis nilidis ovato-acuminatis, Jlorihus lanbcllutis,
ramulis gracilibm. Brownie, 230.

Leaves ovate, quite entire, smooth, peduncles umbelled. Flowers in axillary
or termmating bunches, about four flowers in each. The pedicels have a sin-
gle joint, calyx incurved, petals sub-cordate. Stigmas simple with a little
Ji'op.

BARBADOEs nORTUS JAMAICENSIS.^ ♦jy

This tree rises to aLout fifteen feet high, having several trunks cpvered vv'ith a clay
coloured smooth bark, and many brandies spreading out on aii sides, and iorming- a.
pleasant round head, sending out twigs two and two opposite to each other, covered
with opposite leaves ; for the most p^jrt tiie leaves arc roundish, smooth, very grfeen, ■
Iiaving very small footstalks an inch long and thtee quarters broad, among wnich ccnia
out the flowers, standing on hcdf incn long footstalkt, consisting of fi'/e {)etaia, each of
Tvhich is made spoon-fashion, being narrow at the beginning and rouim or broad to-
wards the end, and of a purpie colour. To these foliov/, on inch long footstalks, round
red fruit of the bigjiess of a cnerry, smooth skinned, having one or more furrows or
channels on its outside, and contamnig within a reddish, sweetish, not uuplcasant, co-
pious juicy pulp, .several triangular i'ulcated stones, Vi^ijose sides are so accomodated'io
GUI.' anotiier as seem to make one roiuid one, with several furrows on its outsidf . Being
thought a pleasant huit, they are pianted in most gardens, where, some sraali time
after rain, one never imsses ripe fruit.

Tuey are not only u^ed by way of desert, but likewise by sick people, whose sto-
mn'^hs languish ; they dispel wind, and tak« away liie quairBisaness ot liiQ siouiaeh. If
given witii sugar; Piso s;iys, thsjy are good for the breast. — Sloaiic

2. PUMCIFOLIA. POMEGRANATE LEAVED.

Fruticosa erecta, ramulls gracdibus patentibus, paribus solifan'is.—'
Browne, p. 2;i0.

L"3ves ovate, quite entirt-, smooth; peduncles one-flowered.
T'ii sin-ubby tree rises ten or twelve feet, dividing into several slender spreadino-
brar " :•.: . ' vi -'-.-d wiih a light brown bark. The flowers are produced in small umbels
at the ;e branches, upon thort peduncles. Corolla pale rose colour. This

sh--ur> •, V upearanciMif a p>)megranate plant. Tne fruit is of the same size

a'vi f 11 )!i English cherries ; very succulent, of a light reddish colour,

ail ■> '< Jo. a taste. It m^kes very agreeable tarts and e.xceiient jei!ie3.—

" VEP.BASCIFOUA. MU'EJ.EIN-LEAVED.

L .-":-- ; anceolate,; ovate, tomentose, quite entire, racemes terminating.
4. NITID.\. GLOSSY. ,a

/ .'i/'/? ef viitnis divisa, foUis cvatis nitidis^ baccis durio7ibus,~-
•ir nvH!', p. '23d.

Leaves- knt^wfete, quite entire, smooth, spikes lateral.
This shrub grhw-; ah.>ut three feet high. Seem upright, round, ev^n ; branched
d^-iusvate J, upright, rom J, covered with a shining bark. Leaves decussated, opposite,
oblong, blunt, wifii a c )nv.ix margin, nerved, veined, firin, pale green, shinino-; oiv
shirt peti )ies. Riceues axillary, sliort'-r than the lea'-es, many flowered ; flowers
peJun'^lel yellow. Berrjr three-lobed, three-seeded, blood red. Browne says it is
con^nnn in the hiiis of ,St. Elizabjtn, and bears large hard hemes, wnich are said to be
Ittuca used by turkies and other large fowls.

5. UREN3. STINGING.

Arbor baaiferajolio obhngo subtUlifsimis spinis sitbtus obsiio, fnirhi
"• cerasino

^H^ .

^ HORTUS JARrAICENSIS? tabbadoes,

cerasino fuhaio folypt/rcno, ossiciilis ranr.ulalis. f-iloanc, v. 2, p.
106, t. 207, f. 3. Viminea Joliis obhrngis hispidis, racemis aiaribu.,,
Browne, p. '■-29,

Leaves nblong^ ovate,-.with.r!gid decumbentibristles uuderneaU'. poduncles one-
flowered asiijreirate^

Thi:^ is called ffr'nrinff Barhadocs, or co-vh age c\iQrry ; it rises with a sbronpr upright
stem about thrss feet hiirh, covered with abro-.vn bark, sending out sevv^ral side branches
which grow erect. Leaves ending in acute points, sessile, covered witli fi;;e liristlcs,
which do not appear unless closely viewed ; these are donhle pointed, and sustained
by pedicels of the same fragile transparent substance with themselves, descending from
the middle of them; these are easily broken, but tlie briitles enter pretty deep,' and
Stick close to whatever has forced them off; The pale purple flowers come out upon
long slender peduncles from the axils at each joint, four, five, or six together, in a
sort of whorl. Tlie three styles stand apart.- It grows about- the to-.vns of Kingston and
St. Jago de ia Vega, in great plenty.

6. CRASSirOUA. TinCK LEAVED.

AKhorea, foliis subrolunclis, alternis, inferne siihlunugincsis ; gpicis
crassis compositis lermhwUbus. Browne, p. 231.

Leaves ovate, quite entire, tomentose underneath, racemes terminating.

Browne calls this the kirger locus-berru tree. The upper branches tiTminate in loose

pearance of a cpminiu.- — Browne,

7. CORIACEA.. LEATHERY.

Tili^e affinis laurifolia, arbuii fioribiis alhis raccmosis cdoratis, fyuctvL
pentagono. Sibane, v. 2, ]>. 20, t. U'i3, f. 1. jlrbcrea jiuribus:
spicatis, foliis ovato acuminatis. Browaie, 230.

Leaves ovate, acute, entire, smooth on both sides, racemes terminating spiked.

* This tree, which Brov\nie calls /or;f5-o^r?;?/, rises about thirty or forty feet high, by
r. thick trunk, covered with a clay coloured furrowed hark. It is common in the lower
iiills of Liguanea. The leaves come out irregidarly on small footstalksj and, while
young, arc covered on both sides with down, but this falls off gradually, and they ap-
pear pretty smooth and shining after a short time. Tiiere is a remarkable stipula, oi;
ear, at the ala of every leaf, which, with its opposite, seems to embrace the stalk. On
the ends of the twigs come out the fiowers several together, white, and very sweet
scented, succeeded by the seeds, two of which are generally abortive. — Sloaiieand.
Brozi^ne.
All the above species are easily propagated from seeds. ,

Barbadoes-Gooseberry— -5'<:c Prkkly Pear.. .

" B.VRBADOES :

m

S.tREADQE3 KORTUS J ARf A I C E N 3 1 & ji

BARBAD0E3 PRIDE, or FLOWER FENCE. C^SALPIMA.

Cl. 10, OR. 1. — Decandria monogynia, Nat. or. — Lomentacea;

Tills p;enus is nameJ in honour of Andreas C^salpinus, cliief phy.-^iciaa to Pope Clc-
ent Vill. ; the father of systematic arrangements \i\ plants. He Vlieci ai J.\uine, ItiOJ,

Gen. char.— Calyx, a oue-lcafcd five^parted perianthium, tube short, set^ments ob-
long, deciduous, the lowest longer than tho rest, slightly arched ; the corolla has
five-petals, inserted into the throat cf the calycinc tube, unequrd ; lamina round-
isJi ; stamens ten filaments, inserted into the throat of the calyx, filiform, woolly
at the base, declining; anthers oblong, dccumbcijt ; the pistiUu;ii, has a superior
germen, linear-oblong, couipressed, attenuated at the base; style filiform, the
length of the stamens ; siigma blunt ; the pericarnium an oblong ieginiic com-
pres.sed one celled ; seeds sub-ovutc, compressed, fiat. Tliis plant belonged to ikc
gcnm potncaina, which is so nearly iallied, that Swartz united it to this.

PULCHEERIMA. BEAUTIFUL.

Senna spuria arhorca spiiiosa /oliis alalis ramosu, seu deeomposifis,
fore ex luteo ct riiliro speiioso. ,Sloane, v. 2, p. 49. Aculcata,
Joliis h{pinnufis,Jloribtts croccis pulchei-rimis, pcdnnculis longis spi~
cutis incidentibus. Browne, p. '225.

Prickly ; leaflets oblong-oval emarginate, tJiey and the calyxes smooth ; corymbs
simple ; petals fringed ; stamens very long.

It rises with a straight stalk twelve or fifteen feet high, wliich is covered with a grey
ilark, and is sometimes as thick as the small of a man's leg, dividing into several spread-
ing branches at the top, which are armed at each joint with two short, crooked, strong
•spmes, and garnished with decompound winged leaves, each leaf consisting of six or
eight pair of simple winged leaves. They are of a light green colour, and when bruised
.femit a strong odour, Tiie branches are termniated by loose spikes of fiowers, which
are sometimes formed into a kind of j)yrarnid, and at others disposed more in the form
of an umbel. The footstalk of each flower is near three inches long ; the Hower is com-
posed of five petals, which are roundish at the top, but are contracted to narrow tails
at the base. They spread open, and are beautifully variegated with a deep red or orange
colour, yellow, and some spots of green ; and emit a very agreeable odaur. The style
and stamens are three inches long. After the flower is past, tfie germen becomes a
broad fiat pod three inches long, divided into three or four cells by transverse partitions,
«ach including one fiattish irregular seed, from which the plant is propagated.

This beautiful plant is a native of both the Indies, and it is doubtful whether it is in-
digenous, or has been introduced into Jamaica, where it was fountl by Dr. Houston in
Woods at a great distance from any settlements. The French call it poinciade, or Jleurs
deparadis. Browne says that all pans of the plant are thought to be very povyerful
emmenagogues, and are frequently used for that purpose among the negroes.

This, I suppose, is so called from their fencing in their plantations with this shrub,
which is full of sliort strong prickles ; but they are commonly called in Jamaica doodle-
does i they grow in all or most parts of America. The flowers are elegantly mixed witi^
ared-j-eliQW, and t]jerefore tailed, by some, Spanish carnation; or wiid senna. Sir Hans

52 JIORTUS JAMAICENSIS. earleru

Sloane tribes it amongst the bastard senna's, for this comes the nearest of any in Ame-
rica, and, when dried and old, it is very diificult to distingtush one trom tiie other ;
and as for virtues, I have often exjjerienced it to have the same with tiiat of Alexandria;
besides which, a decoction of tiic leaves or Hewers has a wonderful power to move or
force the menstrua in women. The flowers make a dehcate red purging s^vrup, and
the root dyes a scarlet colour. The whole plant is full of short sharp jjriekies, branch-
ing and spreading very large, with beautiful flowers, red mixed with \e!low, on which
are a great number of thrums like saffron ; the leases, when green, are of tiie shape of
indigo ; the pod is in siiape of the E:iglish broom pods, or like the senna of Aiesan-
ckia ; when ripe and dry it is black, couainiiig five or six flat seeds, cordated, and of
a dark-gre(;nish colour. This shrub is luUest of llovvcrs in the months of November and
December, and the seed is lipa in January. — Baikam, /;. i6.

A drachm of the powdered seeds of the Barbadocs pride, is said to give ease in the
belly-ache, when taken inwardly. For this purpose it has been asserted to exceed opi-
ates or any other mediciae vet known, being not in the least unpleasant to the taste,
giving quick relief, and making way for gentle kixatives to be exmbited. For obstruc-
tiuns tiie foilovving has been recomiiiended : take of tiie root of 'J3arbad(jes pride, of the
bulk of trumpet- tree root, and sarsajiarilia root, alike quantity, boil and use tne decoction.

See BRAZiLLhlo.

B.'\RBADOES Wild Olive — See Wild Olive.
Bark Tree — Sec Mahoe.

No English Name. BARLERIA.

Cl. 14, OR. 2. — Didynamia angioaperniia. Nat. OR.- — Personafa.

This name was given by Plunder in honour of the Rev. James Barreiier, a Domini-
can and M. D. of Paris.

Gen. CHAR — Calyx four-]iarted, two opposite leaflets larger; corolla one leafed,
funnel-form, quinquiiid, fifth division tleeper ; stamina iiliforin, two vcry short,
capillary ; anthers upper oblong, lower withered -^ the pistil lias an ovate germen,
style length of the stamens, stigma bifid ; capsule acute, two-ceUed, two-vatved,
g.ping eiasticaliy at Uie claws ; ^eeds Xvjo, compressed, rotindish. Two sptcies
grow in this island :

I. EUXIFOLIA. BOXLEAVED.

Spines axillary, opposite, solitary ; leaves roundish, quite entire.
This plant has shrubby stalks, five or six feet high, wita strong spines under the
leaves. Tbe tlowers.are produced in whons toward i-iie upper part ol tue stalk ; these
are succeeded by siiort seed vessels, coutaining t.iree or four flat seeds. l\ is said to be
a native ol Jamaica.

2. PRIONITIS. THORNY.

Spines axillary, pedate, fourfold, leaves roundish, quite entire.

Stem herbaceous, round, stiif. Loaves opposite, running down the petioles, pu«

bgscciit

BASKET HOUTUS JAiMAICENSIS. ' &»

bcrcent underneath. Between the branch and the leaf, a spine with four sharp rays
from the centre. Flowers sessiie in the axils. Calyxes acuininatc-spiny. Twoot'tiio
four siamens very siiiaii at the bottom of the corolla, with little anthers. Tiie capsule
has a longish solid point ; and bursts without sucii internal elastic points as are in the
jusiitia. It is a native of the East Indies, and was introduced into the botanic garden,
Liguanea, by Mr. East. Both species are propagated by seeds.

BASIL. OCYMUM.

Cl. 14, OR. 1. — Didt^namia, gTjmnosperm>a. Nat. on. — Verticillatte.

Gen. char. — Tlie upper lip of the calyx is orbicnlated, the inferior one quadrifid ;
the corolla is re-s'.ipinated, with one lip quadrifid, the other undivided ; the exte-
rior filament sends out a reflected process at the base.

BASIUCUM.

Leaves ovate, glabrous : calyx ciliate.

The root of this plant is fibrous ; the stalk green and cjnadrangular, not above half a
foot high ; the leaves oblong and acute. The seeds i'n each cup are four, sniaii, naked,
and oval. The inflorescence a spike. The juice of the leaves is said to be good for
sore eyes, and the same given in toddy to women in laboi'.r, is said to help forward the
birth It grows every where in the lowlands and savannas.

We have in Jamaica two or three sorts of basil ; but that which grows spontaneously,
and most common, is that sort which Sir Hans Sioane calls ocymurn rubrum medium.
There is another sort in South America, mentioned by Monsiear Frezier, called alva
haquillu ; a shrub, saith he, which has the scent of our sweet ba^ii, and contains a balm
of great use for sores ; whereof we saw a wonderful effect at Yrt-quin, in an Indian,
whose neck was deeply ulcerated. I also had the experience of it on myself. The
flower of it is long, growing up like an ear of (•urn, of a whitish colour, inclining to a
violet, and is tribed amongst the legumina. Basils are spoken against by Dioscorides,
Galen, and Chrysippus ; but Pliu}' cdmmends them much, and saith they are good
against the sting of scorpions and other venomous serpents, and are accounted a very
great coruial, and good against pains of the head, &,c. — Murham, p. 17.

BASKET- WITHE. TOURNEFORTIA.

Cl. S, or. 1. — Pentav.dria monogynia. Nat. or. — AsptvifoUie'.

This was so named by Linneus, in memory of Joseph Pittun Tournelbrt, the famous
.author of an elegant arrangement of plants.

Gen. char. — Calyx a five-parted small perianthir.m, segments awl-shaped, perma-
nent ; corolla one-petalied, five-cleft, segments acuminate ; stamina awl-shapcd
filaments, length of the tube, and placed in the mouth; gerinen globose, style
simple, club-shaped, stigma circumcised ; the pericarp a globular berry, two-cell-
ed, perforated by two pores at top ; the seeds four, siibovate, seperated by the
pulp. Six species grow iu this island :

1. Huiiius.

«* HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. basket

1. Hl'MlLIS. HUMBLE.

Bcclinala diffusn, et liirsuta^ foli'U ovatis, ramulis rectis 'cmidis. —
Browne, p. \oO.
Leaves ovate, acuminate, smooth ; petioles reflexed ; stcin twining.

This plant has low shrubby stalks, which seldom rise more.thao three t'eethigh,s;nd-
ing out slender woody branches. Leaves rough, dark green, on their upper, but pale
on their untier, surface. The flowers come out in single axillary spikes, trie}- are white,
and succeeded by small succident berries. This Browne calls the bciskct-xiithe, and
says it i^rows very luxuriantly, stretdiing sometimes many feet from the main root. It
ii generally used for dung-baskets.

2. lI!R3UTISSIM.-i. SIIACGY.

HcUolropiiftore, frutex haccifer raccmo&n^, folio rngoso, fa'tido,
maximo subvotando hirsulo, fncc/u albo. Sloane, v. 2, p. 108, t.
212, f. 1. Sccuideus J'oliis jiirtis riigosis oralis spkis ramosis.—
Browne, p. 169.

Leaves ovate, petioled, pointed ; stem rougii, haired ; spikes terminal, recurved.

The stem is shrybby, .somewhat scandent, branched, covered with a ferruginoi*;
?hagginess. Leaves oblong, entire, r.erved, hairy all over, but extreuiei} so beneath.
Spikes, or racemes very much branchetl, stiff and straight, spreading a little ; flowers
ivhite, directed all one way. Filaments very short ; anthers blackish green ; germ
ovate; stigma headed ; berry rugged hirsute, when ripe white, two-celled, with two
seeds in each cell. — Sew.

Browne calls this plant the larger scandent tournefortia, and says it raises itself gene-
rally by the help of the neighbouring trees, and shoots sometimes to a considerable
height in the woods. Sloane observed it only to grow three or four feet high, havinsj
a green brittle stem, with irregidar eminences on its surface. The leaves are nine
inches long, and rugged or corrugated, of a dark^gre^n cplour, and havmg a very uu-
savoury socll.

3. VOLUBILIS. TWINING.

Snjonia nigra fruticosa, racemi ramulis vartc imvJicitis, atque caiidce
scorpionis instar, in sc cmiiortis, baccis albis una vcl ullera iiigiti
macula notatis. Sloane, v. I, p. 23i, t. 143, f. 2. Fruticosa scan^
dens; baccis niveis maculis nigris notatis. Browne, 170.

"Leaves ovate, acuminate, smooth, petioles reflexed, stem twining.

■This has a trunk as thick as ones arm, woody, and-.twining round the neighbouring-
trees for support, rising to the height of ten or twelve feet, and sending out several
slender woody branches. The leaves are smooth, of a dark brown colour, and a little
bowed back. At the tops of -the twigs -copie several small crooked branches, viixiously
turned, anl twisted into each other, like a scorpion's tail, sustaining in spikes the smatl
ivhite flowers. The berries which succeed are as big as pepper corns, white when ripe,
with remarkable black spots, which vary with the number of tlie seeds, which are some-
times one, two, or more ; though constantly four in the more perfect specimens. This
plant is common about Kingston and Spanish Town, growing about trees or shrubs. — •
Browne calls it the cUmbing tournefoilia, with spotted berries, and slender branches.
£loanc Si JBrou'/ie.

4. x;yMOs.»,

»asi.ke:s.> If.ORTUS JAMAICENglS. Cf

4. CYM03A. CYMED.

Udiotropii flore, frutex, folio ma.vbno ohlongo ammivafo, plahro. —
Sloane, v. 2, p. 109, t. 212, f. 2. Frutcscens humilis, foliis mcKr-
imis oblongo ovatis n/gosis, spiels paidulis rariorilius^ramulis eras-
sis sulcatis. Browne, p. 1(59.
Leaves ovate, quite entire, nalvcd, tpikes cyiued.
*nie stem growj three feet high; tlie. brandies are hcrhaceous, angular, grooved,
smooth; the leaves ovate-hmceolate, long, petioled, smooth, wrinkled bencatiu — -
Flowers sessile on one side, disposed in iwj rows, live-coriiereJ, greenish white ; tlie
stigma is heade-d ; the l)erry roundish, wiiite, with one pore at the top, Iwo-cclled,
with two seeds in each cell. The whole phuitis fetid. — Sew.

Tae large leaved shrubby tonrnefortja is sofnetimss observed in the woods, and reiay
U« reckoned rather a piant of a few years standing tiian a shrub ; it rises generally from
five to seven or eiglit feet in height, and is remarkable f.>r the thickness of its upjjeE
branches, and Uje length of its jiendulous flower spikes . the leaves are. very largej^
iOiiietancs ii foot or more ia length. — Brozoi^..

5. SUFPRUTICOSA. SHRUBBY.

. . Thipndca facie frutex maritimus tetraspermos-, (lore tttrapctalo. — .-

Sloane,- V. 2, p. 29, t. 162> f. 4. Sahfrutieosa, foliis subiiieanis ol\J'
lorigis, fyotule comosa. Browne, p. 170.

liieavcs sublanceolatte, hoary, stem suffriiticose.

Tlsis bus woody stalks, and rises six or seven feet high, from which sprin"- mcny
slender woody branches. It has a red brown bark. Leaves about two inches Ion"-, and
an inch broad in the- middle, rounded at each eiid, but having acute-points, of a dark
green on their upper surface, but having a white down on their under side, and sittinr
close to the-branciies-; F-lawers terminating and axillari', in slender branching spikes,
which are ra-cur\^ed, and the flowers ranged- on one siJe of them ; they are white
(Sloane calls them yellow), and succeeded by small succulent berries, containing two
or three seeds. Browne calls it the ash-coloured sea side tournefortia, and found near
the sea f^ide, near the Burough in Rt. James's, and seldom rising above three or four
feet. This plant seems to be" the-5ivr/a)aj; ?««ru//;;ff, at least Sloanc's plant is referred
to that genus,

6. BICOLOS-. TWO-COLOUREW.

Leaves ovate, aouminate, smojlh, somewhat wrinkled above, splices cyitied,^.
erect, recurved. — Sew. Pr. 40.-

This shrub is a fathom in height ; the trunk round, branched, even ; branches al-
ternpte, almost- upright, round, smaoth ;- leaves idternate, eniire, nerved, veined,
smooth oa both sides, somewliiit wrinkled above, and sometimes, but very seldom,,
rougli-haircd, even beneath and pale ; hence the trivial name of bicolor; petioles of a
mictdling length and-cven. Spikes terminating,. branched ; branchlets rc-curved, rough
haired, minj-- flowered ; calyx even ; corollas greenish white, with a hirsute hoar^- tube.
It is a native of Janiaica in. coppices. —»Stw.

BASTARO

i^ nORTUS JAMAICENSrSTf BivsTAW*-'

BASTARD ALOE. ALETRIS.

Cl. 6, OR. 1. — Hcxanclria mo770g}/)iia. Nat. OR. — Lil'acett.

This name is derive ■ from a Greek word, signifying to grind.

Gen. CHAi;. — No calyx ; corolla one-petalled, funnel shaped, semisexfid, much
wrinkled; stamina awl-sliaped fiiaineiits, inserted into the base of the divisions ;
anthens oblong, erect ; gennen ovate ; style subulate, stignia trifid ; rapsuld liiree-
cornered, acuminate, tnree-celled ; seeus very many. A variation of the hyacih-
tlioiJes is the onl}- species of the genus in tnis island at present, the capensis, ano»
tlicr species, being lost ; both were introduced by Mr. East.

IIYACINTHOIDES. HYACINTII-Ur.E.

. Stemless, leaves lanceolate, fleshy, flowers geminate.

The Guinea a/efris has all the leaves lanceolate, flat, and erect. The leaves of both
the varieties are pale, green, with bands of a darker green. Jt has thick flesiiy roots,
creeping far where they have rdom. Tiie leaves arise singly from the root, and are
near a foot and a half long, stiff, waved, and proceeding iuirr>,ediateiy from the root,
as do the flsnver stems, which, when the roots are strong, are often a foot and a half
high, adorned alaiost the whole length with flowers of a clear white, seldom continuing
iu beautv more than two or three days. This is a very hardy plant, propagates itselt' .
fast by its creeping roots, and delights in a light gravelly soil.

Bastard Breadfruit — Sc:e Jaack.

BASTARD BRYONY. CISSUS.

Cl. 4, OR. 1. — Tetrandria mnnng;yma. Nat. or. — Mederacece,

This is derived from a Greek word for ivy.

Gen. char. — Calyx — the involucre, nianyieaved, small ; theperianth one-lecfed, flatj
short, obscurely four-cornered; corolla four-petalled, nectary a rim surrounding
the germ ; the stamens the length of the corolla, inserted into the nectary, an-
thers roundish ; the pistillum has a roundish germen, obtusely four-cornere ., re-
tuse, the style the length of the stamens, stigma simple, acute ; the pencarpiuin
a round shining umbilicate berry ; the seed a roundish stone. Four species grow
in this island :

1. SICYOIDES. SICYOS-UITE.

Sryonia alha genkulata, viola: foUis bacch e v>ridi piirpTirasrentihiis.
Sloane, v. I, p. C33, t. 144, f. 1. Scandi-na, foliis ok/oiiff,) oia'is
ad marginci dentkulis setaceis refertis. Browne; p. 147, t. 4, f.
1, 2.
TLenvGs sub-cordate naked, bristly seiTate, branchlets round.

Stem frutescent, geniculated, herbaceous at top, scandent,' subdivided, civaricating,
i'ooting, round, bloody dotted, smooth. Leaves petiole,!, alternate, cordate, ovate,
cetaceous serrate, with tjic serratares Uistftut andpressed ciose^ nervea, smootli on both

«ide£^^

3-V%TARn KORTUS JAMAICENSIS, ^■7

.sties, somewhat pnccu'ent, of a dark green colour. Tiio flowers yellow, helped in
..form of an umbcilisie ; the iiranches spreading from a centre, eqiia!, dicliotoinou;;
the pedicels one-flowered. At the divisions of tlie peduncles are four small scale;?. — -
Petals inserted witiin the rims of the calyx', broaJer at the base, ovate, relie.x, tl' i.
duous, yellow. Nectary a yellow four-parted rim, surrounding the germen. Fi..- .
.nients inserted betvvi.;en the divisions of tha nectary and deciduous; anthers orant^v ;
.style subulate ; berry ob\ong, black. Tnis plant is common in the kwiando, ani ;'oU:.i
•triimbing upon penyuin fences, and other low bushes.

■2. TRIFOU.4TA. THREE LEAVED.

Br%toniaal'oa triphijUa maxima. Sloane, v. !, p. f?33, t. 144, f. ?.—
Triphylla scandals, fclits ovatis subckntulis, petiolo commuiii mur-
' ginata, caliculis, majoribus. Browne, p. 147.

Leaves in threes, roundish, hair^-, slight.y toothed; branches with membrana*
ceous angles.
Stem suiTrate.-cent, about the bigness of a goose-quill, cliaibing, having five or sis
-an»;cs, knotted, rooting, branched, green, the angles slightiy winged ; Lrancaes
herbaceous, lax. Leaves three, always together, at a crooked jomt, on very iong
pentangular petioles, with opposite clavicles^ tlie leaves are smooiii, and of a
yellowish green colour. Leaflets on short petioles, ovate, acute, the lateral oni-s
oMique, serrate, nerved, smooth <m both sides. Stipules at tiie base of tiiG
■petioicA roundish. Fiower.i umbelled, blood red. Conmion peduncle opposite to
tie petiole short. Umbel f.iur-cleft ; involucre fornieU of ttie fading scaies of the
base. Peiuncies partial, two-partod ; with the terminating unibehules and ped'ccls
coloured. Calyx, or rim of ihe germ, entire, and fjur-cornered ; petals minute-, red,
deciduous; nectary yellow ; filaments inserted into it and subulate; anthers yellow;
perm depressed ; style four-cornered ; stigma yellow ; berry roundish, one-seeded.— «
Tata id also a native of Jamaica, and climbs hign upon the branches of trees.

3. QUADaANGUL.\[llS. .FOtJR-ANGLED.

Leaves cordate, fleshy, serrate toothed, stem four-cornered, somewhat swelling,

??tem very long, climbing, snooth, and even. Lcives alt>>rnate, peti jle I, subiiir-
:Sutp, smooth on both sides., sharply and rem. :>tely serrate. Petiol'-s roti.id. Ten Inls
©pp )>ite to the leaves ; the root is tuberous. It is a native of the East Lidicj, aAiU AttS
introduce J by Mr. East. .

Cifi Vine SoaaEL.

BASTAUD BULLY TREE. BUMELT.t.

Cl. 5, Oi. I. — Pentandr'a monngijn'a. Nat. OR. — Damos^
This name is derived from the Greek name of a tree supposed to be a sort of asH.
CJen. CHAf?. — Calvx a fivc-!eaved p^Miantbium, leaflets roundish ovate, incumbent
concave; corolla one-p'jtalled, five-cleft or five parted, tube very short, round,
border five-parted, parts ovate, entire, spreading, concave, with two little scaler
at the base of 'each; the nectiiry five-leaved, segments smaller than the corolla,
8t the base of the filaments, surrounding the germ, acute; filaments in- erted
*jiU> tac corolla^ at the bottoiu of the tube, bet.veea the lower segments, the ien 'th

1 ^

5S HOTITUS JAMAICENSIS. BASTAna

of the tube ; anthers ovate, erect ; gcrmcn superior, ovale ; style thick, erect,
shorter than tlie stamens ; stigma obtuse ; the pcrii arpiuni an oval drupe ; the
seedasin:;le kernel, obbng-, sm:;oth, witli a lateral sci-r. Thi? genus has been
seperate.l from the achras by Suartz, although it is thought the following species
more properly belong to the latter genus :

1. NIGRA. BLACK.

Fntctihvs vtinorihus glabris per ramos sparsix, scminibus siihrohindL%
cicatncula viintma O'.ata. Browne, p. 201.

Branches wand-like .spreading, leaves terminating oblong, lanceolate, smooth,
waved about the edge, branchlcts Hower-beanug.

Browne calls this bastard bully tree. He only dcicribes tlie fruif, as above, small,
smooth, and scattered over the branches, containing roundish seeds, jnarked with a
very" small ovate scar. This is the common bastard bu'ly tree, a native of Jamaica, and
but an iacUfferent timber ; it is the black mastic of Barham.

2. RETU.SA. EETUSE-LEAVED.

Friicfu miitori glabra, foliis ovatis, Jloribus conjcrtis oLiribus.—'
Browne, p. 201.

Leaves opposite, wedge-ovate, retuse, rigid, floncrs crowded, axillarv.

Browne calls this the mountain bastard bully tree.

3. PALLIDA. PALE.

Branches upright, leaves terminating, elliptic, obtuse, flowers crowJeJ, latent
ral.— -S^K'. Pr. 49.

4. MONTANA. MOUNTAIX.

Leaves scattered, alternate, oblong, obtuse ; flowers axillary, peduaclcd. — ..Jr.
- Pr. 49.

5. ROTt'XDIFOLIA. ROL'ND LEAVCD.

Leaves sub-orbiculatc margined, veined, coriaceous, smooth on both sides, — •
Sn: Pr. 50.

Barham calls this tree white mastic, and says, " I met^with a great many of these
trees in falling a piece of ground in the mountains above Guanaboi, in the parish oi
St. John. I observed, they bore a iVu it much of the shape an 1 bigness of casliew-
stones, and the gum that came out of it was in small little drops, white, and of the scent
of mastick, for which reason the tree is called so ; and I believe it is as good as any
mastick whatever, and of the same virtues." — Barham, p. 207.

6. S.AI.ICirOLIA. WILLOW-LEAVED.

Sah'c'.'; f'lh'i) lato splendenfe, arbor, fioribus -p irvis pallidt: liiteis pcnla-

peloVs c ramuloruvi lateribus canfrrtini e.ieuntibus. Sioaue,, v. 2,

p. 9S, t. 20'", f. 2. Fol'is ob/amris nitidis utrinque produc/iy, ftoribi.':

cnnfcrtis, fasciculis infra fror.des sparsis. Browne, n. 201, t. 17,

f. 4.

Leaves lanceolate- ovate, acuminate; flowers crowded, axillary, and lateral.

This is called the willow-leaved sapota, white bully tree, and galimeta wood, it grows

to a considerable height, and i:; generally furnished witii many branches towards the

top.

.» astar* n o Fx t u s J a ivI a I c l x sis, 5;-

top, rising irregularly end at distant stage.-;. It is commonly observed to, gro-.v
{;l:aij;ht and tapering, and most tVeqneiuly f.ouii.l in tija ijvv'ur i^id-;,- especially
jthout Lioiianeu and Manchionjal. The v/o.)d is p;i!e yeiiow,' and redcoiieo a gaoj
timber ; hut is r.j'o .tly used in such parts of buildings as are ica'st s. xposed t ) tii,e vve.Aher.
Tlie hemes are b.ack, saiooth, u-id very s.iiali, aud iv-i part oi tae plj.nt milky.—

lifVU'i::'.

The flowers of thi; tree come ont in tufts tram tl)" branches, and are pals ye'ijw ;
F'laane suvs they ^rew pientituily i:i the reJ Uiils. Tiv.i Js iiir.u n's 5 uuir.i b iny i:-ei", '
f if which he says-^" I remember, ar'ter the great fire at Port Royal in Jauiaic;., in I 703,
Jesuits bark was so scarce tiiat we gave four pounds fora pouua ol it, andsome praeii-
tioners could not g&i any for love or moaey ; upo.i vvaloh, they in.ide as* of tLie ivdrc
cr this tree, for ioLermitung fevers, with goo i success, but were forced to give tv\!--:3
or tlndce the q'lantity : Since that, tijey have fjund out a bark tnat every way answers
ULii euas of Lie j'jiuits bark, vvaich I sa.ill mention U'. reaftcr." *^~£a: hum, £. 1:0.

Set Bully Tree.

Eastard Cabbage — S\r Caebag^ Bauk^

EASTAr.D CED \H. BUBROMA.

Cl. 18, QR. 2 — P.'lj^ dclphhi rodi'candrfa. Nat. ok — Ccduvin'fcrie.

This derives its name from two Greek worJs, signifying an ox and food.

Gen. CHAT.. — TaiyK tnree- leave 1, nailets ovate; corolla, five petais, claw.s large,
inserted into the nectiiry, b ord, r.i seuhb;n.i ; iiectury peni-aiJii. liou.^, beii-siiaoe.l;
toe stamina grow fn)m iiie nectary Hke rays, aitfiOdU with as seg-oient-i, aotlicrs
on each filament liire- ; gf-rinen sup^-nor rounui^.i ; sty.e fi.iforrn, stigiiia sMijjle;
pericarpiuin sub-globuiar, woodj-, murirat , ending in a five r.i\ed st:a-, piiLiciJod
with h'jles, five celled, va'.veiess, not opeiong ; seed very luair. , uuguiur, fi;iui
in a double row to a central sub-giobiilar recepLucie.

(.UAZUMA.

Jill' friicfu, morifof a arbor, flore pen'apefal.)fii!vo. Sloan?, v, ?, 'i.

IS. Joii!Sxibl<i!ifioc.>rdat;>, sen'ults, ab aUi-'ro latot ihujorcljuc ;

J I uclu minori siabro. bro.nii, p .Wo.

This tree rises to ti.c lieiglit of forty or fiity fett, having a trunk as Ir.rge as a ma;/s

bo ly ; It has a verv htrcng root, an j me l)aris is ot a dark oro*\ 0 colour und lurr^'.i. 1,

senuing out many branclies towar Is the top, spreiiing vvide la every aoeccioo. i„ is

naturailv stnognt, but generaiiv louna crooked, .'rum beiag irequentiy toppea and

eaten by cattle. Tne leaves are' oblong heart-shaped, aheruate, iie^r four iiicues long

Lod two broad near the i)ase, ending in acute points, ,-errate, iiaving a strong niid-rio,

find several transverse veihs, of a b. 14.it gree.i on c.eir upper, and pale on t.ieir utiJer, ,

surface, ur. short petioles, the (io '.ers rre in ax.liarx lUi icr , snit.0, anJ of a yeini v

colour. The dower is described a., f .hows by S.iariz : 'i tie c..;yx iour-iiavtd, iec^ntts,

beat tl„~"A';; ; pet^L uu^ky yeiio.v, fsve-n.'rie.i, pu.-c c at, ..ii.i i'„-^^»._iw «>vns >/r

1 'd Lrijuwi

* i-ocus Ttef — i.'i/...eiita Cm. iarsi.

CO HOTITUS JAMAICENSIS. Iastaf*

■»

bristles inserted into tlic divisions of the petals, and longer than thom, upright and
purple ; ncctarv goblet shaped, smaller than the pctab, inclosing the pi:til, tive-corn-
ered and fivc-ioothed; iilamonts inserted into the base of the nectary, and of tlio same
length with it, trifid from tiie middle, lying ur.der the arched petais ; anlheps three
detiex simole : ijerm ovate, rouuii at the end, echinate when viewed throiiah a niayni-
tying g ass ; style the length of the stamens ; -stigma five-cleft ; fruit iiaro, rugged all
over with tubercles, the rind perforated like a sieve ; seetls ovate, unequal. The
decoction of the inner bark is gelatinous, like that of the elm in Europe, and is deemed
a cure for the leprosy ; Swartz mentions it asheing celebrated for its eiScacy in curing,
the coco bay or elephantiasis, or joint evil.

From the sinnlitude (,>f this tree to the elm, it is Called by the Frencli Orme d'Anio-
rique, and Bois d'Ormc. It is a native of Jamaica, and peculiar to the lowlands, form-
ing a very agreeable shade for cattle, and frequently supplies them with food in dry
weathvr, when all the herbage of the field is burned up, or exhausted ; horses as well
as cattle being observed to feed very greedily both upon the fruit and foliage of the
tree. On this account it is planted in many pastures, and the birds or rats propagate
it in all tiie suri'ounding hedges, by carrying its seeds among them. The leaves it is
thought would answer for feeding silkworms. The seeds are very mucilaginous, and
not disagreeable to the taste. The fruit is first green, but turns black and hard in its
ripe state. A litde before it ripens, it has a pleasant sweet taste, and is frequently
eaten by the negroes, either raw, or boiied as a green in their broths. The wood is
light, and so easily wrought, that it is often used by coach and chaise makers for their
side pieces. It splits freely, and is said also to make good staves for sugar hogsheads.
Sloane observes, that earth taken from imder these trees raises naseberry seeds liie best
of any.

To make a good bird lime, take of tiie inner bark of young bastard cedar, fill a blad-
der tlierewith, and bar3" ic in a warm dunghill until it rots, then take and beat it well
in a mortar.

Bastard cedar, as it is here so called ; for what reason I know not, beisg in r.o res-
pect like cedar. Its leaves are in the shape of English hazel ; its fruit like the mid-
berry, first green, and when ripe black and hard, which sheep and cattle delight to
eat, and will make them fat. I take this tree to he of the nudberrv kind, more than of
the cedar : tiie flowers are like tiie line or lindal tree, yellowish, and veiw odoriferous*
emeliing like our May or hawthorn flowers. — Barham, p. 17. r

BASTARD CHERRY. EHRETIA.

Cl. 5. — OR. 1. — Pentandria monogynia. Nat. or. — Asperifvlioe,
So named after the ingenious artist and botanist G. D. Ehrct.

Cen. CHAR. — Caiyx a one-leafed, bell-shaped, perianthium, half five-cleft, obtuse,
small, permanent ; corolla one-petalled, tube longer than the calyx, border five-
cleft ; stamina subuiate filaments, length of the corolla ; anthers roundish, incum-
bent; the pistillum lias a roundisli germ, filiform style, obtuse emarginated stig-
ma; the pericarpium a roundish one-celled berry, having four seeds, convex on
«ne side, and cornered on the oth.er,

TIMIFOLIj^

Bastar]* HORTUS JAJiIAICENSIS. 61

timfolia. tixu3-leaved.

Ceraso tiffinis arbor hacclfcra racemosa, ffove albo pentapefalo, fnictu
Jlavo inonopyreno eduti dtdci. Sloaue, v. 2, p. 94, t. 203, f. 1. —
^iliiwrea, foUis oblongo-o-uatii allernis, raccmis iermiualAus. —
Browne, p. 168, t. 16, f. 1.

Leaves oblong ovate, quiie entire, smooth, flo-.vcrs panicled.

The root's of this tree spread all around on the surface of the earth, and send n.p an
xipright tree, rising from twenty to thirty feet high ; the trunk iias a dark brown fur-
roivetl t)ark, «ith an oblong thick head. Branches unarmed, roundisii, subdivided!- — ■
The leaves alternate, veined, blunt, smooth, dark green, on short petioles. Panicles
terminating, olctlong, squjye. Flowers terminating, numerous, white, small, standing
on CA>oked slender footstalks. The calyx is five-parted, segments of the corolla finally
rolled back ; fiiamcnts larger than the corolla. Berry sjjherical; at first yellow, then
black. It flowers in January and f'cbruary. '^his tree is common in the lower lands of
Jamaica, and rises to a considerable size in favourable situations. In the church yard
of St. Andrew's parish there are two or three trees from forty to fifty feet high, with
proportionate tliick trunks, and large spreading heads. The berries seldom exceed th©
size of a large currant, and are frequently eaten. They also sefve to feed poultry.

See Currant-Tree.
Bastard Germander — See Germander,

BASTARD GREENHEART. CALYPTRANTHES,

Cl. 12, OR. 1. — Icosandria mojiogynia. Nat. ok. — Hespcrid.e.

This genus takes its name from two Greek words, signifying a veil and a flowei-.

Gen'. CHAR. — Calyx a one-leafed perianthium, bell-shaped, truncate, toothless, or
very obscurely four-toothed, superior, permanent, covered with an orbiculai",
concave, deciduous, lid : There is no corolla ; the stamina are many capillary fila-
ments, inserted into tlie inside of the calyx at the rim; anthers roundish, twin,
-small ; the pistillum has a roundish germ, fastened to the bottom of the caK x,
■two-celled, with a few seeds fixed to the partition ; style filiform, simple, bent
in the length of the stamens ; stigma blunt; the pericarpium a globular oblong
berry, crowned with the calyx, one-celled; seed single, or few, sliglitl}- angular.
There are tliree species, natives of Jamaica, the two first formerly united to the
geisus oiyrtus.

1. chytraculia.

Arbor ea, foliis ovatis glabris oppositis, raccmis terminalibus. Browne,
p. 239, t. 37, f. 2.

Arboreous, peduncles terminating, panicled, trichotomous tomentose, leaves
ovate, attenuated at the tip.

l3rowne says this, tree, which is called bastard greenheart, grows chiefly in the parish
j)f St. John, and is reckoned an e-xcelient timber wood, but it seldom exceeds fourteen

or

63 II OUT US J A MM C EN SIS. bastap.©

or fifteen inclics in clijmctiT. 'J'iie leaves ure s-najth anJ onposile. The liJ i> faslcneii
to tliu caiyx luicraliy, Lut aftciwards lanis back, uua ilicu tU^ iuu^xi^uls lii-iv toiUT,
wliitlx bei'Jic Ua4bccu t-.vjiteJ anJ co.itealeu.

Friilicosiim, foliis cvuti^ niiidts ct ranniUs itbiquc jugatis. Browne,
1.'40, t. 7, r. 2.

Arborescent, peduncles axillarv, trichotomou:;, spreading, leaves ovate, blunt,

branches forked.

This siinib seklam rises above ten or twelve feet in height; the whole is biishy, an J

bears blael. berries, crowned with the margin of the ciip. These contain lour smooth,

plightly angular seeds, one or tAo only of wiiicii lisnaUy arrivx- at maturity. The styie

is longer thaij the stamens j and the stigma is acute. — Jroic'uc,

3. RIGIDA. riGID.

Arborescent, peduncles solitary, cxillarv-, tbree-fiowcred, or thereabouts^
leaves ovite-acute, convex, vcinle:>s, rigid — i'tc'. /'/'. j). iO.

liASTATiD HEMP AGRIMONY. AGERATUM.

Cl. 19, on. 1. — Sifngenesia pohjgamia (cqualis. Nat. on. — Co77iposi/^,

This name is derived from two Greek words, signifying never old or ever-green.

Gen. ch.^R. — Calyx common, oblong with many lanceolate sub-equal scales ; corolla
c<jnipound uniform ; coroUets hermaphrodite, tubulons, numerous, equal, scarcely
longer than the calyx ; proper one monopetalou^, funnel shaped ; !)order qua In-
fid, spreading : the stamens are short capillary fi^aiuents, with cyiindrie tubu!;ir
anthers ; the pistillum has an oblong germ, style the length of the stamens, sti^:-
mas two, slender erect; there is no pericarp ; the calyx unchanged ; seed solitary,
oblong, angular, crowned with a chafFy, five-leaved, upriiiht, awned, calycie ;
the receptacle naked, convex, very small. This genus differs from eupat.wni.n
in tiie cr ) vu of the seeds, an 1 fro u bidens in the nakedness of the irecepui^ie— -
There are two species, one of which is a native of Jamaica.

CONYZOIDES. HAIRY.

Ccmj'za urtu-tr JlUo. bioane, v. 1, p. 25S, t. 1.5C, f. 2.

Leaves ovate, slcm hairy.

T..is has several white strong filaments for roots, wiih lateral fi')res, and a square
ri.'idisii coloured woody stalk, a toot and a half high. The leaves as wen as Iraiicr.ta
stiind opposite, trie first on three- quarun-s of an inch footsiaiks, nairy, ana much ser-
rated, like the leaves of netile.'i, an i.ich and a half long, and tiiree-.piarters of an uuh
Ijroad in the middle, where broadi-st. Tne i, overs a lu »e(?d come tt top, tae la..er
bei^g camuiated, smad, black, and pjppo'js, i.icijiiji iil oaiaU icavgj tof tuoir cjK;-:,
£i.i rouud ia;.ai squaaiiiiv^luii. —^lounc.

BASTARD HOilTUS JAMAICENSIS, 63

BASTARD INDIGO. ' AMORPHA.

Ci,. 17, o;t. 3. — DJadelphia dccandriii. Nat. oa. — Papilionaceic.
Gen. ciiAU. — CaKx a onc-lt-afeJ periantliium, tu'juhir, and pereisteut ; corolla
ovate, concave, erect, scarcely larger than, and placed on tii^ ii])per side of, the
calj'x ; filaments longer t!:an the corolla, anthers simple •, flie pisiilhiin has a
r(5undi.sh genr, suinilate style the length of the stamens, stigma simple ; thei pe-
ricarpiiim is a lunate Icgumen, reflected, larger than the calyv, and luberculated ;
the seeds are two oblong-kidney shaped. By the corolla alone, this genus may Ix;
distinguisiied from all known plants ; the petals being the bannei', aivl the wing-;
arid keel wanting', which is very singular in a papilionaceous corolla. There i^
only one known species, a native of Carolina, antl introduced by Mr. Wiles, ia
1798.

FRUTICO.i.A. SIIR'JGUV.

It rises with many irrcguiar ftenis to the height of twelve or fourteen feet in its nativo
soil, in Jamaica it seldom exceeds four or five feet. It has very long winged leaves, i;i
shape like those of the consmon acacia, they are cf a pleasant green colonr, beautifully
pinnated, and terminate by an odd one. The flowers ai'e produced in long siendor
spikes, they are small, and of a deep purple coio|ir, which it throws out plentifully iu
this island every year, and makes a very shewy appearance, but produces no seed,
though easily propagated by cuttings, or laying down the yotuig branches. Ic thrives
best in cool situations. This shrub grows naturally in Carolina, where I'ormerly a co.irse
sort of indigo was made from the young shoots, whence the plant took its name.

BASTARD IPECACUANHA. ASCLEPIA.^.

Cl. 5, OR. 2. — -Pen/andriu diff-jnii/. Nat. or. — Coufort-r.

"This is named from .'Esculapitis, the god of medicine.

KjEX. char. — Calyx a permanent periantliium, fire-cleft ; corolla monopctalous flat
or reflex, divided almost to the base iiit(j five oval acuminated segments, re!k'x,
but the points turned up ; nectaries five, ovate, concave, putting out a little hor:: ;
stamina five small filaments, anthers oblong, and affixed to a truncated body;
germs two, styles tw , stigma, conmion to both; pericarpium a large, oblontr,
smooth ventri(«se, fohicle, pointed at the extremity, opening lengthwa^'s ; seeds
numerous, imbricate, crowned with a down ; reccpt;ac!e ine.iibninaceous.

CURUASSAVIC.A. CURACOA.

^pocyvinn ercclum folio cblonno, flore lunhe.Ilalo, pctalis coccineis rt-
tic.ris. Slor.ne, v. I, p. aOi-", t. 123, f. 4, ,;■;, Er<'ctafo!iis anpjs-
Hs ccurninnlis -^•erticilliter icnuitis, jiorihus umlx'ilaiis tiTminatrici^
bus. Brjwne, p. 183. Blood Jhn-cr. Barham, p. 22.

Lenves lanceolate, smooth, shining ; stem simple ; umbels erect, solitary-, la-
teral.

This has strong and deep roots, several inches long, tlie inside white and wood\-,
•-sending- out lateral fibres. The stem from one to tiu'L-e feet high, green, round, m^-

risht.,

6!- HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. jsASTARTb

rigTit, puTiesrent, jointed, milky. The leaves are opposite and ^ccws'.atcd, petioled,
acute, eatiro, smootii on both sides. Flowers ui umbels ; umbeOules tcriiiii'.^ating, or
opposite to ti.e tcirainatiiij;' liallet in pairs, pediincied, iai-oiucre none, t ut only a
few su'inilati.\l Jfiifleu. Peduucie Uie length oi' tiie It'iives, peaicsis bhortcr, one iloiv-
eied. L"iflr;ts ol' the calyx n-flex ; nectaries five-, round tne middle ccrjjuacle, ovate,
car-'cowiod obliquely imvards, witn a iiitie Uoriiirum tU^nectareous base, sabre shaped,
bent in towards the genitals. In tne mid.ile is u truiuace corpuscle, hollowed at the
tip, bluntly five-cornered, covered with five scales at the siiles, aiij gaping with 33
many chinks. Scales hodowed within. GlanJs five, r.anidish, blaci:, to vviiich are
nxedabovs, within the scales, hairs of glan lulferous peaiccis, in place of anthers;
iiiese glands are obiong, pellucid, panauriiorin, and nded with prohno nioistuie ;
styles two, hid wilirin t!ie coiuHin ; tne seeds are attached to tne receptiicle, fixed at
each end ; in the middle of the follicle, small, covered wita an aril, an I crowned with
a seshile j^apjjus of loi.tj 'ilKv diwn, by wid; ii they are fixed i.i a squaumiose manner, .
and which serves for tlicir dispersion. Tne coroiia is of a saffron colour, tliC nectaries
bright yellow, and the umbels being m./dt-rately large, give them a beautiful apj)ear-
•ance. It, grows very common almost every where in Jamaica, and is called red head bf
the negroes. Browne observes, that in the cooier inland pastures the ilv;wcrj ars
changed to white, vvirich variety is frequentiv to be seen.

Bnrham calls this plant bloo3-fl.owcr, and say?, "It is so called fro-n it? stopping
bleeding when all other remedies have failed ; and is. so well known in Jamaica that ^
iieedeth no particular description. I knew a gentleman that had sucn a fiux of blood,
by the piles or hemorrhoids, that there was no stopping it, he himself, and all hi.i
friends, despairing of his life. At la-;t, he was aivised co tiiis flouer, whicii was im-
mediately got (for they grow almost every wheri), and bruised, and pressed out the
juice, and was given wilii a syringe ; l>y which he was perfectly cured. I had a patient
that had a virulent gonorrhea, and after I had carried off the virulence, and be^an to
use balsamics and restringents, I found it would not stop, and all the medicines 1 could
think of were to no purpose for above twelve months. At last he took a decoction of
the flowers, leaves, and stalk, of this plant, twice a-day, for five or six days, and it
made him perfectly firm ; and some years after he told me^ that he never had the iea^t
s. mptom i)f a gleet, or any other illness attended him in tliose parts. Lately, an an-
cient gentleman consulted me, who had a gieei upon him many years, v/hich he ap-
prehended was pure we.kness of the vessels, for he was very well in all other respects ;
I advi-e I him to make a tea of the dried flowers, and drink of it in the room of other
tea, and at the same hours, for a month ; in which time, he told me, it made him per-
fectly well, and said it was worth its weight in gold, and believed, if a man could make
it known in Europe, he would get an estate by ir. I have known many okl gleets cured
by it ; and I question not but it may be as useful to women, fur the Jluor albus, and
other excessive discharges." — Jiurham, p. 22.

The following case, v/hjch remarkabiy points out the styptic virtues of this plant, is
tedven from the manuscript of Dr. Anthony Robinson, who made many ingenious obser-
vations on die natural subjects of this island, about the middle of the last century ; and
whose untimely death, before his manuscript.; were properly arranged, was a great loss
to science, and to this island ; for it is-eviaent, from the specimens of his labours still
presfi-ved, that he was a man of real genius, and poisessed of uncomcnon talents for in-
-<lu.-triau3 res2ajch and ju3. dijcriuuii^tioa-;- «> *' Mr,

BASTARh IIORTUS JAr.fAfCENSr^, %

< •*^ Mr. ThonTa<; 'Sl'icol,' a -practitioner in physic, informed me, ri^on my.tcllinfr him
of t\hi styptic virtues of the pjeuJi) ipecaciianh;:, which Barliaiu' calls l)lood-flower :
that a mule iiiul by some ;u-cident been wounded iii the thigh, from which ai violent
hR-morrnngc of hlood issued, which, after the inei'.ectiiul appiicatiou of all the styptics
111 his slv)p, was stopped iiislaataueously by a negrd applj. ing a iiandful of the bniised
J)lossoni> aiul leaves of this plant. Another time, by the n^a of the same plant, applieU
^.1 the same manner, he saw a jack as;, vvitii a l.u'ge u'ce;'a.te 1 v.-jund, full of maggots,
cured eflectiially ; for it immediately killed the maggots, and then cleansing the woun^.

Tin juice of this plant, made into a syrup with sugar, has been observed to. kill and
bri'ig away wor.us wonderful!}', even when ntost other vermifuges have faii;;d; it is
given ta-children from a tea to a c<jmmoii spoonful. Tne root dried and lehiced to
p > V ler, is fra piently use! by the poorer sort of people as a vomit, the dose from onu
to two scruples. To weaken the operation of the root, it may be gently infused iu
warm water, which, poured off", is mildly purgative ; ami the root being afterwards^
xlriod anil pulveriseil, will form a more suitable and lenient cathartic for intirm or deli-r
cate habits. — Brozi'm and Long. Many commend the juice of the wild ipecacuanha ix^
an antidote to worms. It operates with violence, both up and clown, and I have known
it sometimes do ^voudcre. The juice of the leaves and tender stalks, from one to thrc^
tea spoonfuls for a dose. — Grainger. Tire juice of the leaves is often given to jjersons
aftli^cteJ with worms, from a tea spoonful to an ounce, for a dose, on an empty sto-
mach. In this way I can vouch for its powerful and salutary effect. When given in
largo doses it acts as a mild emetic or purgative ; and in worn* fevers also as a diapho-
retic and diuretic. Tiuis, whilst it expels worms, it brings about a crisis. The roots
are white and woody. Waen given in powder, as a vomit, they act as an emetic ; but
this is a dangerous practice. — IVright. Dr. Dancer, in his Medical Assistant, page
379, second edition, recommeiids the expressed juice to be injected as a clyster In
bleeding piles.

See SwALLo^y-^voRT.

BASTARD LOCUS TREE. CLETHRA.

Cl. 10, OR. I. — Decandria nwnogynia. Nat. or. — Bicornes:.

This name is supposed to be derived fiom two Greek words, signifying to close o?
«lmt up.

CrEN'. CHAR. — Calvx a one-lcafed perianthium, five-parted ; corolla five oblong pe-
tals ; stamina ten fikiments subulate, anthertc cordate erect ; germ small, ronnd-
is'i ; stylo filiform, stigma trifid ; the pericarpinm is a roundish capsule, three-
celle f, th'-ee-valved ; seeds aio'ular. There is only one species, a native of Ja-
maica, the tinus occideiUalis of Linnc u , but transferred to this genus by Swartz,

TlXrrOf.IA. TINUS LEAVED.

Barr'f^ra avhor cnhjrulafa foliis lavrinia, fritctn racemoso eandenfo

suh o'nndo monrpyreno pallide luieo. Sioane, v. 2, p S6, t. I9R,

f. 2. Jrborea, foliis oh'ongo-ovatis^ alternis, supernc glabris, sui-

K ttis

« H0RTU3 JAMAICENSIS. bastaro

tux sub-villosis et nervosis i spicis ramosis, terminal ibus. Browne,
p. 214, t. 21, f. 1.

Leaves oblong lanceolate, quite entire, hoary underneath ; racemes panicledj
spike-shaped, tomentose.

Sloane calls this the hastard locus tree, and says it has a very tliick trunk, covered
with a smooth clay coloured bark, having brc^nches ec^ualiy spreatl roiuiJ alxiui it, wuich
towards their ends are beset with leaves, five inches ^n^, aii.l iiaif ts broad. Tlie truit
comes on tlifi ends of the twigs, being a st ilk or suing, on wuicij gruvv several green
roundish berries. Tne puip is sweet, wtiite, rueaiiy, inciudiig a hard browmsii oiat*
stone. Tlie berries are ripe in August, wiien tney hdi ou tne trues, unucr which they
are gathered and eaten, and thougnt a pleasant desert. — Siou/i£.

Browne calls it the Volkameria, with oblong leaves, and says, this shrubby tree is
very common in Sixteen Mile Walk, and rises geiier^ihy to tne height of tvvelve or lour-
teen feet. It seems to have a near resemblam e to Uie ijcus Deny cree, (see BarbaUoes
cherry, p. 50,) but it is really very different, for the parts and uisposiiion of tue How-
ers are entirely peculiar. The filaments rise from the bottom of me tlower, just about
the gernien, and are not so long as either the petals or tiie cup. The hovver tops are
rather so many bunches composed of simple spikes, rising gradually one above anoiner j
but each of the flowers are supported by a subuiated stipuia, or -ear, while young.

We have called this tree by the name of Volkameria, to perpetuate the memory of
that famous botanist. — Browne^

Bastard Mahogany — See Mahogany.
Bastard Mammee — See Sancta Maria.

BASTAUD MANCHIONEEL. CAMERARiA:

Cl. 5, OR. 1. — Pentandria motiogi/nia. Nat. or. — Contoitie.

So named by Plumier, in honour of Joachim Camerarius, a physician and botanist o£
Nuremberg.

Gen. char. — Calyx five cleft; corolla monopetalous, ffinnel form, border five-
parted ; stamina very small, anthers converging ; the pistillum has two germens,
with lateral appendages ; styles hardly any, stigmas obscure ; ll:e pencarjnum has
two follicles, horizontally reflected ; seeds numerous, ovate, and uiserted on the
larger ovate membrane at the base, imbricate. Tnere are two speeie.s, both natives
of Jamaica.

1, latifolia. broad-leaved.
jirborea foliis ovato acuminatis nitidis rigidis rejiectentibus, /cUiculis
alatis. Browne, p. 182.

Leaves ovate, acute at both ends, transversely striated.

The branchlets of this tree are mostly forked, or in two divisions. The leaves are
quite entire, very shining, rather rigid, petioled, opposite, numerous, somewhat re-
sembling those of myrtle : peduncles one or many flowered, slender, long, axiilarv,

or-

tASTARl^ nORTUS JAMAICENSIS, 67

cr from the fork« of the branchlets. Flowers sma!!, white ; follicles brown, bivalve in
their structure, but not opeiiint^. Browne says it is tVecjuent in the parishes of West-
morland and St. J.*mes. and grows commonly to the heigiit of twenty-nine feet or moyef
and is said to be a good timber wood, but is full of an acrid milky juice.

2. ANGUSTIFOLIA. sriALI.-LEAVED.

Leaves linear.

■ The stem of this is irregularly branchinjj. Leaves opposite, quite entire, the middle
nerve ruaaiip; down ; thev have two ribs running longitudinally. It grows only about
eiii;ht feet hitili, and the flower and fruic are also mucn smaller than the fir^-t species. —
The flowers are p<-oduced scatteringly at the ends of the branches, and it also abounds
with a milky acrid juice. Both plants rnay be propagated from seeds.

BASTARD MUSTARD. CLEOME.

Cl. 15, OR. 2. — Tctrad^namia siliquosa. Nat. OR. — Futaminete.
This name is derived from a Greek word, signifying to close or shut up.

Gkn. char.— Calyx four-leaved, very small, spreading, the lower leaflet gaping
more than the rest ; corolla foiir-petalled ; nectareous ghmds three, rountlisli, at
each division, except one at the calyx ; stamina subulate, declining; fi"thers la-
teral, descending ; style simple ; germen oblong ; stigmas thickish : perlcarpium
a long siliqne cylindric, one-ceiled, two-valved ; seeds many, rouiKiMi. Then3
are four known species, natives of this island.

1. SPINOS.1. TIIOfiNY.

Slnapistriim TRs^yptium heptaphijUum, flare cameo, majus spinnsinv.
Sloane, v. 1, p. 194. Assargcns ramosum et spuiosuin, htptaphyl-
lum ; spica multiplki foliolatd . Browne, p. 273.

Flowers six stamened ; leaves in seven's and five's; stem thorny.

The root of this plant is deep, large, white, and firmly fixed in the ground by several
smaller. The stalk is very strojig, round, hairy, and green, risnig to about four or
five feet hj^h, spreading branches on every side, haviiig fingered leaves standmg on
long foot-stalks. The leaf is divided generally into seven parts or fingers ; they are
viscid or clammy, will seem to stick to the hand when you squeeze them, and have a rank
disagreeable sinell. The stalks and branches have short, green, strong, straight
prickles. The flowers come cmt on every side of the tojis ot tiie branches : They are
each nia le up of four long petals of white colour, witli some purple thrums or stamina,
Tue pods aie small, round, and of pale-greeu colour, inclosing a great many very
small bro.wn seeds. — Barkavi, p. lOS.

Browne calls this the prickly branched sambo, and says it thrives best in «. dry soil.

2. PROCU.MBENS. PROCUMBENT.

Leucoium liiteum, she keiri minimum polij^ala' facie. Sloane, v. I,
,p. 193, t. 123, f. 1. Erecla lierbaccii, Joliis oblongis, jloribu.^ soli-
(unis. Browne, p. 273. '

K 2 Ho '.vers

ea HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. ^^astaub

Flo'.vcrs six stumcncd ; leaves simple, lanceolate, petioledi stems prociniibcn.t.

The slen! is herbaceous, six inches iiigli. Leaves niiernate, small, aeiite, smooth ;
the llawer is j'cllow, turning to oranj^e or red. Barham calls iius -wali-JlowLr. li i:as a
larg2 root, tlie leaves like c^minori milkwoit. IJ;'ovvue calls it iho suiall suvannu nius-,.
tard, vvJiicii grjws wild iu every part of t!ic island, and Hokvers in November.

2. i'ENTAPHYLLA. riVE-LEAVED.

Sinapistriim indiann fcnia])hyUum f.orc carneo viinus, nf.ii spinosuvi.
Sloane, v. 1, p. 19k Procui7ibt'ns jitntuj.lii/llitm, sjiica lo/i^icix
tcrininali. Erowne, p. '21Z.

Fluwers gynandrous ; leaves qiiinate ; stem unarmed.

The erect triCoiiated sambo is a small plant, found growing in tufts upon tho tjroiuidi!
and seldom runs above eight or ten inches in length ; it is, however, mijre succulent
than either of the others, and gencrallv lool.ed upon as a very waolesome green ; but
it has a bitterish taste, and requires long boiling, and the water's being frequently
shifted, to render it palateabie. It is deemed a preservative against the dry-bcily-ache ;
and, doubtless, claims a precedency, if any green can be said to be etiectual thatwav.
— Broxi'ne.

Under the name coi/crs this plant is described as follows, in Hughes's Hislors' of Ear-
badoes : " Tnis shrubby plant hath several whitish roots, smelling not ur.lil.e a raddish.
The main !;lalk, which is of a purplish colour, branches very much rear the ground :
from the several side branches issue a great many footstiilks, whose respective toj^s from
Qne common centre "^usiain seven sharp pointed leaves, being almost equally sharp near
their common footstalk, where they all join; at which juncture there is a yeiiouish
spot. Tne flower very much resembles that of a garlic pear tree, consisting of four
small spoonlike petals. From the centre of these rises a dark coloured ])is{il, from
whose sides, somewhat higher, issue six pnrplish stamina, lipped wiili brown apdces ;
the pistil in the mi Idle stiil continuing larger than tiie stamina, bearing upon it the
rudimeiit of the future pod, which, when ripe, is of a flattish shajjc, of ai)oat six
inches long, inclosing a great many siiiall seeds. Tlie juice of this j)lant, mixed with
sweet oil, is looked iijion to be a sovereign remedy against the pain in the ear, if poured
into it warm." — Hughis'' Barbadocs, p. 210.

In confirmation of the above virtue in this plant, of curing pains in the ear, Dr. A.
Iiobinsor', in liis uianuscript, states as iollows : *' A gentleman of St. Ehzaoeth's in-
formed Die, that for some years he had been at times afflicted with violent i^ains in Ins
left ear, so that at last he could hardly hear on that side ; he had little or no wax at ;■ ly
lime in it, and sometimes feit such an uneasy sensation, as one perceives when a Hea
or other small inse;t gets into ones car ; that, a few da_vs beiore he saw mc, he had
pulled a living insect out of It. He said, when the pain was most raging he liad, by
the advice of a negro woman, taken a leaf of the clcome terfia prccmnbens pentaphyl-
lum, i(c. of Browne, imd, upon squeezing a few drops of it into Jiis ear, he had been
ioslantaneously relieved from the pain."

4. POLYGAMA. POLYGAMY.

Sirwpisfrum Indicum triphyllum flore carnen 7ion spinosum. Sloane,
V. I, p. 194, t. 124, f. 1. Erectiim triphT/lUun, jicribus solttarhs
alaribus, Browue, p. 273. Tuis

j^ASTATitt liORTUS JAMAICENSIS. ^,

This grows chiefly in moist bouo.i.s, it is prclly simple, and seldom rises above
twenty or twenty-live mchea.— L' ruicuc.

This iKitli a root four or five inches long, small and white, «!ih lateral fibres drawing
j't.-i nourishment ; the stalk is round, tureen, upright, about two feet long, witnout any
branclios, having leaves thinly placed thereon, without any orJer, standmg turee al-
ways together, on an incii ibotstalk, about an inch and a half long and naif an inch
broad in the middle ; at the top of the stalk is a spike of telrapeialous fiowers miKe4
VI itli purple, like the other sorts; after which follows a threc-incii long Jjod, sniali,
round, green, like the other. The whole plant is balsinnic and vulnerary ; I liave
seen the very leaves applied to sores, and they would heal tlieni ; they give case in the
gout ; boiled in'.oil, remedj' cutaneous diseases, especially the leprosy. Tiie leaves,
boiied or decocted in water, expel poison, jirovoke appetite, comfort the stomach,
cause expectoration, and expel wind. The juice, witii oil, heljjs deafness, drojiped
into the ear. The leaA es, beaten and applied to the head, cure iis aching from cold. — •
These grow in great plenty in all or most parts of .\merica, c-ven in the woi-st and j)oor-
est grounds, in yards, sides of the highways, and streets^ without planting or cuui=
vating. — Barham, p. 108.

Bast.\rb Nicaragua — See Brasiletto.
Bastard Nutmeg — Sec Nutmeg.

BASTARD PLANTAIN. HFLICONIA.

Cl. 5, OR. !. — Pentandr'av-ionogynia. Nat. or — Scltamineiv.
This name is derived from that of the celebrated mountain in BcEOtia, sacred to th^

Riuscs.

Gen. char. — Calyx. Rpathes common and panial, alternate, distinct, with hcrma-
j)hrodite flowers ; there is no perianth ; the coroha lias tliree petals, obiong, ciiuu-
nelled, erect, acute, equal ; nectary two-leaved, on leatVts neariy equal to tne.
petals, the other very snort, channelled, hooked, oppositt: ; tlie siumina are five
or six filaments, with long erect anthers ; the pistil lias an inferior oblong germen,
short style, and a long., slender, curved, stigma, with a terminating head ; the
pericarpiuin is an oblong, truncate, lliree-s4 led, three-celled, capsule; seeds so-
litary, oblong. This genus is distinguished frum nuisa by a incoccous capsule,
and it is doubtful whether it should nit be transferred to the class hexauuria. — ■
Tiiere are two species natives of Jamaica.

1. EIHAI.

Miisa humiUor foliis vnnor bus ni^ricuntibus, fruc'u mhi'ino erecfo.
Sloane, V. 2, p. 147. Spadicf erecto, spailiis rigidis mnpUwaniibus
disiich^ ct alternatini. Browne, p. 364.

Leaves and .spadix radical, spathes distich, cordate; nectary ventricose, bifid at
the tip.

This in every respect is of a much smaller growth than the plantain or lianana tree,
%ut shuou ^eaerally to tue height of ten ur t,\clve feet. The Icuves are oblong, nar-

lower

?C HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. bastard

Eowcr at both ends, entire, marked uitli parallel lines, erect, thick, and very smooth ;
pctiolts the length ol' the leaves, or more, round, thick, channelled above ; sca})e up-
right, the length of the petioles, ronnd,- thick, smooth; the spadix simple, ujjrii^ht.
Tile cainmon spathes several, (eight to ten) rigid, cordate, embracing, erect, spread-.
i'.ig, acuminate, distich, yellowish, yellowish green below, and purple in their upper
brims. Flowers in bundles, concealed within each spathe ; partial spathes membrana-
ceous, whitish, the length oi the (lowers, which are distinct, subsest'Ue, pale or green-
ish yellow. Corolla cohering to the base, unequal, curved and- recurved, as it were
two-lipped; the two upper petals lanceolate, acute, a liitle reflex at tiie tip, below
the middle converging, and towards the base coalesccut with the lower petal, whitisn
at the base : lower petal scar-cely longer than the upjier ones, lanceolate, concave, a
little rcttirved, entire and acuminate at the tip, with its base embracing the nectary
behind ; the nectary is two-leaved, inclosing the lilament^, and filled «ith nectareous
juice.at tlie base ; the leaflet in front is veiy minute, Umceulate, and fastened to the
antfrior petal of the corolla.

This beautifaljilant gro.wsvvild in most of the cooler -mountains of'Jamaica, and
thrives very luxuriantly in every rich and well-shaded gully among the woods. Ixi its
growth and leaves it perfectly resem!)les tl.e plantain and banana, but ddTers very
wi.lelj' from them in the more essential jiurts. In the blossoms of this plant we fin J
five perfect fdaments shooting fr.)m the bottom of the real flowe: leaf, and one imper-
fect fdament from the ncctarium ; but, in the (jthers, it is quue contrary, f(jr five of
the filaments are imperfect, and the only one that is otherwise rises from the nectarium.
JJroxiHc. — The seeds of the bastard plantain are greedily devoured by hogs.

The stODtt or body of this plant is somewhat- smaller, but equally SBCcnlent, . witli the
plantain. I have seen, in this island, very large tracts (jf land, which onc^ were-coji -
siderable sugar plantations, but, in length of time, "became so exhansted, as not to
make any projiortionate return to the labour bestowed on tlumi, and have therefore
l>een thrown up and deserted. Where this has happened from -a changs of seasons,
and the want of shcuvers, the disaster is incurable ; ami siich land cannot be restored to
fertility, except by the reiurnof favourable weather, or by «rtificial waterings; the
first is scarcely to be hoped foi-, the second is not always practicable. But -there, are
. other lands, whicli have been worn out with incessant cultivation, and not so destitute
of sliowers. In man \' places, it is usual to let them lie fallow for-two or three years,
nf'glecting what is absolutely- requisite during this inten'al of time ; which is to hoe-
plough them, once a 3"ear at le.isi, before the weeds-seed and ri|>en ; so that the rains
and dews falling upon them, have onlv assisted the growth and multiplication of weeds
in such manner that they cannot afterwards be exterminated. It has been demon-
strated, that water {.i.ore particularly rain) is the principal support and pahuiuin of all
vegetables. In their state of dissolution, the more la.rified particles of the fl'jid they
have imbibed re-ascend into the atrnosjihere ; but much of the remainder becomes
earth, affording a solid and actual siistentation and addition to the surface on which it
j'alls. For this reason, jjrobablv, in the modem, in.proved state of hu-ibandry in En<--
lund, turnips are applied as an excelJent manure for impoverished lands. In Jamaica,
the same root is not equally fit for the purpose, iiecanse it docs not giow here to an^
considerable bulk, nor is it so succulent iis in England. I would propose, therefore,
to substitute in its room the vvilj plantain tree, wherever it can be breuoht to orow. — A

Thi.

BASTARD HORTUS JAMAICENSI3. 71

This plant is, in truth, a vegetable syphon, full of water ; an;l as it nsver fnictifier., so
it probably cannot exhaust any soil. A walk of these suckers might be planted on iar-
poverished land in a seasonable year, and suffered to stand for tnree years ; and the
j^round hoed only till the plants appear to have struck root, an 1 to ris2 with vigour. —
7n the third year they might be cut down, and left to rot upon the suri'ace. To sup-
port them in the early part of their growth, it is necessary to keep the ground clear of
v,feeds about them. Hoeinp; performs this, and loosens the earth ; winch faciiiiaies the
penetration of rains and dews through the surface. Wiien they are tolerably well
grown, their broad expanding leaves will shaOe and cool the ground in such a inauner,
as to preserve it alv^ ays nioist and open, and suppress the ascent of weeds; from this
period, therefore, hoeing will- not be so necessary. I should not recommend the fnnt
bearing plantain for this design, as it certainly exhausts land very much, and therefor*
would add to the evil, insteac! of removing it.

The stems or trunks of any of these species, cut in long junks, are the best provi-
sion that can be laid aboard the homeward bound ships, for support of the live stock.
Sheep, goats, cattle, hogs, and poultry, are all fond of it ; and, as the stems pre-
serve their succulence frr a long space of time, the stock fed with it require little or
no water. For the smaller animals the junks are chopped into small pieces. They are
stowed behind the niizen chains, where they do not in the least incumber the snip.—
Long, ^1 Si. .

2. PSITTaCORUM.

Leaves on the stem rounded at the base, spadix terminating, flexuose, spathes
lanceolate, nectary lanceolate, concave, entire.

This plant bears a great resemblance to canna, and grows to the height of eight feet,
with a simple smooth stem. Leaves ovate-Lnceolate, entire, acute, vcrv smootii,
marked with parallel nerves ; petioles stiealtiing, smootti ; spadi.x si.nple ; spathes
fewer (f jur to six), alternate, distich, somewhat rcjnHe, divaricated, two in.nes long,
sheathed at the base, acute, coloured blood-red, many flowered : bowers piidiceUeu,
crowded, upright, an inch long, fulvous, on round peauncles, iiail an inch long ; co-
rolla three-sided, two upper petals erect, linear, acute, keeied, converging, glued
to the nectary, the uppermost only trifid ; tiie lower petal embracing tiie upper j^etais
and nectary at the base, a litt.e wider, keeled, ventricose, brownisli green at tne top ;
hinder leaf ot the nectary the length of the petals, lanceolate, concave, a iitiie curved
inwards, acuminate, entire, striated, including tlie stamens ; iront leai uiany times
smaller, awl-shaped, concave, inserted at the base into tne lower petal; fi.ameius five,
include! within the hinder leaf of the nectary, free at the base ; antuers linear, t.vo-
celle 1, white ; germ three-sided, truncate ; style sliglitly ttiree-siaej, filitorni ; stig-
ma, blunt, three-sided, lientin, pubescent; fruit tUree-cornered, truncate-Uepress-
fi', scarlet at top. Swartz says it is a native of this island, ia wet parts of the wooiis,
ou the highest mountains.

BASTARD SAFFRON. CARTHAf^IUS.

Cl. 19, OR. 1. — Syngenesia polygaviia aqualh. Nat. OR. — Coviposi'tir,
This generic naxne is derived from a Greek word, signifying to purge.

Gek.

73 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. eastard

Gf.N'. CTTa!?. — Calyx-ovatr, imbricated wiili srak's, closo bplow, nml iiugmenteJ
wuii si)b-ovatc tbliace )i4S ajipenaires at top ; fMjroihi compoumi ; .-tauiina capilla-
ry ; anthers t-yiinaric ; gcrmen very short ; style l<)n<;(.-r than U;6 stamens; stiTina
simple ; sce^Ji ooljiary. There arc tea s{)txics, o'.io ot' which has been cultivated

ia Jamaica.

TlNCToiuirs. nviNO.

Toliis ses.'n'Uhis, dent'cidnti?, oblon^is, o5fiisis ; caidc assurgenti,
.iuni7n;f(i/tm versus ramoso. Browne, p, 314.

Lcttvcs ovate entire, serrate-aculonte.

T'.iis plant rises about twQ fet-t r.Hvl a half o-r three feet b.igh, dividing into many
brar.ches. 'i'he flowers o;ro\v sin<!!;le at tlie extremity of the branches, of a nnc saifro.n
colom*. Browne says this plant was mtrodueei irto Jamaica liy the Spanish Jews, and
tliat it was cultivated in most gardens about Kingston, whert- the florets were Ireqncntly
Uacd in broths or rau,ous. Tt grows iiatnni!ly in Egypt, anil other vrarin parts of Asia,
and is propagated fVom see.fs.

This plant is well worthy of cultivation fur its many virtues ; the florets dried qivc
an agreeable colour to several culinary preparations, and arc used as an article of dye-
ing an J painting ; for vvhich purposes great quantities arc. annually imported into Eng-
land Irom tiic Levant.

That which grows in America comesfar siinrt in goodness to that in England. Here
also grow in great plenty the cniciis, s'we cart/iainus sa/wus, and cuicim pcrcnn:s. —
Tlie flowers ol' caiikaiiiiis are much used by the Spaniards (who call them bastard saf-
fron) in all their l)roths, to give them a yellow colour, which they do ; they are also
nse.l for dying. The seed is what is chiefly used in physic, or rather the kernel with-
in the seed, wnich, beaten into ail emulsion with honeyed water, or with the broth of
a pullet, anil taken fasting, opens the body, and purges watery and phlegmatic hn-
mour.-, both upwards and dow.nvards ; the seeds do the same clysterways ; an electuary
or lohnch, made with sugar or honey, and almonds and pine-kernels, cleanses ttie
breast and lungs of phlegm ; a drachm of the dried flowers taken, cures the jaundice ;
the confecr, called dhcarthamum, is a very great medicine to purge choler and phlegm,
as also watery humours. Parrots delight to feed upon them. — Burhani, p. 163.

BASTARD SENNA. CORONILLA.

Cl. 17, OK. 4. — Diadelph'a Derandria. Nat. or. — Papilioimce^.

This name is a diminutive from corona, a crov/n ; the flowers crowning the branches
in a cOrym!).

Gen. char. — Calyx simple ; corolla papilionacenus ; stamina diadelphous filaments,
anthers simple ; the pi-tillum has an oljiong gcrnicTi, bristled st\le, small .stigma ;
the pericarpium is a long legumen, seeds many. Tnis is an exotic, and two spe<
cies have been introduced, possessing no remarkable %-irtues,

■j?.-

1. VALENTINA. VALENTINE."

Shrubby leaflets about nine ; stipules suborbiculate.

*Th:»

SAST/.RB HORTUS JAMAICENSIS, 73

This plant rises three or four feet high, and bears its flowers on long axillary peJun^
cles, in close bunches.

"2. MINIMA. SMALLEST.

Under shrubby, procumbent; leaflets nine ovate ; stipule opposite to the leaf,
eniarginate ; legumes angular, knotty.

This has erect stems, a little branched, round, smooth, about eighteen inches in
height, woody at bottom only. The leaves unequally pinnate. Calyx yellowish. — ■
Ci^rolla yellow'; peduncles three inches long, supporting twenty to twenty-six flowers.
The legumes an inch long, round, deflected, scarcely contracted between the seeds,
lenninated by the ascending style.

BASTARD SENSITIVE. ^SCHYNOMENE.

Cl. 17, OR. 4. — Diadclpkia dccandn'a. Nat. or. — Papilionacetp.

Gen. CHAR. — Calvx a one-leafed, bell-shaped, bihdjiate perianthium, upper bifid,
lower three-toothed-; corolla papilionaceous ; banner eordated and sub-ringent,
the wings sub-ovate, obtuse, shorter than lite l)anner ; keel lunate, pointed, the
length of the wings ; filaments single, nine cleft ; anthers small ; the nistillum lias
an oblong villous columnar germen ; the style subulate and rising ; stigma simple,
ratiier obtuse ; the pericarpium is a long compressed, unilocular, jointed pod;
seeds solitary between the joints, kidney shaped. Only one species is a native of
this island amrricana ; three others have, however, been introduced, natives of
Egypt and the East Indies, xhe grandijiora, sesban^ andaguatica.

I.AMERICANA. AMERICAN.

'ITedi/acirum caule hirsitlo, mimosce foliis alafift, pinnis acufis miyjimk
framitieis. S'oane, v. t, p. 186, t. 118, f. 3. PrPCioiibens^foUoUs
pinnatis mimulis, ramulis tenuissimis. Browne, p. 295.

Stem herbaceous, hispid ; joints of the legumes semi cordate ; leaflets acu-
minate, bractes ciliate.

This plant is very common in many places of Jamaica. Stem rarely reaches three
•feet in length, but seldom stands upright ; it is sub-divided, round, and somewhat
Jiir.sute, delicate and slender. Branches filiform, patulous, round, streaked, hirsute.
The hairs are feruginous at the base. Leaves pinnate, alternate ; leaflets sessile, al-
ternate, minute, sickle shaped, serrulate, three-nerved beneath, smooth on both sides.
Petioles thicker at the base, round, hirsute. Stipules sickle shaped above and below
the petiole, opposite, acuminate, somewhat hirsute. Peduncles longer than the leaves^
axillary, solitary, erect. Flowers pediceded, alternate, whitish or brownish yellow ;
i)ractes sessile, ovate-acuminate, serrate, streaked, hirsute at the edge. Calyx upper
lip serrate at the tip, or bluntly three-toothed, pubescent at the edge. Corolla, ban-
ner streaked, wings obovate, keel ovate, sickle-shaped, upriirht, bifid. Legume al-
most upright, pendulous, margined, wrinkled, pubescent.. — Sw. Ob. 184.

The branches are about a foot long, roundish, filled with a fnngou< pith, set very
Xhick on the outside with large and fierce hairs, or small prickles, of a wiiite colour, as

L were

71 - HORTUS JAMAICEXSI-3. b-a-jm:

■\vere P.I.SO the twigs vvliv-)se ends were set wiih alatcd leaves, whose pinnae, were very
small sharp, or poinied at the end, t^-issy or striated like grass leaves, and nuiiieroirs.
Tiic flowers come out of a hairy or ei:h;natecl small [caf, fanquam e.v utrlcub, being
many, standing oa tlie ends of brr.nched footstalks alternatively, and after them follow
articulated pod?;,, a little crooked, hiroixte, or rough, like a half moon. I found it iu,
the inland parts of the island. — Sloane.

. 2. GRANDIFLOR.l. GREAT-FLOV.'ERED.-

Stem arhojescent, flowers Very large, legumes ."iliform.

This has been called ihoiseul pea. It jjs a^native of the East Indies, and grows in the
botanic garden in Liguanea. It rises six or eight fset high, with an upright woody
stem, sending out branches spreading a little, r!)und, pubescent. The leaves are pin-
nate, alternate, scattered, a foot long, leaflets from twelve to eighteen pairs. Flowers .
pendulous, white, very large. Legiune two feet in length^ linear, compressed, with
a membranaceous isthmus between the seeds, which are roundish. The seeds are
agreeable to doniestic birds.

3. SESBAJf.

Stent herbae&ous, smooth; legumes cylindric, equal-; leaflets obtuse.
This is a native of Egypt, and was introduced by Dr. Clarke ; it has woody stems
and branches, garnished with smooth leaves, composed of many blunt, opposite, pin-
nses. The flowers are small, of a deep yellow colour, and come out from the axils in-,
long spikes hanging down. The legumes smooth and taper pointed, not jointed.

4. AQUATICA. WATERY.

This is also a native of the East Indies", and is called the swamp pea tree ; it was in-
troduced by Mr. East, as well as a new species by Mr. ^V'Lles, ail of which are enumer-
ated in the Hortus Eastensis.

BAUM. MELISSA.

Cl. It. OR. 1. — Didi/nc/mia gymnospermu/. Nat. or. — Verticillatte.
This generic name is derived from a Greek word, signifying a bee, from the fond-,
ness of bees for this plant.

Gen. char. — The calyx is arid, flattish above, the upper lip having its dents nearly
of equal height ; corolla upper lip arched and bifid, the under one, with the middle
lobe, heart-shaped; stamina awl -shaped ; anthers small ; germen four cleft; no
pericnrpinm ; seeds four. There are several species, natives of Europe ; tlie most
useful has been introduced :

OFFICINALIP. OFFICINAL.

Racemes axillary, whorled ; pedicels simple.

It has fibrous perennial roots ; many upright,, square, branchy, annual stalks ; rising
two or three feet high ; garnisheil with oblong, indented, opposite leaves, by pair,^,
two or three inches long, and half as broad ; and from the upper axillas verticillate
flusters of small white flowers, upon single footstalks. There is also a kind with varie-
gated

EAVBEKRy HORTUS JAMAI C EN S I S. 75

gated leaves. It has a pleasant smell, of tlie lemon kin J ; and a weak, rotighisb, aro-
matic taste. Bauni is appropriated to the head, stomach, and uterus ; and in all dis-
orders of these parts is said to do extraordinar}- service. The present practice, how-
ever, holds it in no great esteem, and ranks it among the weaker corroborants^. It is
reputed good in hypochondriac and hysteric disorders of the head and scomacli, and hy
outward appliiations, to ease the stingmg of bees and wasps. Infusions of the Icavis
in water smell agreeably of the herb, but have not much taste, though, oa being iii-
spissated, they leave a considerable quantity of a bitterish austere extract, 'i'lie green
leaf is better tiian the dry. Infusions of baiuti do not, like other aromatics, offend the
Lead, as is complai led of from sage, &c. It is a grateful diluent drink in fevers, espe-
cially if acidulated wuh limes or lemons. Cold infusions in water or spirit are far better
than the cohobated distilled water, and are the best preparations fioni the plant. On
distdiing the fresh herb with water, it impregnates the first running pretty strongly
with its grateful flavour. Wlien large quantities are suliiected to the operation at once,
there seperates and rises to the surface of the aqueous fluid a small portion of essential
od, which some call o/..sj/>'/Vf, and others, ol. gcrmafiis. It is of a yellowish colour,
and of a very fragrant smell.

This plant is cultivated in many gardens in Jamaica, but seldom thrives with that
iuxurianiy that many other plants do.

I5.-vu.\i Grass — See LexMOK Gkass.

EAYBERRY, or WILD CLOVE. MYRTUS.

Cl. 12, OR. \.— -Icosand rid mono tfj/nia. Nat. OR. — Ilesperidea:.

This is fabled to be so named from Myrsine, an Athenian damsel, and favourite of
Minerva, who was metamorphosed into a myrtle.

Gen. CHAR. — Calyx one-leafed, four or five cleft, bluntish, superior,' raised inter-
, iiahy into a sub-villose ring, permanent ; corolla has four or five petals, ovate,
entire, large, inserted into the calyx ; the stamens are many capillarv filaments,
the length of the corolla, inserted into the calycme ring, havmg roundi..ti small
anthers ; the pistillum has its germ inferior, two or three-celied, the seeds fixed
tj? the partition ; style simple, filiform-, stigma b^ant ; the pericarpium is an oval
-berry, umbilicated with the. caly-x, one, two, or. three-ceiled ; seeds few, kidney-
form. There are many species.

ACRIS. SHARP.

Foliis oblongo ovatis cppositis, racemis lateralibus ct tcrminalibus. — •

Browne, p. 247.

Peduncles axillary and terminating, corymbed, trichotomous, longer than the

leaves; leaves elliptic corvv-ex, coriaceous, veined, dotted; stem arboreous.

This tree may contend the palm of elegance with most trees. It grows slowly, and

to a considerable size. Tne trunk is hanJsome, straight, forming a very lofty thick

and beautiful ))\raniid. The bark in the younger trees is brown, then ash-coloured,

and finally white, entire, or with large yellow spots ; it is very smootli and even, esjjc-

ciafly in oJd trees, but here and there hangs down in slender shreds ; the flavour is as-

Uingeut, not without sometumg aromatic. The tiiuber is very hard, icd, compact,

L 2 ponderous.

7(3 HOST us JAMAICENSrS.. bat

ponJcrons, and capable of being polished ; used for the cogs of- wheel; in miUworKV
iind in otiier works where considerable fiiction is required. The younger branches are
acutely four-cornered and green ; leaves numerous, quite entire, shining, bright green,
with transverse voinn, blunt, attenuated into a short petiole, always opposite, com-
monly ihree or four inches long, of a very sweet aromatic smeii, and,, en accoact ot
their agree:u>ie asinngenoy, are used for sauce willi food. The flowers are small,
white with a slight tinge of reLiness ; 'the berries round, the size of peas, crowned witli.
the remains of the calyx, having an aroinatic smell and taste, which rendef ihein agree-
able for culinary purposes ; they contain about seven or eight seeds.

This tree is a native of several of the V/est India islatuls, ixnd in Grenada is called
Bois d'lnde. Browne says it is common in Antigua and Jamaica, as v/eU as Barbadoes,
and grows generailv to a considerable size ; that it fills the woods with the fragrant smell
of its leaves, neaiiv resembling that of cinnamon, but that the hark has no warmth of
that sort, though the berries n^senible cloves very much,, both in form and flavour. It
is comraonly called wild cinnamni, or wild clove Iree , and is said to be the bayhtrrij of
Hughes, it does not seem, however, to be very accurately di^ilinguishcd from the-
pimenta.

Sec Bastard GREEXHE.^RT — Black citerry — Myrtle — Pimenta — Silver tree.

BAT OR SEA-SIDE GRAPE. GOCCOLOBA.

0,1.. S, OR. 3. — Oclandria trigynia. Nai\ or. — Holoracew.

This was so named by Browne,, from the kernel being lobed at bottom.

Gen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed, five-parted perianthium, divisions oblong, obtuse,
concave, spreading most wiilely, coloured, permanent : there is no corolla ; sta-
mens subulate, patulous, shorter than the calyx ; anthers roundish, twin ; the
pistil has an ovate trigonal germen, v.ith short filiform spreading styles, and
simple stigmas ; no pericarp ; calyx berried, thickened, converging ; invohnng
the seed, v/hich is aii ovate nut, acute, one-celled. There are six species, na=
tives of Jamaica.

1. UVIFER.!^. GRAPE-BEARING.

Primus maritima racemosa, folio rotimdo glahm, Jntchi minore pur-^
pureo. Sloane, v. 2, p. 129, t. 220, f.'S, 4, 5. Foliis crassis or-
biadatis, sinu dpcrto. Browne, p. 209.

Leaves cordate-roundish, shining.
Sloane calls this the Jiiangrove giape tree, and says it has several ten or twelve foot
high trunks, covered with a reddish brown smooth bark, and furnished with thick,
veined, shining, orbicular, leaves, about six inches diameter, standing upon short
footstalks. The flowers com.e out at the wings of the stalks, in racemes fire or sixinchei
long ; they are whitish, smelling like those of the cherry. After tiiem follow the
berries.

It hath a verj' large leaf in the shape of a horses hoof, and its fruit is as big as a com*
mon grape,^ an'd, whea full ripe, of a blueish black. Until tliey are thoroughly ripe

there

-BAT IICIITUS JAMAICENSIS. ?Y

there is no e-tmg them, tlif>y arc so rc.igh and restringent, curing fluxes ; ana, when
<ver so ripe, they iuive a s^tipticity and ronghneijs upon the tongue, and bimling.—
'I hey grow ';>y the side of the s<'a, and oftentimes in the sea and salt vvater, ilke the
mangrove, and therefore are ciiUeu, by som.-, mangrove gn'.pes. — Barham, jx 63.

This tree is ver/ frequent on all the low sandy shores. It is easily ptopagated in
other parts of the country by slips' or cuttings. It grows to a large size, ana is then
looked upon as a beantifnl v/ood for tabinetware. The berries i^re about the size of
common ;;r<.pcs, and, when ripe, have an agreeable flavour, but the juice is restrin-
gent ; antl for this quality it is remedial in fluxes, paracidarly such as may ensue from
clrinkmg the brackish water, common to the places where tiiey grow' adjacent to the
sea. There are Some other varieues of the coccoloba,^ wiiose fruit possess ths like
quality. — Long. p. 137. ..

This is a large crookec^ and shady tree (the leaves being broad, thick, and alniosfc
circular), and succeeds be.st in sundy places. It bears large clusters of grapes once a.
year, wnich, v.hen ripe, are not disagreeable. The stones, seeds, or acini, contained
in them are large in proportion, and, being reduced to a powder, are an excellent as-
tringent. The bark of the tree has the same property. The grapes, steeped in v/ater,
and fermented with sugar, make an agreeable wine, — Grainger.

The fruit is so very astringent as to cause a degree of costiveness in soms cases dan-
gerous. Of this I have known i?istances. It may, therefore, be a very useful m-edi-
cine in some loosenesses. An old la.dy I was once called to, had nearly lost her life by
eating too many of these grapes. She had no motion for three weeks, and it was wic^
great difficulty that any were .afterwards procurdd. — Dancer's M. A. p. 389.

2. PUBESCENS. . PUBESCEXT.
Arhorea foliis orbiculatis intsgris. Browne, p. 210.
Leaves orbicuiate, jmbescent. ..
Jacquin mentions this species as growing to a very large size in the moisntauis of
Martinico, even to the height of fifty or sixty feet ; but tirowiie sayj it seldom rises
above eight feet in Jamaica, that ir is very common between Kingston and Bull Bay. —
He calls it the grape tree with. whole leaves, and adds tiiat the berne^ of this species are
not estsemed.

S. PUNCT.4T.i. FOINTEJO.

Foliis oblon go ovatis vensis, uvis minor ibus punctatis. Browne, p.
210.

Lea7es bnceolate, o^ate
This Brown calls the chequered grape tree. It is small, upright, and branched, fif—
l-een feet high. Leaves quite entire, sub-coriaceous, veined, siiining, alternate, half
a foot long, commonly two ortiireeon eacii flowering branchlet, on petioles sheathing
at the base. Racemes terminating, simple, solitary, erect, scarcely an inch and a
half long. Flowers uhite. Almost the whole receptacle, with a. small part only of
tiie calyx, becomes a roundish drupe,, of a dark red colour, and a sweetish austere
taste.

4. EXCOUUTA.

7« riORTUS JAMAICENSIS. itay

4. F.XCORIATA. PEELED.

Montana major arbona, Joliis suhrvtundis, cor/ice Lvi. Browne,
p. 210. '

Leaves ovate, branches as it were harked.

This is called the mountain i^rape tree by Browne, who savs it grows to a considera-
ble size, is frequent about tiie Cross in Clarendon, and is lookeo u^ion as a line timber
wood.

5. TENUirOLlA. PLUNDER LEAVED.

J^rufescens, folils subroiund s, J ructu m'uiori trigo?io, Browne, p
210, t. 14, f. 3.*
Leaves ovate nieinbrdnaceous.

This is of uumbler growth than anj-of-the former; and the flowers and fruit are
smaller. It is also diiTe-rent in having membranaceous and not coriaceous leases, tiie
jictioles surruMiide^l with a membrane instead of a stipule, and not issuing from ilicrr
back ; racemes terminating and quite simple ; Holers scattered and pedicelleii. —
Browne savs it grows among the rocks in the hills above Bull Bay. The calyx is seldom
divided into mjre than three parts, and the nut is triangular. The riowers are small,
and disposed in simj^ie axillary sjMkes in all the species; and the bark in all, as well a.s
ttie kernels, looked upon as powerful astringei.ts.

h. NIVEA. SKOW- WHITE.

Leaves elliptic, acuminate, veined, shining above ; racemes almost upriglit.
This grows to tne height of tvventy feet, is upright, and the boughs form a head. —
Leaves quite entire, -wrinkled, petioled, alternate, half a foot long ; racemes termin-
atiu'-, solitary, simple; flowers smail, yellowish. The calyx becomes thick, succu-
lent, and sn.)W wnue, covering to the mit^dle a three-sided, black, shining nut. The
fruit is sweet and pleasant. Tne French call it raisinicr dc coude.

BAY TREES. XAURUS.

Cl. 9, OR. 1 — Enneandria monogi/nia, Nat. or. — Holorace<e.
Gen. char. — See Avocado Pear Tree, p. 37.

Besides those described \\\\ ier their English names, the following species of laurus
have been discovered. to grow naturally in this island :

1. MONTANA. MOUNTAIN.

Leaves triple nerved, ovate-acuminate, perennial ; flowers raceme panicled.-—
Hw. Pr. 65.

2. EXALT ATA. EXALTED.

Leaves ovate-lanceolate, veined, coriaceim-j, perennial, flat; racemes upright,
compound; calyx cup-shaped, permanent. — Sw. Pr. 65.

3. TRUKDR4*

• This plate is also teferred to bj Dr. Browne as his erj'Uiroxylura 1. (AreolatHm).

*EiB IIORTUS JAMAICENSI*. • T^

3. TRIANDRA. THREE STAMF.NED.

Leaves broaJ, lanceolate, perennial, flat ; flowers three stamened ; fruit go-
vered by the calyx.

4. CORIACEA. LEATHER LIKE.

Leaves ovate-acuminate, flat, veined, shining, coriaceous ; racenaes upright^
shorter than the leaves.

5. MEMBRANACEA. ME^rBRA^•ACEOUS.

Leaves oblono;, acuminate, veined, convex, coriaccous-memferanaceous j
branches and racemes upright, shorter than the leaf.

&. PATENS. OP EX.

Leaves ovate-lanceolate, flat, membranaceous; racemes upright, diffused,
longer than the leaves.

7. PENDULA. ITANGIFTGi-

Foliis obverse ovatis subtus cinercis, fructibus oblongis sparsis, calici-
bus deciduis. Browne, p. 214.

Leaves oblong, veined, membi:anaceous, pereunial ;. racemes loose; fruits pen-
dulous ; cah'xes deciduous, ,

Browne calls this the smaller laurel with oblong berries ; and sa3's he found this tree
in the road between Mount Diablo and the thickets in St. Ann's; it divided into a great
number of branches toward the top, was about twelve feet in. height, and four inches
in diameter near the root. The berries of this species are oblong and even, of an el-
liptic form, and seldom under an inch or better in length ; tliey are of a black colour,
Tery succulent, and contain each a single bilbbed kernel, without any partial covering;

8. FLORIBUNDO.

Leaves ovate- lanceolate, flat, membranaceous ; flowers raceme-panicled, loose,
terminating.

All the above species are from Swartz Prodromus, p. 65.

S'ee Avocado Pear — Benjamin — Camphire — CINNAM0^5 — Cogwood — Sassafras-
Sweet wood.

BEAD, HOOP, OR LILAC, TREE. MELLi.

Cl. 10; or. 1. — Deeandria vionogynia. Nat. or. — Trihilatce.

This is derived from a Greek word, signifying wood fit for spears.

Gen. char.— Calyx one leafed, five-toothed ; the corolla has five linear petals ; sta-
mens small filaments, with oblong anthers ; the pistil has a conicargermen, stjie
cylindric, the length of the nectary ; stigma capitate, with five converging valves,;
the pericarpium is a globular drupe, with a roundish five-grooved five-celled
kernel.

I. AZEDARACHt.

JO HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. se^

1. AZEDARACTI.

Leaves bipinnatc, leaflets flat, shining, with ferruginous dots untlemeatb.

This is a native of Syria, anil grows to a considerable tree, tlie root is brachiated ;
the bark rongh and scabrout^, the stem grows two feet tiiick, and thirty' or forty feet
high, very ramose and spreading. The leaves are large and pinnated, with an odd one
at tin- end ; the leaflets notched and indented at their edges, deep green ahove and
pakn- underneath. The flowers come out from the side of the branches in long loose
hunches ; they are small, of a very sweet smell and of a Hueish or purplish colour. —
Fruit oblong, the size of a small cuerry, green at first, but, when- ripe, clianging to
pale yellow. Nut four or five celled, with one oblong seed in each ceil. The pulp
surrounding the nut is poisonous, and mixed witli grease it is saicl will kill dogs. The
nuts are bored and strung for iieads. A decoction of the inner bark of the root of tiiis
tree is said to be used in tlie Eiist Indies to exp£l the tocnia or tape vrorm, and as a
substitute for the Peruvian bark. Worms of every species arc destroyed by this medi-
cine. The following account of it, extracted from Dr. Dancer's Medical Assistant,
first edition, is by Mr. Hylton, who is justly noticed as a gentleman of great philan-
thropy and most diligent enquiry : " The-root has a tliin redaish bark, or outer skin,
wliich IS deleterious and must 1 e scraped off" from ttie second, or inner thick white
bark : put a hmJful of the shavings ot this white bark in a tjuart of water ; boij over
a slow fire to a pmt -, when settled, pour olT and sweeten. Dose, a wine-glass full,
three mornings >uccessively ; after which a cathartic (castor oil) is to be administered."
The same ingenious gentleinan has very obligingly comnumicated to the compiler what
he published in Richmond, in Virginia, in the year 1796, upon the virtues of this
plant as an efficacious .ver.nifuge, mn particulars of which he learned from Mr. Judge
Iredell, as follow:

" The /;)• f/t" o/CTvna"" (the trivial name of tbemelia's in Carolina, of which from
the size of the trees I saw in Edenton, of eighteen to twenty inches diameter, I judr^ed
it to be a native) " had been used by an old Indian woman, an ab-origifies of Carolina,
as a nostrum for the cure of children on most occasions, wi.h great success, for many
vears, without any person being able to discover what it was. As worm.s are generally
^he cause of sickness in children, physicians in Edenton would always refer parents to
this old Indian ; and great discharges of worms, of every species, were the conse-
quences of the medicine. When she found her dissolution approaching, she sent for
some gentlemen of the tovv'n, and told them that the secret her fathers had given to her
-should not die with her, informed them of the tree, and the manner it was prepared and
given ; since which it is the universal medicine, which has saved thousands of chil-
dren." Mr. Hylton adds, that he has given it in an hundred instances in this island
and in America, and always with success, and says it is so esteemed in Carolnia as t«
do awaj' with their native pink-root altogether.

This tree grows readily from the seeds, and thrives well in Jamaica,

2. SEMPERVIREN3. EVERGREEN.

Leaves doubly pinnate ; leaflets somewhat vyrinkled, commonly seven.

Thi-, form.erly deemed only a \'ariet3-, has been ascertained by Swartz to be a distinct
species growing naturally in tliis island.

BeanTrf.e — 9r ChualTrff.

Beans — S<:(i Horse Bean and Kidney Bean.

BEARDEB

SECT IIOPtTUS JAMAICENSIS. 8j,

BEARDED GRASS, ARISTIDA.

Cl. 3, OR. 2. — Triainiria diay?!/}!. Nat. oit. — ■Gmiiu'no'.

Thisname is derived from ari.i/a, an awn or beard.

Gen. chau. — Ca'.yx a one flowered hiviilved gkime;^ corolla, a bivalved glume,
thicker than the calyx, onter valve linear, inner lanceolate, nectarv' two-leaved ;
fdaments capillarv, anthers oblong' ; jjer.ii turbinate, styles cai)illarv, stij^nias
villose ; no pericarp ; the glnnie cmn-tTging- ; seed one hiiform, the length of the.
corolla, naked; there are tuo species, naiivci of Jamaica.

1. AUSCENSlONISi

Cramen arenaceum^ panicula mivus sparsa, ciijus sini^iil^ f^rcnia, firs
ai-'sfas /(ingi.ssimas hahcyit. Sloane, v. 1, p. ,16, t., 2, f. 5, 6.— -
Spica la.va tenui aristislbngissimis crinila. Browne, p. 135.
Panicle branching, spikes scattered, corollas one-valved.

Tiie culms in tufts, fi-jm one to two feet high. Leaves very slender and filiform. — -
Florets on short pedicels, iKirrow, brown. Seed very minute, acmiiinate. Broune
says this plant is frequent in .famaica, and selcloiii rises above ten or twelve inches fro:a
t!ie ground, the stalks slender, panicles simple and bearded. Sioaue found it in Bar~
badoes.. ,

2, ARTERICANA. AMERICAN.

Minor, panicula e. spia's simplicibus composita, glumis hexasetis.—^.
Browne, .p. 135.-

Panicle simple, corollas two-valved, middle one longer, smooth.
The stalk rises half a foot high, jointed, and sub-divided. Leaves linear, stiff, even.
Panicle v.'ith simple alijernate spreading branches ; the florets mostly pointing one way, '
'alternate, approsiip.ated, pressed close. Tiie anthers are red. Tixis being,, less thaa
the I'ormej", Browne calls it the smaller bearded grass.

Beef Wood — See Bully Tree.

BEET.' BETA.

Cl. 5, OR. 2. — Penfandria digym'a. Nat. ok. — ITolnracea.
This takes its name from the form of its seed vessel, v.hich, v.hea it swells wiih seed
feas the form of the letter so called in tiie Greek alphabet.

Gen. char. — -The calyx is a five-leave I periaritiiium ; there is no corolla ; stamina
are subulate filaments, with roundish antiiers; the pistil has tiie gerraen lie'ow the
receptacle; styles short and erect ; stigmas acute ; the pericarpium is within the
bottom of the calyx, one-celled and deci'iuous : seeds si:>gle. kidncv-fonn in-
volved in the calyx. Tiiis is a native of Europe, tiie most useful species has been •
introduced into this island.

Vl'LGARIS. COM^^0N.

Sowers heaiied ; leaflets of the calyx toothed at the base.

82 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. bieivt

T' \t wo'", T?now plant has lairge thick succulent leaves of a dark red or purple colottr,
Ti e i.)(/ts are lar-c and deep red, and on these oircnmstances their ijoodness depends.;
for the larj:er tiiey grow the more tenler they will be, and t'le deeper tlicir colour the
m re tiiey are estoemeJ. Ir thrives pretty well in the niounLains o!' Jamaica, hut sel-
aoT) (Trows luxuriantly The roots of the beet are boiled, sliced and eaten cold as sal-
la Js; and thev make a !:;ood pick!,;. Ii is said however to be pre;judicial to the sto-
nnach, and to afford little nourishment. Tiic juice both of the roots and leaves is said
to be a powerful errhine, occasioning a copious discharge of mucus without provoking
sneezing, and therf-by relieving old head aches. From the root of tliis plant sugar has
been extracted, by boiii ng the roots, when taken out of the earth, slicing them when
cold, and afterwards jK-essing out the juire ; which is lo be filtered, evaporated, and
th:> snyar prornred l>v chrysta;ii7,ati.)n. The process at length maybe ibund in tlie
New Annual Register for 1 S(X;, and in the ISth volume of tiie Transactions of the So-
ciety for the Eivcouragement of Arts, &c. in London.

A large variety of this plant has also been introduced, known by the n-dme o( mans e'l
Ti'urzel. Tliev are raise.! from the seeds, which should be planted in a good soil. And
well manured from twelve to eighteen inches distant from eacii other.

Belly-ache Weed — See Cassada.

BENJAMIN TREE. LAURUS.

Cl. 9, OR. 1. — Enneandna vionogynia. Nat. or. — IloloractiS,
Gen. ch.\r. — See Avocado Pear, p. 37.

BENZOIN.

Leaves nerveless, ox'ate, sharp at both ends, entire, annual.
This tree isa native of North America, and was introduced and first planted in the
botaiic garden, Bath. It grows from fifteen to twenty feet high, divided into a very
branchv head, having small yellowish fl i.vers, and may be pr:)pagated by seeds or lay-
ers. Tills tree was formerly mistaken ff)r tliat which produces the sum benjamin,
r/iiidi is now known to be oijtaineu from a species of styrax. The leaves are smooth and
of a fiiif light green colour, but tlieir under suriace is venose and of a whitish cast. —
■When bruised they emit a fijie fragrance.

BENT-GRASS. AGROSTIS.

Cl. ^, OR. 2. — Triandria d'i^yn'a. Nat. or.— Gramintc.

This name is derived from a Greek word, signifying a field.

Gen. CHAR.—Calvx a one-flowered bivalvcd glume ; corolla bivalve, acuminate, one
larger than the other ; filaments longer than the corolla, with forked anthers ; the
pistil has a roundish gerinen, reflex styles, and longitudinaily hisped stigmas;
the pericarp is the corcll;;. growing to the seed, which is roundisii, and pointed
at. both ends. Two species are natives ot tliis island :

.1. PURPUUASC£.\S.

BtnMVDAS ■ H O R TU S J A M A I C E X S I i. »8

I. PVurunASCEi^iS. PLiu'i.E.

Ci'ivnen ptaleiise paniciiJa etfaliis unt^usti>,sinii.'f, spicis brcvlhus mati--
Cis Ivcuitis rnihrinis. Siouue, v. 1,, p. 11 j, l. I'i, 1'. 1.

Panirle contr;;cted, elongate, brcinthes pressed close upright ;■ florets unequal,
iicuuiinate.

Tlie roots of this grass are many, small, wlute, and capilinrv, forming a large tuft,
»r!)irn send forth a 'threat inaoy Icavfs, five inches lon^', narrow, almost round, liry, and
of a piite green eoion'r. The stalks are njiiiid, soli!, haid, smooth,- a tout and a half:
liijii, of a clay colour^ having- small leaves to nirre inches hi.s^h j .whence it is a veiy
narrow prtnicie, being divided into .many three-quarters of an inch long branches,
sonieiimes b!ack, and sometimes gray, having small obiong reddish seed, m a gray or
]>lack naked husk, scarcely discernible to tiie naked eye. It grows in most savannas,
and in abundance towardsBiack Kiverb.ridge,. beyond" Two Iv'Iile Wood. It affords but
sniall'noiirishment, yet cattle eat it in dry avtd scarce times, when they grow very 1 ig
in their pa\inches, with the great quajitity they eat, a littie iiut Ltiug able to iuiisty-
thcni. — S'loane. .

2. VIRGINICA. . VIRGINIAN;

JITi'vitmim distiche folidtum, spt'ca strictiori simpUci erecta v:ut{i:a.—-
Browne, p. 137.

Panicle contracted ^ leavesvrolled inwards, subulate, rigid, standing out.

Browne calls this crab grass, and says it is an elegant little plant, growing abont
lEunt'b Bay ; that the statk is a littie compressed, and selduiu nses above lour or live
inches from the root.

BERMUDAS CEDAR. JUNIPERUS.

Cl. 22, OR. IJ. — Diaecia monodelphia. Nat. or. — Cowfeva.

Tliis takes its name from a plant of Pliny's.

Gen. Char. — Male calyx a conical ament, consisting of a common shaft, on wliich
are disposed three opposite flowers in triple opposition, a tenth terminating the
ameat : each flower has for its base a broad, short, incumbent, scale, affixeci to
the column of the receptacle. There is nocorolhi. Tiie stamens, are three, four,
or eight, filaments, in a terminal floscule, awi-siuiped,. v.nui d below into one body,.
in the lateral flowers scarce manifest ; «nthers three, distinct in the tenninal fl.Aver,
but fastetredto the ealycine scale, in the lateral ones. Tlie learale flowers have a
three-parted perianth, very small, growing to the gerni, permanent ; corona iliree
petals, jiermanent, rigid, actite ; the pistil has . n inferior germ, three sinrple
styles, with simple stigmas ; the pericarp is a fleshy berry, romidisU, nii.rked on
Ihe lower part with three opposite obscure ti'bovcics, f-oin-iOe calyx having grown
there, and at the tip by three teeth, which b^'; • i. .v re t..e petals, umbiiicated ;
seeds three ossicles, convex on one side, coineiea on tliu ouicr, oblong. One
species is a na.tive ot Jamaica.

M2 BE£,AiUi)UiIA,-

»♦ HOUTUS JAMAICENSIS. Sfrmudiaka,

BERMDDIANA, BERMUDIAN.

Jur.iperus: maxima cupressi folio minimo, cortire exteriorS in temiti

vliilyrus spirulcs ductili. Sioane, v. 2, p. '2, t 157, i'. i. Foi/ti/is

mfcrioribus ternis, super to rib us biiiis, dccuyrcnttbus, paiuUa. — •

Browne, p. 362.

Lower leaves in threes, upper in pairs, decurrent, ii\v]-shapecl, spieacling,

acute.

Bermiulas juniper, commonly calletl Bermudas cedar, is a native ofJamaica, and
grows to a huge size, aflbrding- very iai-ge boards of a reddish brown colour, close and
firm contexture, shiniiia,', very odoriferous, and strongly scented, extremely like, if
not the same, as the Bcnniulas cedar, being towards its outside ot a paler colour and
looser contexture. Tlie bark is thin, and ready, in great pieces, to urop oil', appear-
ing somewhat contorted, of a ceddisji l)rijwH colour. Tiie wood is much used in wains-
cotting rooms, and in -cabinet work. Cockroaches and other vermin avoid its smeli.
It gives a l)itter taste to victuals. It is said to be.a good timber for ships against worms,
though it is also observed that keels of sbi|j« of this wood have been lound eaten tiii-ougii
bv sea worms. AVofl'A/e.— Browne says this tree yrovvs very plentitully in the Blue
Mountains, where it is frequently cut down for planks and other conveniencies ; and
that it is a good timber woou, admired for its smell, lightness, and close even gram.
It appears doubtful, however, whether Sioane's tree be the same as Browne's, ana,
indeed, wiietlier eitlier of them be exactly the same species as the btDnudunui. Bar-
ham obsei-ves that it lias leaves Uke tiie savme or hr, its wood is whiter than the coai-
mon cedar, and snieliing more like juniper berries. Its guui resists putreraction and
Juils w.onns.

BERMUDIANA. SISYRYNCHIUM.

Cl. 16, OR. 1. — Monodelphia triandria. Nat. or. — ■Ensatx.

This name is derived from two Greek words, signifying swines snout, from the form
of the li.ivvjr.

Gen'. char. — The caU'x is a common tv.o-leaved spathc ; corolla one-petalled, su-
perior, six- parted ; the staniina has the three filaments uniied, distinct at top;
andiers bitid below; the pistii hiS an obovate inferior germen, three-sided style,
stigmas thickish, awl-shaped, erect; the pericarp is an obovate capsule, inferior,
tinee-celled, and three- valved ; seeds several, giobuiar. One species iias been
introduced, a native of North America :

pai.mifolhim. palm-leaved.

■Scape ancipital ; flowers in spikes ; leaves ensiform, nerved and plated.
This plant h'-.s a stem two feet Wgh, the leaves :;ie about an inch broad, folding witk
five or six nerves. Tiie glumes and flowers are numerous, in a terininatiiig bundle. It
thrives very well in most parts of this island.

Bernardia— i'ec Adexja, p. «,

*ETBi UORTUS JAMAICENSTS. -85

No English Name. BESLERlA.

'Cl. 14, oif. 2. — Didynamia Angiospermia. Nat. or. — P<:rsnnat^,

This was so named after Basil Besler, an apothecary at Nuremberg, editor of a
•sumptuous botanical work.

Gen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed perianthiiitn, five-parted, acnminnte, erect, loose,
with rerit-ctedtops : corolla monopetalous, riiigent, tube tlie lengtii of tkecalvx,
border five-cleft ; filaments within the moiith of the corolla, with oblong anthers
hcinging down on each side ; the pistil has a g'lobniar germen, a subulate erect
style, and a l.nfid oi)tuse stigma ; the pericarpium is a sub-globular one-ceileti
'berry; seeds numei'o us, round, very small. One species is a native of Jamaica :

LUTEA. YELLOW,

Foliis watts serralis opposJis, venis oblique arcuatis, Jloribus confertis
ad a'as. Browne, p. 370.

Peduncles simple crowned, leaves lanceo}at:e.

Browne cads this plant ej-//j^/(/, and says he met with it in Sixteen Mile Walk. It
rises viitn a ligneous stem, six or seven feet high, dividing toward the top into many
irreguiir branciies, witii spear-shaped serrate leaves, which have many transverse
veins ; the tfnvers come out at the wings of the leaves, in large clusters, <?ach having
a sepoiate tootstaik ; they are smali, tubuions, and of a pale yellow colour.

BETEL NUT. ARECA.

Cl. 2.5, OR. 1. — Monoecia enncandria. Nat. or. — Palmee.

Gen. char. — The male calyx is a bivalved spathe ; spadix branched ; pToper peri-
anth three-leaved ; the corolla has three acuminate, rigid petals • stamina are nine
filaments, the three outer longer than the rest. The female flowers, in the same
spa lix, has the calyx a spathe common with the males : proper perianth three-
leaved ; the corolla three-petalled, acuminate, rigid; the pericarp a sub-ovate
■ berry, fibrose surrounded at the base with the iudjricate calyx : the seed o\ate.

CATECHU.

Fronds pinnate ; leaflets folded back, opposite end bitten.
This tree is a native of Providence and the East Indies, and was brought here in liis
"Majesty's ship Providence in 1793. It has no branches, but its leaves are very beauti-
ful ; they form a round tuft at the top of the trunk, which is as straight as an arrow. — •
It grows to the height of twenty -five or thirty feet, marked with parallel rings, and is
veVy oroaiiicntal. The fronds spring forth in pairs, decussated, encircling tne top of
the trunk at tiieir base, and thus forming an oblong head larger than the trunk itself :
they are few in number (six or seven), unarmed, reclining, six feet lonir, on a stipe
;four feet in length. These fronds break and fall off iu succession; from their axils
-issue the sheatiis which inclose the flowers and fruits. The shell which cont;uns tiie
friiit is smooth without, but rough and hairy within ; in which it pretty much resembles
the shell of the cocoa nut Its size is equal to that of a pretty large walnut. Its kcniel
4sas bij>' as a uuLineg, to which it bears a great resemblance without, and has also thtj
•.■■-- ' sain*

t^ nOKTUS JAMAT^'ENlSm:. arcn*

snnic whitish rein:* vithin, wIk^ii cul in two. Jti J.h:?rce!urc<)f the fruif, when ii is soiij. .
ii coiit'iineJ ;i <.'-i-evisii and almost Ikii'JiI sybstaiipc, wiiicU grows IihvJ in |>i\)jiffvti>)n aa
it n])ens. Tiie cxtriict ot this mit'is supposed to l)e the /i'r]ajO/joniai of the shops,. pt
ifast that itisa very similar subista;>ce holh intcoljur and tus^*?.; but, accordincj .l;j iatcr
o!)servations, the geruiine drug seems to be obtained trou ihe inimo^sa catccku. Ttie
fruit, whenripe^ is astringent, .hjil not ■uiipalatabip,^ and the siieii is y-t^Uowish.- Of-
this fruit there is a prodiL^ioiis con'siunptiojr in-theEast Indies. It is cfaewt'd with'tue
.U'avcs of hetel. . niiyins with it lime niade of sea shells. In order to .cliew it, tiicy cut.
tiie areca into four quarters, and wrap.,<>oe quiirter ia a leaf of belel,. ovcr.wnicii tticy
lay a hltle rtf the iiir.e ; aftervvartls they tu' it, hy iwisiiiig it:foiind. This is calieJ
vf/iaiig, whicTr is a Malayan vvord issed ajl over tiie Ejtst ludies. . Tlie pinang provokes^
spitting very much, whether made with drjed or fr-esh.areca ; tlie spittle is red, wlmii
colour the areca gives it. Tiiis nriastication fastens the teeth and gjnns, and cools the
Duouth. Wuen tliey have done chewing the pinang they spit out ttie gross substance,,
wash their mouth with I'rcsh wiUer, wjiich tjskes off tiie red tinge it gives tne teeth. It
is j>retended tiiat ar?ca strengthens the s'tomacii when the. juice is s valiowetl. Another
})ropfrty ascribed to it is its.carryuig otT all that might be corj-itjH or, nnwhulesoaie rii
the guin. When eaten by itself it impoverishes the biooJ, and cau.scs tiie jaundice,
but IS not attended with these inconvenie.nces when mixed with beteh Tiie Samcse
i:a\[\t pi mi. It is a considerable article in traffic, and the best comes from Ccyion ; s^.,
jed sort grows in Malabar, wiiich is very proper for dying that coioui".

BICHY TREE. J\Vn' Genus.-

Cl. 23, .or. I, — Polugam.iamonoecia.

This tree was originally- imported. from, the coast of Gumea, and now grows in ma\w
parts of the soutli sitle of tliis island. , Tiie following characters were taken from a tive
mi\t perfected its fruit in the botanic garden, Liguanea ;

Gen. char. — ^The hermaphrodite flowers have no calyx. Corolla mojiopetalous five-
parted, inferior, the segments ovate, acute, tiuck, son.ewiiat hairv, striated,
erect-patent: tiie nectarium concave, uiciosing tne gernien, Having a ten-'dented
margin : the stimiinaare ten siiort tiiaments oc ngne ; ibe antiiers didyuious, placed-
in acircle ;.the pistillum has a roundisii germen, five tuiTuwed, hairy ;. stigmas
five, thick, reflex, somewhat contorted,' leaniiig to liie germen ; the jiericurpinm
is a large sub-o\ate s^ibboiM cap-iule, gehtly bowed, semiiocuiar, bivaived ; seeds
nianv, imiiricate, angled, each covered with a leathery baik: i'lie male calyx and
coroiia as in the hermaplirodiic, but oiie-thirJ larger ; tne stamina the same ; the
pistilium has no germen, but the rudiments ot hve small stigmas, proceeduiij Iruia
tbe middle of tiie nectary, .

BICHY. .

Cercitionice afllnis siliqiicsa hntr'foUo singiihiri, flcv pevtcpefaloide
pin put eo strata, siliyua cra^sa /irev> j,u/j/a i^iUUniu ct purgante
semina amhiente. Sioane, v, 2, p. 00.

The racemes are short and compact.

This;..

-STLiMRt HORTUS JAIVIAICENSTS, S7

This is a brancliy ^I't inelejrant tree ; the trunk is covered by a brownish bark ; the
leaves have nlter.iatc footstulks, are entire, oblong, veined, smooth, acuminate, nifCririn
■tindiilated, dry, laurel-like, arrowing in a heap at the extremities of the branches ; tlie
f, lotstalks have a swelling on Iioth sides ; the racemes are short and compact, generally
proceeding from the larger branches. Tlie corolla is pale vellovv, the segments being
each marked on the inside with three purplish groovufs, ttie sinell of which is very un~
pleasant. The negroes in Jamaica call it A/f/fj/ or cc/;/, where the seeds are used by
-themselves, or mixed with capsicum, for complaints in the bell}-.

Although this tree was but seven years old, raised from seed, which was brouglti;
from Guinea, yetjt was twenty feet high, had a trunk as thick as the talf of one's leg,
straight and round, covered with an almost smooth, reddish brov/n, bark, with greyish
or white spots liere nnd there, the boughs were spread an all hands, those lower being
the longest ; the twigs \ve\:e on their further ends beset with very many leaves, set close
■by one another, and for the most part fr[:>positc. The footstall^s were two inches long,
having a swelling at the coming out of the twigs, and another near the leaf itself, which
was six inches long, and two broad at the middle, where broadest, smooth, thin, hav-
ing one iniddle rib, sending transverse ones to the sides, hard, aiur exactly like the
cacao tree. The blossoms are several, coming out from the branches themselves, pcn-
ffepetalous, though all th:^ petala be joined at bottom, yellow and purple striped, with
a veilow stilus, standing on the ends of green branciied stalks, three inches long, to
which follotvs a large, short, thick, and broad pod, within which lie several great beans
or seeds, about which is an edible sweet pulp. The seed brought in a Guinea ship
from thirt country wis here planted iiy Mr. GofFe, in Colonel Bonrden's plantation be-
yond GnanaI)o:i. It is called kir/ij/ by the Coromant^n negroes, and is both eaten anS
sajsed for fj^ysic in pains of the belly. — i'loane.

BiDEXs — ftr Watf.r Hemp AortniONY.
Bilberry — Vee Jamaica Bilberry.

BTr.TMB^ FRUIT. AVERRHOA.

"Cl. 10, OR. 4. — Decandria penfa^i/nia. Nat. or. — Gruinales.

This name was given in honour of Ebu Elvelid Ebu Rushad, commonly called Averi^
hoes, of Corduba in Spain, a very learned man, who died at the beginning of the 1 3th
century.

Gkn. char. — Calyx a five-leaved perianthium ; corolla five petaleJ, lanceolate pe-
■ tals ; stamina setaceous, alternately the length of the corolla and shorter, with
roimui-;h anthers ; tlie pistillum has an oblong germen, setaceous styles, and sint-
ple stigmas; the pericarpiuin is a turbinate pome, five-cornered, five-celled';
seeds angular, separated by membranes. Oidy one species has been introduced,
a native of India,

BILIMBI. ^

Trunk naked, fruit-bearing> pomes oblong, obtuse angled.

This plant grows only aboiit eight feet high, with reclining branches; the leaves

have

8« HORTU.S JAMAICIiNSiy. sjKPTVKrn*

liave ton pair of leaflets or more, tliey are small, ovate-lanceolate, qisitc ftiitire, smooth,
and grow on short petioles ; the flowers are red purple, 0)i oljlon.g small raeenics ad-
bering to the trunk ; calyx five-clefc. The fruit is aa obiong poaie, the thickness- of
a fintrer, smoDth on the outside. .

Tiiis plant was brought to Jamaica in his Majesty's sliiji Providence, in the year
1793, iVom the South Seas, and '-; valued as a preserve or pickle, though its acidity is
v<^rv great. The fruit, like every other strong acid, will discharge iVon-nsoulds frora
clothes, and also extracts ink or other stains froni. furniture. The method of using it
for these purposes is to bruise the fruit and rub the puljj on the stain, and leave it
there for some tiaie. if exposed to tiie sun, its eflect wLi! be greater and more iin-
2\iediate.

The plant is easily propagated from the seed, which each berry contains iu abuiid^
auce,,,by sovving thcui in tine mould in a box, aiRl regularly .watering.

BINDWEEDS, CONVOLVULUS. ,

Cl. 5, at!. I. — Pentandriamonosryaia. "N at. ok.— Cirmpa-}ia<:ea'. ,

This generic name is derived from a Latin' word, signifying to roll about, because
the stenis of most species roll round or twine about other bodies.

Gen. char. — Calyx is a five-parted perianth, converging, ovate, obtnse, _very smali^
permanent ; the corolla one-petailed, bell-shaped, spreading, Jarge, plaited,
obscurely five-lohed; the stamina have subulate filaments, shoi-ter hy. half tiian the
corolla, with ovate compressed anthers ; the pistilium has a superior roundish
germen ; a fililbrm style the length of the stamens ; the stigmas two, oblong,
broadish ; the pericarp is a capside enwrapped by. the calyx, roun.lish, two-celled,
one, two, or three valved ; the seeds are in pairs, roundish.' Besides tiie plants
of this genus referred to below, the following species, which have no English
names, are natives of this island ; see also the next article fur the genus evolvulus^
nearly allied to this :

1. CAROLINUS. CAROLINl.^Ni

Polyaytfhns suhfiirsiifiis, foJIis cordato ot'ati'.f qiiandoij7ie Iohati.<t, flori~
bus, fiiscicitlaiis alaribus, adicUius longioribus hirsutis. Browne,
p. 152.

Leaves cordate, entire, and three-lobed, villose ; calyxes even ; capsules hir-
sute ; peduncles one or two flowered.
Browne calls this the smaUcv dimhrnff co?wohitlus, with long hairy cups. The stems ,,
are slender and reddish towards the roots. Leaves sorae entire and cordate, otiiers like ■
ivy leaves. Corollas pale purple or blueish.

2. VERTICILLATUS. VERTICILI.ATE.

Minor scandems, florihus phirimis alaribus, caHcilms glahri.^, capsuh't--
quadrispermii, foliis obldngo cordatis. Browne, p. 153.

Leaves cordate-oblong,, naked ; peduncles umbellate ; bifid, many flowered.

Tiiisis, called by Browne»^.tUe ,57?w/^ev' climbing wtivohuhis with smooth tups ; the-

5iND»'£HQS HORTU.'^ JAMAICEMSISk ,<?«

coroil.i is bei!-shapetl, as in most flowers of tliis genus, blueish and small; the leaves
nre cordate or ovatp, with the e Igc snmewiiat repand and ronghish, ilie peduncles
shocter than the leat" ; umbellate, but the lateral pedicels are ofteu subdividedi

3. UMBEI.LATUS. tlMBKLI.EO.

Convok'-idus polyanthos, folio subyotundo, flare hit en. Sloane, v. !,
p. 154. Foliis(ordato-acumi7iaii^,foribus umbeUatis luteis, sus-
tentanilis longis alariins. Browne, p. 154.

Leaves cordate, peduncles unibeliate.

B-tem herbaceous, twining, filiform, stiff, subdi^-ided, pubescent, round. Leaves
aT)ont two inclies long, and as broad at the base, deeply cordate, lanceolate, angles of
the base rounded, edge sub-repand, entire, sul)-tonientose, dark green, hoary beneatli;
petioles three inches long, thickisli, round. Flowers many, ternunating on peduncles
.three inches long or more; partial peduncles three-quarters of an inch in length, three
flowered, each flower on a pedicel much longer than the partial peduncles. Corollas
yellow, the border plaited, obtusely pentangular. Two leaflets of the calyx a little
shorter than the rest. Anthers whitish, (jblong ; germ oblong ; style simple ; stigmas
two globular ; capsule two-celled, with one seed in each cell, black, angular-roundish,
•velvet-\'iiiose. — Sw.

This plant is common about the Ferry, growing among the bushes ; it bears beautiful
veliow flowers, and the stalks are always margined on one side, but the capsules are
('•enerally small and oblong, and the figure of the leaves very various. — Browne.

4. QUINQUEFOUUS. FIVE-LEAVED.

Levis vninor pentaphyUa, ccdicibushispidis,floribus quasi umbellatis. — >
Browne's Iponiea 5, p. 155.

Leaves digitate, smooth, toothed ; peduncles even.
Stem herbaceous, twining, filiform, round, hirsute. Leaves subpedate, in fi.ves,
digitate, the two inner divisions ..mailer, lanceolate, acute, serrate, nerved, veined,
smooth on both sides ; petioles round, recurved, pubescent, short ; peiluncles axil-
lary, solitary, twice as long as the leaves, three flowered, ^recj, pubescent ; pedicels
one-flowered ; calycine leaflets oblong, permanent, smooth, pale, the three inner ones
larger ; corolla bell-shaped, white, tube narrower at the base, swelling in the middle ;
torder five-cornered, plaited, spreading.; capsule roundish, two-celled, two-seeded.
— Sw.

This is Erowne's ipomea five, who calls it the smooth leaved tiger^s font, and says It
,is frequent in the lowlands of .[amalca, and generally found creeping upon the groun(^,
or spreading over the lower bushes.

5. REPENS. CREEPING,

Convolvulus maritimus major nostras rotundif alius. Sloane, v. 1,
p. 156.

Leaves sagittate, obtuse behind 4 stem creeping ^ peduncles one or two flow-
ered. ,.

feerm creeping, jointed, rooting, angular, compressed, sub-divided ; leaves te'r-

N

io BOnTUS JAMAICENSr?. bwdtjitem-

minatinj^, crowded, oblong, sometimes Wuntly sagittate, entire, emarginate, scarcely ,
veined, very smooth, somewnat snccaJent,. on loiigisii petioles ;■ pet!uii<;les i'rom ilie
axils , of the terminatini» petioles, the length of tiie leaves, erect, one-iiowered ; ilow-
eis rathes large, wiiuish. It is a native of tlie samly coasts of Jamaica. — Su>.

Sloatic says he could not see any difference between the European and this herh^
which grew on Gun Cayos, a small island olf Port Royal. It is very puroing, especi-
ally of wat,ery and hydropic liumours, and either given in powder, or boiiea lu brollis^
but very strong, and not fjt for weak persous. — Sloanc.

6. HEHERACEUS.. IVY-LIKE.

Convolvulus folio hcderaceo, avi^uloso, lunuginoso fioremagno, carit~
Ico, patido,. Sloane, v. 1, ]>, 155.

Leaves triangnhu-, aciite ; flowers many, sessile, spreading ; calyxes acutc^,
nia'ny cleft ; stem twining.

The stalk of this is. round, hairy, and pretty large, having leaves standing at about
two inches intervals, on inch long hoary footstalks. The\" are shaped like those of ivy,
having three angles or points, whitish, hoary,^ woolly, soft, an inch and a half long,,
and an inch broad at the base where broadest. From the alse of the leaves come the
flowers, being several on the same footstalk ; they are large, blue, monopetaious, and
extrfemeiy pleasing to the eye.

7. TOMENTOSUS. T)0\VNY.

Convolvulus folio lariaio, in fres lacinias diviso, flnre oblortffn, pvrpu^
reo. Sloane, v. 1, p. 154, t. 98, f. 2. Scandtns, foliis trilohis-
gnandoyue cordatis septinerviis, peduncidis minus ramosis alaribuSo .
Browne, p. 152.
Leaves three-lobed, tomentose ; stem lanuginose.

This, by its round, whitish, woolly stem, turns itself round the trunks of trees, ris-
ing twenty feet high, and putting forth leaves at every inches distance, standing on
three-quarters of an inch long, footstalks. They are sometliing like the elder leaves of
ivy, being divided into tliree lacinise, an inch and a half long from the centre of the
footstalk to the point opposite to it, and a.s much or more from one section at base to
the other ; they are of a verj- white green colour,, "soft, and covered over with a short
wool. The Howers come out e.v alls ioliorum, standing on quarter of an inch lon^
footstalks in a pentaphyllous green calyx, are mono})etalous, an inch and a half long:
irvthe tubulus of the ilower, which opens itself bell-fashion, of a fine purple colour,
Tvuh some yellow stamina in the middle, and five paler streaks. After these folKjws a
Virown memhranaeeovis capsule, with four round protuberances, under a liiia lueni-
brane, containing three satined. seeds.- — Sloane,

Of the above genus there are one hundred and ten species known. All the forego-
ing are indigenous to this island ; the foHowing-esotic species have been introJucfl^,
and are in tiie Hortus Easteusis : — Scariimotria, purpureus 7}wjoi- and niinop, tricolor^.
dissec/us, canariensis, speciosus, and strif^oius.

^c CliRiST.MAS Gamrol — .T.^i.AP — iNniAN Creeper — Purging Sea BixdweeD — Scam-
MONY — Sweet Eotatos — Also the JoUowiiig atUde.

BINDWEEDSi

«ft«)U't.^s HORTUS JAMAICENSia 9»

BINDWf^EDS. EVOLVULUS.

Cl. 5, OR. 4. — Penfandria tefragjjnh. Nat. or. — Campavace^.
Ilus name is derived from evoho, to roll ubout.

'Gr.N. cil.M}.— Calyx a five-leaved periantliium ; leaflets lanceolate, sliarp, perma-
nent; corolla one-petalied rotate, five-cleft; statuina, five capillary spreading
filaments, almost t^e length of the corolla, with little tibiong antSiers^ the pistil-
]um has asomfwhat globo.se gernien, four capillary styles, diverging, length of
■the stamens, with simple stigmas ; the pericarp is a somewhat globose ibur-celled
four-valved capsule ; the seeds are solitary, roundish, and cornered ou one sid^-
Wour species are natives of Jamaica.

1. MUMMULARIUS. MGNEV.

'Vonvolvulus minor repens, mnynmularici: folio, flore caTulen. J^Ioanc,
V. Ij-p. 1S^7, t. 99, f. 2. Ilerhaccus repens, Joliis iiibi-otmuU^^ Jluri-
bus tiiiinijue-crenatis sivgularibus alanbns. Browne, p. 153.

Leaves roundish ; stem creeping ; flowers sub-sessile

3^ rom a .small stringy fibrous root spring long trailing stalks, taking root here and
Shere, where they touch the ground, and putting forth, alternately, at small imeqiial
.ilistances, leaves almost round, three-quarters of an inch long, atid an inch broad,
having a small notch at tive end, and on petioles a quarter of an inch in length, and of
a brown colour. Flowers axillarv, on short peduncles, of d light blue colour ; legume
brown, containing two or three brown seeds. It grows very plentifully after raia in
the town savannas. — Slouuc.

Swartz says the corollas are white, though Sloane might have perceived a blueisli
tinge, which is frequently the case. Browne calls it the small creeping convohulus,
ana observes that the flowers h.re deeply crenated. According to Swartz the styles are
three or foui', and the capsule three or iouv celled and valved.

2. LINirOLIUS. LIN'EAR-LEAVED.

Ilerhaceus erectw, foliis linearibiis, pcdioicmis loitgis tenuissimis bi-
\ bracteatis alaribiis. Browne, p. 152, t. 10, f. 2.

■Leaves lanceolate villose, sessile ; stem npright ; peduncles three- flowered,
long.

This little plant is sometimes found in the lowlands, and seldom rises above ten or
fourteen inches from the root. The stalk is generally simple, or in-it very little divid-
ed, slender and npright ; the le.aves are narrow and few, and throw out so many long
«nd delicate flower stalks from their ala;, each furnished with a very small exterior bi-
phyllus cHp about the middle. The styles are two and bifid ; and the cajisuies divided
jnto two or four cells, and contain many seeds. The whole plant has the appearance
«f a very fine species of the flax. . *

S". SERICEUS. SILKV.

Erecfus herbacais subhirsutiis, foliis linearibiis, pedinicuJis brevibiis
siniplicibus solitariis ad alas. Browne, p. 153, t. 10, f. 3.

i-eaves lauceolate, sessile, silky underneath, peuunc]es short, one- flowered.
»j N a According

52 H CRT US JAMAICKNSrS. ' Emcii

Acroi\1ing to Brov;ne this is so extremely like the linifoli'is, that they are barJly ta
be Llitilinmiisiieu witliout j;reat attention. The flower stalks are very s'jort, the cup3
Siiij^le^ aud every flower turniyiu.-cl with four styles. It grows in tiie lowlands.

4. GANGETICUS. G.-iNGETIC.

Ilerbaceits repens minor, corolla quinquejida, sty'e ad hamm vsque

qtuidripartito, florihus sin^ularibus ad aius. Browne, p. 1 i'i.

Leaves cordate, obtuse, nucrooniite, viilose, pctioied j stem diiiuae, peduncles-
one-flowered.

This little plant, the smaller creeping convchuhts, is found on the side of the raait
that leads to tJie foot of the Lonu Mouiiuiiii in Liguanea. It creejw and roots npoii the
groiind,^ but seklom grows above two or three iiulies in lengt:i ; the leaves are round-
ish, and the flowers tubular, but nioderati.lv open and divided at the inaroiu ; tlie
style is divided in four part^ to tke very base, aud tiie fruit is a tapaulej and fontaiiia
two or Ibiix seeds.

BIRCH TRKE. BURS'ERx^.

Cl. 23, OR. 2. — Polygamia dioeeia. Nat. OR. — Guntmifer^.

This is so named in memory of J<jachim Burser, a great wUector of plants.

Gen. CHAR. — The hermaphrodite calyx is a one-leafed minute perianthium, three-
parted ; the parts ovate, acute ; tiie corolla has three petals, ovate, acute, spread-
inur, entire, deciduous ; stamina are si.< filaments, subulate, erect, fixed round
the base of the germ, with ovate erect anthers ; the pisLiiluin has an ovate ger-
jnen ; a short thick style, trifid at the tip, with very short and simple stigmas ;
the pericarpium is a fleshy obovate capsule, tiiree-cornered, three-ceiled, three-
valved ; the seeds berried, solitary (con)monly only one), compressed. Ttiere are
obscure vestiges of two cells, but a single seed occupies the whole capsule. The
calvx of tfie male fl»wer, on a separate tree, is a five-toothed minute perianthium;
corolla five-petals,, lanceolate, acuminate, refiex, shrivelling ; the stamina are-
live, eight, or ten, filaments placed round a slightly convex surface, scarcely
shorter than the petals, subulate, with oblong two-celled anthers ; the pistilluin
a rudiment,, no germen, style trifid, caducous,, or none. There is only one specie*
a native of Jamaica.

GUMMIFERA. GUM-BEARING»

Terchinthus majoi', belitla corfire, fruetu triangulari, Sloane, v. 2,
p. 89, t. Ut9,. f. 1,2. Foliis eorda/o ot'otis pinnalis, cortjce levi
rujescenie florihus masculinis spicalis. Browne, p. 345.
Ferruginous villous twigs ;. leaves pinnate ; two or three pairs, with an odd one (
racemes axillary.
This is a very loi\v ree, with an upright, round, smooth trunk, covered with a livid».
shining, bark, peeling off in round pieces, like the European birch ; branches ter-
minating, smooth, horizontal ; twigs ferruginous and viilose ; leaves pinnate ; petioles
round, villoic, petioltdes compressed, clianaeiled, viilose benenth. Leaflets, two

W

KRCrt HOnrUS JAMAICENSTS. 93

or tJjrce pair?. besHes the odd one ; they are ovate vvitij a short point, entirp, veined,
and sDjuoU! ; rattjues axillary and terminating, shorter than the jjctioies, irpright,
man} tiowered, pubescont ; pedicels ahern;itt?, -short, oue-ilovvered ; flowers siiiairaml
white ; capsule red, resL'iiibhiig a drupe ; on the male trees the flowers are more copi-
«us, uiio crowded io the racemes, but are scarcely larger. — Sw.

This tree has a great many roots rnnning superfjrJally on >he Cfirth on eves-j' liand for
some yards round, I'roiu lue iBiikiie of winch rises a trunk as thick as a hogshead or
pi])e, cuvered \vith a brown red smooth, menjbranaceous outward bark, failing oif in
Ibund pieces hkc to that of the English birth, whence it= nane. It hath several crooked
branches, mounting to thirty feet high, covered witii a brown smooth bark, near tlie
top of vvhitii come out several two or three inches long stalks, sustauiing on half inch
long footstalks, several flowers one above another,, each made up of five thick yellowish
fiiort petaia, with stannnain the middle, and after these follow three-sided or triangu-
lar berrie.s, of a sv^iail peas bigness, witii a reddish brown coloured skin, very gummv,
jind sn;elling hke arebmthine, under which lies a white, very hard, triangular stone,
eontaming a kernel. The tree iiaving stood naked sometime has first its flowers come
out, and its leaves begin to bud a little while after, which are winged, smooth, of a
very fresh green colour, standing round the ends of the branches at ijalf an inch's dis-
tance ; the middle rib is five inches long, hoary, and set at an inch and a hall's dis-
tance from the beginning, with pairs of pinnse one against another, on an half inch
footstalk, the pinna are an inch and a half long, and half as broad near the round base,,
wiicre broadest, and sinning ; there is a small odd one at die end, and usually four or
eiglit j)airs, which, with the odd one, make up the leaf. The gum the treeyields is
Jiiought to be vci} vulnerary and healing. — Sloane.

It is very common in Jamaica, although I do not take it to be the same with what
grows in England ; but it having the very same sort of bark, makes the English here
tan tliem birch-trees. They are much larger here than any I ever saw in Emj^land ;
besides, of these, after the bark i.* oil", the wood is very white, light, and brittle ; none
of the twigs are so tough as to make rods or brooms of ; and tlie gum that flows from
the tree is very odoriferous, white like mastic, and hath an aromatic absorbent taste.—
I nave otten given and advised this gum to be taken^n the lii£s venerea with good suc-
cess, after uue purging. It is so well known, that it needs no particular desciiptioo*
• — liarhain, p. '20.

Tliis tree is very common in all the sugar islands. The hark is very tliick and exudes
a clear and tran.-.paient rcsin, which hardens soon in the air, and looks nmcn like the
mastic of the shops ; but it yields a cousideral)le quantity of a more fluid substance, by
incision; which has mucli tae smell and ap[)eai-ance of turpeatme, and n>ay he used
lor the same purposes with success. — Dioune.

This tree grows readily from pieces of the lim's, and posts made of them and put irj
tlie giounJ, veiy spcedoy vtgeiatc and shoot out branches. Dr. Lio\>i>e Uiistook the
ta.k Oi the roots oi this tree lor the snnaiouba ot the shops, which is piocureu from a
species of quassia. The gum has been employed su:cessluUy as a traiiSj are. it vaini-^i ;
SOU it la soUbic ia spiriio of wiae. Tuo uecoction of t^ie roots i^ bmu.iig aiiJ iist. nj-

• gent.

?J. HO TIT us JAMAICENSIS. bitte*

pent. In the French isliinds this tree is called gommier hiavc', and an infusion oi tliQ
buds and young leaves is recommended there in disorders ol' the breast.

BiuD Peppeii — See Guinea Pxppf.ii.

BIRDS FOOT. ORXITHOPUS.

Cl. 17, OR. 4. — Diadclpiiia decandria. N.^t. or. — Papilionacece.

This name is derived from a Greek word for birds foot, the legumes or pods growing'
several together, in the manner and shape of birds claws.

Gen. ch.\R. — The calj'x of the umbel is simple ; the perianth one-leafed, five-
toothed ; corolla papilionaceous ; the stamina have sim])!e filaments and antbers ;
the j)istillum a linear germen, bristle-siiaped style, tiie stigma a terminating dot ;
the pericarpium an awl-shaped legume, round, bowed, jointed ; seeds solitary,
roundish. One species of this geivas is a native of Jamaica.

TETRAPHYLLOUS. FOUR-LE.WEP.

^uadrifo/itim crectumjlore luteo. Sloane, v. 1, p. 186, t. 116, f. 3. .
Leaves in fours, flowers solitary, ,

This rises to about a foot high, being erect, branched, and having twigs set thick
jvith leaves alternatively, on petioles three-quarters of an inch long, there being con-
stantly, as far as I could observe, four on the same footstalk ; each of them are small,
and have a small snip or defect on their further ends, whore they are largest, being of
a j'ellowish green colour and smooth, with a prominent mid-rib on the lower surfacal
The flowers are yellow, solitary from the upper axils. — Sloane,

BiRTHWORT — See CONTRAYERVA.

BITTER WOOD. QUASSIA.

Cl. 10, OR. 1. — Decandria mnnngynia. Nat. or. — Gruinale^.

This was so named by Linneus, in memory of Quassi, a negro slave, who fonnd and
<3iscovered to Rolander the wood of one of tlie species.

The class and order of the bitter wood do not appear to be well ascertained ; they are
surely not decandria mojiogi/nia. Mr. John Lindsay's chai^actei-s are very correclj and
as follow :

Gen. CHAR- — Male flower : calyx a small inferior perianthium, composed of four
squammose leaves, oval, persistent ; the corolla four-petals, obtuse, equal, ses-
sile, sub-erect ; the nectarium is four hairy, ovate, squamma;, inserted at the
base of the filaments ; the stamens are four, five, or six filiform, sub-erect, equal,
longer than the corolla, and inserted into the receptacle ; the anthers simple and
erect. Hermaphrodite flower on a different tree : calyx and corolla as in the male,
but the filaments scarcely longer than the corolla ; the pistillum has a fleshy,
roundish, elevated receptacle ; germen sub-ovate, composed of two, three, rarely

* four.

SITTER HORTUS JAMAICENSIS!. OB

four, parts, slightly cohering ; style tliickish, erect ; slignias two, threo, or four
simple dec;in«d; tiie pericaijnum two, tlireo, or lour (irujjes, globuje, scarcely
ji-iniuu', black, siiuiing, and inserted into tiie receptiicle ; seeds solitary, globose,
unilocular, covered by a fragile shell.

POLYGAMA. POLYGAMY.

The-follnwing is an account of the quassia polyt^ama, or bitter wood of Jamaica, hy.
Jlr. Joan Lindsay, formerly surL^eon in Westmorianii ; which was read before the Royal
Society of Edinburgh, November 7, 1791:

" The quassia po/j/gama has long been known in Jamaica, and in some other islands ia
the West Indies, not only as an excellent timber, but as an useful medicine in putrid
fevers and fluxes.- Witii us it is called bitter wood, and in the windward islands bitter
ash. The bark has for some time been prescribed by pw.ctitioncrs here, and exported
to F^igland in considerable quantities, for the purposes of the brewers of ale and
porter. On tiiese accounts, a fuller description of this plant th.m has hitherto apjjeared
will be acceptable to the botanist and the jiublie at large. It is very common in the
woodlands oflJainaica, is beautit'ul, tall, and stately, some of tliem being one hundred
feet long, and ten feet in circumference eight feet above the ground. The trunk is
straight, smooth, and tapering, sending oil its branches towards the top. The outsidp-
bark is pretty smo.jth,. of a light grey or ash colour, from various lichens. The bark
of the roots is of a yellowish cast, somewhat like the cortex simaruba. The inner bark
is tough, and composeil of fine flaxy fibres. The wood is of a yellow colour, tough,
but not very. hartl. It takes a good polish, and is useful in flooi'ing. The leaves are
sub-alternate ; ttie small leaves are in pairs, from five to eight, standing opposite to
each ociier on-short footstalks, and en. ling with an odd one. They are of an oblong
oval shape, and pointed ; the ribs reddish, and the young leaves are covered with a
fine brownish down. The fiowers come out ia bunches or clusters from the lower part
cf the last shoot Ijefore the leaves, and stand 0:1 round footstalks. The flowers are
small, of a yellowish green colour, with a very small calyx. The male or barren trefo
has flowers nearly similar to the hermaphrodite, but in it there are only the rudiments-
«f a style. The fruit is a smooth black drupe, round shaped, ar.d of the size of a pea.
There is but little pulp, and the nut covers 3 round kernel. These drupaj are gene*
rally three, sometimes two, and often only one, attached sidewise to a roundish fleshy
receptacle. It flowers in October and November, and its fruit is ripe in December and
January. Except tlie pulp of the fruit, every other part of this tree has an intensely
bitter taste. In taste and virtues it is nearly.eqaal to the quassia of Surinam, and I am
credibly informed^is sold in Lo'idon for the quassia amai^a ; and it may be safely used
in all cases vvbere that drug has been thought proper ; whether as an antiseptic, or in
cases of weakness iu the stomach and bowels. It may either be given alone, or joined
with the Jesuits bark. The happiest effects result from the use of this metlicine in ob-
stinate remitting fevers from marsh miasmata, in agues which liatl resisted the use of
Jesuits bark, and in dysenteries of long standing. It is in daily practice in dropsiej
from debility, either in simple infusions or tincture by itself, or joined with aromatics
, and chalybeats. Dr. Drummond, an eminent piiysician in Jamaica, prescribes it with
, ;great success in the above cases, as well as in amenorrlioea, chlorosis, dyspepsia, and
in that species of pica called dirt-eating, so fatal to a numoer of negroes. Tne bark of
the (luassia p.jlygama, but especially the wood, is intensely bitter. They may both be
Uicd m vaiiuus i'unns. In certain cases of tiropsy, aioinatics and preparations ai"e joined

-fS HORTUS JAMAICENSIS: »irrE»

to it, also in amcnorrhnea frntl chlorosis; and in worm fevers, the cahVapje bark, ot
other vegetable antheliuintics." The following are tiie doses as prescribed by Mr,
Lindsay:

From fifteen grains to one drachm by itself (or with tire Jesuits bark) of the wood or
bark.

From two drachms to half an ounce to one poiiiul of tlic watery infusion, and the
same quantities to one pound or one and a half pound in decoction. A wine glass full
to be given every three, four, or si.K hours, according to circumstances.

Is so called from its excessive bitterness : I think it exceeds wormwood, gall, and
aloes. I have seen a handful of the shavings but juytdip]ied in water, as quick as
thought taken out again, ami the water left so bitter that nothing could exceed it. A
trough was made of it to give water to hogs, and, to their owner's surprise, although
the hogs were ever so dry, they would not touch the water. This property of the tree
hath not been known very long in Jamaica ; and it was discovered by an accident : It
being a very free sort of wood to split, light, and white, the coopers hatl made casks
of it, unknowing its bitterness, to jnit sugar in, which was sent to England. Soon
after, the owner had advice that his sugar was so bitter it could not be sold ; The gen-
tleman thought it was a trick, or a banter ; but, upon a strict enquiry, found the occa-
sion of it. Of late, bedsteads and presses are made of it, to prevent bugs, cockroaches,
or worms breeding, as tliey do in other woods, for none of these vermin will come near
the wood ; neither do the workmen cave for working it, it bittering their mouths and
throats. It kills worms in the body, helps tlie cholic or belly ache, and creates an ap-
petite. The wood of this tree, at the first cutting, is very white, but turns yellow af-
terwards. Its bark is like the lance-wood, and its leaves like the English ash. — .C(/;v
ham, p. 21.

The following receipts have been recommended, the first as a diuretic, and the
Second as a tonic in dropsy :

Infusion of bitter wood one pint — Salt of wormwood half an ounce — Gin tivo ounces

— Mix A wine glass-full several times in the day. Dmretic salt, six drachms,

''inay be substituted in the place of salt of wormwood.

A small tea-cup full of bitter-wood infusion, two or three times in the day, with a
tca-spaonful of chalybeate wine, or with three or four grains of the salt of steel; vis.
green copperas.

*

The bitter wood has lately been employed as a subr^itute for hops in the brewing of
malt liquor, and has been found to answer the purpose extremely well. The bitter is
however not so agreeable as that of the hop, and the taste remains much longer on the
palate, after drinking the liquor.

From the qualities of the tree, it may be presumed that a decoction of the leaves or
bark, would make an excellent fomentation for sores. The wood is exceedingly light,
and, on that account, generally saved for laths for roofing ; but, as Burham says, the
workmen are not fond of it ; for, even after the wood has been laid for floors many yeai-s,
whoever rubs or scrapes it, feels a great degree of bitterness in their mouth and throat.
Ivfo insect will come near it.

There are two other kinds of bitter wood, noticed by Dr. Browi, for ivhich see the
ivext article. -j

See Mountain Da^^son. BITTEE

jirfETt nORTUS JAMAICENSIS. n

BITTER WOOD. XYLOPIA.

Cl. >3, OR. 7. — Pol^and-ria polygi/nia. — ^Nat. OR. — Coadiniafa.

This senus was na.incd bv Dr. Bro>vne xvloniorum, bciny' the Greek word for tlie
^Bgli.sh name, but Linneus .shortened it to xylo])ia.

Gen. CH.4R.- — Calyx a thj-ee- leaved perianthium ; leaflets crt'ate, concave, sliarpi.^li,
<!ecidiious ;. corolla six-peta!led, sessile, linear-lanceolate, eoriaceou.s, the three
outer.larger and thicker ; there are scarcely anj- stamina, but nuiiierous oblong-
anthers, fastened lo the receptacle at the base of tiie germs ; the pist ilium has
from two to fifteen germens, verv small, fastened to a three-corne-red receptacle ;
no styles ; stigma long and very slender : the pericarpinm has frora two to fifteen
capsules, pedicelled, four-cornered, corapressed, coriaceous, one or two- celled,
two-valved ; the seeds are solitary or two together, roundish, smooth, within a,
succulent hemispherical aril. There are onlv three species, tv.o of whicli are na-
tives of Jamaica ;

1. Ml'RICATA. MUREXED.

f'ruticcmvi ; foUis ovaio ananniat/'s, pvoductis, altcrnis ; capmlis
piinctdtis ; floribiis coiifcriis ad alas. Browne, p. 250, t. .5,. f.;2.

Xeaves lanceolate, pointed, with stiff bristles underneath, bearded at the top ;
pedtmcles many flowered ; fruit muricate.

Browne calls this tiie .'.v«a//-er /;;7'('r K'oof/, and sa^'s this little tree was found at the
vfoot of tiie nsountains in Sixteen IMile W'alk, where it grew to the height of fifteen or
'tvtenty feet^ but adds be made no remark on its bark or wood,

5. GLABRA. SMOOTH.

-FoUis ampliorihii.';, nitidis, ovatis.; pctiolis brevibusi fructibus gla^
bris. Browne, p. 25i.

Lea-ves oblong-m'ate, smooth ; peduncles one-flowered, sub-geminate ; fruits
smooth.

Browne calls this the larger hitler xvood, and'says, "I met with this tree in the
-BQOuntains, back of Bull Ba\, where it grew to a very considerable size, and raised its
-tranches to the height of fifty or sixty feet ab<;ve the root. The wood, bark, and ber-
ries, have an agreeable bitter taste, not unlike tiiat of orange seed ; and would proba-
bly prove excellent medicines, if brought into use. The wild pigeons feed much upon
the berries, and owe all that delicate bitterish flavour, so peculiar to them in the season,
wholly to this part of their food. I have cat many of the berries just olf the tree, and
found them both agreeable to the jxilate and grateful to the stomach. The bark is also
■richly impregnated with tiie same juice, as well as the wood, and both jield a very
agreeable bitter in the month, while fresh ; but that delicacy diminishes greatly after
• they are dried. The wood is easily wrought, and esteemed as a good timber wood ;
but must be used where it may iwt be easily exposed to tJie weather. This tree out^ht
to be cultivated, for it will probabl}^ be found very serviceable in time ; it seeds at Mr.
Anderson's mountain nea.r the Mine." — Broxcne.

This tree has been confounded with the quassia polygama by Long, and in the Lin-
nae^ index to Barixam, from whom indeed all Long's observations upon it a"re tuken ;

O and

'S3 "HOBTUR J AM A I'D EN SIS. slack

and who mentions it to have leaves like the ash. This clearly points Barliam^s plant
out to be the (/uassia f)o/i/!^aina, which has pinnated loaves like tiic ash, whereas the
leaves ol' the xyiopia are alternate and ovaie-acumiaate, those of the lonner obloii^-
eval.

BLACKBERRY BRAMBLE. " HUBUSi

Gl. I 2, OR. .5. — Icasandria poli/gt/nia; 1\ AT. OR. — Senticof:/r.

This name is vt. rived from a Latin word for redness, on account of the redness oi'the
twigs and juice of the fruit..

Gen. cn.in. — Calyx a one-leafed, five-cleft, perianthiiim ; segmems oblong, spread-
ing, permanent ;. tlie corolla has five roundish spreading petJils ; the stamina are
numerous filaments, with roundish anthers, inserted into tlie calyx ; the pist»l has
numerous germs, with suiail styles and simple stigmas ; the berry is compounded
of reddish acini, collected into a convex head, concave beloiv ; eacii one- celled •,,
the seeds solitary, oblong ; the receptacle of the pericarp is conical. One species
is a native of this island,

JAMAICENSIS. JAMAICA; .

Ruhiis foliis longioribus subtus viclli lamigine ohdiictis et incanis fiore

etfructu minor ibus. Sloane, v. 2, p. 109, t. 213, f. 1. ylcitleatus,.

foliis digitato-ijuinatisy serrats, subtus ai gtnteis. Browne, p. 242,.

Leaves qninate or ternate, tomentose underneath ; stem, petioles, and leaves, '
pubescent, with recurved pn>Ales ; -panicles diffused.

This plant is very common in Jaraaica, growing plentifully on most-ruinate lands irv
Tihe mountains. It differs only from the common bramble of Europe in having the
leaves gash-serrate, with the ribs prickly ; the panicles teinunating, diffused ; the
flowers and berries smaller. The leaves are covered over with a whitish soft wool, and
are whitest on the lower surfaca The berries, when ripe, are of ,a black colour, and
very agreeable to the palate. If picked when red, and before they ripen, the}' make
an excellent tart, having at that period a very agreeable acid taste. The stalks are very
prickly and trailing ; climbing up m the small trees and bushes around them.

There is a larger and smaller variety.

Two other species of this genus have been introduced, but not much cultivated : the.
idccus, or raspberry ; and the si/lvaticus, or blackbei'ri/, both European plants.

BLACK CHERRY. MYRTUS.

Cl. 12, OR. 1. — Iccsandria vionogynia, NaT. OR. — Ilespen'dtp,
©EN. CHAR. — See Bayberrj', p. 75.

CERASINA. CHERRY.

^rbor baccifera, myrti folia latiore, fructu 7iigro cerasitio dipyreno,.
■Sloane^ v. 2, fi. i07.

iJPediuicles^

*iACKR-/ED. H0TITU"S J AM AT C EN SIS,' ^l^

Fedisnc!cs lateral and tenninating, one-flowered ; leaves oblong, shining, dot-
ted underneath.

The whole of tiiis tree is smooth, Tl>e- young twigs have linear-lanceolate scales,
at first iinhri(.ate, but ;»ftervvards remote and deciduous. J.eaves petio'eil, an iiicli loiig,
kiunt, the upper burface somewhat veined and shining, with a groove along tiie middle,
the unik'r veinless, pale, dotted, in clusters. Peduncles sometimes four from the
."*ame bud ; usually axdlary, opposite, and terminating, but often below the leaves,
«)ne- flowered, filiform, an inch and half long. Segments of the calyx oblong, blunt ^
petals obiongj biunt^ small, vsihite. — Vahl.

The branches of this tree are covered with a brown bark, with white spots on it here
and there ; the leaves set against one another exactly Uke those of the nnjrtiu latij'olia.
-The fruit is like black cherries, whence the name, having a very thin black skin, with
a very small purple and sweetish pnlp, inclnJing two wiiite stones, flat on one side^
spherical on the other, so tliat the two compressed sides being joined, they make one
lound sphere. — Sloane^

BLACKEYED PEA. PHASEOLUS.

Cl, 17, OR. 4'. — Diacklph'a decanHria. Nat. or. — Papilionace^e.

This name is said to be derived from piiaselus, a little ship or boat, from its simiii*
■tude to the pod of the kidney bean.

'Gen. char — Calyx a one-leafed, two-lipped, periaridiium, upper Hp ernarginate ;
lower three toothed ; the corolla is papdionaceons ; banner hea»t-3haped, wingi
ovate ; keel narrow, rolled spirally contrary to the sun ; stamina are diadelphous
filaments, within the keel, spiral ; anthers simple . the pistil has an oblong ger-
men, compressed, villose ; a filiform style, bent in spirally, pubescent abo^e ;
stigma blunt, thickish, viilose ; the pericarpium a long- legume, straight, coria-
ceous, blunt with a point; seeds kidney-form, oblong, compressed. Two species
-are natives of this island.

1. SPHtEROSPERMUS. ROUND3EEDED.

Phaseolus erectus minor, sem'nc sphericn, alhido, kilo nigra. Sloane,
V. 1, p. 184, t. 117, f. 1, 2, :5. £ rectus ; siliquis gracilibus, tere-
tibiis, polj/sperinibus ; senii^iibus subrotuitdis^ hilo mgro iiotatis.
Browne, p. 292.

Stem upright ; seeds globular, dye 1 at the hiluni.
This species is called blaclieyed pmse. The stem about a foot high, branched, petj-
cles three or four inches long, the leaves are three together, the odd leaflet is an inch
and a half broad at the base, two inches and a half long, on a petiolule three-quarters
of an inch longer than the lateral leaflets, which are smaller ; they are all very soft and
•of a yellowish green colour, and have their ribs from the end of the footstalks. Pe-
duncles axillary, strong, and nine inches in length ; the corolla is white. Legumes
three or four inches long, almost round and straight, clay-coloured ; the seeds are
very many, almost round, white, with a black eye, not so big as the smaller field pea.
They are accounted the sweetest and best food of any of the kind. — Sloane.

0 2 '2. LATHYROIDES,

>Qa ' HORTUS JAMA le EN SIS. ^trssT^

'J. LATIiVROlDF.S. LATBYRUS-I.IKK.

Phaseolus oectus iut/tz/roidc.-:, flare atiiplc, coccincj. Rloaae, v. 1,
p. 13;!jt. 116, t'. 1. Minor ercctis j)ru'tnsis, joiihoblungis, lii.iiUa
minori, siliindsgracilibus. iiruuiie. p. 'l^J\..

Stem upright, ical'ets lanceolate.

This has an obiong large wliite root, going a foot deep into Uie groirnr!, from the
top of which grow several trailin'g brancl-.es, round^ smooti),. and green; stt pretty
thick with leaves,, three always together, leaf at the top of the footstalk longer ; they
^ire oblongv acuniiiiate ; the two lateral ones sub-sessile, entire, veined, smooth above,.,
pubescent imderneath. Petioles alteriiate,^ erect, stiff,, ihannelied, angular, reddish ;
i<tipules at the- base of the petioles, ojjposite, acuminate ;^ others at the base of vhe
leaves ; pedniicles I'jng, fastigiate,. mariy Ho\vc;red,, round, pub(:;scent. The flovvi-rs
are in a sort of spike, alternate,, mostly in j)airs close together, blood red ; thi; banner
of a paler red ; wings decj) red, twice as large as the banner; keel whitish,: legume
roundish, awl-shaped ; seeds roundish, separated, brown. This plant grows in moist
sandy grounds, and Browne says rt -is pretty common in, tlie savannas about Spaiusli
'i^owu.

Ste Horse Beans an-d Kidney Bean.s.

BL.SCK Ma.stic — Sec Ba.stard Bully Tree..
.Black Olive — See Olive- Bark.

N^ English Name. BLECHNUM.

Gl. 24, OR. 1. — Ciypiogamia filiccs,,or Ferns.
Gay. citAR. — Fructifications disposed in two lines, approaching to the rib of the
frond and parallel. One species has been discovered iu this island.

OCCIOENTALE.. WESTERN.

Fili-v minor, in pinnas tantuni divisa, crehras, own crenalas, auricii...
laws, et lineis ptdverulentis cnersa patie notalas. Sloane, v. I,..
p. 87, t. 44, f. 2. ii'impUx foliis atuplioribus oblongis Jalcaiis ei:
impetiolatis. Browne, p. 91.

Fronds pinnate ; pinnas lanceolate, opposite, einarginate at the base.
"Zrovine cvAh xh'i^xhe undivided hltchmun, with large oblong leaves. It rises by a
sin»ple undivided stalk to the height of thirteen or eighteen inches; tlie leaves loiij--
■^ad narrow. "Sloane says the pinnas are many, with two small auricles at the base.

Elechum — See Christmas Pride.

BLESSED THISTLE. CENTAUREA.

^h. 19, OR. 3. — Syngenesia poh/ganii<t frustranea. Nat. or. — Composite.

3LDK HORTUS JAM.'VICENSIS. io\

Gen'. C!;aR. — Ctjlyx ccmnion imbricate; corolla compound, flosculous, difform ; the
recepf,^cle bristly ; tiie dcnvn isimple ; the rorolluht of the nidius funnel fofiu,
longer irregular. Ttiis plant is a n:,tive of Kurope, ;nid was introduced here ia;iuy
years ago, as vveil as ti;*; vuunus, or blue bottle, another species.

1. BKNEDICTA. BLF.SSKD.

Calyxes double-spiny, woolly, involucrcd ; leaves semi-Jecurrent, toothlettod,
spiny.

This plant obtained the appellation of benedictiis from its being supposed to possesfj
«xtraordinary mediral virtues ; though not much in repute in modern practice. It has
been celebrated asan alexipharmic and a cure for' the plague. 'I'he bruised leaves
boiled in wine, and mixed with fionr and hogslard, laid on warm, are said to cure can-
cers and inveterate ulcers. The leases have a penetrating bitter taste and ungrateful
flavour. Dr. Lewis informs us that he has experienced excellent effects from a ligiiC
infusion of this plant in loss of appetite, where th-e stomach was inpired by irregulari-
ties. A stronger infosion made in cold or warm water, if drank fretil}-, and the patient
kept warm, promotes perspiration. The seeds are also considerably bitter, and havt;
sometimes been used with the same effect as the leaves. Browne mentions that it was
Gultivaled with great success in the- mountains of New Liguanea, where it seeded as
Tvell as in most parts of Europe : he adds that it makes a fine stomachic meiiicine, and
may be used with success iti all vveaknesses of the viscera, and over-abundant discharges
of bile. For medical purposes the plant should be gathered while in flower, dried in
the shade, and kept in a very dry airy place^ to prevent, its rotting, which it is very
apt to do.

2. CYANUS. BLUE.

Cal3'xes serrate ; leaves linear, quite entire, the lowest tootlied.

This is a common weed among corn in Europe, called blue bottle in England, and
Muc bonnets in Scotland. The expressed juice of the ncutrarfioi ets makes a good ink ;
ifc also stains hnen of a beautiful blue, but the colour is not permanent. Mr. Boyle
3ays that the juice of the central florets, with the addition of a very small quantity of
iluiii, makes a lasting transparent blue, not inferior to ultramarine.

Blood Flower — See Bastard Ipecacuanha.

BLUE PEA FLOWER. CLITORIA.

Cl. 17, OR. 3. — Diadelplu'a decayidria. NaT. OR. — Pupilionace^.
This is so named from the form and colour of the corolla.

©EN. CHAR. — Calyx a one leafed, erect, tubular, five-toothed, permanent perian-
thium ; corolla papilionaceous, and supine, or turned downside up ; the standard
is very large, overshadowing the other petals; wings oblong, keel shorter than
them ; stamina and anthers simpU- ; the pistil has an oblong germen, ascending
9tyle, and obtuse stigma; the pericarp is a very long legume, linear, compressed,..
^JKC-celied, two-valvcd, with the tip subulate ; seeds many, reniforni. Three

species

'102 IIOIITUS JAMAICENSIS, BJ.-JE

sppcies are indigenous to this island, as follow ; the. f<;r)iatca, a native of the East
Itidies, grows in East's garden, having l)oeu broiiglit to this island some years

1. BRASILIAXA. BRARII.IAN.

Major acaiuhiis, Joliis subrotundo ovcit's, jlorihus geminatis. —
Browne, p. 298.

Leaves ternate ; caly.xcs solitary, bell-form.

'I'his Browne calls tlie larger dlmliing rlitoria, which rises with a twining hcrbacpwis
. stalk five or six teei high, iiaving at eacli joint one teiiiate leaf on a long [u'tK^ie. 'I'lie
flowers conic out singly from the axils on Jong peduncles, encompassed about the
middle with two small oval leaves ; the tlow-ers. are very large, the standard broad, anil
of a fine blue colour. Browne says this species is very rare in Jamaica, he found it iiv
JSt. Ann''-', where it grew very luxuriantly.

2. VIUGINIANA. VI[lOINIA>r.

Phaseohis svhaticusjiorepatuln, dilute purpurrf>, siliqua tenui nigrttf,
seminc winorc maculiUo. Sloane, v. 1, p. 181. Minor scandens^
foliis sub-iillosis obl^jngo-oiatis, Jtoribus geminatis. Browne»
p. 298.

" Leaves ternate ; calyxes geminate, bell-form.
This species is very common in all the hills and lower lands of Jamaica. The stem
is herbaceous, filiform, subdivided, seandent, and twining, round, striated, pubescent.
L-eaflels oblong, acuminate, with a blunt tip, entire, nerved, smooti), sometimes pu-
bescent, on short petiolules : peduncles longer than the petioles, erect, angular, stri-
ated, hirsute, bearing three or four flowers : perianthium double, outer t wo -1 caved ;
leaflets ovate-acute, concave, keeled, pubescent ; inner tubular, two-lipped, the two
upper teeth shorter, appioximating, the three lower longer, acute, the middle one
tliree times as long as the others : corolla resupinate, standard blue, with oblique
purple sti'eaks, at tlie back. part dusky, and tomentose ; seeds smooth, and of a gray
colour.

3. OALACTIA.

Phaseolus minor /c.cfesce7is _fiore purpureo. Sloane, v. I, p. 183, t,
1 14, f 4. Fcliis cvatis glabris pinnate fcrJiatis, spicis elungatis
Jtrminalihus. Browne, p. 298, t. 32, f. 2.

Leaves ternate ; raceme erect ; flowers pendulous.

This, by its round small ivoody stalks, turns itself round, and mounts about any tree
or shrub it comes near, rising to six feet high. At every inch putting forth leaves,
three always togetlier, on half inch long footstalks. The leaf opposite the footstalk is
the longest, an inch long, and three-quarters of an inch broad in the middle where
broadest, being roundish or oval, of a dark green colour, smooth, hard, and nervous.
The flowers come out from the alfe of theieaves, on very short footstalks, -three-quar-
ters of an inch long, hollow, papilionaceous, and purple. After these follow cylin-
dric legumes, two inches long, crooked and sharp at the end, containing several brown
.small peas. All parts of the plant are osilky ; it grew in the Red Hills and other places
^leatUuUy.-* (J'/oa^e.

JBrownfi

-i*OG HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 103

Browne calU this the galactia, with smooth leaves and long reddish flowers. It gro7,-s
rhiefly in tlie i.)-.ver lulls, aiici is easily di>tinguishe(l by its long rodihsh ilower^, rnili'y
trauches, and wiuootii leaves. It ribfs soniotmies eight or nine feet.

BOG RUSH. SCHOENUS.

Cl. '^i OR. 1. — Triandila nmnogynia. Nat. or. — Calzmarix.

This name is dtidved from. a Greek, word, signifying a rope, for which some of the
■species is adajjted.

Gen. char — The calyx has chaffy gl-'jmcs, one-valved, heaped ; there is no corolla ; .
the stamina are tlivee capillary filaments, with obiotig erect anthers ; the pistillura
ha3-an ovate, three sided, obtu*; geruieii; style biiiiie siiaped, length of the co-
rolla ; stigma bitid or tririd, slender ; there is nj pi^ricarp ; the seed is single,
■louadish, among the glumes. Niny s^iecies are indigenous to this island.

K STELL.\TDS. STAKRV.

Gramen cyperoides spica compacta alba, foliis ad sp team parfi'm alhis,
partimvitidibus. tiloane, v. 1, p. 119, t. 78, f. 1.

Culm subtriquetrous, spikelets conglon^eraie, with a leafy involucre, coloured
at tho base.

This hath a perennial root, it fjrows about a foot high, or less. Culm single, np—
light, striated, smooth, sheathed with the leaves of tue base, roundish, but bluntly
tiaree-cornered -towards the top. Leaves almost the length of the culm, erect, linear,
acuminate, entire, striated, smooth. Sheaths surrounciing the culm, hirsute or ciliate
at the neck ; involucre manifold or three-fold ; leaflets very long< ternately-alternate,
spreading, linear-lanceolate, sessile, strirated, smooth, to^vards the base white coloured.
Spikes terminatin;^, clustered, sessile, small oblong, acuminate, whitish; chaffs or
glumes in bundles, imbricate ovale, acute, concave, scarcely keeled, entire, one-
flawered ; the filaments three, -the length of the glumes, upright ; germ roundish ;
style longer than the gmines, cloven to the middle ; sti/mas short, erect ; seed round-
i=^, flatted a little, l*;ge. It resembles the kyllin^ias, and is probably mixed with
vhem by authors, especially witn kijlLngia triceps. — Hw. See KjjUingia.

From a fibrous and stringy root spring up several triangular blunt-edged stalks, oF
about a foot ui length. I'ne leaves are harsh to the touch. The spike is compact,
ma le up of many white spikes, set clos.^ in a head, and lias some long, harsh, grassy
leaves close under it, which for the first part or half are white, and towards the ends-,
green. The seed is small and yellowish. It groas in those places where water has in
xainy times stood on the gi"omid, as in the pasture beyond the Ansel's Ford. — Sloane^

2. RESTIOIDES.

Culms at bottom, compressed ancipital, and very smooth ; flowers panicled ;
sheath lanceolate at the top.

ThLs is almost a fathom in height, the culm jointed, erect, striated, with swellinr?
J^oints ; the leaves sheathed at the base, long, wide, linear, quite entire, very finely

jtviatedi

!04 HOItTUS JAMAICENSIS. ^os

strbtcd !oTieit'.iciinally, rigid ; sheaths ancijiital, finely striated. Panidcs bursting
from anripital- lanceolate covered sheaths, tiubdivided into (hcliotomous sub-fastigiate
diffused branchlets, having sheathlets underneath at all the divisions, of a red ferrugin-
ous colour. Spii^elets solitary, or in pairs, sessile, two- flowered, polygamous, on
prickly serrate peduncles. Glumes four-valved, two-flowered; valves decussated^
ovate, acute, concave, slightly keele!, spmetnnes serrate, brown; there are no fda-
ments ; the germ is three cornered, style oblong, tiifid at top ; stigmas cirrhose. —
Serrate bristles are placed upon the pistil. One of the florets is small, interior, and
two-valved ; tiie valves equal and lanceolate ; the filaments two or three, and minute ;
the pistil small. Tais is considered a singular species, and probably making a distinct
geuus, were the characters well ascertained.

3. €I.ADIUM.

'Cuhno nmoso^ ftoribtis quasi umbellatis, umhellis gradathn assiirgen^
fibiis. Browne, p. 114.

'Culm bluntly three-sided, leafy, even; leaves pricklv in front, panicles-dif-
fused ; spikelets one-flowered, sessile, two-stamened.

Culm eight or ten feet high, single, jointed, smooth, striated ; leaves sheathing,
very long, keeled, half an inch wide, cartilaginovis-serrate along the back and edge,
striated, smooth, rigid ; sheaths closed in front, serrate : flowers in lateral panicles
fr.:)m the sheadis ; j^edunctes solitary, short, compressed, sheathed ; sheaths nimier-
ous, crowded, alternate, from which spring some ]iartial peduncles, which are elon-
gated, loose, diffused ; towards the top next the sheathlet subdivided into many une-
qual unibelled pedicels, frequenll}' terminating in an umhellet, with the ultimate pe- ■
dicels three-flowered. Spikelets three or four, ovate, acuminate, small, ferruginous ;
glumes or scales oblong, acute, unequal. At the side of the inner glume, surrounding
the germ, are capillary bristles the length of the glume; filaments very short ; genu,
linear-oblong; style shorter than ihe glumes, trifid ; stigmas reflexed, convolute,
permanent; seed ovate, acute, shining browi,. It grows in sea marshes, — Sn).

Browne calls this plant the large Jioriddadiiim.

4. GLOMERATUS. TIEAPED.

Culm three-sided, leafy, flowers in bundles ; leaves flat; peduncles lateral, ia
pairs.

5. EFFtTSUS. ■ OVERFLOWING.

• Culm leafy, bluntly three-sided, even ; leaves entirely prickly in front, pani-
cles more erect ; spikelets one-flowered, sessile, tvvo-stamened.
Swartz gave this as a distinct species, but it resembles the ntanscus, an European
species, so nearly, that he hardly thought it could be made a distiuct species.

6. CYPEROIDES. CYPERUS-LIKE.

Culm three-sided, leafy ; umbel terminating ; spikelets glomerate.

Two feet high. Culm striated, smooth ; leaves sheathing, half a foot long, linear,
keeled, striated, smooth, with the keel of the val res sub-serrate ; spikes terminating,
umbelled ; peduncles, from the sheaths of the terminating leaves, several, unequal,
ihree-Sided ; involucre none, but only the two alternate leaflets, from the sheaths of
which the pcduuclus rise. Spikelets in little terminating balls (sometimes compound),

verT

iOG IIORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 105

yerj Trrnch crowded, sessile, acuminate, spreading, feriuginous ; glume cTiaffy, heaped,
unequal, sub-iinhricatc ; the inner ones more tender, narrower, less, one-flowered:
filaments three, \x-ry short; germ extremely small ; style longer than the glumes,
Irifid at the top, permanent; stigmas capillary, cirrhose ; at the base of the gerin are
, twO' bristles the length of the glumes ; seed iutlosed witliin the glumes, obovate, mostly
obconlate, blinitly tnree-cornered^ ferruginous, smooth. It is not a cyperus, because
the chaffs are not distich, and the seed is not three- sided. — ii«.

7. GRACILIS. SLENDER.

Culm three-sided, leafy, very long, filiform ; spilfes lateral, peduncled.

Height froni three to six feet. Culm very long, simple, loose, striated; leaves
"hnoar, very long, sessile,, keeled, striated, serrate; spikes axillary; peduncles suh-
tarv, elongated, filii'orm ; spikelets in Bundles, small, six to ten, unequal, round,
and linear, sessile, ferruginous, smooth ; glumes chafty, manv, tmequal ; the lowest
small, the rest convex,, acuminate, imbiicate ; the interior ones more tender, smaller,
one flowered; filaments three, very short ; genn roundish ; style awl-shaped, scarcely
longer than the glumes, trifid ; stigmas capillary, reflexed ; seed three-cornered, very
sniiill, ferrustinous. It ^rows in the woods in the hicrhest luountuins.

8. SETACEUS. BKISTIED.

Ctilm thpee-sided, almost naked, leaves babde-.sliaped ; spikelets aggregate 3
flowers two-stamened.

The height abouta foot. Culm simple, setaceous, weak ; leaves mostly shorter thau ■
the culm, . somewhat suiated, erect ; culms towar'is the upper part simply two-parted,
■or subdichotomous,ir;to axillary, peduncled, aggregate; spikelets, th»'ee to six in
number, awl-shaped and small ; lower peduncles often solitary, an/ inch long; upper
crowded, bundled, very short ; lower glumes smaller, . ovate, acute, keeled, termin-
ated by a very short awn ; upper glumes lanceolate, awnless, convolute at the top;
iilameuts two, very sliort ; style bifid ; stigmas capillary. At the sides of the gerur are
"two caj)illary bristles, the length r;f the glume ; seeds roundish, compressed at the
•eilge, acuimnate, transversely wrinkled. This grows in dry pastures.

9. PUSTLLUS. DWARF.

Culm three-sided, naked, filiform ; spikelet-s terminating, sub-fascicled, sessile,
with a leaflet beneath, equalling the spike.

HeigVit about an inch. Roots capillary, simple ; culms almost upright, capillary ;
leaves radical, equalling the culm, filiform, keeled at the base, sheathing, ciliate at
the edge, striated, smooth ; spikelets three or four, very small, one above another,
ovate, acuminate : under the lowest spike is an awl-shaped leaflet, sheathed at the
ISase ; glumes chaffy, heaped, imbricate, separating the flowers, ovate, keeled, awn-
Ifess, one-flowered; filaments three, the length of the chaffs; anthers linear; genn
Toundish ; style filiform, three-sided at the base, trifid at top ; stigmas capillary, re-
flexed ; seed roundish, bluntly three-cornered, rugged, ferruginous, appearing as it
were echinate, wiien examined by a microscope ; witliout which the parts of fructifica-
tion are not visible. It grows in the southern parts of Jamaica.

10. SORhSAJtfENSIS. SURINAM.

»Culm leafy, three-sided ; peduncles corymbed, tiie lower ones -alternate, dis-
aant,,tlie upper ones crowded.

P Fxom

:0€ HOItiyS JAMAlCi'JNSJS. ' 30.-^/iCE;

From one to four feet high, growing in tufts. Culms simple, sBar-piy three-sided,
rusgecl, Icary below ; leaves slie*the<l, very long, equal to the cuim or Jonger, fiattishi
sijgiidy keeled, siriateci, linear, serrate-prickly along the keel and edge, stiliish ; the
upper pnes shorter aucl distant ;:>r!eathes alternate, crowded, keeled,' with a blunt
dagger j)oint in front ; cor3mbs pediuicled, laieraljiCotjipoiiad, shorter rhaii<the leaves^
ic'ore ilouering crowded, nodding, afterwards divaricatuig ; p'ediincles eiotvgated,
jroiu the sheathes of the upper leaves, solitarj-, remote,' loose ; ttie upper ones crowds
ed ; spikelcts cylindricalrsiibulatej very shortly pedicelledj patnious, ferruginous j
bractes capillary, longer than the floretSj at the base of ti>e pedicels-, lowei'''gliinnes
;-ho)Ter,. ovate, ■ imbricate ; upper a little- longer, and between thern a middle 'Ho wer,
mate, and solitary, between the outer ones'.fe males, or an hermaphrodite ; filaments
three, very short; anthers linear ; genn ovate, margined, blackish, :Surrounded -tt
the base with from iwa to ibiir jointed bristled ; style long, undivided; stigma linear;
seed roundish, black-rust-coloured. Most commonly many of tiie spikelcts are male:
without atYy .females.— : ^ ,

BoKHMERiA— 'Stf Nettle Tkee.
Bo-VZBAST Mahoe — See Dowis TiiSE,

BONACE BARK. Genus Doubtful

Cl. 4, OR. 1. — Tetrandria mon(rg\jma.9
This is c-Jled hpnace hark ^>re by Browne,, who only describes the pericarp, ni^t
-Iiaving seen the flower; the other characters which foilovvare from Mr. A. Robinsou's
•manuscript: - _:

Gen. char. — Calyx- a monophyllous bell-shaped perianth, cut lightly on the brim,
into four iaftceoJated equal parts ; no corolla; germ ovate, in the base of the cup ;
style short and thick, w;tfa a peltated stigma; there appeared no stamens, but ia
some flowers there were four small giobose uectareous giands ; the pericarp v/as a.
dry drupe, ovate, of the size and figure of an olive, having a two lobed nut, co~
vered with a proper membrane, full,

BONACE.

Ccrtice fisso^ foli'is oblongis, racemis umbellulatis terminalibus.—^
Browne, p. 373.
Browne says this plant is common near Montego Bay, where it grows to a moderate
size. The bark makes very good ropes ; it is fine, and spreads in some shape like that
of the lasreho bark, though not so free or regular The seeds have a sharp biting taste.
Mr. Robinson found the'fruit ripe in September in New Liguanea mountains, not far
from Yal lab's River. The tv\igs were brown, slender, and dichotomous ; the leaves
alternate and sessile, with entire reflected margins, of an olive green coioui', somewhat
rough and shining above, but dull and blueish green beneath, and marked with altera
nate veins. From the bosom, of the upper leaf grew a short common peduncle,' pro-
truding from Its summit three or four proper pediincies, hardly half a line in length,,
each supporting a small olive-iike fruit, scarcely exceeding half an mch in length,
•coQtaining oue nut, covered with a fibrous integument,. JHaving tasted the fruit he

foan^

:ifOTTL3;' HvORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 107

ibund hi'smouth affebted with a burning acrimony, such as is cnused hy the bark of wild
cinnanion, or oi .wild rosemary. At Old Woman Savuiina, in Clar.-ncion, ther^ is a
itrger species of this known by the name of burn-nose bark, so called froai its sup-
posed efiects on those who smell it closely. A iree was also obsen'ed in Lime Savanna,

EouRREPyiA — Sec Currant Tree.

BORRAGE- BORRAGO.

€{., ^'. " -JPentamdria TnonogT/nia. Nat. oe. — /hperifolitv,

"This name is cienvcd fi;om cor and agoj on account of its supposed cordial qualities,

6£N. CHAR. — Caljx five-parted, permanent ; corolla monopetraious, rotate, border
five-partedj. throat crowned with five emarginate obtuse prominences ; the sta-
mens have subulate converging filaments, oblong antliers, fixed on the inside of
the filaments; tiie pistil has four germs, filiform style, simple stigma ; there is no
periicarpium ; calyx larger, inflated; the seeds fcair, roundish, wrinkled, keeled -
outvvarfis at tiie top, globular at the base, inserted iongitudmaily nito an hollowed;

. - •- ic

0FFICINAU9. OFFICINAL.

Al! the leaves alternate ; calyxes spreading.

The \yhole of this plant is rough, with white prickly Jiairs. The commoTi colour cf
^iie corolla is blue, but varies to flesh coloured and white. It came originally from
Aleppo and thrives well in Jamaica. The whole herb is succulent ai^d very mucilagin-
ous, having a peculiar faint smell when bruised. The young tender leaves may be used
in salads, ,or as a pjt-iierb. By the experiments of M. Margraaf, in 1747, it appear:;
xhat the juicejaiFords a true nitre.

This, plant grows and thrives very luxuriantly in the mountains of New Liguanea ; it
has been always esteemed as an excellent cooling cordial in all febrile cases ; and may
be justly regarded as a proper simpl^e to be used in such over-heated states of the
"blood ;• it is generally administered in decoctions and infusions, with other cooling
medicines. A distiiied water of both the leaves and flowers of this ph nt has been
formerly kept in the shops, as well as a conserve of the blossoms ; but these are very
iitvle regarded in modern practice, especially in England, where aiost of the diseases ■
"proceed rather from inactiorji and the viscidity of the j uices,' — Bi-ewne, p, 150. .

•BOTTLE-COD ROOT. -CAPPARIS.

Cl, 12, pit. l.—Poli/andria monogynfa, Nat. OK,—Piitaminece,

"This name is deri'^'ed from a Greek word, signifying to cure melancholy.

^Ejf. CH ■; — GaKx a four-leaved, coriaceous, perianth j leaflets ovate, concare,

Pii.huU: ; Uie Corolla has four petals, obtuse, spreading, very large; the staniiiiLa

-sontjj^ aiim;crou5, fiiiibrifu, patulous, fiiaxnenta, with oblong, versatile, inclined,

,P 2 anthers^

ipS K OUT us JAMAICENSIS. bottl*

anthers ; ihe pistil has « pedicdleil germ, no style ; stigmn. ohfxtse, seasir^^ ; the
pericarp IS a corticose bt'Trv, one-celled, jje'licclleci ; seeds miiuerous, rcniform^
, nestling. Eight species are iiulfgenoiis to tiiis isliind, us lolluw ;

!. CYXOPHALLOPHOUA.

Fniticosa, fcdiis ohloiigis nhtusis. _Browne, p. 24C, t. 27, f. 1.
Peduncles many flowered, terminal ; leaves oval, ootuse, perennial ; glands

This varies considerably in its hahir. or general appearance, arcordin^; to the r.oil ia.
%vhi(-ii it is found. Ia sunny hedi^es it is wealc, thin, and as it were supported by the
neighbouring vegetables ; but in fields and towards tlic s!)ores, it is a kind of shrub nr
little tree of twelve feel high, and of a pretty appearance. Theioiives- are alternate^
petiolated, smooth on both.side.s, thickish, somewhat stifT", and about three inclies
long ; thev are also either ovate, ob-ovate, or even lance-ovate, but more frequently
oblong. In the axilla, of the leaves there is a roundisli solitary gland, which is scartve-
ever missing. -The fiowers are beautiful, very patulous, and extremely fragrant, of a
vliite or greenish white ; the stamens often four inches long ; the silif.pte about a foot
lung, of various ilegrees of thickness, outwardly green, or greenish purple, with a red
sutin*e, and, when ripe, split longitudinally, each part rolling ijack to the very foot-
stalk, and successively letting fall the seeds, which are coated with a white bark exter-
nally, and greenish internally, and are surrounded by a st-arlet flesh or pulp. It is, very
common in the lower hills of Jamaica. Browne calls it the shrubbij brtynia.

This is called hofth cod roof, it is found in copses, and is disposed to run in bushes,
•It is remarkable for having large while flowers, whose stamina are of an extraordinary
length. The pods are a foot long and unequal. When npe they open gradually, and
shew the seeds in a sort of crimson bedding. The root is large, yellow, fleshy, an4
tastes strongly like horse-raddish. Dr. Canvane recommends it as a specific in dropsy.
He orders a decoction of it ; but an infusion is preferable, because boiling dissipates
its virtues. The other species of this genus, which grow in Jamaica, have the same
sensible qualities as those of the mustard tribe, — IVright.

•2. BADUCEA.

Fruticosa, foliis singularibus, oblongo-ovalis, sxperne nitidis, siliqiih
minorihus tcretibus cequalibus. Browne, p. 246, t. 27, f. 2.
Peduncles one -flovvereirtl; leaves ovate-oblong, determinately crowded, naked.
This Browne calls the muUard shrub with a willow-lea/, and says it is common in ali
the savannas anci lowlands about Kmgstcjn. It grows generally to the lieight oi nine or
ten feet, aiid throws out a number of slender suo-ereci brandies, adorned with oblong
leaves, which a])pear duty and opaque as if they were dusted underneath. All the
parts of the plant nave a strung pungent saiefi and taste, like most of tfie m.ustard tribe.
-^Browne.

3. FFRRt;GINEA. IRON.

/Icaciis affinis arbor siliquosa folio svbrctu7ido singuJari, flcre staminea
albido, siliqua tereti ventriosa, cujus interior tunica est mucosa et
tleganter miitiata, Sioane, v. 2, p. 59, i'rutuosa ; JoUis singu-

-iaribus

WJTTts, KORTUS JAM.AICEKSIS. 10?

laribus ohlongis iitrinque actLfiSy suhtus quasi vUlosis ; fiorihus oc^ ,
tandris, rarcmis I'oviosis a!an'!>us. Browne, p. 247, t. -8, 1'. 1.

Pethincles nml)eiled; leaves permanent, lauceoliite, tjmeutose beueath ; tiowcis
eight stamened.

This is a small tree or shriil), u-ith strlateel rufous or ferruginous colcitred branches ;
^aves ovate-lanceolate, quite entire, lanuginoiis — ash-colouroti beneatli, smoiAh on
tlie upjjer surface ; petioles ferrutiinous, short ; flowers in a sort of corymb, tenuuiat-
iugf, on bifid or trifid peduncles ; the corollas white, and fragrant, 'i'his plant is com-
mon m all the lowlands of Jamaica, and has obtained the name of ntustard shrui), from
its being strongly impregnated with an acrid volatile salt,

This tree riseth to about twenty feet higii, having a trunk as thick as ones thigh, the
bark is of a dark grey coio'iir, the branches !)ow downwards and are crooked, liaving
here and tliere knobs on theiu ; the leaves come out alternately, at about half an incii
distance, standing on a brown half inch long footstiilk, they are two inches long, and
•ne and a quarter broad, having one middle and several transverse ribs. The tlowers
come out on the ends of the twigs,, and cdusist of a great many very long wiiite sta-
mina, inclosed in a grt^n capsule, to which foUoiv, three inches long, green, smuoti],
ventricose, pods, in which is containetl four or five peas, being green and soft, in-
closed in a white pulp ; the inward mucilaginous membrane of the pod is of a scariet
colons The pod opens of itself, and its contents are mucn covetecl by ants ; the pod
nangs to the tree by a two-inches long footstalk, and is small at the further emi. — ■

4. TOROLOSA. TWISTER.

^riorescens, foliis ovatis utrinque aciiminatis, siliqua iorosa loyigis-^
sima. Browne, p. 246.

Peduncles sub-biflorus, round, terminating ; leaves lanceolate-ovate, dotted
with white underneath ; pods round, linear, torulose.

Browne calls this the larger hreynia, which grows to be a shrubby tree. He says it
23 rather a rare plant, and he only saw one, which grew near Port Antonio.

5. LONGIFOLIA. LONG-LEAVED.

Leaves linear-lanceolate, dotted with meal underneath,

6. SILIQUOSA. PODDED.

Peduncles many flowered, compressed ; leaves permanent, lanceolate-oblong,
acuminate, dotted beneath.

7. .TAMAICENSIS. JAMAICA.

■peduncles many flowered ; leaves oblong, obtuse, emarginate, downy under-
neath ; coroilas campanulate.

8. BREYNIA,

Peduncles racemed ; leaves permanent, oblong ; calyxes and peduncles tomen*
tose ; floivers eignt staaiened.

This is a small tree with an upright smooth trunk and flexuose branches, scarred
Ritli the fallen leaves i twigs angular and pubescent j leaves uUernaie, scattered, acu-

niinate,

no HORTUS JAMAICET^SIS.- ekazileTto*

iriinrite, nerveless, snnooth on the upper surface and shining, beneath hoary, ierrugin-
ous, or ash-coloured, covered with v«ry minute ferruginous dots ; petioles angular,
hoary, ferruginous; peduncles terminating, somewhat brunched, ibrming-a sort of
umbel, compressed, marked with lines, ferruginous ; flowers rather large ; leaflets. of
the calyx rcBex, convex, while on the inside, ferruginous beneath, and somewh^it
rrtgged ; petals twice as hirge as the calyx, entire, white tinged with purple, spotted,
with rust colour on the outside, decidnotis *, nectariferous glands four, small, ovate,
acute, compressed, permanent ; filaments long, meeting at the base round the gelm,
v.Tth a pale red pile on them ; anthers almost erect, acuminate, curved inwards, yel-
low ; germ elongated, minute, on a very short pedicle ; style the length of the sta-
mens; stigma thickened, obtuse, ferriigir.ous ; the fruit is a long cylindnc, subtoioi- '
lose, two-valved, legume; containing several kidney-shaped seeds. It is a native of'
chy coppices near the sea in Janraica,^ and nriost other islands in the West ladies.— -Sw...

Besides the above native species of capparis, the spinosa, or caper shrub, was intro--

duced by Mr. East, in 17-74.

BRAZILETTO. C.^SALPINIA.

Cl. 10, OR. 1. — Decaticlria moncgynia. Nat. or. — Lornentacem. *
Gen. CiiAR. — Sec Earbadoes Pride, p. 51. The two follov.ing species are natives of
Jamaica :

. 1. ^ERAZiLIENSIS. ■ BRAZIL.-

Pseudo sffntalum croccum. Sloane, v. 2j p. T84, t. -182, f. 3, 4.

Arborea, inermis '; Joliisinmorikus paribus hipinnatis, ligno kct'^
inesino. Browne, }>. 2'27. ' ' - ■■■■'■. «

'■Tnajraied, leaflets ovate-oblong ; m'ldrib pubescent ; calyxes tomentose ; sta-
aiens shorterthan the corolla.

This is the tree vdiich affords the brasiletto wood, so m-uch used in dying. The
Isranches are slender, and fall of small prickles ; the leaves branch out into many divi-
5.ions,'the leaftets oval, indented at top and opposite, very like those of tne logwood ;
the peduncles from the side tjf the branches terminated by a loose pyramidal spike of
white flowers, beautifully variegated with red. The corolla has five leaves, the upper
one has its i.iagues tububid and its bractea patent, the whole resembling. a little trum-
r)et.'~ The poas intilose several small round seeds. Mr. Hellot gives the following me-
thod of imparting durability to the colour of braziletto dye' ; it consists only in letting
decoctions of the wood stand fpr some time, in v/ooden casks, till it grows stale and
ropj' ; pieces of woollen cloth dyed in tiris liquor acquired a colour so durab/e, that,
tlieywcfe not in the least altered by exposure to the air, during- four montiis in the
winter season. Mr. A. Robinson observes, that the seeds of this tree are often de-
stroyei hy inFccts, and tihe pod4 a long-while heh^i^ tr?-:-',' drop,

Tijis tree grows in every part of Jamaica where tiie sou is dry and rocLy; it is an ex-
cdilent timber wood, but sekiom exceeds eight or ten inches in diameter, in the ftiost

.perfect state. The wood is elasticj . tough, and dui^abie, and bears a tine polish ;. it 'n.

^ • ■ - - ^^

sauAP - H OR :■;■-'■■ ■ ■ ■ :-•'

of a beantiful orange coloLir, full o: iv.siii,. aud yield.; a Uuo, lull tincture by jiuaiK>n ,
but is seldom cut for the 'ly.^'rs iise ia*J';?ro'>n.-—i^.''TO'.'"e. • . .

The true brasiHs •. . : , -lA-rrce ^icv come in

Brasil ; the Brasilians oalliug it ihiirifihiv. reddish

and thorny biirk ; the leaves small and biiuhj .<i a .w;v .-Miir.-Li^ ,4"^-"'= jrsiittle,

"sweet, ;\nd of a beautiful red J tiie pods flat and^nrickh', in which;:. it seeds.

like the gourd seed. This Wood is iise'd anioag tlie dyers^ aiid the st^tioacis make red
inii of it ; viz. Take raspings of the wQod,^ infuse fbem. m vintgar or some strong iixi-
vium, and, with gum arable and afuim, putrtheiniil a glaSied pot, and gently' infuse
them for some hoars. Some dye the roots oi a/thea with it, to clean the teath withai.
5. have met with two sorts gro wing-in Jataaica ; one-eVery way as red asbrasil. It hath
a red'o-ura, with a-Vestringent taste; its wood is very tough and. strong ; ther whet-l-
■Wrights in Jamaica s<iy. tliey make the best spokes for wheels. A decoction of the
"wood strengthens the stomach, abates fever^ ■■ , and ta! • ■ iftflammi--.' '

■tkSuxions in the eyes. — Barkam,, p._2Z.

2. BiJUGA.

Senna spuria arborea s-pinosa, louis alaiis ramosis sen decnmpo.^itis,
flore liiteo, siliquis hrevibus sulcatis nigris, sahina odore. Sloane,
V. 2, p. 50, t. 181, f. 2, 3. Spinosa^ foliis minoribus ebveise-corda-'
lis, bipnuiatis ; racemis iernunuHbus. Browne, p. 227.

Prickly, leaves doubly pinnate, with tv f ob-cocdate leaflets, they and

the calj'xes smooth ; stamens equalling the corolla.

SIcane calls this Indian savin iyee. It rises fifteen feet in heighthj having a "trunk
EOmewhat crooked, aboiH the thickness of ones thigh, covered with ^whitish grey, al-
ijiost smooth bark. The tree has several crooked and prickly In'anches, with leaves
coming out at unequal distances, being decomposite and winged; the m.iddle rib is
"four or five inches long, divided into as many pairs of petioles, on each of which are
two pairs of smooth shining leafle'cs, half an'inch in diameter, very green, smooth, and
rdmost round, having a defect or indention at one end, a little pointed at the other and
shini.i". Flowers in several spikes three inches long at the tops of the branches, of a
deep yello'w colour. The legumes are. of a blackish colour, smooth and flat, having
some sulci on them, and containing large brown, smooth, round, peas. All parts of
this tree, if bruised, have a very balsamic strong scent. It grows by Passage Fort and
"the road to it very plentifully. — Sloane.

This prickly shrub is common about the Ferry, and the lower lands of Liguanea, birt
it seldom rises above eight or ten feet in height ; the wood is of a brown colour, the
foliage of a dark gloomy green, and the flowers of a fine yellow, which are succeede4
"by pods of a thickish oblong form. The lower segment of the cup is not fringed, noj;
any of the flower leaves vanegated in this species — Browne,

See Barbadoes Pride.

BREAD FRUn'. ARTO CARPUS,

.2!, oa. 1, — Monosciainonandria, Hat, oiL—Urtice.

Tnb

U2 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS.

£nEA5>

Tliis name k <lerivecl from two Greek words, signifying bread and fniit.

Gkn. char. — There is no cahx to the' male flower, Lho aiueittuin is cylindrical, all
covered with ilorcts; the corolla to each two petals, obloiiir,. concave,, hhirit, vil-
Icse ; the stan.en is a bingie fiJaBjent v\ilhin eadi corolla, filifona, tiie length of
the corolla, ohiong : Tiie female ilouer has no cai\'x nor corolla; the pistil has
Tfry many germs, connected into a globe, hexangnlar ; style to each filiform,,
stigma single or two, eapiilavy, regime; the perkarpium is an ovate globular
fruit, compound, muricate ; seeds for eaA:h g(;ria solitary, oblong, covered wiili,
a pulpy aril, placed on an ova4;e receptacle. There are two species the iulegfi-^
Jolia oijaavk tree^ and

INCISA. ^TOTCHEX)-.

Leaves gashed.

This tree grows to the thickness of a man, and forty feet hig-h or more ;■ -the trunk is-
■apright, the woTkI soft, s'raooth,. and yellowish, the inner-bark white, composed of a .
net of siifiish filtres, the outer bark smooth, but full of chinks, jiale ash colour, with
t^mall tubercles thiidy scattered over it. Wherever the tree is wounded it pours out a
glutinous milky liquor. The branches form an ample almost globular head ; the lower
ones» which are the longest, spring from the trunk alternately ten or tv/ehe feet above
the ground, spreading out almost horizontally,, scattered and in a sort of whorl ; twigs
ascending, hearing flowers and fruits at their ends. Leaves alternate, petioled, ovate,,
deeply divided above the middle into seven or nine lanceolate acute lobes,, with nnmded
siiuises ; they are otherwise quite entire, ^smooth on both sules, even, spreading,
Ijright green,, paler nnderricath, membranaceous, a foot and a half or two feet in length.,
ten to fourteen inches wide, veined, having a thick nerve to each lobe, diverging from,
the common rachi?. The younger leaves, like all the more tender jiarts of the tree,
are glutiiious to the touch ; petioles roundish, even, ascending, two inches in length ;
stipules in pairs, involving the'younger leaves, lanceolate, acuminate, conc3:\'e, entire,
smooth within, hairy on the outside, deciduous, five or six inches long : peduncles at
the ends of the twigs, and in the axils of the upper leaves, solitary, round, uprightj.
having a few hairs on them, and two inches in length. The male flowers are among
the upper leaves, and the female flowers at the ends of the twigs ; tlie male ament i.4 .
club-shaped,, fleshy, upright, a span long, covered witli inumerable small, sesslle-
fiorets; tlie proper perianth is very small, two-valved, the valves equal, oblong, blunt,,
concave, closely adhering, shut, yelhjwish brown ; these have no spathes. The female
flowers have bivalve spathes, ovate-lanceolate, compressed, acuminate, upright, bent
in at the tip^ soft, a span in leogth, at first closed, then deciduous, placed at the end
of the peduncle ; spadix globular, covered with very many connate germs ; these are
ob-conica1, immersed in the receptacle, somewhat convex at the top ; styles scarcely
any ; stigmas projecting points, v/ithering, in some varieties bifid. The truit is a glo-
bular berry, smoothish, marked v/ith hexagons on the surface, pale green, when-:
largest, a long span or nine inches in length, filled with a white farinaceous, some-
what fibrous, pulp, which, when the fruit is ripe, becomes sweet, juicy, and yellow;,
it is fastened to a.club--shaped, fieshy receptacle, which is longitudinally fibrous, and^
a hand in length.

This valuable plant is a rtative of the South Seas, and upwards of three hundred
■plants were landed in tliis island, in the year 1793, from his Majesty's ship Providence,
•Captain William Bligh. These plants were distributed in the most judicious manner,

•under •

STtKAD HORTLS JAMATCEXSIS. 113

uiKicr the direction of a conimiltoe of tbe honourable House of AssemW" ; and have
been culu\-aled ia every part of tliis island with great success, though not in so exttja-
S:ve a iiianner as they desi-rvc. The trees thrive well almost evcr\- where, and s>tow to
as large a size as in their native soil, bearing abundance of fruit, and fortnirsg an cxr
cellent addition to the many other articles of subsistence which this island possesses. —
The warts which cover the surface of the thick rind of this valuable fruit are of a qua-
drangular or diamond like figure, but without points. Tiie internal part of the rind or
})eel, consists of a fleshy substance lull of twisted fihres, which has the apyjearauce of
fine wool ; these iKliiere to, and in some measure form it. The iieshy part of this fruit
becomes soi'ter toi\'ards tiie midJle, where there is a surall cavity formed without any
'fiuts or seeds, except in one variety, which has but a small number, and this sort is
not good unless it is baked, or prepared some other way : but, if the outward rind be
taken oft', and the fiGrous flesh dried, and afterwards boiled with meat, as we do cabbage,
. it has then tiie taste of artichoke bottoms. The leaf iis large and dark coloured, and,
when young, has a covering which is pushed off as the leaf gathers strength. The
trunk, branches, and leaves, when Ixoke^ or cut, exude very plentifully and freely a
milky juice, which boiled with cocoa nut oil makes a very strong birdlime. Caout-
chouc, or Indian rubber, may also be obtained from it by exposure to the air; or if
oxv-tnnriatic acid be poured into it the caoutchouc precipitatos immediately.

There is a variety with deeply gaslred and another widi entire leaves, but the prin-
cipal variety is that which bears fruit with seeds, and is much taller and larger m every
respect than the other. The seeds are almost as large as chesnuts, oblong, «omewhat
angular, produced into a point at each end, scjjarated by several little meuihranes or
coats, formeil by the abortion of some of the germs ; they are attached to a fleshy and
very considerable placenta, which occupies the centre. Tliey are farinaceous like the
chesnut, and are eaten, in some places,, by the savage inhabitants, either boiled or
j-'oasted. In Otaheite they reckon eight varieties of that without seetl^, differing in the
form of the leaves and fruit. One of tliese they name uru, which has a: globular^mootlt
even fruit,, and is the most common. A second, named viaira, has an oval smooth
fruit, with the leaves more deeply cut : A third, called /xr/tY/, has the fruit oblong and
rugged, as it were seal}' : A fourth tatara, has an oval fruit, with mamillary germs,
muricated by the permanent style. It is believed most if not all of these varieties are
to be found in this island,, and perhaps the different modes of cultivation may still fur-
ther increase them. The wood of all in body and branches is very soft and brittle^
having a considerable pith or hollow ; and the branches, especially of young trees, are
very liable to be broken by high winds.

The fruit, when used as a bread kind, is gathered before perfectly ripe, and is be.";t
roasted whole in an oven, and the rind afterwards scraped off, the inside is then soft
and white, tasting much like sweet cassada, to which its texture has also considerable
resemblance, but it is not palateable if kept for any length of time after being cooked.
Fritters may be made of it, and it forms a good ingredient in puddings, in any vvay it
affords a great deal of nourishment, especially when boiled, and being, it is said, of a
gentle astringent quality, is good for persons of a lax habit. The tree is useful not-
only for food but for clothing ; lor the bark is stripped off the suckers and formed into
a kind of cloth.

It is a hardy plant enough, and easily propagated by suckers, and cuttings of the
roots, '.rhe suckers rise in great numbers from the horizontal roots, which extend a
considerabJe length ironi tiie tree. When the roots are taken fur plants, each slip or

Q cutting.

11* HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. »rea»

cutting must have an eye or joint to germinate from ; they shouM he at least the size
of a man's finger, and divided into pieces five or six inches in length, and Liid just be-
low the surface of the soil in a shadj' place, and watered every evening until they strike
root and send up shoots. On cutting the plants the ends should he covered with clay,
tar, or any other suhstance tliat will preveoi the sap from oozing, which greatly facilitates
the growth. They will bear fruit in four years, or even loss time, in a favourable situa-
tion, from the time of planting. From the first appearance of the fruit tiicv arcfitfor
the table in little more thai] a month.

See Jaack Tree.

BREAD-NUT-TREE. BUOSIMUM.

Cl. 22, OR. I. — Dioecia monuTKb'ia.

This name is derived from a Greek word signifying eatable.

Gen. char. — Male calyx a common globular amentum, cftvered on all sides with irR~
bricate, orbicular, peltate, membranaceous, deciduous scales, three larger, sur-
rounding the base of the ament, and others smaller, of an irregular shape, be-
tween each of which the stamens break out. There is no corolla; the stamens are
solitiiry fiiaraents, very short, cylindrif, with bilamellate anthers ; lamellas orbi-
cular peltate ; lower gaping from the upper; dispersing a globular pollen ; the
pistil has the germ at top, included in a spongy anient, very small, ovate, abor-
tive ; style single, upright, bifid at the tip ; stigmas reflex, simple. The female
blossoms are on a different tree, having an amentum like the male; no corolla;
the pistilLum has a globular germen (the scaly body of the anient itself) ; the styl®
springing from the middle of the gerrpen at top, long, bifid ; stigmas simple,
sharp, a little reflex : the pericarpium is a berry pedicelled, corticose, spherical,
one-celled ; the seeds solitary, with a two-lobed kernel, surrounded by a tiiin
membrane, and bipartite. Two species grow in this island, the spuriiim, or miii-
Kxod, and the

ALICASTRirat.
A)'boreum, foliis ovatis altemis, fructibtis solifariis. Browne, p. 372.
Leaves ovate-lanceolate, perennial; aments globul&r, pedicelled, solitary, ax-
illary ; fruit corticose.
This tree is frequent in the parishes of St. Elizabeth and St. James, and in both has
been computed to make up athird part of the woods. The timber is not despicable,
but the leaves and younger branches are more useful, and a hearty fattening fodder for
all sorts of cattle. The fruit, boiled with salt fish, pork, beef, or pickle, has been fre-
quently the support of the negroes and poorer sort of white people, in times of scar-
city ; and provetl a wholesome and no unpleasant food. When roasted it eats some-
thmg like our European chesnuts, and \s CAhcA bread -nut. The leaves and younger
shoots are full of gum, which renders them disagreeable to most cattle at first, but they
soon grow very fond of them.— Browne.

They are propagated by the birds and rats from the seed ; and sometimes they ha'.-e

faeea

5ST»ATr n O R T V S . J A M A I C E N S T 9. 115

been planted in the dryer pasture lan'la of the Soutlj side. I iiave oWcrvo'd that every
t>id feace in such places is a nursery for liiese and <ither valuable irces ; «L;ch obscva-
iion may furnish a good, hint for the successful planting them, the shade of the fence
generally keeping the ground bcneuih much more cool and moist than it is in the open _
pasture:" the soil is also richer, from the mould" of decayed leaves and vegetaties.^-
Ilogs are extremely foni^W of this fruit, which makes, them fat. What is called ii;e
bread nut in Sc. Ann is a tree of large diameter, and very proper for cabinet worlc. It
is excellent timber. — Long, p. 768.

These trees grow to a very considerable size, haring been found five feet in diame-
ter and sixty feet in' height before they branched. Tne trunk is very scraigbt and the
foliage boautiful. 7-he wood is finely veined, very hard, close-grained, and ponder-
ous ; the heart is not.unhke m-ahogiuiy in colour,, and the sap like box. It blossonis-in,
April and May. It has lately been found to make good puncheon sfaves, which answer
nearly as weh as the w^hite oak, and will be a very great ach^mtage to those districts in
tliis island, where they grow in abu.iulance. Were proper care taken to eukivate them
generally, which might easily be accomplished, they would furnish a source of future
supply, ami eoatribute to render this island still less dependent on. the woods of Ame-
rica for so necessary an article to our commerce as puncheon staves. But this is not
the only advantage that would arise from the propagation of this valuable tree, as it
would also furmsh a rich resource in times of scarcity, or famine^ as food for the ne-
groes; and tiiey are .said to bear fruit in four years from the time the seed is planted. —
Mr. Robinson, in his manuscripts, mentions a gentlewoman in St. Elizabeth's who,
}iaving plenty of these trees on her property, during the months of July, August, and
September, when provisions were not to be had for her negroes, fed them with bread -
nuts. Two negroes and nine mules, he says^ supplied two hundred and thirty negroes
with them. Possessing plaats of sudi inestimable value^ indigenous to our awn soil,
if proper care was taken to cultivate tlrem generally, we .should have no occasion to call
in the aid of exotics from the South Sea,, or elsewhere, to guard us against want. In
Kurope they plant oaks, but in Janraica nothing is worthy of attention, it would seem,
that does not produce immediate profit. To induce a better system, it is a pity the le-
.rislature does not offer a premium for the encouragement of those who may propagatej
to a sufficient extent, the useful plants of certain parts of this island, in such districts-
aa are not naturally enriched by them.

See MiLKVvooD.

Ereynia — See Bottle-Cod-Koot» .

BROAD LEAF. TERMINALTA.

Cl. 23, OR. l.-r-Poli/gamia vionoecia. Nat. or. — Elceagni.
Gen. char. — Hermaphrodite flowers, at the lower part of the raceiTie flowering first.
Calyx a one-leafed superior perianth, five-cleft, coloured within ; segments ovate,
acute, equal ; no corolla ; nectary pitcher-shaped, in the bottom of the calyx,
consisiin"^ of five small hisped corpuscles ; the stamina arc ten filaments, awl-
ehapod, firom erect spreading, longer than the calyx, and inserted into-tlie bottom

0,8 of

us HORTUSJAMAICENSIS. broost

of it, wit!) roundish erect anthers ; the ])istil has an inferior germ, ovate-oblong;
style riiitorm, erect, lengtli oi ihe .stanifiis ; slignia simple; the pericarp is an
oval boat-shaped drupe, depressed, two-gnxived, or ( onipresseJ aciuuinatc ; seed
an oval-ohlong nut, two-valved; kernel oblong. Males superior, flowerin;^- later :
calyx as in the herniaphrotlite ; no corolla ; nectary and stamina as in llie lierina-
phrodite. Two species are natives of Jamaica.

1. I.AlirOI.IA.. BKO.\0-LrCAVKI>.

Arbor vuirima Jorte pricnifera, cortirc, rannnhino, folio /onfif/ssimo
Ja/iss/nnjq. Sloane, v. 2, p. 130. Foliis amplis scrratis, ob-ovatis
cum acumine ; capsulis biganminis. Browne, p. 255.

Leaves ob-ovate, subs'errate ;. drupes tJeshy.

This tree has a very large trunk, and grows to a vast height, covered with a grey or
very light brown bark, seeming- to be loose and come off in long pieces ; it has here
and there some knobs or e!<«,iin(Mices on its surface, the leaves are large and long. It
grows in all tha inland great woods of Jamaica. — .Sloane.

This tree grows to a very considerable height, having a proportionate body, being
frecj^uently sixty feet high before it reaches the brandies, and twi-lve feet m circumfer-
ence. The trunk is generally straight, and tapers gently from the bottom to the top.
liiie branches stretch horizontally, and so equal that the leaves seem to be placed in a
pertect level, as if regularly clipped. These branches project from tiie tree at certain
intervals, wiiere the stem is left bare, and diminishing in length as they approach the
sunmiit, <iives the tree a very beautiful appearance. The leaves are eight or ten inches
long and four bi'oad near the point, where broadest. At the base they are narrowest,
being there reduced to almost a point, and increase gradually until within about tsvo
inches of the end where they are rounded olt. They come out from the branches in
little circular clusters of ten or twelve together on a common barky inch long footstalk,
having each of thein a green round pedicel of nearly the same length.- They are of a
deep green colour, but paler below, having a .strong prominent mid-rib antl veins. It
is a very good timber wood and splits easily into shingles, which will last from twelve
to iifteen vears before they decay. The heart of the tree is the worst part, and it fre-
quently happens that boards of it split into two from having some inches of soft pitliy
substance in their centre. The larger sized trees, are on this account most frequently
sawn or split-into two, and the two halfs lined for boards the reverse way. In A. Ro-
binson's notes, the kernel of the fruit of this tree is said to be as good as an almond
iernel ; and the decoction of the root cures the diarrh<jea.

2. ARBUSCUlji.

Leaves ovate-lanceolate, entire, pubescent ; branches dichotomous ; racemes
.erect.

Broadleafed Broomweed — See Marsh Mallows.

BROOM WEED. CORCHORUS.

Cl. 13, OR. i.—Pol;yandria monogynia, Nat. og. — TiUacece.

Thi«

HROO.u HORTUS JAMA ICKX SIS. IH

Tliis generic name is cleriveJ from a Greek name for a pot-hcrl>, sakl to bo very
bitter.

Gen. char. — Cal^-x a five-leaved perianth ; leaflets linear-lanceolate, acute, erect,
deciduous; coioila five-jxetajled, oblong,, oh.tnse, narrower beneath, erect, iengtiv
of tlie caiy.\ ; the stamina are numerous iibiuients, capillarv, shorter than the co-
rolla, with small anthers ; the pistil has an oblong gcrni, furrowed ; style thick,
short; stigma two-cleft ; the pericarp is an oblong, five-celled, five-va!\ed, cap-
sule; seeds very many, cornerecL pointed. Two species arc natives of.Iamaira,
siliquosus and testuuns ; and two others^ natives of the East InUies, have lately

- been introduced by Dr. D. Brown.

I. SII.IQUOSUS.. PODDED.

Carc/ioro ajjini!}, chaiiufdryox folio, flore staminco, scminjhux alris
quadrauiiulis dupliti. seric d/spnsi/is. SloiUie, v. 1, p, l-^V, t. 94,
f. 1. Foliis minoribus ovulis. cveiiatis, Jloribiis singnlafibus. — •
Browne, p. 147.

Capsules linear, compressed,, two-valved, two-celled ; leaves lanceolate, equally
se^-rate.

This Browne calls hroomrveed, and it is also named itervjandcr Icavrd corchoriu. It
is an herbaceous plant, but branched like a shrub, witli a round smooth stem, and al-
iernate, upright, pubescent branches ; leaves petioled, alternate, small, nerved, smooth,
*vith smaller leaves in the axils ; stipules subulate, opposite. This is a common plant
in all the sugar colonies, and seldom rises above three feet ; it grows in sandy places,
.and is genei-ally used for besoms by the negroes. — Szeartz K Bro~u'iu'.

Burham calls this plant pimprrmdl, and says it •' Has a very deep-hlackish coloured
yoot, which sends uj) a round brownislt woody stem, rising three or four feet high, be-
ing divided into branches on every hand. The leaves come out sevei^al Ujgether, some
greater, some smaller, at half an inch distai^ce, on half-incU long foot-stalks ; they ar»
iialf an iiich long, and a quarter broad at the base (where broadest), of a grass-green
•colour, indented about the edges like germander, but smooth. Opposite to the leaves
.come yellow flowers,., being stamineous ; after which follows a two-inch long dark pod,
X)r seed vessel, shutting like those of the sesimum, but more like the spirit- weed, only-
having two roiunl sides, and a partition in the middle ; in which are two rows of seeds,
i)lack and quaelrangular. The pod, when ripe, opens at the end, ar;d scatters the seed
iike as the spirit weed. — Barham, p. 145.

2. AESTUANS. BURNING.

Subvillosa, foliis rotimdioribu.s iinduluiis atqiie dtntatis ; dfntibus pos~
trcmis in setas inermes abeuntibus.^ Jtoribus alaribus. Browne, p.
232, t. 25, f. I.

"Capsules three-celled, three-valved, three-sided ; angles bifid, scabrous ;
leaves oblong, the lowest serratures setaceous. This has three bifid styles.

The stem is strong rising two or three feet, divided at top into two or three braiiches ;
leaves on long petioles, and between them several smaller leaves nearly of the same
form, silting close to the branches ; the flowers come out singly on the side of the
branches. Browne say.s it is a native of Jainaica, but not common ; the stem and
branches sleadur ; leaves roundish, jagged, and undulated ; the bark of a brown colour,

3. OLITORIU.S.

n 8 HO n T U 8 J A M A i C K N S I S-, BVf.i?NR« *.,

3. OI.ITORIUS., GARDF.v.

Ca})sules oblong, ventricok: ; ihe lowest scrraUircs of , the leaves setaceous.

This is a native of the East Indies^ and is called the bristly havid C, or pommon.'
Javs iDultcw. It: grows ahoiJt two fet^t hii;li, h;iving sessile soiiiary yellow flowers. It,
is sown in great plenty about Ali^ppo as a. pot herb, aiul the Jews there boU tiia leaves
and eat with, their me^t.

4. CAP.Si;:,ARiS. GAP3ULAR.-

Capsules roundish, depressed, wrinkled.; the lower senatines of the leaves,
setaceous.

This has heart shaped leaves, and is also a native of the East ludies. It rises witii *.-.
slcjider stalk abqut three feet high. - '

See MfiLOCHu and Mountain Broomweed.

Brown Jolly — See Egg Plant.
Bru NFELSiA — 'See Trumpet Flower.

BRYONY. BRYONIA.

Cl. 21, OR. 10. — Monoecia syngenhia. Nat. or. — CucurlUaccte.
Gen. ciLiR. — The male calyx is a one-leafed, bell-shaped, five-toothed, periantli^
the corolla five-parted, bell-shaped; filaments throe, verysiiort; anthers five,,
two connate on each of two fiiaments, and a single one on the third. The fewale
flowers have the calyx as in tjie male, superior, deciduous ; corolla as in tiie male ;
the pistil has an inferior germ, a irifid style, eniargiuate stigmas ; the pericarpiura'
is a sub-globular smooth even berry ; seeds few, fastened to the coat, sub-ovate.
One species is a native of Jamaica.

R.4CEM05A. HACEMF.D.

Fpliis h'irtis, trilohisvcl quinquelobts, denticulatis i racemis minorihnt
uhribus. Browne, p. 355.

This Browme calls the viountain bryony, and says he found it growing wild in the
mountains of New Liguanea. It runs a great way and bears small roundish berriesj
which contain each three or four, c)r six seeds. I'iie stigma or top of the style, is, in
each female flower, divided into three thin reflected lobes, and the fruit seldom ex^
Oeeds three-quarters of an inch in diameter. — Browne, p. 355.

No English Nmne. BUCHNERA.

Cl. 14, OR. 2. — Diclynamia angiospermia. Nat. or. — Pcrsonat/v.
This was so named by Linneus in honour of A. E. Buchner, a German naturalist.
Gen. char. — Calyx a perianth, one-leafed ; obscurely live-toothed, scabrous, per*
«iarient; corolla monopetalous, tube long, filiform, bowed ; border flat, five-cieftj

equal ^

••3UC» HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. vi9

©qua! ; stnmina ver}' short, in the throat of tlie corolla ; anthers ohlenjr ; the pis-
tiiium has an ovate oblong germ, filiform style, aiicl obtuse stigpia ; the pericarp
is an acLKiiinate capsule, caveretl, two-celled, gaping at the top into two parts ;
partition contrary ; the seeds numerous, angular; receptacle fastened to the mid-
dle of the partition. One species w,i's discovered in this island by Swartz.

F.LONGATA.

Leaves entire, opposite ; calyxes somewhat hairy, longer than the fruit. — Siv,
Py. p. 92,

BUCK THORN. RIIAxMNUS.

Ci,. 5, OR. 1. — Pentandriamonogynia. Nat. or. — Dimiosm.
This is derived from the Latin name of a plant in Pliny.

'•Gen. CH\R. — There is no calyx ; corolla an imperforatt^ petal, externally rude, in^
teroally coloured, funnel form ; tube turbinate, cylindrical ; border spreading,
divided, acute; scalelets five, very small, each at the base of each division of the
border, converging ; the stamens ai'e filaments, as many as there are segments of
the corolla, awl-shaped, inserted into the petal under the scalelet ; anthers small ;
the pistil iias a roundish germ, filiform style, the length of the stamens, stigma
blunt, divided into lewer segments than the corolla ; the pericarp is a roundish
berry, naked, divided into fewer parts internally than the corolla ; seeds solitary,

• roundish, gibbous on one side. Batted on the other. Schrober says that part of
the flower called the corolla is more properly tlie perianth, and the st'uleiets should
bu named petals. Four species are indigenous to this island.

' J. COLUBRINCS. SNAKE.

• Arhorens foliis ovatis venosis, capsulis spheric is in ferns ad medietafem
caliptratis, pedunculisumbellulatis alariiuSj-corHce g-labro. Browne,
p. 172.

Flowers hermaphrodite, one styled, erect; capsules tricoccous; petioles fer-
ruginous-tomentose.
This is a small upright tree, with most of the branches spreading out horizontally.—

*rhe twigs, petioles, peduncles, lower surface of the leaves, and outer surface of the
calyx, are covered with a feiruginous nap. The leaves are oblong-ovato, acute, entire,
the upper surface smooth and shining, alternate, for the most part distich ; raceiries
short, corymbed, axdlary, seven-flowered or thereabouts ; flowers without scent, all

■pointing upwards, with greenish scales ; calyx deeply five-clelt ; anthers standing out
beyond" the scales ; style single, ending in a trifid stigma; capsule roundish, three-
grooved, three-cellecl, ihrec-valved ; tiie valves opening two v/ays at the top ; seeds
solitary, rountlisli, flatted a little, emarginate, black, and very shining. In high
mountain woods it attains the.hcight of twenty feet, while in coppices on the coast it is
rarely seven feet high, with leaves four inches long ; whereas in the former they arc
six inches in length. In the island of Martinico the French know it by the name of 6o:s

^conhimrCf or snake wood. 1'he bark is of a pleasant bitter taste,

2. SARCOMPHAI.irS,

MO IIORTUS JAIMAlCl'.NSlS. TSI'CK

2. SARCOMPK.U.l'S.

I-oJiis oiafis ^lahris filferin's ad aplcem Icnitev emarginaits, corticfif
i)iti'riorifcrrugi)io. Browne, p. 1*9,

Leaves oval, coriaceous, quite entiro, eraargiimte.

Th\s\s cdWed baslard ligiiH)}! vft^e fiiiilicr rvond, q;\-ows \n manv parts of thfi island,
and rises "cnc.-rally to a very coiisidorable hciglit ; tiie trunk is often aljove two feet and
a half in ciiameter, and covered witli atliick scaly bark. The wood is hard, oP a dark
colour, and close grain ; and is looked upon as one of the best tiinberwoods in the
island. — Byozumc.

It beare a globose fruit with the calyx at the base, abont tbreP-qnartors of an inch in
diameter, and of a very obscKre j^urple ; the pericarp is smooth, f)ut little or nothing,
shining, having a mealy, moist, esculent ]julp, not in the least disagreeable, within
which is an ovate nut, penetrated by two ovate holes at its upper end, leading to the
tHO cells, in which it not a little resembles the coco-nnt. The outsicle of this nnt is
5: mewiiat rugged. When young this tree appears widely ditfereut from what it does
when old, it then having tliorns 'and shining small leaves, though the loner branches
of the older trees are thornv also, 'riie leaves have also sometimes thorns upon their
Hiargiiis, which makes it probablv, m that state, ihe ivgrifolium Jo/io iaiuiore, S(c. of
Sloane, v. 2, p. las, t. 188, f. 2.

3. SPILEKOSPEllMUS. ROUND-S-EEDED.

Flowers hermaphrodite, "in racemelets; berries roundish, three-celled, pellucid,
leaves oblong, serrate, smootli. — Ss'. Pr. p. 50.

Trunk ten or fifteen feet high, with a smooth bark ; branches subdivided, spreading ;
leaves alternate, acuminate, unequally serrate, nerved, smooth on both sides, very
finely veined ; petioles roundish, smboth ; peduncles axillary, the length of the peti-
oles, short, upright, many flowered ; flowers pedicelled, small, green,_or yellowish ;
stipules small, acuminate, at the base of the peduncles ; calyxes ovate and cut round
at tiie base, permanent, five-cleft ; segments acute, spreading, thickish, deciduous ;
petals very minute, placed between the divisions of the calyx, on very short ])edicels,
concave ; fjlamentu five, shorter than the calyx ; anthers roundish, three-cornered,
covered at the back by the petals ; germ rouiulish, at the bottom of the calyx ; style
shorter than the stamens, trifid ; stigmas blunt, contiguous ; berry spherical, some-
times three-grooved at the top, the size of a small pepper-corn, placed on the calyx,,
pellucid, pale-green, containing from one to three oblong three-cornered seeds. It
grows in the more temperate parts of Jamaica, in jnountain coppices ; fiowei-ing ia
August and ripening the berries in October.— .yu:;.

4. ELLIPTICUS. OVAI.-LF.AVED.

jirhorescefis minor foliis ovatis veyiosis, peduncidis innlellulatis, alari-
husfnicdbus sphericrs, Browne, p. 172, t. 29, f. 2.

Flowers hermaphrodite, sub-trigynous, axillary, sub-unibelled ; leaves elliptic,
acute, quite entire, somewhat villose underneath.

This is a shrub becbming in a manner a tree ; the branches are round, alternate, rod-
like, often reclming or spreading, covered with a smooth brown bark ; leaves alternate,
i>lunt, nerved, and veioed ; nerves approximating ; petioles round, filiform, longish,

snisoth f

SUCK HOETUS JAMAICENSiS, 121

sinocth ; peduncles shorter than the petioles, round, smooth, many-flowered ; fiowen;
peclicelled, disposed in a iiitle' umbel, whitish green ; .there are a few minute scales at
the base of the umbels j calyx cut round at the base; border five-cleft, deciduous,-
xegmeYits ovate, spreading ; petals or scaieleis inserted between the se£>;ment:i of the
c?Jvs,,iniaute, vaulted ; filaments the iengtii of the petals, and concealed under them ;
gei-m ronsdish, placed at the base of the calyx, or on the receptacle ; style three-parted
to the base ; stigmas biuat. Fruit placect at the base of the calyx, sab-tricoccoas,
three-celled, covered with a juiceless skin, and, when that hursts,, divisible into three
tJarts, like those of a capsule, opening widxin' and at the top ; with membranaceou:^
partitions ; seeds solitary, oblong, flatted a little, smooth, black. The fruit, when
rioe, and without the skiin, being cut transversely above the middle, appears to be tri-
capsular and sex-valvular. It is very nearly allied to the co/M.6r£/!MS, but that has the
branchlets, petioles, and pedunclesj, ferruginQU^-t;oia§ntose ;, the style three-sided,
tnfidoniy at thQ,top.- — Ji'w, ■ '- ' •- ■' '' .

Near the~mat^ia of the leaflets is^a sm.aii gland on each side, and beyond this tliere
is one, sometimes two or more, at uncertain distances. It happens frequently that
there arc three glands on one side and only one on the other, which may be plainly
seen on the under side of the leaf with, the naked eye. In the centre of the cup may
also be seen a large depressed nectarmro, divided by so many eccentric furrows into
.five equal pariSj bedewed with nectar, which the bees and other insects feed upon. — •
The nectarinm is permanent, and seems united or fixed to the b-ise of the perianth, and
forming a rim or. border round the fruit, while the base of the cup adhered to its
iiottom. The tree grows iiibout twelve feet high.

- - .., , »

Browne calls' this the skrubhu rhnmnus with bilocular berries, but in the figure th'Q
fruit seems to be tricoccoas. In Martyn's Dictionary this is also made ceanothus reti^
tinattis.

BUqK WHEAT. POLYGONUM.

Cl. 8, OR. 3. — Octandria dis-'onia. ~ Nat, OR. — Holoracec?.'
«G£M. CHAR'—^-yce Arsmart, ;?. 32.

SCANDENS. CLIMBING.

Fegofyninx scoiidens, seu volicbilis nigra major, (lore cipucid 7hem^
branaceis, subrotundis compressis, Sloane, v. I, p. 138, t. 90, f. i.

Leaves cordate ; stem erect, scandent.
This woodbine has round, red, succulent staik.s,' by which it winds and turns itself
round any tree or shrub it comes near, rismg seven or eight feet high. It has every
inch or half inch Wwards the top leaves growing oat of tiie stalk alternatively. They
have a quarter of an- inch long footstalks, are grass-green, juicy, smooth, thick, an
inch and a quarter long, and one inch over at the base, being of a triangular heart
figure. The dowers come out from the upper axils, they are very mau}', in spikes
three niches long, on a very short peduncle ; they are round, flat, sv/elled out in the
middle, and green, having a thin white merabraae round thejn, like a parsnip seed :

R when

■fc22> H OUT US JAMAICENSIS. -buddlka

when th« seed is ripe these membranes become somewhat larger, and the protuberant
part in the middle turns brown. It grew -among the trees, near the ruins of a monas-
tery in Spanish -Town. — Shunt.

The grains of this yjlant are hot and dry, and of thio and subtle parts ; they ar ft. good \
against hysterics, andai-e esteemed great provocatives. — Rarhanu, j). '25,

See Arsmart. .

No English Name. BUDDLEA.

Cl. 4, OR. 1. — Tctravdrla monogyma. NaT. or. — Personatce.

This was so named by Dr. Houston from Adam Buddie, who is often mentioned iii <
llay's Synopsis.

Gkn. CHAR. — Calyx a small four-cleft perianth; corolla one-petaliod, bell-shaped,
four-cleft halfway, erect, tliree times larger tiia,n the calyx • stamina four filaments,
very short, placed at the divisions of the c-orolla, with verv siiort simple anthers ;.
the pistil has an ovate germ, style simple, shorter by half than the corolla, stigma
obtuse; the pericarp is an ovate, oblong capsule, two furrowed, two-celled; seetls
numerous, extremely minute ; adlieriiig to a fungous receptacle. One species is
a native of Jamaica.

AMERICANA. AMERICAN.

Verba.sci Jlore minore, arbor, florihus spicatis luteis tefrapetalis, semi-
mbus singitlis ohlougis in singulis vasculis siccis. Sloane, v. 2, p.
29, t. 173, f. 1. ^Issurgens incana, foliis majoribus moUilunugine
obductis, spicis assaygentibus lerniinalibits. Browne, p. 144.

This shrub rises from five to ten feet, branched, and all over hoary ; leaves ovate-
lanceolate, opposite, serrate ; flowers in long slender spikes, axillary, and terminating ;
composed of little, opposite, many flowered crowded racemes ; corolla coriaceous,
scarcely longer than the calyx ; divisions upright, yellow within, hoary on tlie outside,
■ — Sxt<.

This has a trunk as thick as one's leg, a white smootli, bark, with several brancbes,
whose ends are bowed down towards the ground ; the leaves come out opposite to one
another towards the ends of the branches ; they have scarce any footstalks, are three
niches long and half as broad, green abo^e and white underneath, somewhat like vibur-
num leaves. The tops of the twigs are branched into several inch-long stalks, every
one of which is very thick and close beset, with many tetrapetalous small yellow flowers,
v.'hich have a pale greenish calyx and no footstalk ; to each of which follows an oblong
or oval brown capsule, which is filled with a pretty large brown seed. It grows near
the banks of the Rio Cobre, in most gullies. — Sloana.

Dr. Browne caHs it the long-spiked bieddieia, and says it is very common in the CQoler
hills of Lignanea ; that it rises there only four feet or better, terminating in long slen-
der flower-spikes. It is used in emollient baths and fomentations, and thought to have
«11 the properties of the true mullein. — Browm.

;2W.l, HOUTUS JAMAICENSIS. 123-

The glohcsa, or round headed buddlea, a native of Chili, with leaves lanceolatej
heads solitary, has also beea introducctl into this island.

BULL-HOOF OR DUTCHMAN'S LAUDANUM. PASSIFLORA.

Cl. 20, OR. 4. — Gynandria pentandria. ■ Nat.- OR. — Cucurhitacc.r.

This name was altered by Linneiisfromthe old name jinx passionis, which was given
to it from a fancy that all the instruments of our Saviour's passion was seen in tiie
flower.

Gen. CHAR. — The calyx is a five-parted -perianth, flat and colatired ; corolia five-
petals, semi-lanceolate, flat, blunt, of the same size and form with the calyx ;
nectiiry a triple crown, the outer longer, encircling the style within the petals,
more contracted above ; the stamens are five awl-shaped filaments, fastened to a
colimin at the base of the germ, and united at bottom, spreading ; with incumbent,
oblong, blunt, anthers; the pistil has a roundish germ, placed on the apex of a
straight cylindrical column ; styles thre-e, thicker above, .spreading, stigmas capi-
tate ; the pericarp is a fleshy berry, sub-ovate, one-celled, pedicelied ; the seeds
very many, ovate, arilled ; receptacle of the seeds triple, growing longitudinally
to the rind of the pericarp. Eighteen species of this genus are enumerated as in*
dJgeiious to Jamaica, of which the bull-hopf\s one.

MURUCUJA.

Foliis tenuioribus, trinerviis bicorniius, lunafis ; siitu ajiteriori obtvso^
Browne, p. 228.

Leaves cate, undivided at the base, dotted underneath ; nectary one-leafed.
Stem herbaceou, grooved, smooth ; leaves ovate or oblong, two horned, with ari
jntevme iiate bristle, tiree-nened, veined, smooth, entire ; dots on the back hollowed,
pellucid ; petioles grou,gj^ smooth, destitute of glands; tendrils sub-axillary, fihform,
long; flowers in pairs, a.ijij^^y^ scarlet, large; peduncles longei- than the petioles,
having two very small hhtoi^ ^.^ip^igg in the middle ; petals almost upright, blunt, a
liale smaller than the calyx; '■ otary one-leafei^, tubular, growing on the petals and
talyx, with a yellow crown at the ^^.q^^. ; column longer than the corolla, erect ^ berry
, ovate, the size of a pigeon's egg, p dicelled.— .i'a;.

This plant is a clvmber (like most of the ^^^^ species), whose fruit is of an oblong-
, oval form, about the size of a large olive, anu f ^ ^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^jp^ g^^j^ ^j^^
syrup and the decoction of the plant is now n)u^, ^^^^ -^^ ^j^^ leeward parts of the
island, where it is frequent ; and is said to answer vx-^^tually all the purposes to which
the syrup of poppies and liquid laudanum are g^'n^M, ,i„„„,^tgrgj -fhe flowers
have" been hitherto the most in use; they are common.^. .^^,, ^ ^^ pyunJed and
mixed immediately with, wine or sjjirits, and the composit. ^ ^.^u tj^ougin, a very

effectual and easy nzxcotxc— Browne. ° jo j

See Granadilla— Honey-Suckle— Passion Flowers-,,^^^^^ Lemon

R2

BULLY

BULLY-TREE. ACHRAS.

Cl. 6. OR. 1. — Hca:andriam:mogT/mc, Wat. oR. — Buynos.-e.
This generic name is derived from the Groek i;ame c>f a tree in Theophrastus, corn«
monly translated the wild pear.

Gen, char. — Caiyx a six-!eafed perianth ; leaflets ovate, concave, erect ; outer
ijroader, shorter, inner-coloured'; corolla one-petalled, ovate, of the sameheight
v.ith the calyx ; border cut into six sub-ovri:ie flat divisions ; scales at the jaws of
■the corolla, equal in length -to the divisi<3ns, narrower, spreading, emarginate ;
ihe stainliia are short awl-shaped fdanaents at the jaws of the corolla, alternate,,
v/ith the divisions bent inwards, with s4rdrp-aytheis ; the pistil has a roundish flat-
ted germ, aw!-sbaped styie, longer than the corolla ; stigma obtuse ; the pericarp
is a globose siicci»lent pome, twelve-celled-, seeds solitary, ovate, shining, scared
on one side, and pointed at the base. Two species only are reckoned in this island
the mammosa, ot viaimnee sapota, and the *■«/•;/.'/«, or iiaseberiy. The naseberry
buliy-tree has been thought only a variety of the former, but is certainly a very
•distinct species.

Species DoubfJuL

Anona maxima, foliis laurinis giabris mridi fusch,'/ruciii r/iimmo

roiundo viridi Jlavo, senmizhiis fuscis, splcndentibus, fissura alba

■noiQ.tis. Sloane, v. 2, p. 172, t. 169, f. 2. Caudice altissimp

J'ructti ininori, scmine nmcronato.. Browne, p. 201'. - /

The naseberry bully-tree has a trunk as big as an oalc, and riseth much liighee hav-

nutmeg, having its outward skin rough like a naseberry. The W^?f^ nrst austere,
but^ after lying, swe^i., and has within it a great many oblong, p^Pyessed, blacK,
-shining, seeds, with a white edge, sht, or fissure, exactly like tb^ oi thf nasebenyj.
only in every thing larger. It is one of the largest trees in the^and, and the timber
af great use. The fruit is eaten and not unpleasant. — S'loan^

TKlc ;. =n r!.llpd bv tl.r .fnmflirans. for its fruit wheiv^"^ '^ ^s black as a buliy or

•This is so called by the Jamaicans, for its fruit w^hen^p >s as niactc as ? buUy o
damson, but in shape ofaLucca olive; pigeons f.^uch upon tiiem, and they maks
them very fat : its timber is very strong and I astiiv'^^'^' '''*'"> -V- 25.

The naseberry is called the bully-tree, "bj^'^^ '^ generally grows the tallest of all
the trees in the woods: its fruit is sma!U^^^^^^%^,ffl^ oblong and narrov/. It is es.
teemed one' of the best tunber trees of^"''^^'^^- The bark of the naseberry bully-tree
(as well as all s])ecies of the achras) V^l T T^yp^t""^^"'' and all indiscriminately
Lw go by the ime of ..r/..r /«.H^''^^^ ^hf';^^^^

imposed on some of the people C-Jf^&i^lf'^f the one or the other to be the true
Jesuits bark, and on this acc^^^'^f, frequently administered hem aniong the negroes,
where they were often obj^^^'^ to answer all the purposes of tnat medicine as all bitter
astringents will do on rp>^^ constitutions when the disease proceeds immediately from
a weakness of the visci-^ ^nf ^ gross undigested chyle : this brought them first into
•3omevo"-ue and tV"^"^'='^ ^'^^" frequently, since that time, brought into England

iSuE HORTUS . JA'MAICENSIS. 525

for further experiments ; but are much more likely to prove successful here than in
America, whore thos0 fevers th^t generally pot on the appearance of intermittenis, are
attended with nervous syniptoms, and oiLcn mortal ; tiiereiore must require medicines
that act more effectualt}- on the whoje habit, and whose active particles can stimulate
and provoke the oscillations of the hon'Ous filaments in the more remote parts of the
body. These different barks 'yield a large quantity of extraa, which in taste and ap-
pearance seems to be the same with that of the Jesuits bark, vvhich has occasioned it to
be frequently substituted in the room of that drug-j and tliis, I am persuaded, costs
many a life in those colonies, where remittent fevers are so frequent and mortal, it is,
however, an excellent astringent, and a very convenient and elegant preparation in
that form, which rnay be adminisierec'^ with great ])ropriety and success, whenever as-
tringents of a long continued actionaare properly rscjuired. — Browne-, p. 202.

The bark cf these trees has been also found very useful in curing putrid ulcers, by
..giving a strong deccctiort of it inwardly, and fomenting the ulcers therewith.

See Mammee Sapota and Naseberry,
BuLLRUSH — See Hush,

BUR BARK. TRIUMFETTA.

Cl. 11, OR. 1. — Dodecandria monogyma. Nat. or. — Coluynnifenr..
"3o natned in memory of G. B. Triumfetti, author of Hortus Romanus,

Gen. cinp..— Calyx a five-leaved pe'rianthium , leaflets lanceolate, arilled below the
tip, decyiiious ; corolla five-pctailed ; petals linear, erect, obtuse, concave, bent
back, avviibnJ below the tip ; stamina are sixteen filaments, equal, ascending, length
of the corolla, awl-shapetl, erect, with smiple anthers; the pistil has a roundish
germ, style lenyh of the stamens, stigtna bifid, acute; the pericarp a globular
-capsule, fenced 01. everj'. side with hooked prickles, four-celled; seeds two, con-«
-vex on one side; an^i^r on the other. One species is a native of Jamaica.

SEMIT.XLOBA, HALF-THREEvLOBED.

Agrcvnonia lapV'-^eainodora, Jolio suhrotundo dcntato. Sloane, v. 1,
P.'^'\' ^''-^^'^^^i foliis inferioribiLS angulato ovatis, serrato denta~ ■
th ; fioribus iernaii, . fasncUHs geminatis ; Joliis sub-oppositis. —
"Browne, p. 233. >:.

Tlowers complete ; leaves half-threej„^g(j_
"This rises to four or five feet high, being divjg^^ j,j^q several smaller branches to-
■wards the top, v/luch are beset witii several leaves, vitkout any order. They aie almost
round, rather club-shaped, though a little pointed, \^.\^ ^wo smuations, indented round
the edges, woolly> of a deep green colour above anu j^^ ^^j^^^^^ ^^^.-^ ^^^^ ^^^^^
nent ribs going from the centre of the footstalk through t ^ j^^^ ^^^^ flowers stand
on the tops of the branches m a spike, are yellow, the peta. j^,^ Yik'e those of Eng-
lish agrimony, only narrower. After these follow, on a c^^u^^j footstalk, sev-rdl
:!3rown round burs, thick, set with hooked prickles, stickmg to a-, thing.— .SW,»!?.

"The

r? H'ORTUS JAMAICEN«nS; bur

The anthera of the plant are always in the form of a heart, and the blossoms, which
generaUy grow in two distinct parcels near the alie of the leaves, are sustained by a few
narrow siipulffi, that perform the ofhce of an involncrum, and half tlie capsula is echi-
nated, trie other smooth. The plant is coinniun in Jamaica, and rises iVeipiently to the
" height of six or seven feet, wlierfe" tho sf>ii : is r-icii and well supplied witli moisture. —
The leaves and tender bufls, when infujsed.for any time in water, yield a fine clear mu-
cilage ; irom whence we j'.iay conclude it to be an excellent emollient. The bark is
tough and strong, and serves for ropes and other little conveniences of that kind> among
those who inhabit the inland parts of the country. — Browne,

BUR-GRASS. CENCHRUS.

Cl, 23, on. 1. — Pol^'gamia monoeria. Nat. or. — Gramin<i.
Gen. CHAR. — Calyx has many involucres, laciniate, cchinatc, gathered into a head,
each sessile, including tliree calyxes, biflorous ; perianth a bivalve glume, lance-
olate, concave, acuH'inate, biHorous, shorter than the corolla ; corolla one male,
the other hermaphiodite : stamens to each three capillary filaaients, length of
corolla, anthers sagittate ; the ])istil has the germ in the hermaphrodite roundish,
style filifonr, length of the stamens; stigmas two, oblong, hairy, spreading;
there is iio pericarp ; the seed is roundisli. Four species are natives of this
island,

1. ECHINATU3. HEDGE-HOGGED.

Grameyi echhiattmi maximum spicanihra vel aiba. Sloane, v. l,,pj
108. Spica ohlonga simjdici tchinaia, BrownCj p. 367.

Spike oblong, conglomerate.
This grass has several two or three inch long thready roots, sending out several inch
and a half long leaves, of a yellowish green coloui-, from the midi-''c of which rise se-
veral six inches long stalks, jointed; the joints are three-quar'<2rs of an inch distajit
from each other, at which are now and then branches which ar'' crooked, having leaves,
and at the top an inch aud a half long spike of little burs, (^ large round prickly seeds,
sometimes reddish and sometimes green ; the prickles b^"'o lo'>g) strong, and sharp,
standing on every side, .having within them some oblf^'S' large, flat, whitish seeds. —
.Of this there are of various, sizes. From the H^s go sometimes reddish jointed
branches, on which jrrow tufts ef smaller leavp-' makmg the grass creeping. It is
troublesome to travellers on foot, these small '^'^^ or, echmated seeds, sticking close to
their garments and stockings. — Sloathe.

The cenchnis, with a simple oblonz-P^^'cle, and multiparted cups, is one of the
most common sorts of grass in the '^^^, pastures of Jamaica, and is looked upon both
.»s a wholesome and pleasant fooc'-^'^ ^'^ ^'^''ts of cattle.— Browne.

2 .j-rdtJLOIDES. TRIBULUS-LIKE.

Gramen ./"''^^'"«"*,^t-"/""«^«»» procuuibcns culmo longiori et spicit
gfi.^,j.^oribits. Sloane, v. 1, p. 108, t. 65, f. 1.

.Spike "•lomera" » fe^.ale glumes globular, muricate-spiny, hirsute,

/

nvriQ-^ liORTUS J A MAI C ENS IS. 127

This has a fibrous root, which sencU out many trailing, round, }'ellowish c\ilms, about
a foot and a half long, the joints an inch aiiri a half disiunt, at each of wliich is a leaf
sheatlring the inlernodes, two or threo inches long, green-coloured, and harsh like
those of the carex. At the top stands an inch and a half long spike, set round with
small burs, at intervals, having on every side strong sharp prickles, Ijcing first green
thea of a straw-colour. It grew at Gun Cayos, off Port Royal harbour. — Sloane.

3. ORAN'ULARlSi GRAINED.

G'rawev ryperou/cs polysfachwn, spicis ad nodos ex utn'cidis sen folio-
rum alts echinatis prodcuntibus. Sloane, v. 1, p. 120, t. 80.

Racemes double ; fruits globular, wrinkle-netted.

TliKXAXiiC manisuris granular is oi ^wzn?,, who gives its specific character, as fol-
lows: Spikes lateral, outer-valves orbicular, with callous dots ; sheaths hairy; culm
erect.

It has several two or three inches long strings as roots, from v/lience rises a jointed
stalk, three or four inches high, solid, triangular, or flat on one side and round on the
other. That part of. the leaf sheathing the internodes is rougli or prickly, the other
part harsh, grassy, with a sharp back like the cyperus grasses, and about half an inch
broad, next the culm, where broadest. Towards the top, the leaves, which are always
at the joints, are shorter and more swelled, having a row of prickles on the back. Out
of the alffi ri>e branches below and small footstalks above, sustaining one, two, three,,
or four inclics and a half long, green spikes, made up of" small seeds, standing each
above a very small, scarce discernible leaf. — Sloane.

4. SETOStJS. BRISTLY.

Spike linear-oblong ; involucres bristly ; bristles unarmed, the interior ones-
yiliose at the base ; hairs ciliate ; glumes even. — Sw. Pr. 26.

Burn Weed — See Thorn Apple.
Button Tree — See Alder Tree.

BUTTON WEED. SPERMACOCE.

Cl. 4, OR. 1. — Tetrandria vionosynia. Nat. or. — Stellatte.

This is so named from two Greek words signifying a sharp pointed seed, these plants
"having prickly seeds.

Gen. char. — Calyx a small four-toothed perianth, superior, permanent; corolla',,
one-petalled, funnel-shaped, border four-parted; stamens awl-shaped, shorter
than the corolla ; anthers simple; the pistil has a roundish germ, simple style,
but cloven above, stigmas obtuse ; the pericarp is two capsules, connate, oblong, .
gibbous on one side, flat on the other, obtuse ; each two-horued ; seeds solitary,
roundish. Five species are natives of this island.

1. TENUIOR. SLENDER.

Scandens, foliis ohtongis venis arcuatis refertis, Jioribus paucicribus
constipatis ai alas. Browne, p. 141.

Smooth;

i23 HORTUS'- JAMAICENSI8. bottoj*

Smooth, leaves lanceolate ; stamens included ; flowers whorled ; seeds rough^^
haired. . '.' '

I :,,., T>Iai)t has hj. .: — ^.. .. j.v _ .: . , .-:;.! is found according to Browne only in the
tvoods, where it grows, sometimes upright and sometimes as a cliaiber, and is^therefore
called climbing spermacoce. When erect it rises to the height of two or three feet, but
ciiinhrng to double Or triple that length. The root is jjerenniai, a foot in length,
shooting perpendicularij' into -the earth and lightlv mai"ked with transverse rugae, and
of' an acrid nauseous taste. It throws up divers jointed, slender, quadrigonai stems,"
%vith marginated or foliated angles, climbing ox\ neighbouring plants or creeping on
the ground. It has a brown bark, and the branches come out by pairs. The leaves
are placed at the joints in opposition, from one to Uto or three inches in length, and
about a quarter of an inch broad ; tneir margins are furnished with minute spinous
denticles, beStc-r known by handling-th'an by the eye, they are furnished with eminent
arcuated side veins, and are of a stiif brittle substance, I'ugged and hardj. having no pe-
dicel, but embrace the stems with broad ciliated bases. Between the.se larger leaves
come three or four smaller ones, standing in whorls round the .stalks. The fiov.-ers
grow in slender whorls tovvar<!s the top of the stalks, round, white, and sessiile, having
a whorl of leaves close under them; succeeded by two oblong seeds, having small
horns, and ripening in the calyx. The flowers are placed singly, at the alas of the
leaves, when it ci'eeps along the sea beech.

■2. VERTICILI^ATUS-. VEUTICILLATE.

Pulegium jruti'cosum crectum verticillin de^isissunis. Sloane, v. i^

p. 170. Frutiadosa atque ramosa, foliis linearibus, fioribus con-^

stipatis ad aids supremas: .SrowHe, p. 141.

Smooth, leaves lanceolate ; whoids globidar.

Stem shrubby, square, three or four feet high ; branches opposite, decussated,

fastigiate, four-cornered. Leaves opposite, decussated, /anceolate-linear, Vrith a

middle nerve, entire, even on both sides ; branchlets aivillary, length of the leaves,

opposite ; stipules connate, membranaceous, with whitish bristles ; whork of flowers

embracing, round the joints, small, white, clustered very close together in globular

heads. Calyx superior, minute, with two teetii, or three or four ; tube of the corolla

very shorf, four-cornered ; border four-cleft, erect, minute ; filaments standing out,

fastened to the middle of the tube ; anthers incumbent, whitish; germ ovate, ancipi-

tal ; style siidrt, en|arginate at top or sub-bifid ;. seeds naked, compressed, bipartite,

crowned, smooth, black, having a small furrow on one side. . This plant grows very

conmionly in all the low a.nd high lands oi' Jamaica, and in the driest soils. I,t bears all

Its flowers at the upper joints of the branches.

3. HIRTA. HOUGH-HAIRED.

Erecta sub-hirsuta, foliis oblongis venis aixuafis refirrtis, superiorihus
' onajoribus dppropinquatis, fioribus constipatis ad alas-. BrownCj,
p. 141. ■
■Rugged branched; leaves ovate-lanceolate; flowers clustered, axillary j sta-
mens standing out.
Stem herbaceous, fit)m one to two feet high, four-cornered, stiff, striated ; branches
erect, four-cornered, with theangles rough-haired ; leaves sub-sessiie, entire, nerved,,

roughw

SUTTON HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 12ft

rough-haired ; stipules connate, memhranaceoTis, bristly at the edge. Flowers sessile,
small, white ; calyx four-toothed, very short ; tube of the corolla round, funnel-shaped,
border four-parted, rcHexed ; hlaments standing out, anthers blue ; germ hisped ;
style length of stamens, bifid at top ; stigmas blue, refJexed ; seeds two, covered and
united by a skin, crowned with the teeth of the calyx, rough-haired ; when stripped
of the skin, black and smooth. — Sw.

This is common about all the fields in Liguanea ; it seldom rises above twelve or
fourteen inches, and is easily known by its cblong leaves and arched veins ; it is very
like the worm grass at first appearance, but the stalk of this is quadrangular, and hol-
low, that of the other roundish and smooth. — j^runnie.

4. VILLOSA. HAIRY,

Villose, simple, leaves ovate-lanceolate, pubescent, the uppermost in fours ;
flowers in whorls ; stamens included.
This species is distinguished from the hirta by its more simple stem ; oblong leaves,
the uppermost in fours ; its villosity ; the whorls of the Howers, and shorter stamens
within the tiffoat of the corolla. They are both annuals. — Sw.

5. SPINOSA. SPINED.

Erecta simplex, fol its ianceolatix, 7iervis denticulatis, Jlaribus consti-'
patis ad alaj. Browne, p. 1 40.

• Suffruticose, leaves linear-ciliate, with spinules.

Stem herbaceous, almost simple, subdivided at the base, hard, leafy, four-cornered.
Tugged, a foot high. Leaves opposite and decussated, sub-sessile, lanceolate-linear,
acuminate, nerveless (except the middle) ; nerves and margins tooth-letted backwards,,
and somewhat spinulose. Flowers in a sort of globular axillary whorl, invelucred v,'ith
the stipules, clustered, white ; stipules membranaceous, bristly at the edge, rigid ;
calyx two or four toothed ; teeth linear, longer than tlie corolla ; tube short, border
four-cleft, with ovate segments; filaments included; anthers whitish; style bifid j
stio-mas erect, included. — Sjd.

Browne says this plant is common in all the savannas about Kingston, it rises gene-
rally by a simple upright stalk to the height of fourteen or sixteen inches, having from
space to space, lanceolate, opposite, embracing leaves. Flowers numerous, white,
gathered into compact axillary heads, that grow gradually larger and more distinct as'
as they draw nearer to the top.

CABBAGE.

li* nORTUS JAMAICENSIS. ciBBACis

CABBAGE. BPARSICA.

Cl. 15, OFi. 2. — Tc/radj/iiaviia sili^uosa. Nat. or. — Ctucifera.

Tliis generic name is sapposeJ ta. be derived fiom a Geeck word, signifying a gar. _
iS" herb.

Gf.n. CHAR.— Calyx a four-leaved, erect, converging perianth; corolla tetrapetal-
OU-, cruciform i npctureoiis ghiiids four,, ovate, of.whicii one on eayli side hctweea
the shorter stamen anci the pislil, and one on each side bctjveen tlie longer stamens^
raid the calyx; filaments sa'oulate, erect; anthers erect, acuminate; the pistil;
has a columnar germ, the length of the stamens ; and a short .style the thickness,
of the germ; stigma capitate, entire; the pericarp is a long siliqne, flatted on.
both sides ; partition with a prcawueiit Golunmar top, two-celled, two-valveci | „
valves shorter th^n^the pijirtitiou.,

OLERACEA. ?OT-HERB.

Root caulescent, columnar, fleshy.

This is the common cabbage, so well knwvn in its description and cullioation. Be-
sides which several other species and varieties have been introduced into this islantl^
and all thrive remarkably well ; growing in new and ricli land to as large a size or even .
larger, andwith as compact and fir>m heads as in their ujutive soil ; awA^ from the nature
of the climate, they have a much mellower and sweeter taste than in Europe.

All the species of cabbage are supposed to be liard of digestion, to afford little nou-
rishment, and to produce flatulencies. They tend strongly to putrefaction, and run
into this state sooner than almost any other vegetable ; v.hen putrefied, their smell is.
likewise the most offensive, greatly resembling that of putrefied animal substances. A ,
«lecoction of them is said to loosen the belly.

See Turnip. ,

CABBAGE BARK TREE. GEOFFROYA.

Cl. 17, OR. 4. — Diadelphia decandria. NaT. or. — Papilionaccte.

This was so named by Jacquin, in honour of M. Geoffroy., author of a Materia Me-
-€ica, v/Jio died in 1731:.

Gen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed, bell-shaped, half five-cleft, coloured, periati-
thium ; the tv.'O upper divisions diverging, spreading ; corolla papilionaceous,
banner roundish, emargiaate, flat, reflex ; wings the same length with the banner,
blunt, concave; keel compressed, the same- length and figure with the wings j
stamens diadelphous (simple and nine- cleft), the Jenglh of the keel, anthers
roundish; the pistiUum has a roundish "erm ; style subulate ; stigma-obtuse; the
pericarpium is a large ovate drupe, witwa longitudinal groove on each side; the;
seed a sub-ovate nut, woody, rather flatted, with a longitudinal groove on each
side, acute, two-valved. There are two specie«|^oue. oY which is a natire of Ja-
maica.

•BfERMiei

-casBAO* HO TITUS JAMAI'CENSIS, t31

INF.RMIS. UNARMED.

J^i'l/'is ohlongis, ohovdtis 72itidis vinnatis, cortice glahro cinereo. —
Browiif, p. 367.
■ Without thorns ; k';itlcts lanceolate.

Tliis tree (which, is cu Hed sometimes the bt7^t'-Ti\ifer tree, from its disagrcoiible smell),
">ises to a considerable height, and towards the toj) sends off several hniiiclies; tlie ex-
ternal bark is smooth and grey, uiternally it is black and furrowed ; the leaves are pin-
Tiate ; leaflets opposite, oblong-ovate, or lanceolate, acuminate, smooth above, nerve-
less beneath, oa short petioles ; flowei-s in clesters upon large branched spikes ; calyx
Tery slightly five- parted^ with short ovate divisions ; corolla ]mle rose-colonr ; keel of
the coroUa ovate, S-preading, very slightly divided into two parts ; t!ie friiit -a large
siib-ovate drupe, inclosing a woody nut. Tiie wood of this tree is hard and durable,
and takes a good polisii ; but it is chietly retctirkable on account of the quality of its
tark, which has been f )un 1 to be an excellent vermifuge. It was first noticed to have
this qualit}- by Mr. Peter Duguid ; but the tree and its virtues have been best descnber!
1>V Dr. '\Vrin-ht. This l)ark was a sweetish mucila<iinous taste, and a disagreeable stncll.
It is given in cases ot worm^ iu form of powder, decoction, svrnp> and extract. The
decoction is prepared l)y boiling one an.l a half ounces of tiie bark in a rpiart of water
till it acquires the colour of Madeira wine ; and the dose from two tabie-spoonfuls to
four, for three nioniiiigs, then a dose of oil. 'Jnpowler fil'tcen grains, uhh as much
jalap, is a good purge. It commonly produces some sickness ami violent effects, as
vomiting, delirium, and fever. These are said to be owing to over-doses, or to drjnk-
-ing cold water ; it should therefore alwa s be begun in small doses. When vomiting
tnd a burning neat ot tiie stomach take place tlie cure is elfected by chamomile tea, or
bv bait ol tirtar or of wormwood take;i in lime juice, and swallowed while in elferve-
■ecence. If th<,'se do not stop tlie vomiting speedily, clysters in a Ulition seldom tail to
have the desired effect. The manner of preparing and exhibiting this meuicmc aro
stated as follows by Dr. Wright :^-

" The decoction. Take fresh^dried or well-preserved cabbage bark, one ounce. — •
Boil it in a qjiart nf water, Over a slow fire, till tiie water is of an amber colour, or rather
of dee]) coloured Madeira wine ; strain it off, sweeten it with sugar, and let it be used
immediately, as it does not keep maiiv days.

" Syrup of cabbage-bark. To any (luantitv of the above decoction add a double
portion of sugar, and irtake a syrup. Tms will retain its virtues for years.

" The extract of cabbage-bark is made fey evaporating tlie strong decoction in balnea
Traritv to the proper consistence ; it must be continually stirred, as otherwise the resin-
ous part rises to the top, and on this probably iis eflficacy depends

" The powder of wd'-dtied bark is easily made, and looks like jalap, though not of
equal specific gnivity.

" This bark, like most other powerful anthelmintics, has a narcotic effect ; and on
this account it is always proper to begin with small doses, which may he gradually in-
"creased till a nausea is excited, when the dose for that patient is ascertained. Rut by
frequent use we can in common determine the dose, though' we chuse to err rather on
the safe side.

" A strong healthy grown person may, at first, takefour table spoonfuls of the de-
tctction or syrup, three grains of the extract, or thirty grains of the powder for a dose.

" A youth, three table spoonfuls of the decoction or syrup, two grains of extract,
Of twenty grains of powder.

S3, « A

132. HOKTUS JAMAICKNSIS. cabbagb

'' A person of ten years of age, two table spooufuls of the dtcoction or syrup,, one
grain and a b;iif of pxlract, or f.fieen grains uf the powder-

*' Children of two or three years okl, a table spoonful of the decoction or syrup, one
grrJn of extract, or ten grains of the powder. CijilJren of a year old, half the quantitj'.

" Tlicso Hiay be increased, as above (jbserwd, till a nausea is excited, wiiieh will
depend on the strength, sex, and habit of body of the patient. ,

" Care must be taken that cold uiiier be not drank during the OfXJnition of this me-
dicine, as it is in this case apt to occasion sickness, vomiting, fever, and deiirnmj. —
AVhen tins happens, or when an over large dose has been given, the stomach must be
vaslied with warm water; the patient must speedily be purged with castor-oil, and use
plenty of lime-juice beverage tor common drink ; vegetable acid being a powerful an-
tidote in tliis case, as well as in an over dose of opium.

" The decoction is what is mostly given here, and seldom fails to perform every
thing that can be expected from an anthelmintic medicine, by destroying worms in the
intestines, and bringing them away in great cpian titles. By frequent use, however^
these animals become familiarized-, and we find it necessary to intermit it, or have re-
course to others of inferior merit.

" The writers of the Edinburgh Medical Commentaries take notice, that the decoc-
tion of cabbage-bark always excites vomiting. "We find no such effect from it here,
and uray account for it by their receiving it in a motddy state. A syrup, therefore, is
given tliere with better effect. They observe also that it has a chureiic virtue, which we
have not taken notice of here.

" This bark pui-ges pretty briskly, especially in po\vder, thirty or forty grains work-
ing as well as jalap by stool^ but in this way it does not seem to kill worms so well as ia
decoction.

" Five .grains of the extract made a .strong man sick, atid purged him several times ;
but, by frequent use, he look ten grains to j^roduce at length the same effect.

" It must not be concealed that fatal accidents have happened from the imprudent
administration of this bark, chielly from over-dosing the medicine. But this cannot
detract from the merit of tlie cabbage-bark, since the- best medicines, when abused,
become deleterious ; and even our best aliments, in too great quantity, prove destruc-
tive. Upon the whole, the cabbage-bark is a most valuable remedy, and I hope vriU
become an addition to the materia medica."

The following modes of preparing and using this useful vermifuge have also beea
recommended : — Take four ounces of the green bark, scrape off the outer rind, bruise,
and put in two quarts of water ; boil them to the consumption of one half the water,
and to the strained liquor add a little sugar ; a wine glass full of this every moi-niiig is
sufficient for a grown person taken for three or four days. A dose of one and a half
ounce of castor oil should be given afterwards. One tea-spoonful may be given to a
child of twelve months old. It sometimes brings on i^ausea and vomiting, when the
dose should be lessened. A fresh decoction should be made every morning, or the old
one made to boil before using, as it is very disagreeable after being kept over-night.
These directions were given by the late Dr. Affleck, who adds tiiat it is a most excellent
medicine for destroying worms, and tlie most effectual yet known ; that it frequently
happens that no worms appear, but seldom fails to remove the symptoms, and should
be given to children every four or six weeks.

Another mode is to dry the bark, bruise it ia a mortar, put water to it, and boil until

rAnmat HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 1?3

Hattiiins' the colour of Madeira wine. When this is settled, talce such part of it as is
clear, aiul let it cool, and add to it one third its ([iiantity of rum. Put the vessel con-
taining tlif; i'n^xtur€!'tnto cool water, and, when used, it may be sweetened. The dose,
to be given for three morninss in succession, and afterwards a dose of caitor oil, is as
follows : To a child of eight or ten months old, a tea-spoonful ; of two years, two tea-,
spoonfuls; of six years, one and a half talkie spoonful ; of twelve years, half a wine-
glass ; a full grown person, a wine-glass full. A decoction of the bark made \eiy
strong, and given to a horse or mule to the quantity of u pint at a lime, aiid repciited
occasionally, cures them of bots and worms.

CABBAGE TREE. ARECA.

Cl. 25, on. 1. — Monoecia- eyvncandrfa. Nat. or. — Palmte.

Gen. CHAR. — Male flower — calyx a bivalve spathe ; spadix branched; proper peri-
anth three-leaved ; corolla three acuminate rigid petals ; the stamina nine fila-
ments, the three outer longer than the rest : Female flowers, in the sarrje spadix.
Calyx a spathe common with the males ; proper perianth three-leaved ; corolla
three acuminate rigid petals ; pericarp a sub-ovate berry, fibrose, surrounded at
tiie base with the imbricate calyx ; seed ovate.

OLER.4CEA. POT-HERB.

Talma altlssima non spinosa, fructti pruniformi, minore, racemosaf
spano. Sloane, v. 2, p. 115, t. 215. Finnis infenie taginanti-
bus, caadice uguali annulalo, fruclu viinori. Browne, p. 343.

Leaflets ouite entire.

• The true cabbage-palm is the most beautiful, and perhaps the tallest of all trees. —
The trunk, is perfectly straight, and marked with rings at the vestigra of the footstalks
of the leaves. Near the ground it is often seven feet in circumference, but tapers as
it ascends, and attains the height of one hundred and seventy or two hundred feet. — •
The bark is of an ash-colour till within twenty or thirty feet of the extremity of the
tree ; when it alters at once to a deep sea green, which continues to the top. About
five feet from tiie beginning of the green part upvvards, the trunk is surrounded with
its branches in a circular manner ; all the lowermost spreading horizontally with great
regularity ; and the extremities of many of the higher branches bend wavenigly dowrtr
Wards, like plumes of feathers. These branches when full grown, are twenty feet lon^'
more or less ; and are thickly set on the trunk alternately, rising gradually superior to
one another : Their broad curved sockets so surround the trunk, that the sight of it,
while among them is lost, which again appears among the very uppermost branches,
and is there enveloped in an upright, green conic spire, which beautifully terminates
its great height, and which soon xuifolcls itself into a new branch. The above meii-
<Boned branches are somevvliat round underneath, and slightly grooved on the upper
side : They are likewise decorated v/ith green pinnated leaves, from eignty to one
hundred and twenty each side ; some of these are near three feet long, and an inch
and a half broad, growing narrower towards their points, as well as gradually decreas-
ing in length towards the extremities of the branches. As there are many thousand
ieayes upon one tree, every branch bearing many scores of them, and every leaf being

set

134 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. cabbaw

set at a small ani equal disTaTue from one auotber, the beauty of such a rrn;i}!ar U>(ty
groupe ot waving tuliage, .susceptible of motion by the most gentle gale of ivnul, is not
to be described. Tlie oil or bottom branches witlier and drop oft' while now ones shoot
;it top, and there are generally from eight to ten brandies on the tree. 'I'iie middle rib in
each leaf is strong and prominent, su}>portni>i- it ou the untler side, the upper appear-
ing smooth and shining. The pithy part of the leaf being scraped off, the inside tex-
ture aj)pears to be so many longitudinal thread-like filaments. Tiiese spun in the san)e
manner as hemp or flax make good cordage, as well as fistiing nets.

Upon removing the large green bark immediately under the branches, what is calleJ
the cabbage la discovered lying in many thin, snow-wiiite, brittle, flakes, in taste re-
sembling an iilmond, but sweeter. What us called the cabbage ilower, grovvs from that
part of tne tree where the ash-colours-d trunk joins llie green part. Its hrst appear-
ance is a green husky spatl)a, growing to above twenty inches lor.g and ab<:>ut frnir
broad; the inside being full of small white stringy filaments, full of ahern;ite protu-
berant knobs, the smallest of these resembling a tringe of course white thread knotted :
these are very numerous, and take their rise from smaller footstalks ; and tiiese foot-
stalks are likewise all united to ditTerent parts of the large parent stalk of all. As this.
husky sjjatha is opened while thus young, the farinaceous yellow seed in embryo, re-
sembling tine saw-dust, is very pleiitituiiy dis[)ersed among these stnugy iilaaients,
»";iich answer the use of itpices ia other nwjre regular-flower.-;.

The cab!iage tree grow.s very pk'ntifuUy in many parts of Jamaica, and in a fav«\2ra-
ble situation iln-ows out one of its circular rings on its stem m.jndily, or about thirteen
in one year, which makes its growth during that perio 1 full forty inches. This ob-
eervation was made on a young tree for three years running, in which time it grew full
ten feet, being then about thirty feet high from the ground to the branches.

Dr. Smith, m his Introduction to Botanj', ol).serves, that in the palm trees of hot
countries the .sap is said to ^o\v from a wound at any time of the year. Tais is not the
case, at least in the cabbage tre€, the coco- nut tree, or the prickly pole, the bark ofmll
wliich is thin and contains little or no sap, and the wood bard and dry, yielding no per-
ceptible moisture on being wounded.

The cabbage trees are said to abound in the morasses towards Negril Bay, where
they grow to the height of one hundred ami fifty or one hundred and »i.^ty feet.

One would iiuagiiie that a tree of such vast height and slender, with its middle part
so hollow and pithy, would easily be blown down, which is rarely known to l)api)eji,
even in the greatest hurricanes. During these they have been observed violently agi-
tated to and fro, and their t.jps almost touching the ground, notwithstanding which
they recovered their erect posture without breaking, a plain proof how tough and
strong the uh.ileboue-like fibres of this tree are.

Barhadoes cab'tage tree^ Jamaica cabbage tree, or Kwuntain cabbage, these trees,
$a3's Long, are, in fact, I believe, the same species ; and the difference between them
in respect to their figure seems to be owing entirely to the situation in which they
grow, whether in open ground, or in the midst of woods. In the former case nothing
hinders them from assuming that graceful form peculiar to their nature ; in die latter,
being inclosed on all sides with other lofty trees, they rise spin lling a^d often crooked ;
and seem to be confined in tiieir growth to a continual ascent, preserving an uniformity
-of bulk in the shaft from tlie root upwards, uutii they have overtopped the whole
*v'Ood.

The

«AB3AG8 irORTUS JAATATCENSIP, i;>5-

The Barhadocs cabha^e, which is planted here for ornamenr, is onr of the most
beautit'ui ireo's i.i liie w:)rld. No limilsserru t<^ l)e set t-.tiitr tu its Uj^e iji ascent. Li-
V<>\\ ineHtions some at 4hu first scLtit-meiit of Barbadoes above two Imiulrcd fi;et in
height ; and Ray speaks of another of two liuiidred aiifl seventy foec or tiicreab.nits. — ■
One hun(h-ed feet is a comaion height. It is propiigated froin the seeds. Tiie upper'
j>art of the trunk, from whence the foliage springs, resem!)ies a well-tiu-ned, finely
polished balustftr, of a lively green colour, f^ently swciiiiig froiii its pedestal, and di-
minishing gru:liuilly to the tiip, wliere it expands into the braj'iches,.eleg:uitlv arranged, '
and u-av!jing like plumes of ostrich feathers. Froi» tJie ceiitre of-'lhe smuaiit rises the ■
spuiiia or slicathj icrininatiiig in an acute point. The trunk itself is net less graceful,
bein<i a straight, smopUi, slightly annulated column, large at the. base, iind- tapering
froniT thence to tlie insertion. of the baUtster or cabbage: Tins tree is so much rever-
<'nced for its majestic form, that it is not destroyed like the others, for tlie sake of the
cal)bage. The Jamaica moninrnn cabbagG is cut for this purpose ; and the calibage,
stripped of its onter green c( at, appears perfectly white, cylindrical, and formed of
several concentric t'j«/z?!iT. The inner tunicle.s are sliced, and either eaten raw, with
onions, pepper, and vinegar, or boiled and served up witJi butter; in which way,-
it most resembles the European cabbage in flavour; or converted into a pickle,' in
■which state it is sent to Great Britain.

The outward texture of the trunk of these trees is used for laths, and other purposes.
The spathfe are made into mats by the negroes. Th-e leaf is composed of longitudinal
filamcntA, or thread-like fibres, v/hich, beiiijj',properly sepai-ated, are spun like hemp, <
and formed into twice and cordage. .

The tunicies are extremely thin, and may ea.sily be exfoliated and dri-ed-; after beinj-'
prepared in this manner, they may be wrote upon with a metallic pencil or Hi/lus ; ana
■will retain the characters so long as the substance lasts, which may be as long as vellum, •
if care is taken to keep Lt dry ; for this property it seems to resemble the papyrus of-
the ancients. The best cabliage is obtuned from this tree when it is young, and not •
above fifteen or sixteen feet in height. From tiie real sunmiit of the stem spring two
branches full of small flowers ;, these are tJuHoivetl by small round berries, about the size-
of a hazel nut, which are devoured by tlie birds, wlu) mute the stone or seed, by which-
means tnere is a continual nursery of .these trees, which otherwise would soon be ex-,
tirpated ; for whenever they are cut down, no fresh shoot arises again from tlie root,'
and v.'henever robbed of their top or. cabbage, they cease from growing. The external
root of the trunk is impenetrable to a musquet bail, though it is scarcely an inch thick.
The Spaniards are said to have cased their buildings in the country parts uitli this co--
vering, which made them defensible against enemies, and equally ju-oof against the-
assaults of earthquakes and hurricanes.. Within this hard integument is a pithj', fari--
Blceous substance, similar to some other of the palm kind.

Dampier, speaking of the trees growing in the island Mindanao, one of the Philip-,
pines, mentions a species called by the natives the //3^^, This tree is not unlike the
cabbage, the bark and wood hai-;d, and inclosing a white pith. They cut down the tree,
and, splitting it in the middle, take out the. pitb^ which they boat well in a mortar ;
Uien put it into a sieve made from the same tree, and, pouring water upon it, stir it.
about, till the water carries the meally part through into a trough placed underrfeath.-
After it has stood until it has settled, they pour off the water, and, taking out the sedi-.
ment, and drying it, bake it into cakes ; this meal they call sago or sagu, which is ex-.-
ported to other parts of the world, dried in small grains, like comfits. In Java it is,

called

1-6 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. caebag*

cs]\eAhuli(m, and, ncGordinjr to Linnspiis, is made of the pith of the n/cas eircinalis.

In the Moluccas the tree i.s called laudon, the pith of whuh funiishes them with this ■
Fott meal for firer.d. as the leaves serve them for the covering of their houses ; and tlie
!arj;er veins for rafters, as the lesser make good cordaj^e ; while tliese leaves are ycqng,
they are coveied with a kind of woolly substance, which affords materials for stuffs. —
They resemhle the cocoa trees.

From these descriptions there is reason to believe that the sago tree is of the palm
kind, as it bears aifinitv to those of the West Indies in ratjst respects. The ingenious
Mr. Robinson, whom I have bei'ore mentioned, was of this opinion, and resolved to
make some experiments upon this grouiiil. He took the pith of the mountain cabbage,
caused it to be pounded, and the mealy jJart pa'^sed with water through a coarse cloth
laid in a sieve. The experiment succeeded to his wish ; he obtained a fine white meal
ill large quantity, which, in the judgment of many persons who tasted it, surpassed ia
goodness what was imported. It was in the form of an impalpable powder, and in this
state boiled to a thickness much sooner than the common sago. That «hich comes
from the Kast Indies is probably grannlateil by means of some gum intermixed with it ;
and the art of bringing it into a granulated form is all that remains for perfecting tiie
Jamaica manufacture ; for Mr. Robinson doubted, whether in powder it might keep so
long z^m tlie granulated form, but tiiere is no certainty that it would not. — Long, p. 744.

The following account of the method of procuring sago from the pith of the moun-
tain cabbage, alluded to bv Mr. Long, is from tiie manu^crlpt of Mr. Robin.son :

" On the 7ll) ofFobruarv, 176:?, I was st an estate of Matthew Wallen, Esq. called
Chisvvick, in the parish of St. Thomas in the East, when I went down into tlje morass
and ordered a mountain cabb-ige to be cut down, which seemed about twenty-five ieet
in length, and very thick. J found the pith of this tree very hght and spongy, inter-
mixed with many longitudinal ligneous fibres. On tasting, it appeared mucilaginoufs,
with some slight piquancy, not disagreeable. The tree being cut into i\inks, which
were split an \ the pith taken out, agreeable to Dampier's method, some of it was well
beaten in a woorjeii mortar, which being put into an ohl' oznabnrg towel, held over a
pail, I poured some water over it, and, being well stirred about, to mi.v it with the
pith, soon felt pulpy and soft. 1 then strained it with the assistance of another person,
by twisting the cloth hard with our hands. After this we continued beating and strain-
ing the pith till we had got a large puiich bowl full of the liquor, which was set by to
settle till next morning. This liquor tasted much like new corn-water, for it was sweet,
and'thickened like light pap, but had a rawness in it. In the morning I poured off the
water, which still retainefl its sweetness, but somewhat thinner in its consistence. In
the bottom of the bowl I found a small quantity of an impalpable ash-coloured farina
deposited; this I poured into two or three soup plates, and placed tliem in the
sun for evaporation ; which completed, I obtained half a pound of a fine impalpable
ash-coloured farina or meal ; a little of which being boiled, presently came to the con-
sistence of pap or sago, with an agreeable taste. A lew days alter I went to see my
much esteemed friend, .lasper Hall, Esq. who ordered another cabbage-tree to be cut
down. The negro who felled it, after cutting it into junks and stripping the cortical
part off, brought the pith home ; which was white and fair like the last, but ponderous
and sappy, an 1 it appeared, bv imany circumstances, to come from a much smaller and
younger tree. On seeing it, t concluded we should obtain a much greater quantity of
cajfo dian fioai the la»t ; but ia tliis I was mistaken. Here we had the advantage of a

marble

»«ACOONS HORTUS JAMATCENSIS. 137

-marble mortar and pestle, with which we beat all the junks of p-ith out, having first cut
it into small pieces, with knives, which we did as easily as it' they ii-id been turnips. — •
We squeezed this pith twice over, that we might obtain tbe more. We liad much more
liquor than the last, and it seemed to be very much thickened with sago, hut it diJlerecl
r.Hich in taste, being sourish like whey, without any of the sweetness of the hist, and I
thought it had a small touch of bitterisli. This having stood all night, on being de-
canted or poured carefully off the next morning, yielded not one grain of farina. 1
ordere:! a liltie of the ItquGr to be boded down, which r.pon tasting from time to time
I perceived increase in bitterness, and therefore ordered the liquor to be thrown away.
On my returning to Chiswic, I was told ihat-the water remaining, ;dter being jioured
off the sago, had been Jjolled, according to my directi(jns, till, at last, it became black,
bitter, and pitchy. We hail another cabbage-tree ctit dovvii, which I found was sappy
and heavy, and, by the size of the cabbage, judged it to he too young, but not so
young as the last. The juice tasted sour like the last, and yielded next morning a tri-
fling quantity of sago. At Lougville park I tried the pith of the small thatch tree,
which had a greater quantity of ligneous longitudinal fd)res, and was of a brownish co-
lour. This being put in a towel, and water poured thereon, the meal or farina, which
nvas free and unconnected, presently passed through the strainer. This 1 gave not
-time to settle, but directed the water to be evaporated from it over a slo\v fire ; but, ii^
-■■the end, it became bitter, black, and pitchy, Anollier cabbage-tree cut down, ap-
peared to be pretty old, as I judged from the trunk. The fibres were reddish brown,
and all ligneous, with very little soft pith, which seemed to be in grains. This was
beaten well in a wooden mortar with a pestle of the same, and the liquor obtained from
it was not ill-tasted, of a reddish hue, and, when strained and evaporated, produced
a powder of the same colour. A little of this was boiled as sago with cinnamon, which,
being sweetened, was very tasty, but had nothing of the viscous quality of the sago. —
From the upper trunk of the same tree I found the pith veiy succulent; and the licjuor
obtained from it was very sweet, like that of young maiz, as the first ; 1 know not wiiat
quantity of sago it yielded, nor what c|uality. Another cablxige-tree cut down seemed
^ very old one, being little short of one hundred feet in length. Four jnnks from the
top were cut off ; the uppermost containing the most pdth, white, and \ery light, but
-the fibres ligneous : the othcT three jnnks continued to increase thence downward, in-
creasing the rigidity of the fibres, but decreasing in cjuantity of pith. The colour too
t receded from its whiteness to a reddish cast in fibres and pith."

Cacao — See Chocolate Nut.
Caccos — See Water Lily.

CACOONS, OR MAFOOTOO WYTHE. MIMOSA,

Cl. 23, OR. 1. — Polygamia mnnoecia. Nat. Oil. — T.omentaceie.

This was so named by Tournefort from miimts mutabilis, on account of the shiftino-
or moving qualities of tlie leaves of many of the species.

Gen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, five-toothed, very small ; corolla one
petal, funnel-form, half five-cleft, small ; the stamens are capillary- filaments,
very long, with incumbent anthers ; the pistil has an oblong germ ; filiform style

T shorter

tn HORTUS JA]SIAICR>:SI-S. c-ACOONS-

shorter tlmn the stamens ; stigma truncated ; the pericarp is a long legume^ with
several transverse partitions ; seeds many, ro.mdish, of various forms. Ons; —
~ Many male flowers full ofi\ some are female ot/'}&)\i hermaphrodite in the diJfereJit
spiCies of this genus, ami no part of itsfriutifiratioyi inconstant.

SCANDENS. CLIMBING..

Pliaseolus maximus perennisy folio decom-posito, loho niaximo confortol
Sioane, v, 1, p. 178. Gigalovjuni. Scandens claviculum ; foliis
bipinnatis ovatis ; siiiqua maxima. Browne, p. 362.

Unarmed, leaves conjugate, terminated by a tendril ; leaflets two-paired.

This is frequent in all the upiand vallies and woodlands on the North side of Jamaica.
It climbs up the tallest trees, and spreads itself in e^'-ery direction l)y means of its cirrhi
•or claspers, so as to form a complete arbour, and to cover the space of an English acre
from one root. This circumstance has a had effect on the trees or bushes so shaded. —
Light, air, and rain (so necessary for all plants) being shut out, the leaves drop off,
the tree gradually rots, and the limbs lall down by the weight of this parasite.

The roots of this pltuit run s'uperficially under the ground or herbage. The trunk is
seldom tliicker than a man's tbigh, and sends off many branches, with numerous shining
green leaves, each of wljich terminates in a tendril or clasper, that serves to fasten it
to trees oi-bushes. Piiinas four-paired, petioled, oblo:ig, blunt at top, emarginate,
nerved, smooth on both sides, shining. Tendrils long, upright, bifid at the end.— -
The flower spikes are from -the axillai : they-are slender, and the florets on them small
arad numerous. Petals five, erect, oblong, green ; filaments twenty to twenty-four,
yellow, shorter than the corolla, and springing from its base ; anthers globular. The
pod is perhaps the largest and longest of any other in the world, being sometimes eight
or nine feet in length, five inches broad, jointed, and containing ten or fifteen seeds.
Tlrese seeds are brown, shining, iilattened, \ery hard, and called cacoons. These are
the same mentioned in the Philosophical Transactions, N° 222, p. 298, by Sir H. Sioane,
as being thrown ashore on the Hebrides or Orkney's. This happens in the following
manner: The" seeds or beans fall into the rivers, and are conveyed to the sea. The
trade winds carry them westward till they tall into the Gulf stream, which forces them
northward along the coast of America and the Bahama islands. As the winds blow fre-
quent and strong from Americia, these seeds are driven to the eastward, till at lennt^
they are thrown, ashore and left with the tide as aforesaid.

Tb.is bean, after being long soaked in water, is boiled and eaten by some negroes ;
but in general there seems to be uo other use made of it than as a sort of snuff' box.

The following observations are from the manuscript of Mr. Anthony Robinson : —
*' In August, near Liguanea barracks, I examined the male blossoms of this enormous
climber with a microscope. The anthers were oblong and didymous, on the upper
ends was ptaeed one globose transpaFcnt gland ; the base of th& pedicels is giandulous ;
the gland of the common pedicd, arcuated ; from each side of its. base is- produced a
slender linear stipule embracing the stem ; the base of the gland, after running half.an
inch up the stem, j,)ins the gland that supports the peduncle. The pedunclels naked
about one inch from the gland upwards ; at the base of the spike are two or three small
glands and smooth, terminating in a suhulated stipule ; and the spike itself is beset
with a number of these stipules without glands. The leaves are bipinnated, consisting
of two pairs of wings placed ujion a common midrib, which terminates in twoxiaricles

Qt

•Calabash IIORTUS JAiMAICPNSIS. 133)

or tendrils. The first pair of the wings is the least, and consist of four pair of lobes,
but the second or last are made up of hve. Tlie lubes upon the {irst pair are less than
those placed upon the second. The lobes are of a lunated form ; the first pair the least
increasing to the last, which is the largest and about two inches long, their margins re-
pandous, their extremities emargiiiated. One side of the leaf runs further downward
than the other ; the lobes are smooth, shining, and of an elegant Uvely green on the
upper side, but of a whitish green below, and not shining. The middle rib is promi-
nent on both sides, but somewhat more beneath ; the side veins are delicate, jjarallel,
und arched ou the margins ; they are produced ui no certain order, by pairs, or alter-
nate; the lobes have tlie same virtue of collapsing together on a change of the atmos-
phere as other piants^of this kind."

,S^ Cashaw — East India Ebony — Gum Araiuc — In<3a Trfe — Nephritic -Tree,
-Poponax — Sensitive Plant — \Vild Tamarind.

■Caiacico — See Spurges.

CALABASH TREE. CRESCENTIA.

Ci.. 14, OR. 2. — Didijnamia angiospermia. Nat. OR. — Putaminccv.

This was named in honour of Pietro Crescentio, an Italian writer on agriculture.

Gen. CHAR. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, two-parted, short, deciduous; divisions
roundish, concave, obtuse, equal; corolla o«e-peralled, unequal; tube gibbous,
crooked, torulose ; border erect, five-cleft ; divisions unequal, tooth-sinuated ;
the stamina are four filaments, subulate, length of the corolla, spreading, two ai
little shorter,; anthers incumbent, obtuse, twin ; the pistil has a pedicelled ovate
germ ; filiform style the length of the corolla ; stigma headed ; pericarp an oval,
hard, one-celled berry ; seeds very many, sub-cordate, nestling, two celled. —
There are two species, both natives of Jamaica.

cujeta.

At'hor cticurbitifera americana, folio sabrotundo. Sloane, v. 2, p. 172.
Arborescens ; foli.is conjertis oh-ovato-oblongis, basi angmtioribus ;
Jructu sphcerico maxivio. Browne, p. 265.

LeaveS' wedge-lanceolate, crowded.
This tree is called narrow -leafed calabash, which seldom rises higher than twenty
feet, and is easily distinguished from all others by its peculiar appearance. It divides
at top into very long, thick, scarcely sub^divided branches, stretching ouX almost hori-
zontally, adorned with leaves disposed in bundles or tufts scatteringly at irregular dis-
tances. Ttre wood is light, tough, and pliant. The bark is unequal and ash-coloured
or whitish. Tiie leaves are uncertain in their number from tlie same knot or tubercle ;
tfiey are oblong, attenuated at the base, on very short petioles, acute, entire, shining,
veined, bright green, four or five inches long. Peduncles one-flowered, solitary,
scattered over the older branches, and frequently on the trunk itself, three inches above
the ground ; flowers large, sometimes entirely green, but often differently variegated
-with purple, red, and yellow j it does not wither, but becomes putrid, and in that

T 9 state

HO- H--OrtTU8 ^AMAICENSrS. CAtAiix^f

stale coiliales a ca.laverous, niiuseous, sn6 intoierablc Elcnch. I'f Ijappcrisnnt iincom-
nioiily, th.t there are live ftrtile st.imcns, ao-l in that case three of tliem are longer
■than ihe ether two. T!)e i'uriu of the fruit Virt'ies on (liii'erent trees, l)eing splierical,
splieroi'dal, or shaped like a bottje ; it diH'ers also iu si?.e, from two, inciiej: lo a loot in
diameter. These, hyw ever, are only varieties. They are covered with a thin skin of
a greenish yelk)iv coloiy when ripe,,ancl under t'lis is a liard thin wood-y shell, inclosing^
a pale yelio.viKh soft pulp, of a tart unsavoury flavour, surroundiag- a.great nuiuber of
iiat seens. ■

Tiie wood of tl>is tree being very tough and flexile?, rrnders it, very fit for the ■
j)iirposes of coach iriukers,..as well as-for making sadiiles, mule and a.ss crooks, stools, ,
chairs, an 1 other iurn.itare, as also shalis or handles ior ciu-penters tools. Tiig shell of
thp fruit, wuen cleared of its contents, is frequently large enough to contain a gallon,
and is used iis bottles, or made into cups and spoons, by the negroes. It is of so close
^ texture, that it s'.ryes to boil water, and bears the tire as well as an earthen pot. It .
is frequegily converted into buLton njoulds,. The fruit being split, roasted, and applied
to an apostuiue speedily ripens.it.

1 suppose the SpaniarJ,s gave the name to tiiis tree, its fruitbcing as big as a man's
head (which they cail.a«/ffAa5A^,..bu.t rounder; it is so well known in most pi.rts of
America, that it needs no descri[)tioa. I have seen such difference of the fruit of these
trees as to contain from an ounce to a gallon. When thev are green, they are full of,
white juice, pulp, and seeds, which the cattle eat of in very dry times ; but which is.
said to give theu" Hesh an odd disagreeable taste, and also their luiik ; but I believe
that taste is from.a weed.called guiiiea-hen weed,. and not from the calabash. It is said
that the pulp,Jf eaten, will make a, cow casX her calf, or a mare her colt. It is certainly
knoivn [if not too well kiiown) to be a great forcer of the menstrua,. and of the birth and
after-birth ;. therefore ought to be very cautioush' given or taken. I once made a spirit
from this fruit, which was so nauseous as not to be taken alone. This is an useful tree-
for Indians and negroes to make necessary funiitui'e for their houses, as dishes, cups,
and spoons, of seAei'al shajjes, bigness, and fashion; I have seen them made, and-
£jiely wrought and carved. — Lai ham, p. 27.

The juice of calabash, in the qilaptity of four ounces, is giv-en as a purge in all cases
where the putient has received a bruise about the trunk ; and a syrup of tne sani , with
the addition of liine-jui(:e,*a little nitre, and pai'agoric elixir, is by some highly ex-
tolieii in coughs and consumptions. Small caiabasiies r.jasted, and thepulp spread on
cloth, amke a good poultice for bruises and intlainmutions. — IVright.

As a purgative, the dose is a quarter of a pint of the expressed juice. The pulp of the
fruit made into syrup. Dr. M'Vicar Affleck relates some singular instances of its effi-
cacy in i)uniionary conqiiaints, that were attended with hectic fever.* Jacquin says,
E pulpu fructum sj/rupti/ii conjiciunt incvUt, sumtiii wcdicammis celehn/tifc, potissi' .
vncii in varus pcc/ons iiiorliis, ituj. contusion bus intcritis — Jactpiin's Stirp. American.
Xhe syrup is made by tukiiig v oung caiabasiies about the size of an orange ; roast them, .

then

•• The, following is.one of ilie case», as related by Dr. Affleck :— •■ A spoonful was piven every morninp to a lady ,
labouring unilcr ^i licctic li-vs-i . cmigh, and Icjss of appetite, ivliich contiuued three niciitli.s. .Mje recovered in about
four wteks, and liv d in ^ . li .lealtli many jears alter. She was given over by aa old lady, her luotkej, at'ict oiau/__
wediewf.;. bad l^ecu usi-d tvitUoul clt'cct.."

©ALAi-v H OUT US JAMAICEKSIS. - in

tlicii squeeze the Juice from the guts through a coarse doth ; to a pint of the juice add
U poiHui of sugar and ijoil into a syrii|j. — A table spoijiilul or two to he takoii two or-
Uiicc times ii day, by itself, or in btriey water.- — JJancer's Medical Assislant.

2. Cl'CURIUTlNA. GOURD.

Aihorescens.j'oliis singiilaribiis vvalis nitidis, fruciii yninori, Browne,
p. 26ii.
Leaves ovate, sub-coriaceous,, distiifct; fruits ovate-acuminute.

Tlie trunk of tiiis tree is niiddle sized, utiurnied, smooth, and even. The branches
sub-ciivided, erect, not.spreudiug, stilf and stiaiglit, angular, even; leaves opposite,
alternate, or scattered, never in tufts, broad, ovate,, with a short point, quite entire,
nerved, absolutely smooth, shining-above, paler beneath ; [jetioles short, thick, smooth ;
pednncies two to live, terminating, shorter tiumtlie leaver, longer than the petiole-^,
one-howered. Corollas nodding, the size of those of the riijctc, init. more dusky ; the
base of tiie tuije and throat is wliite, the belly red, the border jjaie, the st'gn)i'nts tlusky.
Tiie fruit, is pedicelled, ovate-ublong with a short t^oint, one-celled. It di Hers from
the first species in its habit, the upngiitness of Us branches, its fiat, oblong, siuningj
coriaceous jeaves, terminating flowers-on longer pedicels, corolla with the border en-
tire, and ovate-acummate fruit. It flowers tne wliole year, it is a native of Jagiaica,
in tlry rocky places near tiie coast. Tne wood is hard and_ white, but tlie shell of the
fruit so thm air I Ijnttie as to be imfit for the purjjoses of the former species, lioth are
easily propagated liom the seeds.

CALALU, hramhed. SOLANUM: '

Cl. 5, OR. 1. — Pentandriamoywgynia. K'ai". or. — Lurid<e,.

Gen. CHAR. — Calyx a one-leafei perianth, half five-cle'V, erect, acute, permanent j
corolla one-pecalled, wheel-shaped, tube very short, border large, half five-cleftj
from reries, flat, plaited; stamina are five awl-shaped filaments, very small ; an-
thers oblong, converging, sub-coalescent, openins; ;!t the top by two pores ; the
pistil has a roundish genu ; style filiform, longer t'' " "^^"^ stamens, stigma blunt ;
the pericarp a roundish berry, smooth, dotted at ii -elled ; with a con-

vex fleshy receptacle on each side ;. seeds verv ■ ii, nestling. Many

species aftbis genus grow in this island.:

NIGRUM; BLACK.

Hinniiiuit dijj'umrn ; Joliis ovulis, runuUi^ ,. > itiaiiS}>ti-nhe Hulls ^<1'
rum spars s. Browne, p. 174.
Bfanches angular, toothed; leaves repand, smooth.

Solanum bacciferum, sen qlficinarum. This has a green stem, as big «. ..les little
finger, rising two or tJiree feet high, the branches spreadinp themselves on every suie ;
the leaves ai'e about an inch and a half lonu', and half as broad in the middle, vvhei \t
is broadest, standing upon a very short fuot-staik ; , they are soft, of a dark-green colour,
and jagged on the edges. Tsiwards the tops ol the bunches come the flowers, several
tagetiier, upon a short foot-stalk ; each flo ver is made up with five white or pale-yel-
Icw.kaves^.iyith orangd-Cijlour apices, standing up iii the uuddie of tiie tiower, making

aa-

li-j HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. «Ai..tEW

an mrtbo. After these follow round berries as big as English pease, smooth, and black
\tihen ripe, containing a tiiin greenish pulp, with a great many round flat white seeds,
I was surprised to see the Angoia negroes eat it as calahi, or as we do spiiiage, without
any prejudice, being so like the deadly night-shade in Europe. Tlie bark of this plant,
briused and put into water, intoxicates fish, so tiiat the)- may be easily taken, but doth
not kill them. Tue leaves are reckoned cooling, re^tringent, and anodyne ; the juice,
being jnit up the alius, eases pain and aljates intiamniation, and it doth so in erj/fipelas,
or St. Anthony'^ fire ; but it ought to be cautiously used, being very cooling and re-
stringent, and tlierefore too repercussive or repelling. The juice I know to be good in
cancerous tumours and inflamniations, and tire dislilled water is good in fevers. The
leaves, juice, or oil, applied lo tlie head, is good in frenzies from heat, and for inflam-
mations, and fissures or cracks of the nipples of the breast. — BaThuin, p. 1 17.

P

w'hicii is equally common ni li-urope, and ot a virose heavy smell, and very imicwm.

quality in cold climates, is void of both m Jamaica, where it is daily used for food, and
found by long experience to be both a pleasant and wholesome green. The length of
the common lootstalks, and the length and smoothness of the branches, is the only dif-
ference between the two plants, if they be not wholly tlui same ; but the European
seems to grow more twiggy and luxuriant. — Browne.

This plant is commonly called gooma or goovicr ralalu, and grows very luxuriantly in
new ^rounds. It has an agreeable bitter taste, -iind is much esteemed as a greisn, pot-
lierb,°and purifier of the blood, and is gently aperient. It has no deleterious qualities
like the European plant.

iJee Canker Berry — Egg Plant — Night-Shades — Potatoes — Tomatos — Tuiikev

Berries.

Calalu, Mountain — See Pokeweed.

\LALU, prickly. AMARANTHUS.

Cl. t.C '.■•.'. 5. — Monoecia pentandria. Nat. OR. — Miscellan€(s.

Thiso-enerif n^r; jis derived from a Greek word for incorruptible, because the flower
•being cropped does not soon decay.

CeN. char.— Male cahx a five or three-leaved perianth, upright, coloured, per-
manent, leaflets lanceolate-acute ; no corolla but the calyx ; stamens five or three
capillary, the length of the calyx ; with oblong versatile anthers : Female flowers
in the same raceme with the males ; calyx and corolla as in the male ; the pistil
has an ovate germ, tiiree styles, short, subulate ; stigmas simple, permanent ;
pericarp an ovate capsule, somewhat compressed, as is the calyx on which it is
placed, coloured, and of the same size, three-beaked, one-celled, cut open
transversely ; seed single, globular, compressed, large. Three species are na-
tives of Jamaica, the following and polygomides or goosefoot.

I. .SPINOSUS.

^iUJ0.ut?A K OUT US JAMATCENSIS. T43

1. SPINOSUS, PPuICKLY.

BUtmn americanum spino.fum. Sloane, v. I. p. 143. ^culeafus rie-
jcscens, Jioribus confertis sessilibus, capitulis alaribus. Browne,
p. 341.
Racemes terminating, compound ; axils tliorny. ,

Sloane calls this the red weed of Barbadoes. It hjs an oT)Iong deep reJJish root,
with some fibres, sending up a roundish red, strong, striated stalk, which has several
branches of the same colour. The leaves cf>n;ie out along the branches without any
crder, of a reddish colour, harving usually under thera some sharp short prickles. The
flowers come out in long spikes on the tops of the branches, of an herbaceous colour,
after which follow small, black, shining, flat, seeds. It grows every where by the
way sides in Jamaica. — Sloane.

This plant is frequently used as a vegetable^ and is perfectly wholesome and
agreeable.

2. vmim.s. GREEy.
Blitum mijtiis album pol^spermon folio subrotundo. Sloane, v. 1, p.
143, t. 92, f. 1.

Qromerules axillary, germinate; male flowers trrfid ; leaves ovate, emargjnate ;
stem erect.

The root is laige, strong, perpendicalarl}' fixed In the- earth, straight, reddish to-
wards the top, and sending out round it several branches on every hand, often trailing
on the ground, and very rarely erect, two or three feet long, striated, green, and suc-
culent, along which come out several leaves on long petioles, bluntish, now and then
covered with a brownish farina. The flowers are spflie fashioned, very numerous along
the branches, and greenish. To each fltJv/er follows a round seed, compressed, black,
shining, and little, inclosed m a pale green memlirane. It grows every where in thft
lowlands and plantations, and is to be gathered every where, very plentifully, after
xain. When the leaves are stripped off" and boiled as a sallet, it is one of the pleasantest
J ever tasted, having something of a more fragrant and gateful taste than any of these
ierbs I ever knew. It is used in clysters in the belly-ache, as the best and most com-
Eion emollient herb the country aff'ords. — Sloane.

See Goose Foot.

■Calalu, Spanish — ^^e^ Poksweep. ■.

1\1) EnglhJi Name. C ALLICARPA.

Cl. 4, OR. 1. — Tetrandriafmo-itogynia. Nat. or. — Dumosae,
-^ES; CHAR. — Calyx a one-leafed, hell-form perianth, mouth four-cleft, erect; eo^
rolla monopetalous, tubular, border four-cleft, obtuse, spreading ; stamens fili-
form, twice the length of the corolla; anthers ovate-incumbent ; the pistil has a -
roundish germ ; style filiform, thicker at top ; stigma thickish, obtuse ; pericarp
a globular smfxjth berry ; seeds four, oblong, shaped like a meniscus, compressed,
■*alious. Swartz found two species of tliis genus in Jamaica.

1. FEBRUGINEA*

144 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. camphiM

1. FERRUGIxNEA. IRON,

Leaves broad lanceolate, senate, somewhat rugged underneath ; cymes ter-
minating and axillary. — «S':c'. Pr. p 31.

2. RETICULATA. NETTED.

Leaves elliptic lanceolate, sub-serrate, wrinkled ; tomentose hoary underneath.

CALTROPS. 'TRIBULUS.

Cl. 10, OR. l.-~Decandria monogym'a. Nat. or. — Gruinales.

This is so named from having three spikes to the fruit.

Gen. char. — Cal^x a five-parted acute perianth, a little shorter than the corolla;
corolla five-petailed, oblong-obtuse, spreading ; the stamina are avvi-sliaped fila-
ments, small, with simple anthers ; the pistil has an oblong germ, length of tlie
stamens, no st^de, stigma headed ; pericaq:) roundish, prickly, of five to ten cap-
sules, gibbous on one side, often armed with three ur four dagger points, angular
,«u the other, converging, with transverse cells ; seeds many, turbinate, oblong.

MAXIMUS. GREAT.

iTribuJus ferrestris major, flore maxhno odordfo. Sloane, v. I, p.
209, t. 132, f. I. Foliis senispimiatis, e.itvmis majoribus, floribus
singuhu'ibus. Browne, p. 220, t. 21, f. 3.

Leaves about four j^aired ; outer leaflets longer ; pericarps ten-seeded, awnless.

This has pretty thick, compressed, channelled, succulent, brittle, stalks, which
trail upon the ground, near two feet long, shooting on every side from the top of the
root as from a centre : the leaves pinnate, opposite, commonly three or four pairs of
smooth sessile leaflets, the furthermost pair the largest. The flowers come out towards
the ends of the branches, of a pale orange or yellow colour, having an agreeable odour,
and are succeeded by roundish prickly fruit, ending in a long jjoint. It grows in all
pastures of Jam.aica, and is frequently gathered with other fodder plants, and fed upon
indiscriminately by all sorts of cattle. Sloane says a salve made of this herb with suet,
.is good for Ihe ringworm.

See Turkey Blossom.

■ CAMPHIRE TREE. L AURU.S!.

Cl. 9, OR. \.^-Enneandria monogynk. Nat. or. — Hoioracea,
GgN. CHAB. — See Avocado pear, p. 37.

•CAMPHORA. CAMPHIRE.

Leaves triple nerved, lanceolate-ovate.
The camphire tree is very near akin to the cinnamon tree, from which it differs irt.
Jiie leaves ; those of the latter having three ribs running longitudinally from the foot-
stalk

-cA-NBTiwE EOKTus ja:maicensis. \u

• 5talk to the po'in^ where they soq* diminish ; whereas in tliis the ribs are small, and
extend towards the sides ; th«> siirfaiSe is saiootii and shinifig. There are males and
Lcniiaphrodites on diSerent trees.

The root is lar^e, thick, and ifcat-hiated ; the trunk often three feet in diameter ;
the tree is very ramose, its hark grey wh, and rough on the trunk, but green on the
Voimg branches. The wooel is white, but becomes reddish in drying. The leaves
stand irregularly, and resenible those of the ha,y-tree. '^I'hey are thrcje inches long and
-half as broa 1, sijaiewhat curled about the edges, and terminate in a long narrow point;
■tlicy are of a bright green abi^'o and gr«yiaii belo\V. Tlu; flowers are vevv sukiU and
-.viiite ; they stand in clusters on tlie tops oi' ramose pedicels, rising from rhe a'ie of the
leaves ; tlie fnutis a black shuung berry.

-Thistree is mentioned in tiie Hortiis Eastensis ^s having been introduced into this
island by Dr. Clarke, in the year 1775, and has since been successfully cultivated in se-
veral parts of the island, it no doubt wonhl be a valuable acquisition if general] v
planted. The Clunese call it tclmng, and, to obtain the campliire, they take the fresh
tranches, chop tlieiu very small, ami lay them to steep in spring ualer for three da3'6
and three niglits. After they have been soalicd in this manner they are-jnit into a ket-

■ tie, where they are boiled for a certain time, during vdwch the\- keep c(>ntinually stir-
ring them, with a stick made of willow. Whca. they perceive that the sap. of these small
chips adheres su0iciently to the stick in the form of a white frost, they strain the whole,
throwing away the dregs. This juice is afterwards poured gently into a new earthen
bason, well varnibked, in which it is sudereti to remain one night. Next morning it is

"-■foim^ coagulated, and formed into a solid m;iss. To pnvify this iirsi preparation^ they

■ j)rocure some earth from an old earthen wail, which, when pounded and reduced to a

■ very fine pow'der, they put into the bottom of a'bason matle of red copper; over thi,«;
"layer of earth they spread a layer of -cainphire, and continue thus until there are four

• strata. 'The last, which is of very fine earth, they cover up v.'ith the leaves of the plant
fo-ho^ ()\ pcnnij -royal ; and over the whole they place another b?son, ioining it very
closely to the former by means of a kind of red earth that cements tiieir brims together.
The bason, thus prepared, is put over a fire, which must be managed so as to keep up

: an equal heat ; experience teaches them to observe the proper degree ; but above all

■ t.hey must be very attentive lest the plaister of fat earth, which keeps the basons toge-
'-ther, should craek or fall off; otherwise the spirituous parts would evaporate and ruin

the whole jjrocess. When the basons have been exposed to the necessary heat, they
are taken off and left to cool ; after which they are seperated, and the subHmated cam-
pliire is found adhering to the cover. If this operation be repeated two or three times,
the camphire is found purer and in larger pieces. Whenever it is necessary to use any
'Cjuantity of this substance, it is put between two earthen vessels, the edges of wliich are
surrounded with several bands of wet paper. These vessels are kejit for about an hour

• over aU' equal and moderate fire ; and, v;hen they are cool, the camplnre is found in
its utmost perfection and ready for use. This method of procuring camphire, even
from the heart of the tree, may be practised in all seasons of tiie 3 ear ; which would
not be the case were it extracteil like other resinous substances that only flow during a,

•certain short space of time. Besides, by lopj^ing the branches of the camphire tree,
less hurt is done to it than by making incisions, which are always ha;2ardous. The Abbe

'.Grosier, from whom the foregoing account is taken, informs us, that in China some of
these tree!! are found above one hundred cubits in height, aitd so thick that twenty per-.

U E0114

r^

M.6- ' H O R T U S J A M Ai C EN SIS. • . c.ANDi.it

sons cannot inclose itliem. This trunk,., when old, emits sparks of fire, but oFso .s\iUtIe'
a nature a^i i!Otfe"i^w to injure the hair of,tli.osc.\vhQ afe i>ear it.,.

Pure caniphii'C i.s very wliite, , pellucici, somewiiat, unctuous to the. touch ; of a bit-
terish aromatic tusto, } ct accoujpaBisd w^tti a sense of coolness ; of a very fragrant
KiTieli, somew'hat like that of rosenuiry,, but much stronger.. It.has b_een very longOs-
teenietl one of the lapst etKcacioui;- diaphoretics v.aad has be«n x;elehrai:ed in fevers,
ilialignant and epidemical distempers. In dehri*,. also,, where opiate.s couiil not pro-
cure sleep, but. rather aggravated the symptonuj, tliis medicine has been often observed
to procure it. All these eifecis, hou-v:vcr, Di't Cuil.en attribulejs to its, sedative property,
and denies that caiuphire has any other m.etiicinal vutues than those of an antispasmodic
and sedative. He allows it to be ver^' powerful, and capable of doing much good or
much harnu Fxom experiments made on different, brute creatures, camphire iippears.
to be poisonous to evei;y cue of them.. In some it prodaijed sleep, follo\ved by cieatli,
without any ojjier symptom. Iji others, before death, they were, awakened into con-
vulsions and rage. It seems, tgo, to act chiefly on the stomach ;. for an entire piece
swallowed, proauced tiie above-mentioned effects with very little diminution of weight.

See Ayo.c.\Do-PiiAii — B.^v Trees— Benjamin — Cinnamon — Cogwood — SASSAFiijiS.,-

GANDLE OR ROSE WOOD. . AMYRIS.

Cl. 8, OR. \.^-Octandria monogyyiia. ■ "Nat. or. — Tercbinthacea;.

"This name is derived from a Greek word signifying ointment or balm.

Gen. CH.4R. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, four-toothed, .acute, erect, small, peiv
manent ; corolla four oblong, corrcare, spreadpg. petals ; stamens awl-shaped,
erect filaments ; anthers oblong, ereet, the. length of the corolla ; the pistil has a

superior ovate germ, a thickish. style the length of tlie stamens, and four- cornered
stigmas; the pericarp a drupaceous a^oujidish berry ; seed a i^ound shining nut. — •
'Several specie^ are natives of Jamaicar

1. .balsamifera. balsamic.

Arhoreii^, foliis bijugatis ovatis glabris, raccmis hxis termvudibu?,
Browne," p. 208,

Leaver two-paired.; .
This tree grows frequently among the gravelly bills in this island, and rises to a con-
siderable heiglit, Tlic trunks are remarkable for liaving large protuberances on them.
The leaves are laurel shaped. The fiowers are small and white, in branched spikes. —
The fruit i^ described as follows in A Robinson's manuscript: The full grown ripe fruit
is of a black smooth and shining hue,.. orrather of a verj deep purple, about three-
quarters of an inch long, and when green marked with many deep specks, like a green
lime or lemon, which. aire small cells replete, with a most fragrant essential oil or balsam.
The ripe fruit consists of numerous green globules or vesicles, not unlike in form and
make to fish si^awn, rejileie with, and iiiiraerged in, a juice sweetish and aromatic. —
The shell of the nut is jjurple, brittle, external!}' rugged, having a bilobous kernel,
rrovered with a thin moist skin of a very deep purple. The nut is turbinated at botjx
■eudsi the kernel highly aromatic. .Thistre,Qis known also by the name of shvubbjj

CANDLB HORTUS JAMArCENSlS. v.Y

itwfe'wood. By sul>jecting the wood to distillation, Dr. Wright thinks a perfume equal
to oil of rhodium may be obtained. It is called :^uite candleirood, because it burns s®
fieely as frequently to be used for that purpose by the negroes.

This tree if. found in the woods of St. Ann's, and those bacl< of Bull Bay in the pa-
tish of Port Royal ; it grows to a considerable size, and is considered as one of the most
valuable timber trees in the isliuul. The v.'ood is white, and of a curled grain when
--joung, but grows of a dirty ash-colou? by age : it bears a fine. pohsh and has a fine
smell. The young trees are freqweutly cut for firewood in -the nionntains; -they are
full of resin, bnrn very freeiy, anu with a most agieeahle smeU. Th** wood is heavy
.t.nd in great. vogue aniprsg ciil)inct maimers. AH tue parts of this tree are full of wai-m
aromatic particles, -and may be used in batlis and foni-entatiftHs wjon e-ccasiou. — ■
■Brozimc, p. 208.

Sweefwpod, or sTirnbhy sweetwwd, or losf-wood. Professor T,inii^uSj having ob-
tained a spfecimen of the balsam of niccoa tree, was of opinion, tlrat it was a species of
this genna. Mr. Robinson, pursuing tins hint, found three species, -difiering only
irom each ■othvri'inthe size of the trees, dimensions of- their leaf, and greater or less
aroma of tlieir bark and wood.

TlKy grow ir^ great abundance on the rocky, hills of tke south side coast, and other
parts more inland ; and arc remarkably frequent in Healthshire, in St. Catherine.

Their leaves and bark are impregnated v.ith a fine balsamic juice, ■and,, if the body
was tajjped at the proper season of the year (supposed to be August), might be found
-to transride. a thfck liquor Teseuibling that of the Gilead balsam, to which the taste of
'^his bark, and wood of the smaller branches, bears a very exact relation.

The leaves, infused ir, boiling water, aftevthe manner of tea, ,hav«3 a very pleasant

-ilavour, and odoriferous scent, and may -be drank with milk and sugar, instead of -tea.

Tiiis infusion is highly cephalic, strengthens the nerves, and-is particularly restorative

■ to weak eyes ; insomuch, tiiat 1 knew a gentleman, who, by.theconstantu.se of it for

-SO aie weeks, hy way of i reakfast, was able to read a small print, a*nd view objects dis-

-lincllv, without the assistance of spectacles, which he had been unable to do. for some

years before.

The leaves, dried thoroughly in the shade, might be very securely packed, and ex-
ported, for farther trial of tiieir virtues, which, in Jamaica, chd not seem to be impaired
'by their dryness, or length of keeping.

There is then the strongest reason to-believe, that the ai'ri/ris-ma.y,hy incision, pro-
duce a balsam not much infej-ior to the celebrated balm of gilead, or ojwhahammu ;
jvhich, for loetter information of tiie inquisiti\e reader,! shall here descrilie, from com-
petent authority. It is a liquid resin, of a very light yellowish colour, and a fragrant
smell, not unlike that of citrous ; but the taste is acricr and aromatic It is pellucid,
tenacious^ or glutinous, sticking to the fingers, and may be drawn into long threads.
It scarcely ever becomes fluid or liqvnd, by the heat of the sun, in the westerly part of
Asian Turkey, where it is produced.

Its virtues are said to be these : It is one of the best stomachics known, if taken to

ihree grains, toswengtlien a weak stomao-h It isa capital vuhierary ; for, if applied

to a fresh wound, it cures it in a very short time. When fresh, it is said to have a uuich

greater efficacy, than when old. It is given internally against putrefaction of the vis-

^^era, and abscesses of the lungs, liver, and kidneys. It also cleanses foul ulcers, an?i

U 2 he.*k

14* HORTUS JAM'A-iCKNSia o^nrh;

hcaLs tham rerj- soon.* But it is difficult to obtain it unsopl)isticate<l ; forAvhich and
other leiisijus, it well dcservi's Uio ex])cninent ol ingenious •gcntjcuion iij this island^
to find it' a halaam or rosin be oijtuiivible Innu the uiiH/ris ; .since the discovery would
naturally lead to form such a siihsiitute i'or the true iialsam, vvhicii is so seldom to he
<roi m us gtnuiine state ; and there seeinis no weak irround fur presmiuny that tiiis sub-
stmite wouid aaswcr simiiar. good puvposes in nieuKinc — Loxg'.

This species, is su-pposed-.to btvthe wood noticed.' by Kirliam, under the uame tree
rosemary., as follows : — " This I happened to meet with by chance. Pulling down,
some old iiouses, I snjelt a, vers' strong smell of rosemary, which niaJe nie enquire into
t]je reas(.in of it. They told me, that there was some roiKinuuT-^ooil among the timber-
■jt the house.-?. I- then des>ircd they wouid get, me som.e of it^. \vhi.ch they clid ; I found
it was only the bark that bmeit, which no vosenmry exceeded. Some will have it to be
a sort of clove-bark tree, which grows in great pienty'npou thG/niain continent. 1 first
found this tiee on Baciielor's plantation^ which was afterwards mine, and is now well
known to ail or most planters in Jairiaica. i'carried some of tjie bark with me to Engv
land in the _year Mil, which kept its scent very well ; and 1 question not but it would
be fjund, upon experjen.ce. to be. very useful to distillers, and of many medicinal uses." '

2: MAIUTI.MA. MARITIME.

Baccifera trifuh'a racemosa, floscidis albis iefrapetalis, friictu nigro
■moriopyrcnojoctido. Sloane, a-. 2, p. 101. Fraticosus mivor, folii^
orhiculatis venosis,. piimalo icrnatis ract^inis terminatricibus. —
Browne, p. 209,.

Leaves ternate, . crenulate, , obtuse.

This tree, which is called yr/Z^rw candlrn'ood^'roscrn'ood, and T/ello's' sntulrrs, appears
•not specifically diffei-ent from the foregoing, for the leaves are pinnated, have two pair
of ovate lobes, terminating in an odd one, and frequently seen pinnato ternate, as the
first. These leaves aj-e much longer and of a deeper green. It has not the fragrant
smell or taste, of the other.- The fruit is oblong, the wood of a box colour, elegantly
clouded and tiikes a fine polish-. '

It is common on the banks of the "Rio Cobre. The calyx is permanent, fruft black
and shining. Tkc blossom is white, four times tlie length of the cup, a.nd the fruit has
an agreeable aromatic taste ; the flower pedicels are black, shining, speckled, as are
the joints of the leaves. There is one seed. It blossoms in June and Jul v.

The blos.'^^ms of a tree exami.ned were very small ; the pericarp monophyllous, bell-
shaped, permanent, and cut half way down into four equal erect segnient.s ; at the basa
of each proper peduncle were placed two very minute lanceolated stipules in opposi*
tion : the corolla consists of four oblong obtuse, pointed petals, nearlj' obversely ovate, ^
patent, white, and thickly marked with pellucid balsamic cells, much longer than the—
calyx, and placed alternate with its lacinias. The stamens are eight su^ulated patent

filaments,. ,

• If is gensrally beiieved that the Omwda and copaha "balsams, will answer every pnr).Kire of the fiabi nf gUead.^m
3>r. Alston says, that tlir surest mark of this babam being pure, and unadulterated is its spreading quickly on the sur-
(ucc of water when dropped into it ; and iliat if a single drop of it is let fall into a larpe saucer full ot water, it innue*
diately spreads all over its surface, :nid as itUvere dissolves and disappears ; but in almnt half an hour it becomes e -
transparent pellicle, covering the whole surface, and may be taken up with a pin, hajjnc lost all its Huidity and cc-
ifliur, and become while arid sott^ cohering, and comniunicating its snieli and taste to the ivater. This test, he Sii^ff,!^
asU ihe balsam Jie saw iu.Ho.llaadiiorej bm not tli^it m Lptidon, wherait is tare toprgcure it uaadulteratsd.

•45G?0i.B- TIORTUS JA?.IAICENSIS. 14^

fiiiinients, alternately shoi-tiT, and shorter than thepetiis: anthers ovatf, didmoiis^
aii.l t.'roct. There is a scarlet glaudiiloius reci.'ptacle, periiups liic r.ectanimi, vjt a te-
tragonal form, placed in the centre of the cup, which sup'ports an oblong cjennen : tlie
style is simj)!e, short, and tliick ; the stitrma capitated. Tlie stem terminates in ;i
liranched panicle, and, from, this bosoms o£ the first pair of leaves bcncatli, arise froMi
one to four in number on eadi side.

The smaller shru'il)i/._stit'elrioo(l is a little plant ven' oOinmon in the hills about tin-;
Ferrv ; it grows. chietly among the rock'^,- and seldom rises above fom' or live feet in
height, or exceeds an inch and a half in diameter Tiie leaves are V(n-y round, .and
distant from one another; tiie flowers sniull, and disposed in lopse bundles at the tops
of the branches. The leaves ami ou'lvrard parts of this .-.hrub have no remarkable
warmth, nor does the trunkbnrn with tiiat fragrance, though .it. contains a great qnau-
Uty of the like aromatic panicles, wuli tiie ionner.-^Bro:i:iu\ .

The muritima is described asfoUovrs- by Swartz: Stem Lrtinciiekl, scabrous, asii-
coloured ; leaves petioled, ternate ; leaflets petioled, roundish, elliptic, with a short
])oint, sometimes obtuse, crenate, spreading, nerved^ smooth on both sides, perfor-
ated, with pellucid dots ; potiole^ and petiiJules round ; racemes compound, in cymes,
wuh oj)posite many flowered bra;nchlets ; flowers crowded,, -white,- very sweet ; petals
nvate, entire^. v--ith short ckvvs ; berry the size, of a black pepper, black when ripe ;
inclosing a globular brittle nut, in" which is a white kernel. Swartz doubts it this spe-
cies be distinct from the following, which ditfers- according to soil and situation in th<;
size of all the. parts, . Thej' grow, he says, in very l)arren coppices, in a calcareous
rocky soil, both near the Sea and in the interior mountains uf.Jamaka, Hispaniola, antl
Cuba j flovvexing from June to September,

3. SYLVATica. . -vrooc, .
L^ves ternate, crenate, acute.
This is described as an erect lofty shrub, branching but little ,■* from two fo refteei*
feet high according'to soil and situation. The vvliole abonuding-in turpentine of a dis=»-
agreeable smell. The small branches round, leafy to the ends ; leaflets shuiing, finely
jiotched, of different shapes. Racemes panicle'i, erect, terminal, and axiibry, sus-
taining many small snow-vyhite flowers. The drupe the siise of a-pea^

The follGwir-gare the three species of this genus alluded to by Mr. Loi>g, as disco-
vered by Mr. Anthony Robinson, and as described in his manuscript : —

" I. 'Amyris foliis ternatis piniwtis pediculis marginatis racemis alaribus. — This is a
small tree about fourteea or fifteen feet high, the bark of the trunk and branches is na-
turally of a reddish brown, but appears variously coloured by reason of many lichens
growing on it. The trunk is about six inches diameter, dividing a little v/ay from the
ground into many branches, growing into a close compact ovate form, ^vith numerous
erect slender twigs. The blossoms small and white, proceed in small clusters from the
alx of tlie leaves.

" 2. Ainyris hypdate. — ^The cup or calyx was composed of five concave leaves,

which were roundish, unequal in breadth, and ciliated on their edges .: corolla had four

petals, also roundish and unequal, and bigger than the cup ; there appeared a vacant

4»terspacc as it'ji fifth petal was wanting j.^tlte. germ was small, trigonal, and placed

upon

J-50 H 0 R T U S J A M A I C E N S I S. -camji-Eberk-it

•upon t'lfrlit neotaveons glanus, which acVnered together as in tlie mclicoocus. From the
nwrgiii ot'each gland iirose shorl- filaments ; ti)e style was simiile, crenateil like thr^t of
the wi/(f iscnip, ov melicocca ; the stigma ^was "capitated. On a section of the p-enn
there appeared three cells, containiiijr divers seeds -, the anthers were cordated and
t-rect ; the filaments much shcw'ter than thepetals.

" 3. Amyris Philipptea. — ^The leaves grew toward the end of the hranches alternate.
The pedicel was ahodt an inch and a quarter in lengiji, decorated on each side bv a
■*erj narrow foliaceoiis margin, which supported one pair of ob-ovate lohes, with an odd
one at the end,_ sessile, ternale as it were, or placed ehjse to one another, of a lively
grc'jn, and elegantly decorated with slender oblique veins, rising from the middle,
shining, smooth, aiul of a firm texture, not unlike those of guaiarain. The bark is
bitter, aromatic, and balsamic. The whole? trunk is very full of shallow pits or depres-
sion-;, which are.eansed by the falling off of many tlun sinall squainmae or scales, with
which the old bark is c(nercd. It affects a dry rocky soil, and is one of the most elc->
^ml trees in Jamaica"-

Ste XlMENIA.

CANDLEBERRY MYRTLE. MYRIGA.

Ci.. 22, OR. 4. — Dioecia teb-andritt. 'TVat. or. — Amevdacece.

; Cek. CHAR.— Male anient ovate-crblong, im'iricate on all sides, loose, composed of
' one-flawered, crescent-shaped, bluntly acuminate, concave scales;, there is no
proper perianth nor corolla ; stamens four filaments (seldom six) filiform, short,
erect ; anthers large, twin, with bifid lobes. Female calyx as in the male, no
corolla; the pistil has a sub-ovate germen ; two filiform styles, longer tlian the
calyx ; stigmas simple ; the pericarp is a one-celled berry ; seed single, ^^j^

'CERIFERA. V/AX- BEARING.

Leaves laRceolate, sub- serrate ; stem arborescent.
This is the common or narrow-Ieuvcd candlebernj myrtle ef America, v.-hich .Swartz
rilscovered in .Jamaica ; it rises to the height of tliuty feet. The bark is warted ; the
branches unequal and straight. Leaves evergreen, somewhat clustered, blunt at the
end, membranaceous, rigid, wrii,ikied, smooth, covered underneath with very minute
shining, orange coloured glandular pores ; "flowers in aments in different individuals.
Swartz had no opportunity of observmg the male aments. Miller saj's they are about
an inch long, and stand erect. Tne female aments are sessile, axillary, linear, shorter
than the leaves ; scales ver^' miniite', andbctween each of them an oblong minute germ,
longer than the scales; two fdiformstyles, the iengin of the germ, and reflex stigmas ;
berry minute, roundish, yellow. The leaves and bark bruised are said to diffuse a very
agreeable fragrance, in America a wax is collected from the hemes of which they
make candles ; whence the tree derives its name. This wax is [jrocured by boiling the
. ripe berries m water until the oil floats, vvhen it is skimme.d oil, and tlie skimming re-
ij:)eated until the oil disappears. When cold this hardens to the consistence of wax,
and is of a dirty green colour. It is then boiled again and clarified, which gives it a
•transparent iirecnness. The candles made of it yield a grateful smell. A'fourth part
■£.'f tallow is usually added, which makes them burn clearer. A soap is also made h-dfH

tlie

^xm II OUT US J-AM\ICEf*SIS. ' 151

the oi!, wliich having an agreeable scent is excellent for shaving-, an J it is ii.-ed in plas-
ters. In Carolina they make sealing wax tVom tliese bernes ; and the lo^i is acLOUuled
a specific in the tooth-ache. It is propagated t'rura'seedi.

€.^NDLEV/ooD— .?fc' RosEwoon.

Cane, ^UGAR-^A'fe Sugar Cajs'f..

C'anr, Wild — See Ii.\:siKoo and Reeds. -

CjiNEi.LA Sec CiN'NAMOiN';. \VU.D.

-CAXE-PIECE SENSITIN^E PLANT. CASSIA.

Ci,. 10, OR. 1. — Decandriainonogj/}iia. .. Nat. or. — Lmneniacea:.

^'EN. CHAR. — Calyx a pentaphyllous perianth, lax, concave, coloured, deciduoTis;
corolla five petals, roundisii^eonoafre ; tlie inferioroHes more distant, more spread-
ing, larger; sta.ueus are ten fiiameats, declined; the tliree interior ones longer ;
the ttiree superior shorter ; anthers, the three infericjr very hirge, arcuate, rostrate, .
gaping at the tip ; the .four lateral ones without the rostrum, gajiing; the three
superior ones very small, sterile ; ttie. pistil has- a suh-coluuin;ir germen, longj .
pedancled ; st3'le very short ; stigma obtuse, ascendmg ; the jjericarp is an oblong
legumen, with transverse paitifeions ; seeds many, roundish, attixed to ti>e supe- . •
i'ior sutoie. . There are several species natives of JaaiaLca. .

CHAilCECRISTA. .

Senna occidentalis, siliqua onuJlipU'ci foliis herb^ viiiiiosrr. Sloane, -
v. 2, p. 51. Siifl'ruticosa erecta,j'oliis linearibus plut^iinus pinnatia^
floribus singuiartbus vcl gcininatis, sparsis. Browne, p. 2,25.

Leaflets many pairs ; a petiolar pedicelled gland ; stipules ensiform.

"This has an herbaceous stem, afoot high or more, diffused, smooth, round, with
liirsute branches ; leaves pinnate, with twenty-foisr or twent\-iive pairs of leaflets-; ,
common petioles round, hirsute, thicker at t;he base ; lealiets on very short petiolets,
opposite, lanceolate, rounded at the base, oblique, blunt at the end, and terminated
by, a very small bristle, nerved, smooth. Glands beneath the lowest pair of leaflets,
pedicelled, capitate, truncate,, turbinate at the tip. Sti])ules lanceolate, acunnnate,
opposite, at the base of the petioles, half clasping, smooth, but pubescent at the edge.
Flowers among the stipules above the petiole, and not axillary ; on very short, solitary, -
three-tlowerea pedicels ; corollas small, yellov/, with t-w<j minute opposite bractes ou
tin; pedixels. Calycine leaflets linear, equal, acute,, reflex, pubescent; petals une-
qual ; the two upjjer ones smaller, with a dusky spot ; the other three larger, having
claws, roundish, cxjncave, waved about the edge. Filaments unequal, the seven hinder
ones smaller, the three forward ones longer ; anthers linear, angidar, bearing pollen
at the tip; germ oblong, white, very hirsute; style recurved, thick; stigma blunt^ _
•kgume compressed. It grows in dry pastures and amofig cane-pieces.

This is frequently met in cane-piece intervals. Tt is about three feet in height, and
Jia? a few branches, with numerous small pinnated leaves, which collapse immediately
90 being t^otiched^ The blossoms are yellow. Tlic capsule is a tlat pod, about au incii -

152 iioiTtus jamatcensis.

CAKMKAI.

long, black, jointed, and somewiiat luiiry. The roots are woody, ^^ itli mnny fibres —
Tue decot tion of the roots is sjiid to bt? ;m atU'uiott^ to poisonous jilants. A handful of
tlie \v;ished roots I)eing boiled in watL'r t'coiii tluee f)iiits to rwo, ma}' be strained, sweet-
ened, and used for cauinion drink, at the rate of throe; c^uarts in twenty-four hours. — '•
JVn\!fhf. ;i:^

Sec Cas.sia-Stick-Tree — ^Horse Cassia — Ringwoum Bus!i — iSennaTrees — St!nkin<*-

Weed — \Viu> Indkk).

CANKER BERTIY. SOLANUM.

Cl. 5, OR. 1. — Pentamh'ia vionof^ynia. ' N.vr. cu. — Liirida.
Jj£X. CHAK. — See Ca\-Au-, branched, p. lU.

BAKAMENSE. BAJlAXf,?.

.Solamim bacciferuvi fruticositmf stipitibtts'et fdiis majt ribus^ spims
/erocioribus armotis. Sloane, v. 1, p. 38, t. li, f. 3. Erectuni^
£aule tetfti-aculeatissimn, Jhliisi)blongis ad biisiin ina-ijualitcr poi^
reef is. Browne, p. 174.

Stem prickly, shrnbby ; leaves lanceolate, repand, obtuse, beat back at the
edge ; racemes simjjle.

This rises with shrubby stalks three or four feet high, dividing into several irregnlsr
l)rHnches, which have a grey bark, and are armed on every side with red, sharp, thick
net prickles, which are also on the backside of the middle rib of the leaves. The leaves
are an inch and a half long, and half an inch broad, smooth. Tlie flowers in long
bunches from the side of the stalk, upon long peduncles of a fine blue colour. The
berries are saffron coloured, the size of peas. They are bitterish, -and thought to be
serviceable in sore throats.

"at Ve Calalu, branched — Egg Plant — NiGHTSHADEs-r^PoTATTOES — ^Tomato JBerries — ■

— ^Turkey Berries.

• Capsicums — See Guinea. Pepper.

•CARDINAL FLOWER. LOBELIA.

Cl. 1^, OR. 6. — Syrigeiiesia vwnoganiie. "Nat. or. — Campanaceir.

This is named in honour of Matthias de Lobel, a Flemish botanist, and physician to
King James L

Gen. char. — Calyx a one-!eafed perianth, five-cleft, very small ; growing round
the germ, withering ; toothleis nearly equal ; the two superior ones looking more
iipward ; corolla one-petalled, irregular ; tube cylindric ; border five-parted, di-
visions lanceolate, the two superior smaller ; the three inferior more spreading ;
stamens awl-shaped, connate above ; anthers connate into an oblong cylinder,
ga}-Mng five wuysiit the base ; pistil has a sharp pointed inferior germ ; style cy-.

iiadiic.

•ARDiNAt HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 153

lindric, length of stamens ; stigma olituse,. hisped; the pericarp is an ovate cap-
. eule, two or three celled, two or tln-ee valved, gaping- at the top, girt hy the ca-
lyx ; dissepiineafs contrary to the valves ; seeds a great maay, very small ; re-
ceptacle conic. Three species arctnative^ of Jamaica.

*

1. LONGilLORA. LONG -FLOWER ED.

JiapiJ.nciiltcs aquaticus, foliis ckhorii, Jlore albo, tuhulo longissimo. — ■
Sioane, v; 1, p. 158, t. 101, f. 2. Fnliis lanceolatis, dentatis ; pe~
(iimctilis hrevissimis, laferalibus i tubo flaris tcnui longissimo.-^
Browne, p. 322.

Leaves la'nceolatc, toothed ; pedmicles very short, lateral ; tube of tlic corolla
filiform, very long.

This plant is frequent-in Jamaica near rivers and iamoist cool shady places, gi-owin^
from fourteen to sixteen inchesin height. It has a deep thick root. "^The stem groWs
almost upright, and much branched from the axils ; leaves alternate,' sessile, sub-pin-
natifid-tootiied, broadest at the further end, half a foot long, rough, of a whitish green
colour. Peduncles one-flowered, bracte awl-shaped, calyx truncated, with five distant'
tooth-letteil teeth. The corolla handsome, upright, white, witti,a very long tube, and
equal border. Capsi-Je green, when it bursts at the ripening of the seeds. "The whole
plant contains a milky acrid juice, and is very poisonous. Taken internally it is, said to
bring on an invincible purging ; and if even handled, and the hand be unawares ap-
plied to the eyes or lips, it will l)r(ng on an inflammation. The root has a very pun-'
gent disagreeable taste, quickly spreading from' the tongue to th^ throat, and not easily
got rid olf. Horses are reported to burst with eating it, whence, in tlie Spanish \¥est
'Judies, it has the najne of revenla-cavallos^

2. ASSURGENS. RISING,

Mojor brachinta, assurgens ; foliis oblongo ovafiSf-dcnticuIafig, bast
appendiculdti?, utriitgue productis ; spicis terminalihus. BrowuCj
p. 322.

X.eaves43road-Ianceo!ate, serrate ; tooth-letted and decurrent below; racemea
compound, terminating.

Hoot perennial. Stem herbaceous, three or four feet high, simple, or only sirnply
■idtvideil at top, angular, thick, smootli, red, milky. Leaves sub-sessile, or on very
rghort petioles, ovate-lanceolate, a foot long, alternate, nerved, smooth on both sides ;
toothlets at the base of the leaf linear; petioles very short, decurrent at the sides,
whence the stem is winged, continued under the leaf to the tip, tliick, red ; raceme
almost upright, curved. Flowers numerous, heaped, blood-red, very large, pubescent|
on round peduncles, an inch in length, widi linear bractes at their base ; calyx supe-
rior, with five long lanceolate, reflex, serrate teeth ;, corolla nerved inwards ; the an-,
tlier has Ave blue grooves ; geim infeirior, angular, surrounded by the calyx ; style
thick ; stigma inclosed within the anther, capitate-compressed, white, viilose ; capsule
angular, two-celled, crowned by the calyx —Suk Browne says this is found chiefly in
'the cooler mountains, where it shoots fre(|ueatly to the height of five or six feet.

3. ACUMINAT.U POINTED.

Sapiincidus folio oblongo, serrato, Jlore galcato, integro, pallide luteo,

A blOiyie^

Slonne, V, l-, p. 1-58, t. 95, f. &.- I'tf.'iis'ihlovai.s; anginf'.'i, Icniter •
■e.1 acute serrt/t/'s ; . cai/le simplici, infernc Joliotato, superne in spi-
atm linigwni desinenii. Browne, p. 322,.

Stem upright, suiTiuticose ; leaves lanccol^c, attenuateil, serrulate ; raceme -
terraitiittmg, iijuuy flowered.

This has a stalk as h\g us ones finger^ rises three feet liigi, .being green and wnootli,
and having very, many leaves set ou it, witiiont any ordi r, tatli ot wiiich is ten inches .
long, and two broad in the middle, of a dark green r.olour, and indented about ii»c -
edges. At liie top are u great many iiowers, ot" a ,pale yeliow cuiour, and galeated,
hnving a long galea turned up, and some stamina coming out ot the uudiUe of tlie tlower.
Tlie seeds are very small, and starve urb,cei nahle, bio.vn, and toinamed in several tells,
in one capsule^ surrounded with four foiiola, — ii'loane.

4= SITHlLlTlCA. -SIPIIILITIC.

Stem npright; leaves ovate-laneeolate, snb-serrate ; sinuses of the calyx reflex.

This is calleci the blue cardinal flower from the colour of its flower^ it. is a .native cf"
Virginia, and has beeaintroducsti. Its root isnotedfor its eflSeacy in cm"ing siphilis,
whence the specific name. A decoction is made of a handful of the roots in three mea-
sures of water, and half a measure taken in the moriiing fasting, and repeated in the
evening: tlieilose is gradually increased till its purgative effects liecome too vioieni,
when it is to be intermitted for a day -or two, and then reneived till a perfect cure is
■efTected. During its use a proper legimen is enjoined, and the ulcers to be fiecjuently
washed with the decoction ; or if deep and foul, to be sprinkled witii the.pow.der of tiie ;
iijner bark of New Jersey tea tree.

CARDOON. CYNATIA;

Cl. 19, OR. 1. — St/ngenesia polygamia aqualis, Nat. OR, — CcmposiXs. .
Gen. char. — See Artichoke, p. 34.

CARDUNCDLUS.
Leaves spiny, all pinnatifi.d ; calycine scales-ovate. ,

The cardiiucuhis, or Spanish cardoon, greatly resembles the artichote, biit is cP"-*
larger, and more rej^ular growth ; the leaves bei-ng more upright, taller, and broader,
and more regularly divideid ; and the stalks of tlie leaves blanched are the onlv eatable
parts of the plant. It is a very hardy plant, and propagated in the same manner as the
artichoke. When their footstalks. have acquired a thick substance, the leaves of each'
plant must he tied np to admit of earthing them cli>sely all round for blanchmg, which
will take up six or eigl>t weeks. Browne observes that this plant was introduced into
this island by Mr*, Walien, and raised ifi jnany gardens, both in tlie lowlands and in the.
Ijnountains.

In some parts of Spain they substitute the.down of this plant for rennet, in making-
<3*keese. A strong infusion is made over jiight j and the next.inoniing, when the milk

fASnAV.- HORtUS JAMAICENSIS. isi

■''ii -warm from the cow jthey pot nearly half a pint of the iefusion to about fourteen gal.
ions of milk.

See Artichoke.

Cardt-us — S'ee Blessed Thistle.
Carex— ^'tt Sedges.

*

CARROT. DAUCUS.

Cs,. Sf OB. 2. — Pentandria dig^/nia. Nat. OR. — UmhcUaite.
Ge?». char. — Calyx umbel, universal ; corolla universal, diflbrm, somewhat rayed^
all hermaphrodite \ floscules of the disk abortive ; stamina capillary ; ai.thers sim-
ple ; the pistil has an inferior small germ, two reflex styles, with obtuse stigmas
there is no pericarp ; fruit ovate, often hisped on every side, with stiff hairs, bi-
partite i seeds two, sornewiiat ovate, on one side convex, hisped, on the other flat.

C.\ROTA. CARROT,

Seeds hisped ; petioles nerved underneath.

There are several varieties, the white, the orange, and the purple carrot ; the orange
is the best, and thrives extremely well in Jamaica, where it is often found of as large a
size as need be ; as large indeed as they grow in England.

They are propagated by seeds, but the imported seeds, when good, are certainly
preferable. Tfie carrots produced from the Jamaica seeds are smaller, of a paler
colour, and degenerate in proportion as they are removed from the original stock, so
that, in time, without a fresh supply of seed, they would be entirely lost, or so indif-
ferent as not to be worth cultivating. They delight in a loose soil, and the beds where
they are sowed should be well dug, that the roots may meet as little obstruction as pos-
sible in going down, so as to fork them. Too mucli dung occasions them to be worm-
eaten. The hairiness of the seeds makes the sowing them difticulf, as they stick toge-
ther ; but when sdwn they should be trod in with the feet, and the ground raked level
over them.

Raw carrots are given in England to children troubled with worms. They pass
through most people, but little changed. A poultice made of the roots hath been
found to mitigate the pain and abate tlie stench of cancerous ulcers. Crickets are very
fond of carrots, and are easily destroyed by making a paste of powdered arsenic, wheat-
meal, and scraped carrots, which ir.ust be placed near their habitations. By their
strong antiseptic qualities, a marmalade made from carrots has also been found useful
in preventing and curing the sea scurvy. The seeds have been reckoned carminative
and diuretic ; and were formerly much used as a remedy for the stone, but are at pre-
sent disregarded. Carrots were first introduced into England by the Flemings, in the
reign of Queen Elizabeth.

CASHAW. MIMOSAo

' Cl. 23, OR; I. — Polr/gamia monoecis,. Nat. o?.,~-'LomerJe€(a,

xs Gek;

.* . . '

Gek. char.— ■S'f.f Cacoon, /■. 137, . There are two species oftLe 3H:*/i».?a, known* by
the name of cas/fai<.

1. TORTUOSA. WRITHED,,

y!cac.i(LOjr,eirt&aiia.,.siiii]uis terctibus venliv'csis, fovihus h'.tch. S'.oarf,
V. 2,.. p. 56. Torkiom, (wuleis reclis ^ewiiuitis, foliis;iennissiifiif>y
spica giobosay siliquis c-rttssis, 'Browne,- p. 25-1.

Spines sti])nlar_v ; leaves bipinriats, Ti5ur-pah«d, a gland betvvefen the Io!v;gst j
piiinas sixtcen-paired ; spikes globnlai'. . . , •

This tree has, a. branching stem.; the "bratiehes dKTiKed, sira-ciiTsided, ficxnosej
pniooihish, s'pinj',, with a brown bivrk •,• spine.s in pairs, ahnost united at the baic,.
stretched out,:halt";in inch long ; leaves three or four Irom-.one pointy aicernate ; par-
tial ones two or tbr&d paired ; pinnas tweh'& to sixteen, lanceolate,- bluntish, cntii-e,
smooth. Universal petirlesjj Tound, fihtbrm^ reddish ;" partial petioles angular. —
Ijiands soiitary, brOwn, in-the niid.lle ot' the vmiversai petioles,, belovy. the leaflets;
flowers pcduiicled, in. licads, yellow.: peduncles solitary, above the spines, among
the leaves, halt an inch in length, bent invn. Klaments monodeiphou.s, twenty or
twenty-four, upriglit, yellow; gerin ovate, minute ; legume horned, rauadish, toru-
lose, drawn to a point at both ends, beaked, black ; s<^eds ob-cvate, black, compressed
a little. 'Between the outer coat of the pod, , tod the inner nienabrane separating the
seeds, there is a liquor of -the consistence -and colour of a syrup, which smells very
.strong and is bittxir and astringent. "Browne says that this woidd prove an excellent
medicine, where rough astringents are requisite ; he also observes, " There is no plant .
iiiore common than tiiis in the lowlands of Jamaica, but thesmell of the whole plant is.
so rank and disagreeable, -that it cannot be used even for firewood. Cattle are said to
■browse upon its more tender shoots, in dry weather." -It is called the acucki or acacei:
■'bitsh, and frequently made hedges of.

Cashaw grosvs^to a large size, aiid is. found in great- abundance in tlie neighbonrhood
of Passage Fort, and the-Bridge lliver in St. Dorothj-. It is luxuriant. and spreading.
It is esteemed a good timber' wood, and used for building small craft and wharf piles,.,
on account of its being offensive to the worm, tough, au.i lasting. The wood is of a
firm grain, beaiitifut brown colour, very glossy when polished, and, though it stinks
^vorse than assafiitida v\-iien "first cut, it acquires, by keeping, a perfame or agreeable
odour, very similar to that of rosevvood. It seems to be ku'gely impregnated with a
lesin, which probably is not.vvith<J:}l some yahiable quality.' Both the bark and roots of
this tree aliord a red dye, at present unattended to. — Long, p. S3 8.

, r';. .2. .TUUFJLORA.

Diffusa, spiea' ohlonga, silicjui.'! longiarihus compressis, Browne,
p. 252.

Spines stipulary, in pairs ; leaves bi))iRnate,,bijUgous, distinguished by a gland^
spikes pendulous ; 1-egumes coiupressed-.
This isxalledthe popenax, ov opoponar, and rises. freque.ntly to the height of four- '
teen o'r hfteen feet. It is hot 'so 'prickly as- the tortiwsa, aiid the leaves are rather
larger j it is of a iiioire spreading growth, and f arnisiicd with oblong flo\i'er spikes, and

Uiiicb

mm.wv WORTTf'^ JAMAICENSIS.' 1,-7

rroUi

aiucli longer legumes or po;ls. It was intnxlticed into t'.iirf island fr

aad tiirives very luxuriantly ; inci-easiiig indeed so fast as to becoaiie very troiablciouie

in most pastures.

Pcpova.r. — Tlii&is z name, but very erroneous, that t'acr in Juniaica giVe to a plant
Vii;cb is qi'tlie acacia kl^d, and is mare exactly like tiie Kgypliiin ffi»f w, or t-liqi'jti..»lt..i^
rtporlecl, tluit a certain person brouglu t!.-e seed of it to Jauiaica, and plaviteti it, and sai(^
if he lived to see it grow, lie sbouUT >et an estate by it.j biitbow, remains a mystery to
this day, unless it is for its dying quality- it&ikwereisre indeed-very odoriferous. The
, dyers use tbe hus^ of the pods to dye black ; they also soak seme of the pods all night
in water, then uiix a little alum witii it, and boil it to a due t&ickrress, which makes a
TCr\^ fine black and str/Jng ink. I have ofcen uiaee it, and wr^jte with it, and observed
it never fades or turns yellow, as copperas infe will, i tarried soriie of th'» pods with
me to England in j?J7, and gave tiiem to a dyer, who tried them, and said, ,they.rtwc-
cecded gaiis for dying of linen, and, if they w"on!d come as cheap, .would be prefei-a-
ble : but I also observed, the worms destroyed the pods and seeds qrbicklr.

'It is certain.tbat the sUccvs <u-ai:i(i, thai-is one of the ingredients of rnithrHlate,' shi
Venice irtacle, is only the-hardened juiOe extracted by decoction of .ihe-fl.c«(v'rt or'Eg}])-
tian thorn, .wliich I- take to be this tree, or at least to be hs good> if not better, liaviug
rather a ni^re restringeut quality, and thereiore proper in ail sotts of il-iixes.

The name of poponax, tfeat they give to ihis plant, I take to be the corrupted word
q{ opnporia.v, which is a gum, or inspissated juice, of a plant csiied pana.t lieracUum ;
but this .is. not the tree. — Barhatn., p.lBQ.

The planiers Hiadefenceswith it in the southern ]owIanQ< and s'avannas, but its seeds
dispersing about, It soon sprouted spontaueously, and now it over- nms vast tracts of
iiuid, and nia!ntains.its ground so firmly, that so long as the leasi particle of the root
remains, it never ceases-throwing up its tiiorny plants ; whence it is next to impossi-
Jxle to eradicate.'it entirely from a piece of land in which it has once flourished. The
pods are ricbly impregnated with a sticky astrin<rent gum, easily to. be extracted. —
When t}<ey are half ripe, this juice may be made use cif for cementing 'broken china.
The trunk, .when wounded, emits a transparent giuu, like gum arable. The pods are
liable to.be destroyed by a.*vorm, but they might pr-jbablv be preserved by steeping a
little while in lime-water, by luniigation with. brimstone just belbre they afe packed^
or by putting a small b;ig or box of camphor into the package.

The roots, when bruised, yield a very. offensive smell; and a decoction made fro'-n
them is said to be mortally poisonous.

But, since this plant is no.v grown so common, and even troublesome, might it not
be worth while to try if .some henefit could be made of it in trade? The jierson who
first gave it introduction probably mistook it for the true ffrar/fir, which yields the me-
dicinal gum andsw<r».j of the shops; experiments are required to determine, 'whether
the gum obtainable from the trunk of these trees is not of similar use 'and efHcaey in
jriedicine ? and v.'hether the gummy juice of the pods may not be extracted, and "pre-
pared in a proper form, for a remittance to Europe ? Thirdly, whether they cannot
■be brought into tlemand anil consumption among the dyer?, as they yield so fine and
strong a black tint, which is much wanted for linens. It is evident, from the affinity
cf these plants, that the Egyptian might, if it v/as introduced into. this island, bepro-
•pagated with equal facility, — Lovg, p. d,lZ^ ' '

liS HORTUS JAMAICCNSIS. eAsnfew

The pods and seeds qf the casbaw ave greedilj- eaten by cnttle and horses, especiaHy
in dry weather. If the latter, however, have access to water they will drink heartily,
and it proves fatal to them. The moisture arouses the vegetation, and the seeds svveii
and put forth shoots even in the animals stomach. This is not the case with cuttle, and
is, in all prjbabiiity, prevented by the second mastication.

See Cagook — East India Ebony — GfM-ARABic— Inga Tree- — Nephritic -Tree-
sensitive Plant — Wild TAMAill^•I>.

' CASHEW, ANACARDIUM.

Cl. 23, OR. 1. — Pulj/gamia monoccia. Nat. ow.—lloloracece.

Tbis generic name is derived from two Greek words, signifying without a heart,' fce-
<c&use the fruit, instead of liaving the seed inclosed, has the nut <^rowiug at the end.

Oen. char. — Calyx of the hermaphrodite flowx^r is a five-leaved perianth ; leaflets
cvate, concave, coloured, erect, deciduous : corolla rive petalletl ; petals lance-
olate, acute, three times as long as the calyx, uprisi;iit at bottom, ledi^.x at the
end; the stamens are ten filaments, imited at tlie base, iiprigiit ; tune of them
capillary, shorter than the calyx ; one tliicker, double the ieiigth of the others,
lying on the germ in front; aathers roundish, iu the longer hiamei'.t large and
fertile, in the rest small ; the pistil has a gemi kidney-swapcd, ubliquely'emur-
ginate in front ; style subulate, bent in, the length of the corolla ; stigma small,
roundish, depressed, cancave ; tnere is no pericarp ;. the receptacle is very large,
ob-ovate ; ihe^eed is a kidnej^-sbajied nut, large, at the top of the receptacle ;
with a thick shell, cellular within, and abounduigvvith oil. The male flowers are
either mixed with the hermaphrodites, or on a distinct tree ; their calyx, corolla,
and stamina, as in the hfcrmaplirodites ; the pistil has no germ, or it is abortive.
Obs. — This trte was origuualij placed i7i the tenth class ; if was removed by Lin-
neus to the ninth, and is note placed in the twenty-third, fromthe- observations ^/
, JiottboelL There is but one species, a native of Jamaica.

* occidentale. : ivestern.

Pomifera, scu pctitis prunifera Indica^vuce renifm^yni summo poynmo
. inascente, cajous dicta. Sloane, v. 2, p. 136. Fructu obverse ovatOf
jiuce reniJorTiii, racemis terminalibus. Browne, p. 226.

This tree, in favourable situations, grows to the height of twenty feet or more. The
root is large and brachiated, die tree spreading and very ramose. The leaves stand
very thick on the branches, and are of an oval form, smooth, tough, and shining, pe-
tioll'd, scattered alternately. The flowers are small, and grow in a kind of umbei-form
at tlie tops of the branches, are of a dirty red colour, they are numerous, and have a
sweet smell. The truit is sometimes reddish, and sometimes yellow, or streaked, which
: Browne took to be owing to some difference in the soil or cuitnre, which is not the
case, for A. Robinson obsen-es that, upon planting the stones, the trees proceeding
irom the nut of the yellow fruit bear yellow, and iiotcedj aaAvice versa. He also men-
siini having seen & t^ee bearing double nuts.

«*«ew lIOfvTUS JAMAICKN^SIS. i;"9

Tlae ''mjit is f«ll cf an acrid inicc, whirh is frequently made vi.-c of in rr.aking pimc'..
To the iipcx of the fruit grrnv,'; ;i \iut v: tiie size aii^i shape of a bjres Lidiiey, fiut mnrh
krj^c-r at the euu whicri is »ext the f/mt than at dit; oilier. Tiie shell ;s very hard ;
and the kerne), which is the fme.st r»ut ui the warki, ly covered with a thin filiri. Be-
t\veen this.antl the bheU is lodged a tiiiik, blatkisli, ij;f!amniiu)ic ijoror, of iuch a caurlic
nature in tlie frtsh nut?, ihat, if the hps chanct to, touch it,, bifsttrs v/ijj iruinediEtCiy
follow. The fruit is said to fee good in disorders of the, stomach ; the juice of wh'ch
cuts tlie thick lough huinoiirs, whicli o!xs_lruct the free ciri ulaiion of the blond, Q.i:d
th«s removes the conipiaint. Tiiis j'.ilte, exprcs:>ed and ierniented, makes a fine roiigL
wine useful viliere the viscera, or aoiid system has..bec;a relaxed. It does noz liinve ia
iiifh mouiilairis.

b*

Tiiis tree and fruk are 9©. well lir. own in ,(^^leriril, especially in Brasil and in Jamaica,
that they need no pmLicular descriptic!>. The stone of this apple appears before ttis
fruit it:.elf, growi-ng at the end, in ihe sliape of a kidney, as big as a walnut. Some cf '
tlie fruit are all red^ ,soine a\\ yellow, and some mixed with both r-ed and yellow, zrA
others all white, of a very pleasant tiiste in general ; but there is -a. great variety, as
some more sharp or tart, sonie like the tas-te of ctierries,. others very rough like urihpc;
apples, but most of them sweet and pleasant, ant! generally goes off with a reslrino'encif
or stipticity upon the tf^ngue^ which proceetis from its tough fibres that rtm Jong.*xy
through the fruit ;• when cut with a knife, it tucnsas black as ink. There are sorae 6i
the fniiD bigger than others, but the generality of tiieia are as big and mndi of th.2
shape of f r^^nch pippins, aiitl Jiiake u:i e-sceltent cyder or wins, 3, havaag a larga
orchard ^f about three hundred trees, after the market was glutted with them^ distilled
a spirit from tliem f;ir exceeuiii^ an-ack, rain, or bmndy, of which they made an aC-
mirafclf .punch, that would prov(,ke urine powerfully. The flowers are very small, and.
grow in tufts, of a carnsition colour, and very odoriteroijs. The leaves much rsiembli
the English wabuit-tree Ieav.es in shape and si^ieil, and are as effectual in old ulcers,
cleansing aiui hPuling them, beiiio detooted, and the ulcers washed wjtii-it. The nuS
hath, a very caustic oil, lo. ged in little partitions. betwixt the two outward coats, which
will flanie violently when put in the fire. The oil cures the hsrpss, ca>7cerous and ma-
lignsnt. ulcers aljoiniuing with rotten flesh.; it also kills worms in- ulcers and chigoes ;
it taHes.away freckles and liver spots, but it draws blisters, therefore must be cautiously
mafie use of ; and some make issues with them ; it aLso takes away coins, but you musS
have- a very good defensive round the corn, to prevent inflannng.-the part. The inside
IvCrnel is very pleasant to eat, when young and before the fruit is come to ripene.'is,
exceeding' any walnut ;, and when older and drier, roasted, they eat -scry pleasant, ex-
ceeding pistachia-nuts or almonds, and, ground up .with .cocoa, make an excellent-
chocolate. The gun* of this tree is very white and transparent like glass. Jt hath been
observed, that poor dropsical ijaves tiiatJiave liad the liberty to go into a cashew-walk,

and eat what cashews they please, and of the.roastcd nuis, have been recovered.

These trees are of quick growth : I luve .planted the nut, and the young trees have-
produced fruit in two years time, and will keep bearing once a-yearfor forty or fifty-
years, nay, ^hundred, liy \\ hat I can understand, jf no accident attends them. Majny
ate now flourishing in Jamaica that were ])lanted when the Spaniards had it in posses^
»ion ; for. the wood is exceiient strong and lasting timber. — Barham, p,. 33.

Some planters roast the ripe fruit at a iiio, and slice one or two into a howl of punca,^^

fogiveit-a pleasant flavour. "EiiSSr-

1 vO H O R T US - J A I\I A I C E N SIS. ■ c ajhkw

The tree annually transmlcs in large qnantities, vi?. often to ten or f-clre pounds
weigiit of a line, semi-transparent gum, similar to giirn arable, and ncii; ,\t all infenor
to it in virtue and quality, except that it contains a slight astringency, which perhaps
renders it, in many res|;ects, more valuable ; tor wiiieh reason it is often used as a
.i'«tt't'rfa«e(07i in the Jamaica s!io|)s, and might answer equally well in Great Britain, if
tncourageuient was given to collect and remit it.*

'1 he liiicl-' oil of the nut, or shell, tinges linen of a rusty iron colour, which can
hardly be got out ; and if any wood be svcearoci -with it, it preserves it from decay. If
a i^)roper method could therefore be fallen upon, for exti-acting this oil from th.e .shell,
■vvhich at present is gencnilly thrown away as useless, it would doubtless be applicaiile
to various good purposes ; for no worm would attack the wood uho&e pores are filled
with it. It would certainly be an excellent preservative to hou^e-timbers, if not to ships
bottoms, mixed, with, other compositions ; though, for the latter operation, perhaps it
might be difficult to obtain, it ni plenty suiiicienf, or ct a price t.iat would mak;- it an-
swer to the experiment. But, where a less quantity might be wanted, there is great
probability of obtaining it; as the tree is so easily propagated, grows in ahiiOst any soil,
' bears luxuriantly, and lives to a very great age.

From the body of the tree Ls procured, by tapping or incisian, a ratlkv juice, which
•etains lingji of a deep black, and cannot be got out again : but whether this has the
^ame pi:op*rty withtiiat of the East Indian anaairdiam, has not yet been fully experi-
inenteci i^for the inspissated juice of tliat tree is the best sort of Jac which is -.used for
staining black in China and Japan.

Dr Grew mentions the juice beings lised for staining of cottons ; \\\t it is doubtful
which of the sjiecies he means ; though Sir Hans Sloaue supposes it to be of the aca-
jou pr cashew, here mentioned. However, it may be very well worth the trial. A few
of the.tre.es may be tapped in the bleedmg season, the jivice collected in earthen pots,
kept ia a place free from dust, or the pots covered v\dth a linen cloth, to prevent dust
from mixing with it j and, wiien of a proper consistence, experiments may be made to
■ see if it has the same property with the Japan inc, which, if it has, it may prove a va-
tudbie coiUHKjdity. It may be propei', for greater certainty, to varjr die experiment;
to expose some of the juice in shallow w-ooden receiver^:, covered with a -single linea
cioth, to the heat of the sun, and reduce it to a consistence in the sanis manner as the
aloes ; or inspissate it in iron pots over a fire, by gentle evaporation. If either way
should succeed, a new and impoi'tant article would be gained to the commerce of the
island. — Long, p. 725.

The oil between the rinds, if heklto a caudle, emits bright, salient, particles. This
■oil is used as a cosmetic to remove freckles and sun-burning, biit the pain suffered
jnalces its use not very frequent.— (jrri?/;iifej\

Expressed juice of the fruit, in red wine saugaree, good in female weakne.ssesj. — -
■Cure also for the dropsy. The Portuguese turn their dirt eating negroes out in the
•ca.shew season, and force them to live ou the fruit. Labat, torn. 2, p. 233. — Dancer^s
-Jledicai Aisiitant.

C.VSSADA.

* In co'nsequence of a premium offered aoni3 ye3rsagf>,fcy the soripty for the improvement 'of ar's, 5. c. a quantify of
the gum 'vas sent lo Enj^laiid, to bs trttid as a f»ubititute t^^ t>^-'^' Senega, in dyi'^g silks, but it wan ru;t li-und to answer
-ill tlicse ofii^ht colouv3, because u contained asniall.aiiantity of buckish sedjmer.tor ro->in which slai. eJ them, but
in ibose ot'a black coinur it-atiiivvered'as wej,) an {juni Senega, and sa far it opens a miirket f-.T (!*is gum. It hag the
iipptarance uf the clearest giuii arnbic, and b-:3 been founJ of ^--ai u^t in pasting pa>iers toge*U^j «» it, nevecetacklfti'

; wili 'AU> ia»ect eaiu* It would therefore b& vory useful ^or the purposc:i» uf au Ueibarium.

CASS.\BX K<5RTUS JAMAICENSIS. Itl

CASSADA. JATROPHA.

Cl. 21, GR. !:'. — Monocr/a mcjuuk'lphia. NaT. os. — TruvcCi-p.

This generic name is derived from tuo Greek words, signifying an eatable poison.

*Gen'. char. — Male askyx a scarcely manifest perianth-; corolla one-petaied, funnel
form; tube very shoitt ; border five- parted ; divisions roundish, spreading, con~
vex, concave beneath ; stamens ten filaments, awl-shaped, approximated in the
middle ; the five alternate ones shorter, upright, shorter than the corolla ; anthers
roundish, versatile ; the pistil is a weak rudimejit, latent in the bottom of the
flower. The female, in the same umbel with the males, has no caivx ; corolla
iive-petalled,i rosaceotis ; the pistil has a roundish germ, three-furro\ved ; stvlea
three, bifid ; stigraas simple ; the peritavp is a roundish capsule, tricoccous, three-
celled, cells bivalve ; seeds solitary, roundish. To this genus belong the physiq
nuts. There are two varieties uf the following species :

1. MANIHOT.

Leaves palmate ; lobes lanceolate, quite entire, even.

S* Var. BlTTEfi C ASSAD A — Bicinus m iywriiticis obtuso folio, caide verrucosa, flore pcnta~

.peUilo albido, ex cujus radice tuberosa, succo venenato turt^ida, Anie-

:ricanipati£in co7iJicimti. Sloane, v. 1, p. ISO, t. 85. Foliispabnatis

^pentadact^UbuSy radice conico-oblonga^ came suhlactea:. Browne,

.p. 349.

"This plant shoots fr<-!m a tough, branched, woody, root, whose slender collateral fibres

•tfirvell into those fleshy conic masses, for which the plant is cultivated ; and rises bv a

! slender, woody, knotted, stalk, to the height of four, five, or six, feet, or more. The

'leaves are alternate, smooth, on long petioles, six or seven-lobed ; lobes narrow at the

base, growing broader till within an inch and a half at the top, where they diminish

•to an acute point; die three middle lobes are about six inches long, and two broad

where broadest ; the two next are about an inch shorter, and the two outside lobes are

tnot more than three inches long ; the middle lobes are sinuated on each side near the

vtop, but the two others are entire. Tlie flowers are produced in small umbels at the tops

? of the stalks, some male and others female; petals five, spreading; in the male flowers

stamens ten, united; in the females germ round, with three furrows in the centre ;

styles three, two distant, and one rising between taeni sliorter, ail crowned by a single

stigma ; capsule roundish.

The root of this plant makes a verj^ good and Miolesome bread, notwithstanding the
;■ yuice is a deadly poison, called manipuera, wherefore great care is taken to press out
. all its juice ; and then, dried in the sun, beat, and finely sifted, and baked upon a flat,
broad, round, iron, commonly called a baking stone, they make the cakes as broad as
a hat, which, buttered while hot, eat like an oat cake. I have seen several bad acci-
dents happen to negroes newly come to Jamaica, and strangerc to the roat, who have
eat of it only roasted with ite juice, which hath poisoned them : The symptoms- are,
■first, a pain and sickness of the stomach, a swelling of the whole abdomen, then violent
vomitifig and purging, giddiness of the head, then a coldness' and shaking, dimness of
■sight, swoonings, and death, and all in a few hours. The expressed juice of the root
■is very sweet to the palate, but soon putrifies and breeds worms, called topuea, which
oiire a vioicat poisonj and vvliicli Indians too well know the use of : They dry these

y ■ worms

163- nOTl-'FUS- J:AM-ArCENSm. «i.A^Ar>.*.

\

"\v

wortTis or mn!ip;ots, and powdrr them ; which powd(?sr,'.iii a little quantitv, tlicy piU
under their ti-iiimh-naii, ,, and, , after they drink to iti\os« they intend to poisoi>, they put
their thiimh upon the how), itnd. so cwtningly convey tiie poison; wherefore, when
^ve sec a negro with a lon^ thumh nail, he is to he mistrusted.. Cassada broad, niilk,
and sweet oil, make a,n;adruirabl^ poultice to npen aud breali.any swelling. — Barham,_
p.M. .''_'"' ' ' . •

This plant, which furnishes the Brasihans with great part of their sustenance, is .
much cuhivgted in this island. !j thrives best in a free mixed soil, and is propagated,
by the bud or gcrni, in the foilowing- manner. TJie ground is first cleared, and liocd ,
into shaliow holes, of about ten inches or a foot .square, and. seldom. above thre-e or four
inches in depth, and v/ithoiU much regularity. A number of the full grown plants be-
ing proA-ide;!, they are cwt into junks, of. about six or seyen iiiches in length, as far as ,
tliev are found to be tougiv and woody, and wfi! furnished with swelling, full-grown,
hardy, buds. Of these one or two are laid in evi'ry hole, .and covered over with mould ,
from the. adjoining bank. , The graund'must be keptclsan till the plants rise to a suf-
ficient height ; tii^ plants moulded up ; and tlie growth of weeds prevented. They -
come to perfe<.:tion in about eight mor.ths ; but tiie roots v/ill remain in the- ground h.?
a considerable time uninjured, if the want of fresh plants, or bad yveuther,. should make
it necessary to ciil the stalks.. When the- leaves wither, and the- plant blossoms, tlie
roots are fit to dig. They a re then, (in good land) nearly as thick as a man's thigh. —
They are taken out for use, as occasion requires, and then j>re]iared, viz. after being
.well washed and scraped, a(>d then rubbed into a kind of pulpy meal with an iron grater,
they are put into sti.ong linen bags, and plaped iu .convenient presses. The connnc;i
method of pressing is, as eftectnafas any. One or more; large flat stones are placed to
a proper height upon, the ground, noar the root of some old tree, in the side of whii Iv.
a hole, or notch, has been cut ec[ual to the elevation of the stones. Into this hole is.
fiKCd the exti-eniity of asirong plank, or beam,, -.\;hich. stretches over the stones by way
of a lever, pressing with all its weight upon the,cassad.abag> which is, laid upon.the uyj-
permost stone. . Several heavy load& are fixed at the other end of this lever, or as many;
as it will bear ; and in this state the bag remains until the juice is thoroughly squeezed
out. After this operation,, the meal is spread in the .suii for some time ; then pouiided
in a large wooden mortar, passed through a coarse sieve, and baked on fiat, circular^
iron plates, .fixed in, a.stoye. The particles of the meal are united by the heat, and,,
%v;hen thoroughly baked in this manner, for.m cakes, which are sold at the. markets,
and universally esteemed a wholesome Idnd of bread.* Toasted and buttered, they
ai'e very relishing, , and .used by most families. , They are also made into very delicious
puddings. The juice of the root is of a poisonous nature ; .hut, when boiled, it throws
up a scum,, which, being taken off, the remainder is found, by long experience, to he
an inoftensive and agreeable drjn};, much resembling whey in las.ie and quality. But,
however nozvious.the juice ntay be in its crude state, unmixed with a.ny corrective, it;
is well knovs'n that hogs eat the, fresh roots with great avidity, and suffer no inconveni-
ence : either, therefore, their stomachs and intestines are formed to assimilate it jnti .
wliolesome nourishment, or they correct its bad qualities by the surrounding mould
swallowed with it, or by some antidote which instinct prompts them to eat afiep

it.,^

•The 'Spaniards when tlie.v first discavered tlie West Indies, found it in general use among .the natire IiidiarSit-
wh" cjlli-'d il enzijbb!, and by whom it was preferred to everj ottier kind of lireadj On a<;couul of .its eaajr^i^esti*;^^
(4^ '^<"^i''tj ^'^^' winch itwas cultivated, and itsprodigious increase..

CAsSADA IIORTUS JAMAICENSIS. i&3

it.* The negroes boil and eat the leaves as a green. It is supposed that the action of
the fire carries oliits malignant qualities. What is not a little extraordinary, the mealj
not yet discharged of its juice, makes an excellent salve, and seldom fails to heal the
worst sores ; and, to improve its Cilect, it is sonietiuies mixed for this intention with
the fresh ieavi;s of tobacco pounded. -^-Zo«^, p. 77.7.

llochon fays its poison only acts on the nervous system, and produces no inflamma-
tion on the stomach j but the stomach of a man, or oliit-r animal, poisoned by it, ap-
pears to be contracted one half. Browne says it has been lately discovered by an inger
nious gentleman, who has practised many years in die warm parts of America, that a
little mint vvater^nd salt of worm-vvood, .mixed and taken, will calm the most violent
symptoms that arise on taking it, if timely administered. The poison being of a cold
kind, warm and active medicines are considered the best. The.Indians of Guiana give
a mixture of red pepper braised in nun. The common remedy in Brazil is, first, to
give a dose of ipecacuanha, and then the juice or powder of a plant called juibambit,
of which the co.upiler has notbeen able to ilisoover the generic name, (jruiiiger says
that warm water pouretl on toasted cassada, or on oatmeal made brown, will ulten stop
a vomiting; but mint-jmcc, mived .with sugar, and \yann goats milk, will generally
succeed when it fajis,

2Var. — Sweet Cassada. — Foliis palmatis, /obis incertia., radice obbvgafwdiculo valldo
per centrian ducto, came nrcca. Browne, p. 350.

This plant is very like the foregoing in habit an i appearance, and raised and culti-
vated in the same manner ; but the root is free from any of that deleterious quality that
is observed in the juices of the other sort. -It is ahvays planted in seperate places for
fgar of a mistake, and roasted or boiled for use ; but the latter seems to be the best
method of dressing it ; for, iri this state, the outward part is commonly brought ahnos't
to a jelly, and is extremely dela^'ate and agreeable. — /iioK'/ic, p. 350. Barham says it
■ -may be eaten ravs-, or roastod like a potatoe, without any manner of prejudice or luirt,
•teing very nourishing, and makes a very hue white tloLir, From the root of the sweet
scassada tapioca is made, in e-> ery respect similar to tiiat imported ; which is done by
; grating them, washing and infusing them in water, and evaporating the liquor so as to
<i4j>btaiu a sediment like starch, which must be well dried in the sun.

■2. GOSSYPIFOLIA, COTTON I^EAVED,

ijlicinus minor stapJiysagries folio^^Jiorc penfapetalo purpurro. Sloane,
V. 1, p. 129, t. 84. Humilior sefis rainosis ornata ; foliis trilobis
vd quinquelobis, levissime denticidaiis. — Browne, p. 348.

' Leaves five^parted ; lobes ovate, entire, ciliate ; bristles glajidular, branched,
on the petioles.

The leaves of the ■f^ossT/pifabia, cotton-leaved jafrophet, -dnld cnssmLi, ov belly-ache

• hu^h, .are quinquepartite, with lobes ovate and entire, and glandular branchy bristles.

fhe stem, which is covered witli light greyish bark, grows to about three or foin-rfeet

high, soon dividing into several wide-extended branches. These are neither decorated

■with leaves nor flowers till near the top, which is then surrounded by the former ; their

Y 2 foots,talk%

f A 80W, pojeeced with cassada root, was preserved hy giving he» some of the antidote cocoon.

1«4 HOIITUS JAMAICENSIS.. CASsrA-

footstalks, as \}olI ns the young buds on the extremity of the. hranchos, ave guarded
round with stiff liairy bristles, wliich arp alw^iys tipped with ghitinons hquid droi)s.^—
From among tluse iise several small deep red pejUupetaloiis iiowers, the pistil of eaclj
being thitk set at the top with yellow farinaceous dast, which blows off when rijie :
these tlovvcrs are succeeded by hexagonal husky hlaclush berries, wliich when ripe open
by the heat of the sun, emitting a great many small dark-coloured seeds, which serve
as food for ground doves and poultry, whidi are very fond of them. The leaves are
few ; but seldom or never drop off, nor are eaten bv vermin of any kind. This plant
grows very commonly about the streets of Spanish Tov.'n and Kingt>ton.,

Dr. W'fight informs us. that a decoction of the leaves is often used with advantage in
si)asinodic belly-ache, atrended with vomiting ; it sits easier on the stomach tiian ;iny
tiling else, and seldom, tails to bring about a discharge by stool. The seeds are drastic
pui'ges and emetics ; aud they yield, by decoction, ap oil of the same uses and virtues
as the ol^umrkini.

In the months of Marclv and April, there is found, in the ii^iside. pith of the foot- _
stalk, a hard knotty excresi ence, of an oval shape, hard and yellowish, of divers sizes, ,
as from a hazel-nut to alien's egg : 1 never could find what use they are of; only I ;
have olwerved the boys will powder them and give it for snuff, which will burn and
tickle the nqse, and cause greater sneezing than white hellebore,. I am apt to believe
they will purge violently ; for the young tops of this, plant, boiled, and Wittered, are ■
'often given in the dry belly-ache, as also in clysters, purging violently- when nothing
else would go through the patient. The seeds are like a small rianus ; and, if they
are not the true grauadilla, yet they piirge as strongly ; for two or three seeds, giveii-
by themselves, or mixed with j>ills, quicken the purging quality. I knew a pracliiioner •
who always made up pill ex diwlnis with addition of these seeds, which made, the pill
work stronger and quicker, and kept it always moist, You make the pill thus : Take
wild cassada-seeds husked, three ounce?; cambogia, coliquintida, and scammony, of:
each one ounce ; make a pill according to art ; the close is two or three small ones. —
They v/ill purge very briskly a!L watery humours.— rJSar/iavt, p. 35.

Six or more of the young leaves, of the vviW cassada, boiled and eaten as calalue, are
a strong purge in the dry belly-ache. Fjlteen or tuenty of the young leaves in decoc-
tion, with ca-stor oil, are used for a clyster in the same complaint. Dr. A. Kobinsjca^,
advises the decoction internally-, — Daneer^s Med. yJss.

Sec Physic Nut.-

GASSIA-STICK TREE. CASSIA.

Cl. 10, OR. \ .-^Decandria moiwgynia. Kat. or. — Lomentaeeie,
Cen. CHAR. — i'et' Cane -Piece Sensitive, /;. 151.

nSTULA. PIPE.

Ca.fsm nigra seu Jistulosa prima, sive cas&ia fistula Alexandrina.—*
81oane, v. 2, p. 42. ylrhorea, foUis paucioribus ovatis atque pinna-^
iii, sitiiiua maxima cj/liiidrscca, Bxowue, £. 222,

LcaEei^L

•-PASSIA .HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. u$

Leaflets five pairs, ovate-subtomentose ; petioles roun'l, without glands.

'This rises to the height of forty or fifty feet, with a large trunk, dividing into many
branches, garnished with winged leaves, composed of five pair of spear-shaped loiies,
which are smooth, having many transverse nerves from the midrib to the border. Tliu
flowers are produced in long spikes at the end of the branches ^'^]"'ci have a very agree-
able smell, each standing upon a pretty i«ng. foot-stalk ; these arc composed of five
yellow concave petals, which are snccceded by cyiindncal pods from one to two feet
long, with a dark brown woody shell, having a longitudinal seam on one side, divided -
into many cells by transverse partitionsj each conlaming one or two ovai, smooth, com-
pressed seeds, lodged in a blackish pulp, which is used in medicine, ^uch pods should
be chosen as are weighty, new, and do not make a rattling- noise (from the seeds being
loose within them) wlien shaken. The pulp siiould be of a bright shining black colour,
and a sweet taste, not iiarsh, which happens from the fruit being gathered before it has
grown fully ripe, or sourish, which it is apt to tprn ujjon keejnng : it should neither
be very dry, nor very, moist, nor at all mouidy; which, from its being kept in damp ■
cellars or moistened, in order to increase its weight, it is very subject to be. Greatest
part of the pulp dissolves l)Oth in water and in rectified spirit; and may be extracted
from the cane by either. T'he shop^emplov water, Jjoiiing. the bruised pod therein,
and afterwards evaporating the solution to a due consistence. Tliis^ pulp is a gentle
.iasatlvc medicine, and frequent-ly given, in a dose of some diiU'hnis, in costive iiabits.
GeofiVoy says, it does excel. ent.service in tlie painful tension of the bellj", which some-
times follows the imprudent use of antimonials ; and that it may be advantageously ac-
tuated with the more acrid purgatives, or autimonial emetics, oremplojed to abate
their force. . Vallisnieri relates that its purgative virtue is remarkably promoted by
nianna • that a mixture of four drachms.of cassia and two of manna purges as much aa
twelve drachms of cassia or thirty-tv.o of manna alone. Senertus observes, that the •
iwiiie.isapt-to be turned o/a green colour by the use of cassia j aaid sometimeSj where '
a large quantity h;is Ixien taken, blackish.

This tree grows in many parts of Jamaica, but is not indigenous. •

The pulp is soft, black, sweetish, and of the consistence of thick honey, and con»-
tains oblong, roundish, fLutish seeds, that are hard, shining, and of a dusky yellow.
The pulp is only in use, wiiich is taken from the pods, and passed through a sieve. It
irf. looked upon as a mild inoffensive y>urge, agreeing with all sexes and ages. In the
AVest Indies the shell is oliserved to be tiiicker, and the pulp acrid; in which respect
it differs li-om that of tire East Indies ; and perhaps this is owing to a difference in soil
and culture. In .Jamaica the finest fruit is produced from trees growing in rich deep
mould in some bottom or vale, warm and well sheltered; it is not wonderful that the
quality should degenerate, when no pains are taken in tlie cultivation of iti^ — Long^^
9, 730.

The ptilp of the pod, strained through a coarse sieve, ftiay be kept as an electuary ;
Imt the pulp docs not keep long, without turning rancid. JJose the bulk of a small
nutmeg. — Dancer's Med. Ass. p. 380.

Se&. Cake Piece Sensitive — Horse Cassia — Ringworm Shuub^Senka-— Stinkins^-

■CAT*"

1«6 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. qm

CAT-CLAWS. DOLICIIOS.

Cl. 17, OR. 4. — Diadelphia decandria. Nat. or. — Pupilionaceee..

Tliis jreneric name is derived from a Gi'eek word, signityini^ long") from the lengtJi
of tiie pods.

Gex. CHAR.-^Cah'X a one-leafed perianth, very sliort, four- toothed, equal ; the su-
perior tooth eiiiargiiiate ; corolla jiapiliooaceous, standard roundish, large, emar-
ginate, rftlex-, two calluses, oblong, parallel and longitudinal, grouing to the
standard beneath towards the base, compressing the wings, not hollowed on the
« back; wings Of\'ate^obtuse, length of -the keel; keel lutiulate, comjiressed, be-
neath converging closely, lengtii of the wings, ascending at the tip ; The simple
lilament is curved at the ha^e ; anthers simple ; the pistil iuis a linear compressed
germ ; style ascending ; stiguia bearded, running on mwardly fri.mi the middle to

•tiietipof the style, which, on the forepart, is callous obtuse ; the pericarp is au
acuminate legume, large, .oblong, two- valved,, two-celled ; seeds several, elliptic,
usually compressed. The habit is that oi phuscolus ; the keel, which is n(;t spiral,

•distinguishes the genus, of which eight species are natives of Jamaica, the foUow-

'ing, and those referred to under their, English names :

I. FILIFORMIS. THREAD-rORM.

UTeKbacenus minor, foUis liaciribiis, siliqua pulyspervii cvmnressa.-~'.
Browne, p. 294..
Leaflets linear-obtuse, mucrGnate-, smooth, pubescent underneath.
This little plant is frequent about Old Harbour, it grows among the hushes, but sel-
dom stretclies above three or four feet in length. The j^ods are long and conqjressed j
antl the stigma or top of the style, almost naked. This plant is used as a purgative in-
gredient in diet-drinks, and is said, to answer well in hydropic cases. — lirowtie^

2. ROSEUS. ROSE-WKfi,

Phascolus inaritimus rotundifolius, flore piirpurco, siliqua brevicris-
tata, seiiiiiic fuscv sffia/o. Sloane, v. 1, p. 179. Mttiitimus re-
pens, foliis orhiculatis nitidis, siliqiiis comprcssis, satura aliera tri-
gona. Browne, p. 29.3.

Stem creeping, ascending; leafletsAroumlishj shining; flowers in racemes;
legume.s- three-keeled at the back.
Browne calls this plant tlie large seaside dolidws -wifh round leaves, and says the root
is a strono- purgative. Sloane calls it sea bean, and describes it as follows :

" It has a deep white root, with white filaments, running through the loose sandy
f;oil. The stalks are many, lying on;the surface of the ground for many yards, being
;about the bigness of a swan's quill, green, and a little cornered, putting out leaves al-
ternately, three always standing together. The leaves are almost round, green, and
..smooth. The flowers are papilionaceous," and of a "jiale purple coloiir. I'he pod i.s
.two inches long, and three-quarters of an iiwh broad, s-traight, of a clay colour, swelleti
.out, or the pease appearing in it before it be opened, having two crests, raised ledges,
. or eminent lines, one on each valve near the o])ening of it. The peas are about six in
number, each lying in a different membrane, of the bigness of an ordinary bean.-—
'Thej are oval, trown, .and clay-cobured spots upon tiiem, having a black eye or hilus,.

t^^: HORTUS JAMAICENSI3. 16T

% wliich they are fastened to tlie pod. It throws on the keys near Port FvOjal, p:enti-
fA'lly, and the peas are dangerous to cat." — S'loatw.

3. RRPEN'S. CREEPING.

Mnritimu.t, vu'no7\ rrpcn.f ; pfdunciilis hngiorihus ; siltquis polifa
sperviibi/s, gracilihu.';, tcrctihus. Browne, p. 293.
Stem rreepirio- ; leaves pubescent, ovate ; flowers racemed, in pairs ; legumes
linear, columnar.
This plant grows conioionly by the sea side. Browne calls it ihc smaller seaside
dolichos, ..

4. MiNiMtrSi small;

P?tnsechis minimvs, fa'tidus fforihus spicafi's'e viririe htteis seyni'm ma"
fulalo. Slnnne, v. 1, p. !82, t. 115, f. I. MinimuS Jxtidus re-
pins, silicuUs bispermihus. Browne, p. 294.

Legumes in raceines, compressed, with four seeds in them ;. leaves rhomb-
shaped.

This plant has round, small, tender,- stalks, twrsting round any thing thej' come near,
till it be six or seven feet high, (Browne says it seldom exceeds tuo or three,) ha^iing
here and tliere leaves and flowers. The leaTes are alwavs three together, sn)ali, of a,
yellowish green colour on tlie same peduncle; the flowers are many spike-fashion,
ismall, scarce opening, and of a greenish yellow colour, succeeded by small pods, a
»;uarter of an inch long, black and rough, contaimng one or more small oblong, black-
ish, green speckled peas. The whole plant has an unsavoury rank smell, and grows
in rocky places. — Sfoane. Browne calls it the small feet id dolichos. In C'uragoa it has
t^e name of "Ji'itttekrux/t, or wart-herb, the leaves, bruised with salt, being reputed to.-
cure warts,

5. UUTEUS. . YELLOW.

Twining; tibwers in a sort of spike; legumes sub-CAdindric, smooth j leaves
roimdish, rhombed, obtuse, entire, smooth. — Sw. Fr. p. 105.

Besides the above indigenous species, three exotic ones have been introduced, the

lahlab, of which arbours are made in the East ; the svi€nr,:Sf. or Chinese dolichos j an(i_
tkti-(utiaug, which is said to be cultivated for food in the East Indies.,

Se£ CowiTCH^— Horse Bean— Horse-Eye- Bean.
CATESBiEA—^Ste- Trumpet Flower,

GAT-MINT, NEPETA.

Cti. 14, OR. T.^ — Didynamia gymnnspermiai Nat. or. — Verticillat-e.

Gen. CffAR. — Calyx one-leafed, five- toothed ; corolla one-petalled, ringent, lowet-

lip with an intermediate segment, crenate, throat reflex at the edge ; stamina awl-
"• ehaged, Jjeneatii the upper lip approjuinatkigj aathers inciuiibeiit j the pistil hsa

loS HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. cat

a four-cleft fjerm, filiform style, and bifid stigma ; there is no pericarp ; cahx
sUiiigiit, cuntaiiiuig the st;eds ui its bosom, winch are four, sub-ovate.

CATARIA.

Flowers in spikes; whorls sub-pedicellcd ; leaves petioled, cordate, tooth-
serrate.

This plant is a native of Europe, but thrives very well in Jamaica, The stalk in
branched, ihe leaves are hoary, parviculariy belaw. The flowers arc flesh-coloured,
growing verticillate in spikes at tlie tops of the branches ; the middle :'egment of the
lower lip is sj)otted with red. The plant lias a bitter taste and a. strong smell, not un-
like pennyroyal. An infusion of it is reckoned a good cephalic and euimenagogue, be-
ing found very efficacious in clilorotic cases. Two ourites of the expres.sed juice may
be given for a dose. It is called cat-mint, because cats are very fond of it, especially
when it is withered ; for then they will roll themselves on it, and tear it to pieces,
chewing it in tiieir inouttis with great pleasure. Mr. Pay mentions his Jiavivi"" traiis-
planteil some of the plants from the fields into his garden, v.hich were soon destroved.
, t)y the cats ; but the plants which came up. from the seeds in Jhs garden escaped-; thi.s
verifies an old proverb, '^^ If you set it, tlie cats will eat it ; ifyousowit, the cats will
not know it." Mr. Withering is of opiuion, that where tliere is a great quantity of
plants growing together, the cats will not meddle with ihein ; but Mr. Miller observes
that he has frequently ti-aus[)kuited one of these plants from another part of the garden,
nithin two feet of which some came up from seeds ; in -which case, the latter have re-
mained unhurt, wlien the former have been torn to pieces and destroyed : he acknow-
ledges, lK)wever, that where there is a large quantity of the he*b growing together,

.they will not touch it. This is a curious circumstance, and not easily accounted for ;
Mr. Ray, however, has assigned a reason, which seems j-ust in a certain degree, that
the cat is fond of the plant in a languid or withering state, or when the peculiar scent
of it is excited by ha^^'ing been handled or bruised ; but still this does not account for

:the cats avoiding it when in considerable quantities, and only making a prey of it when
in detached parcels.

This plant is very hardy, and easily propagated byseeds. "If sown upon a poor dry

-soil it does not grow too rank, but continues longet-, and has a handsomer appijiaraue^
£hp.a iu rich ground, where it grows too luxuriantly, and loses.its sceat.

* -CaT-IsUil — See Turjeey-Berries.

CAT-TAIL, OR REED MACE. TYPHA.

Cl. 21, OR. ". — Monoecia trmndn'a. "N.\T. OR. — Calamariie.

This generic nabne is derived from a Greek word for, a marsh, where these plants
generally grow.

Of.n. CHAR. — The male flowers are nujnerou.s, in an amen t, terminating the culm ;
the caiyx is a common anient, cylindrical, very close, composed of three-ieaved
setaceous proper perianths ; there is no corolla ; the stamens arc three filaments,
-capillary, the length of the calyx ; anthers oblong, pendulous. The female
■fiovyers are nuraerous, ia an auient swrouudiog the same cubn, digested very

compactly^

corapac^ly, tWj5 have peither calyx nor corolla ; the pistil has an orate geriiij
placed on a bristle, an awl-shaped stj'ie, and a capillary, permanent stigma ; there
is no pericarp ; tbe I'l nits numerous, Ibrminga cylinder-,, seeds single, ovate, re- ■
taining the style, placed on abnstie ; down capillary, from the base to tiieuuadle
iiastened to the seed-rbgaping. bristle, lengtii ol the pistil.

LATIFOUA. BROAD-LEAVED.

Ti;phapa1ii^tris major. Sloane, v. 1, p. 122. Sirnphx, foliis longis''
ang^lslis con7prtssis, spiai duplici terviinali, Browne, p. 236.

Leaves someHhat sword-shaped ; male and female spjkes approxiaiating.
The root is creeping, . the yonng ehoots white,, terminating in a sharp point. - Stalk
^■qm three to six feet higii, simple, upright, leafy, roundand smooth, -without knotSj
leafy at the base. Leaves ak6inate,. upright, twisted, at bottom sword-shaped- and
fleshy, at top flat, about an. inch in breadth, ind two or three feet in length, inclosing
the stalk in a very long sheath. Sheaths two, deciduous, one 3,t the- bottom of tbg nnale
s]»ikes, the other at the middle ; frequently a third smaller between- the middle and the
top of the spike. Tliis plant is found in every quarter of the world, and grows- jn ail
chmates, in ponds^, tTitches, anct the sides of iirooks. Hatler says that the roots are
e^ten in sallads, and cattle eat tbckleaves, Sloane says its down is usetl for beds, and
applied to kibed heels cures taera. 'v Scbrever asserts that the leaves are suspected to' be
poisonous. Browne mentions the leaves as making good mats, and being used foi.
tliatch. it grov»&.na.tura!ly in Jamaica^

This isrcommoRly-fosnd in-all the lagoons.:- Tfife leaves are long and ensiformed.— >■
^^cy make e.xceilent mats. Jf'he seeoa have astupifying oiiality ; and, when pounded
stud, mixed with bi»tter, or other proper substaRce, oesuoy'mice. Aft unguent is pre-«
pared of4htni, witli.Jiugs lard, for burns-or scalds. The seeds are escuientj roasted*.

CEDAR:. ■■• CEDRELA.

€t. 5, OR. I. — Pentandn'a mcnc^-ynia. Nat. or. — Miscellane».

Grn. CHAR.— Calyx:is a small one-peta!ed penanthiuni, bell-shaped, five-toorfieJ, -
withering ; corolFa monopetalons, double the length of the calyx, divided into five
oblong sections ; Ifie stanima are five filaments, shorter tnan the corolla, seated
on thv^ receptacle, with sji-icotund anthers ;. the pis'ii has a suBTotund gennen, a
five-cornered proper receptat-ie; style cylindri':-, length of tne corolla: stigma .
}<eaded, depressed; the pericarp is a superior capsule, five-celied, five-valved^
■woody, the valves decidu-^us-;; seeds many, fieshy, obiong, compressed, imbricate
xiown wards, terminate^., by a nriemtjranace^us wing ; receptacle woody, five-angledj -,

OrORATA. SMELLING.

J''tu.n& forte aginis arhor vnojehna, materie rubra, lara, <?doratOi^=^ -
Slcane, v. 2, p. 12?, t. 220, f. 2. Foliis niajortbus ptnnatis, fl»^
tibiisiaxe KHiumdsuijMsnilevi odoraia, Browjie, p. 1^8, t. lo, f. i.
2f- Jiwvesr^j

170 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. ceundine

Flowers panicled.
This tree rises with a straight stem to the height of seventy or eighty feet, and fre-
quently found from tiiree to five teet in thanieter. While young the bark is smootli
and of an ash colour, but as it advances the bark becomes rough and of a darker coloiw,
liaving longituilinal tissures. Towanls the top it shoots out many side brunches, gar-
nished with alternate winged leaves, composed of from eight to fifteen pairs of opposite
leaflets, so that they are trom eighteen inches to two feet and a half in length ; the
leaflets are broad at their base, ending in a narrow point,, and from three to five inches
long. The peduncle is round, swelling into a knot, and somewhat clavated at the
base; pedicels round, opposite. The flowers on a very J)ranching raceme, panicled;
corollas whitish, flesh colour. The fruit is a capsule, continued frum a woody peduncle,
and woody itself, brown, with irregular pale spots, appearing as it were leprous, within
of a reddish bay colour, the valves opening from the top, but permanent at the base,
and not falling. The top seeds are elliptic, the middle ones oblong-ovate, tlie lower
ones ovate-lanceolate, all ferruginous, cinnamon colour, .with, a nucleus at top, and
termmating below in a membranaceous wing. This tree is very common in man}- parts
of Jamaica. When the branches or leaves ai-e broken off" this tree, or the body chop-
ped, it has a strong and disugreeable smell, which spreads to a considerable distance,
but when the wood is dry it emits an agreeable fragrance. It is very full of a dark re-
sinous substance, light, porous, of a brownish red colour, and, easily,. worked; it is
much esteemed oa this account, as well as the beauty-of its grain, for wainscotting,
and other cabinet ware. It is also excellent for mailing chests, or the inside of drawers,

. as no vermin will invade it, on account of its strong scent. It makes also excellent
planks and shingles, which are very durable, having been known, to last full: thirty
years, when exposed to the weather, as shingles, and the durability of the wood is no

.less a recommendatioR than its lightness for this purpose. It is not fit to be made

.into casks, as allspirituous liquors dissolvea great quantity of its resin, from.which they
acquire a strong bitter taste. The trunks of the trees are often so lar^e as to be hoU
lowed out into canoes and periaguas, forwhich purpose it is extremely well adapted,

.as, from the softness of the wood, it.is holloijed out with great facility, and, being
light, it carries great weight on the water. Canoes have been made of it forty feet long
and si.v broad. It is a cui'ious circumstance, but well known, that if a pigeon house be
floored with this wood, the pigeons will not hatch ; and, it is said, that when parrots
feed on its fruit they taste of garlic ; it also gives victuals laid on it a bitter taste. A

, clear transparent gum, ;like gum arable, exudes from this tree in. considerable quHBti-

ties, on its beiijg .wounded, which dissolves in, water,, and fias been found very fit for

shoemakers use. Tiiis tree is easily propagated from seeds, and is of quick growth. —

Ji occasionally sheds all its leaves, but, it would seem, at no regular periodjj, as some

^^f the trees are ii^ full foliage while otlxers are bare.

.•Cedar, Bermudas — ^ee Bermudas.
:Ceiba— «S'fe Cotton Tree.

CELANDINE or PARROT WEED. ^BOeCONIA.

^L. llf OR. i. — Dodecandrla vianogynia, ."Nat. OR. — Tihodaccx,

eiLANWIFTj PORT us JAMAICANS IS, Ht

This is nameu in honour of Paolo Boccone, M. D. a Sicilian author of several bota»
nical works.

Gen'. char. — Calyx a two-leuvecl perianth, ovate, obtuse, concave, caducous ; there
is 110 corolla; the stamens are twelve filaments, with linear large anthers ; the style
has a roundish germ, contracted bothvvajs, large, pedicelled : style bifid; stig-
mas simple, retlex ; the pericarp sub-ovate, attenuated at each entl, compressed,
one-celled, tvvo-valved ; seed one, globular, the base involved in the pulp, fixed to
the bottom ot'tlie capsule. There is only one species, which is a native of Jamaica ; :

FRufecENS. . SHRUBBY.

Ch^lidoneum majiis arhoreum foliis, quercr'ms. — Sloane, v. 1, p. 195, ,
t. 125. Bamosa, foliis wajoribus sinucttis, racemis terminalilms,
Browne, p. 244.
This shrub is very common in Jamaica, and rises to the height of ten or twelve feetj ,
with a straight trunk as large as a man's arm, covered with a white smooth bark, and ■
branched towards the top. The trunk is hollow, filled -with a pith like the elder,
abounding in thick yellow acrid juice, as are all parts of the plant, like argemone and
celandine. ■ At the top it divides into several branches, on which the leaves are placed
alternatel}', they are eight or nine inches long, and five or six broad, and deeply sinu-
atecl or gaslied, sometimes almost to the midnb, of a yellowish green colour. They
are sub-serrate, with rotmdish petioles. Racemes terminating, papiiled, a foot oi^
more long, diffused, nodding ; peduncles one-fiowered ; bractes, under the flowers',
small, lanceolate. It is common in ail the shady gullies that lie among the hills and
mountains in the inland parts. The following has been recommended for the cure of a
film on the eye, or fungus : Take the root of this plant, peel off the bark, then scrape
and strain it through a fine rag, when it may be put into a phial for use. Drop three
or four drops in the eve,» twice a-day, and it will take off any film, occasioned by^ the
small pox or otherwise, fimgus, proud flesh, &e. Its. root is also a cure for ulcers, by
scraping-off the bark, and bruising and spreading a cataplasm on rag or lint : this must
be laid on the sore, after clearing it of proud flesh, and it will make a perfect cure in a
very short time. The juice stains a deep j-ellow, and is very bitter and biting to the
taate. .

I have often met with this plant, and wondered how they came to call it celandine, it
differing so much from the English sort ; for this generally grows six or seven feet high
with a very thick stalk, covere;i with a wiiite smooth bark, branching with a great many
large leaves, and deeply divided at the ends, of a yellowish-green colour on the uppei-
side, and whitish underneath ; on the top comes out a branch of a fijot long, full of"
bunches of flowers, each standing on a short foot-stalk, and hath in it many stamina ov"
threads of a yellow colour, and seed-vessels of an oval shape, in the middle of which is
a small brown oblong seed : All part-; of this yield, in breaking, a yellow juice, like
common celandine, from which it hath its name, as I suppose. Hernandez calls ili
quaulichilli, sive Chilli species, from its sharpness like Indian pepper, and saith it w?ls,
planted by the Indian kings in their gardens. It is much stronger than English celan-
dine, being very hot and drying. The juice cures tetters and ring-worms, and take>x.
off warts and films of the eyes ; but I should not care for using it to the eye, being so>
very sharp. — Barham, p. 37.

Celery — i^ee Parsley,

Z2 iT«.

in H O Pv T U S J A M A I C E N & 1 S. ,e£BASi%

No English Name. ^ CELOSIA,

Cl. 5, OR. 1. — Pentandria momgynia. \Nat. or. — Miscellannt.
Gek. char. — Cal} X -a three-leaved perianth ; corolla five^petalled ; stamina con-«
^joined to the base by a plaited nectary ; capsule gaping horizontally, One species
is a native of Jamaica.

PANICUL.ATA. panicled.

jimarantusfruticosus erecfus, spica virfcli, Jara^et sfHgosa. Sloane^
V. 1, p. I-i-'2, t. 91, f. 1. FoUis shlonga-j jionbiirS racemose spicatis^
/ere sessilibus. .Browne, p. 179.

Tills plant is common in the lowlands about Spanish Town and Kingston. Stem snf-
fruticose, prostrate, round, tab-divided, striated ; branches diverging ; leaves acu-
njinate, potioled, entire, smooth; spikes raceuied, axiilary, and leijminating, short.
Flowers distinct, whitish. 'The cal3'x consists of- five ovale, acute, lealiets, whitish
within ; there is ho corolla, but a cnp-shaped, five-cornered .nectary, surrounding tlm
gerai ; to the edge of this the filaments dire affixed. Tlie anthers are versatile and pur-
ple ; germ ovate ; style subulate, simple, red; stigma triSd; capsule covered by the
■ permaoent calyx, vwUi jiuuierous shining seeds.— -Sk'.

This shrub has greenish, woody, . and snT-iH stalks, rising to aiwnt tv/o and a half feet
; bigh. The leaves are many, smooth, of a dark green colour, placed along the branches
without order, on half inch long footstalks. Tliey are an inch long and three-quarters
broaci, where broadest, a little from the round base, whenoe they. decrease to the point.
The flowers stand in «pikes at the tops of the branches, about three. inehes long, are
not open, but made up of five leaves, of a yeilov/ish green colour, in tlie niiddie of
which is a large blackish stylus, which ccmes in sometime to be a seed vessel or husS^,
containing si^veral seeds, each of which is scarce discernible to the eye, shining,. aii,|
of a brawn colour, nundish, and hollow on one side like a dish, if vievved h/ UiG iUi-^
.ovoscope. It grows by the banks of the Rioi Cobre.^-/SYi)«3*«<

"CERASEE. :MOMaRDICA.

Cl,. 21, OR. 9. — Monoecia syngcnesia. NaT. iiR.-^Ciicur^t'fsefig,

This name is derived from the L-dX'm.word inordeOg to bite^froQj tti^seadsit^yjcg^^tB
(appearance of being bitten.

Oen. ciiAR.-^Male calyx a one-leafeJ, five-cleft, perianth ; in €h*3 concavepaFt bg-
neath the corolla is a hollow nectareous gland ; corolla fivci^ parted, fa.itpned to th^
calyx, spreading, large, veined, wankled; the stamens are.three 5,wt|ipnts, (liva
have been observed,) awl-shsiped, and siiort ; antUers, on two fiiai-uents, bifi-J,
. eared at the sides, on the third.simpie ;:i.iid one-earea only, coft-sjsUlig of a CQm-
pressed body and a f iriniferous line, -once regies. TJje ftSiaale caiyjt and cotod*
as in the male ; the female cup .permanent, and crowning the fruiC ; the |ij. tuents
three, short, without anthers; the pistil has an inf"tirior largs g.fmi ; styie siag!e,
round, trifi I, colunmar ; stigmas three, gibbous, oolong, paiu'.riig oiiUvards ; tiie
pericarp is a dry pome, opening elastically, ttirse or iaar-celted, ceiia iiienibra"

^gRASEB, lIOPvTUS JA^iATCENSIS. 173

naceoHS, soft, ciistEnt ; the fruit twdvtj furrowe<3 ; seeds several, eompressed. — •
Three spTxi'^s of this plant, natives of tiie I/vjI li-.-iss, have been long introduced
- into thii-jsland.

1. BALSAMINA. BALSAMIC.

Cur.mis pu'itkeus. Sioape, v. 1, p. 128. Glabra, faliis profunde
Libatis, Ji uctu rohcndo strns veruiwsis notato. Jirowne, p. 353,

Pomes ap.gular, tubercled ; leavesi srtiootli, spreading, palmate.
This is called snioath-leaved c era see, or male balsam epple. It k very common in
"^asmic?., sTid. has a traU.iag staSk like those of the ciscuaiber or inelon, extending several
feet in length, and sending out" many side braTSiiJjse&, which have tendrils. Leaves

, jTiij^oath, ^fspJy cut into several ^gaients, and spreading like a hand. The fruit is
(eyiii, eodia^-in aciite po!t)v3, havi:ij4 several deep angles, vyitli sharp tvjberdes, piaced
Cn thfii'/ edges, •■ft ciianges to a red or purpUsli colour when ripe, opening with aa
(giasticivy, airdtl^ra-mng gut its seeds. It is i^mous in Syria for eurin^f wounds. Th«
p:;'-" -, cr;t c:r-J vtS j;-:."ipe fruit, and riftise if; in sweet o'd, whicii they expose to the
£a;i i-i -Q J ■; 4-',^'* y ■-■i''- tecornei, red.; and ..faen preserve it fi>r dse. Dropped ori

foUon, aaci appiitjAto a fresli wGond, the oil tljey reckon the best vuinerary, next tq
Hae h3.,!s3,'a^<ji''M--':"» ir".ing foi^ad by experienca tl'jat it often cijres iar^e wounds ixi,

Tae biiapa -tiiit eitij4fi£, on cuUiifg Uie full grown ijnxipe fruit, is also used for fresl^

Cera.'see is thsTiime that negroes and some others give fo a plant- grpwing in sreat

i'lpleniy in Jamaica. ■'^Its fruit is mijcij uke a cu'cnmber, and as bi^.; therefore S^r H.

■ BloiiRe calls %h'sm^uciiini.%-f'uniceiis, \ suppajo frona its deep_ red colour, but tt^e leaves
■-■^iQ t^-jxh-^'m£\iitx, j:^,?iied, and divided -, "iiii! fruit geueraily of tUe^-size of a leaAn, of
. ^ veilowi;,h r i :'; ■ ' ■ \' • ' ' ' ' Ms of a most gjorious red
ri;oloiur,.haYi- : . ■ ■ ; '. .e of tamarind stuises rr
-tgee^s. ' ■'\\y^4^.h''i''^■Y^'■>■■^ ->■*■- yoii.jjtr i^/: ii'iai,l<^i u, -.pin or ueedls into any

■'Toart of.tUa freit, it.^lil ail-flys<|ge;i in -^t^wteys, Qr m ■;; \, , n, turning, as '\X wefe,'the.

■■jr.sid?Q'itis^aris'-ft'id>a soft of -gust of ejfpi-Qsion, or zfi, if it «?ere sensibly to-uciie'd;—-

$,ij.T|§ gi2k§ fi/-^ arboars with this plant, it.,alwfys cliafibingtq .any thkig it is near,

"ljro?,i:!fi: sotbit% yon c^a bardly see throuorhit, "-So r.e si|ck the seeds, having a sweet

■ g-'? B'5* ■ ' i bijtthe fmit is very hollow', Kke pa.fis., g;nJ'puFgese-2ceSic.r,iiy
» ^., i- ■'. v,.t» t'pe- b?i''!'-i''he, (m; ' . ■ ,-. _ __ t» .._

iver, sr

«£•_!■

•. 3 &y:-up of vie fruit .' ,

cwith 4'u7 wjf rj, mts.iss a .j-'^i^t -

~jt.nY ted ■se.-s of ins t:<:e .; inw.:.

•:ioa,or.iiifu: .

y:)'nf^ j:>e;rper. iijcti

, 'it-. ..in wster,

.': tbc vri'iow

~ ijkiJr j-f

or

Hi H O 11 T U g , J A M A I e E ^* SI n.. Cf HBEa/

Pomes angular, tuberclcd ; leaves villose, .longituclinally palmate. .
Tiiis is called the hairy cerasce. Htem round, slender, branched, climbing by Jatercil '
tendrils. Flowers_ sometimes hermaphrodite. Corolla yellow, nsiiidly (ive- parted, but
sometimes six-parted. Stamens three, connected. Fruit oblong, bluntly angular,,
tubercled, drawn to a poi-nt.at each end, white, yellow, or green,, on the outside;,
within very red and fleshy, one-celled, bursting eiastically. Browne observes, that
both these plants are frequently cultivated in Jatoaica, and thrive very luxuriantly ifi
most of the, gurdeujs about Kuigston ; he also says the leaves boiled, and the decoction
of the plant, are equally used to promote the iochiae ; the hrst by way of green, the
Other as an apozem ■ and are both reckoned serviceable on these occasions.

3. LUFFA.
Ponies oblong, grooves like a chain ; leaves gashed.
This is called Egyptian momordica. The stem is angular, very much branched,
climbing by bifid spiral tendrils. Leaves having five or seven sharp angles, the nsiddie
one double the lengtii of the others, unequally serrate, veined, wrinkleii, on long al»
lernate petioles. Male corollas six-parted, several together ; females solitary, five-
parted, reflex. Pome a foot long, .two inches thick, rouudi.sli, usually drawn to a.
point at each end, hairy, three-celled, with a white flaccid, esculent pulp, of an in-
sipid flavour. Seeds oblong, compressed, smooth. This has-been called the .j/rrt/wf/*
innc, because the reticulated j)art of the fruit is sometimes separated from the pulpy-^
and made punch strainers of.

No English Name. CERBERA.

Cl. 5, on. 1. — Pentandria mohogynia. Nat, or. — Contortoe.
This name is derived from cerbereus, on account of the poisonous qualities of the
plants.

Gen char. — Calyx a five-leaved perianth ; corolla one-petalled, funnel-form, con~
torted ; border five- parted; stamens subulate; filaments with erect anthers; the
pistil has a roundish germ, filiform style, headed stigma ; the pericarp a large
drupe; seed a two-ceiled nut. One species is a native of Jamaica.

THEVETIA.

Arborescens foliis lanceolalis, floribus fuuce ampliatis sub-campamt-
latis. Browne, p. 181.
Leaves linear, very long, crowded.

This is an elegant shrub, which Browne calls the v arrow ^leafed phimerw, that grows -
commonly seven or eight feet high, and always full of slender flexile branches; the
flowers are yellow, and moderately open below the margin ; he observed it grow
near Port Maria and Morant Bay. The stem is round, unarmed, abounding in a poi-
sonous milky juice, dividing at top into many weak branches, which are generally sim-
ple, loose, round, smooth, covered with scars from the leaves that have dropped ; aad ;
covered with a green smooth bark, which, as they grow older, becomes rough and
changes to a grey or ash-coloiu-. Leaves on very short petioles, scattered at tlie ends ^

••BANGeA5L8 H O R T U S JAMAICENSIS. 175

■of the brancblets, acuminate, very entii'e, spreading, of a fivtn consistence, smooth on
lioth sides, of a shining green, but paler underneath ; four or five inches long, and
half an inch broad in the middle, full of a milky juice, which flows out when they are
broken, flowers large, nodding, yellow, smelling very sweet ; corolla contorted. — •
Nectaiy converging into a stai", in the throat of the tube; filaments short, below th^
star ; anthers ovate-acute ; germ five-streaked, surrounded by a yellowish nectareous
navel; stigma five-cornered, bifid at the tip ; fruit a green oblate, spheroidal, drupe^
jcontaining an obscurely four-cornered nut, with a single kernel in it.

Cereus — See Indian Fig.

CHANGEABLE ROSE. HIBISCUS.

Cl. 16, OR. 6. — Monadelpkla poli/andria. Nat. or. — ColumnijeTte,

Gen. char. — Calyx a double perianth ; outer many leaved, permanent, leaflets li-
near; more rarely one-leafed, many cleft : inner caljx one-leafed, cup-shaped,
half five-cleft, permanent ; or five-toothed, deciduous : corolla five-petalled, pe-
tals roundish, oblong, narrow at the base, spreading, fastened at bottom to the
tube of the stamens ; the stamens are many filameiits, united at bottom into a

•tube; at top divided and loose ; anthers kidney-form ; the pistil has a roundi-sh
germ, a filiform style, longer than the stamens, five-cleft at top ; stigmas headed ;

■the pericarp is. a five-cfeiled capsule, five-valved ; partitions contrary, doubled j

^seeds solitary or several, ovate, kidney-form.

i. MUTABILIS. CHANGEABLE,

■Fruticosus, bracluatus ; foliis cordato lohatis ; Jlore variabili.—-
Browne, p. 287. _

Leaves cordate-five-angled, obscurely serrate ; stem arboreous.

This plant has a large and divaricated root, and frequently grows to the stature of -a
"-small tree, rising to the height of twelve or fourteen feet. It has a soft spungy stem,

■ which by age becomes ligneous and piihy, sending out branches towards the top, which
; are liairj', garnished with heart-shaped leaves, whitish underneath, cut into five, acute
vangles in their borders, and slightly sawed on their edges, of a lucid green on the upper

side and pale below ; die petioles are rough, tiiick, three or four inches in length. —

The peduncles are thicker towards the top, sometimes tinged with red, sustaining large

-handsome flowers. The single are composed of five petals, which spread open, and

■ are at first white, turn to light flesh colour after they bear the action of the sun for some
hours, and contract and close for the night, to be ready for the like changes the ensu-
ing da}', they become nearly purple before they fade. It has a double variety, and is
a native of the East Indies. It is cultivated in many parts of Jamaica, with much suc-
cess, oa account of the great beauty of its flowers. Browne calls it the Chinese rosCy

■ which is the following species :

2. ROSA SINENSIS. CHINA ROSE,

Leaves ovate, acuminate, serrate ; stem arboreous.

. "This grows in India to tlie size of an ordinary tree. The' root is large and spreadi'ig.

The

i?3- fi6Il-TU9 Ih^fAlC^-nSlh. C-l.'AsVi--

Ths stsii^ is valine!, vviQ«ly, erect; the' Jlf^vegJ somewhat rescn^ble ihase ^f tbo vine^
|:or iated at ^pt; base and seriated, five-nerved ; they .^taiul on long reddish pedicels,
an i are oi a. pijle gteen xxii clje upper surface and hoary beiow.. The stipules are in,
j)airi. oppo^ie, ^t the b;»se of the petioles, lineir, acjue,, deciduous: Fjowers axil-,
j&ry, SQhtar3-,.pcduncle,d,, large,, of a deep scarlet colour. T|ie peamicles are ttvice
Pf long as the pj^tioies,. rqund, anct str&igiit,. thicket. towards, the top, with a joint to-
wards the middle. Tiiis plant, is a native of the E^st Indies,, and, being common in
China, 'has for that rfauoii^btained the uame it.hears-. The seeds were first brought bj
the French to Ma^^inico, and hence itjs somet^nies called the Martinico ros^.. There
are double a; , flowepng l;iiias ; the seeds of the first fr-equently produce plants

that have o":, lowers; hut the iatter^seldoin vary to the double kind. Tiie sin-

gle flor . js, ii.i\\e\tii\ scHdoni to be met .with, They throw out a gnat mul-

titude ot ; ifi nerpetuai succession. There is said, to be a, variety with white .

flowers. TV ■ A y;lant is made into garlands and festoons.in China on all occa.<

sions of festi. • . , <:-i • even in their sepulchral rites. They are also put to a use whicfc\ .
seems little consistent with tiieir elegance and beauty, that of blacking shQes, whence
l^fcir names of roiftir calceolariie and shot-JtOwer. , The wpinen also employ them to cq.»
|our their hair and eye-brows black.

See Indian Sorrel — Mahoe — Musk Ochra — aw^ Ochsa.

CHASTE TREE. "VITEX.

Cr.. 14, OR. C. — Didynamia angiospcnnia^ "Nat. OR.— PersovdfiP.

This is derived from the/i.atin v/ovdvichim, from the great flexibility of the twigs^
Vhich makes them fit to bind oi" tie any thing.

Gen. CHAR. — Calyx a one-leafed, five-toothed, perianth ; corolla one-leafed, rin-
gent, border six-cleft ; stamens capillary filaments, longer than the tube ; bti-
thers versatile ; the pistil has a roundisJi gerwi, filiform style, the length of ui©.
tube; stigmas two, awl-shaped, spreading; the pericarp is a berry or arupe, .
globular, and four-celled ; seeds solitary, ovate. One species is a native of Ja,%
maica.

UMBROSA.: SHADY.

• Arlorcus, foliis ovatis, crenafis, qninaio digitatis ; petioUs eomniun
vibus opposifis, rucemis la.iis alaribus. Browne, p. 267.

Leaves quinate, quite entire,, smooth on both sides ; racemes compound, as«
illary.

"Browne calls this the larger chaste tree with jagged leaves, and says it is frequeot iro
St. Mary's, growing generally to. a very considerable size. It is easily distmgiiished
by its crenated leaves, bunchy flowers, large berries, and the variegated under lip of
its blossoms, the main division of which is the figure of a heart. The style is bifid, and.
eacli part pretty short.

Tiie agiius vastus, an East Indian spexies of this genus, has also been introduced.
TRiis is the chaste tree so famous among the ancients, as an imaginary .specific for the-r
gre3ervation of chastity ; aud is distinguished by the eleganpe of its foliage.

i0&.^^H HORTUS , JAMAICENSIS. ' n?

CH.AW STICK. GOUANIA.

'C/.. 23, o)i.\.-~-Pobjgamiamonoeci(i. Nat. or, — Ilhamni.

This is so named in honour of Antoine Gouan, M. D. aiitiior of some cekbrated bo-
tanical works.

GfN. CHAR. — Hi'njmphrodite fl(ys.''ers. — Cdyx a one-Jt;;fol, s;ipe>ior, funnel-form,
five-cleft, ijerianili; tube pernumeut, segments ovate, acute, spreading, decidu-
ous ; there is no corolla ; the stamens are five filansents, subulate, leniith of the
calvx, and alternate with the segments ; anthers roundish, incumbent, veiled ;

■ veil like a cowl, elastic ;. the pistil has an inf&rior germ, subulate style, half three-
cleft, and bbtnse stiginas ; the pericarp is a dry fruit, three-sided," divisible into

- three seeds ; Veeds three parts of the fruit, roundish, inclined to <hree-sided, two-
■xvinged. Males on ike sanw plant. — Calyx, corolla, and stamen:;, as in the htr-
■Oiiaphrodite ; stigmas obscure or none. There is only oiic species,

DOMINGENStS. -DOMINGO.

■Jladi.v fruticpm liitea, g'ycyrrhiza: similis, cortice fusco dentihus
vtuildificandis inscrviev.s. Sloane,- v. 2, p, 18o, t. 232, 'f. 2, 3. —
:'S'ari>ientosus fvliis waiU venosis^ capsulis trigoiiis racemosis. — •
Browne, p. 172.

"This plant is very common in Jamaica, has a shrubby stem, which climbs like hops
Ly axillary tendrils. The leaves are ovate;, or oblong-ovate, acuminate or blunt, with
a point, unequally serrate-toothed, or slightly crenate only, smooth, deep green, al-

■ternate, petioled, two inches long; racemes -uirnished with one or two lealiets ; the
male flowers have no pistil whatsoever, but there are three or f lur flowers of an'hun-
dred that hav&a style- vvithout any germ. The bark and wood of this plant is of a plea-
sant bitter taste, and, being of a fibrous texture, i§ cut into sliost pieces, and very ge-
nerally converted into tooth brushes, which it is well adapted for, as it really whitens
and preserves the teeth better tlian any tooth powder. The stalk is seldom thicker than
the little finger, having a brownish bark, and yellowisii wood, and is very tough and
flexible. The juice raises a considerable ferment in the saliva, and a piece of the stalk,

' put into any liquor and agitated, occasions fermentation in Uie liquor, as does that of
the common green withe. It is generally put in those cool-diiiiks often used in Ja-

, maica, to which it yields an agreeable flavour. A decoction of the roots, like that of
man}' other bitters, is useful in dropsical cases ;. and the whole plant is reckoned a good
antiseptic.

Dr. Wright says that this withe, chewed with the juice and swallowed, is an agree-
able stomachic, and useful for promoting an appetite, or removing pains in the sto-
mach from relaxation. What, however, is often called pain in the stomach, is an af-
fection of the liver, which should carefully be distinguished, as in this case all tonics
or bitters do mischief. If the liver be diseased, we have a sovereign remedy in calomel.
One grain, for six nights running, is generally sufScient, then [stopping for a few nights,
and beginning as before for a second or third time, is generally sufficient to remove
•the complaint.— /f'^r/jg"/i'.

Attoo. — I never could find any other name for this plant, and that I had from a
feegro. I tfike it to ie.the same jjlaiit that Sir H. Sloaae calls, in his catalogue ofJa-

A a .inaicit

11^ HORTUS JAMAiCKNSTS. XJWCRM'F.i!*^

maica pknts, radirfruticosa s:lijcirrhlz'B siviili.t corticejiisco, Kc. nnd indoed the rocyf-
to the sight much ivscnnbles Etigiish.Hquorice, but of a.hitterish ta.ste. It hath leaves .
like the dogwooJ tree, but is a small shrub, hardly able to support itself, and generally
joins to another plant, althoup,h it doth notclimh abioiit it ; it hath a short pod, H^i'icli
\vhen ripe is very black and full of sweet pulp, like cassia Jisfula.

The negroes cleanse tboir teeth \('lth this root ■, aniithcy also prind it with water .like
a paste, and plaster their bodies all over with it in most feverish heats, head-aches, ;.ncl ■
cholics ; and have snch an opiidon of it, thst if they fuvi not a present relief by it^ tiiey
(live themselves over. A certain gentleman reconuTiended ic to me as an excellent re-
medy in the dry belly-ache ; and f happening to have a servant seized wiih it, to that
degree as thre^v him into convulsion fits, I thought fit to make use of it, bv decoctinjj
the rojt, and g-ing him about lialf apint at a time, warm, three or four times a day ;
■which first eased him of all his pains, afterwards wrought jjeutly downwards, and, iD
tln-ee or four days, he said he thought himself as well as ever he was in his 4ife, anc4 s&
•coiitinued.:— i>aj7i«/;/, jj. 9.

Cue — S!ee OLDENLANmA.^.

CHERIMOYA. . ANNONA.

Cl. 13, OR. 7. — Polyandria poli/gpiia. . Kat. oa. — Coadunat^.
Gen. CHAR. — i'ee Alligator Apple, p. \\.

TRIPETALA. THREE-TF-TALED.

Leaves ovate, acute, pubescent beneath ; Howers three-petaied ; petals Iance-=
olate, coriaceous, tonientose.

This is a native of South America, and was introduced by Mr. East. It grows to a
"^erv large branchv tree. Leaves bright green, and longer than any other species of
this" genus. The fruit is. oblong, ^caly on tiie outside, and of a dark purple colour when
ripe ; the flesh is soft and sweet,, having many brown seeds intermixed with it, which-
are very smooth and shining. It is esteemed a delicate fruit.

■See Alligator Applf, — Custard Apple — Sour and Sweet Sops — and Nutmecij;,

AMERICANi

Cherry, Bird — fe West Inrl^ Laurel.
CiiERRY, CowHAGE — See Barbadoes Cherry. .

CHICKWEED. HOLOSTEUM.

Cl. 3, OR. 3. — Triandria trigpua. . Nat. or. CarryopTiyUei.

^iEN. char. — Calyx a five-leaved perianth, leaflets ovate,, permanent ; corolla five--
petaled, petals two-parted, blunt, equal ; stamens are three filaments, shorter
than the corolla, with roundish anthers ; the |)istil has a roundish trilobous germ^
•Styles 4liiee, fiiifoaiv stigmas Uimtish ^ the pericarp ii a oiie-celled capsule,

sub-cyliadric»'

•uicKWEED HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. nft

sub-cvlindric, gaping at the tip ; seeds very many and roundish. Two species
■are natives of Jaii^ica^

1. CORr)ATU?.1. HEART-LEAVED.

^hine aniericana nutnmu'larire ioliis. Sloano, v. 1, p. 203. Foliis
orbiaiLitis oppQiitis^. raixmis lu-iis tcrniimtlibus rcmotis. Brcvne,
p. V.JO.
Leaves sub-cordate.
Stens decumbent, creep'ing, somewhat rigid at bottom ; leaves opposite, orbiculate-
*Sordate, sub-sessi!e ; stipules, t'Qur on each side, menibraiiiicevus ; peduncles lateral,
-elongated, ascending, seven-ilowored, one in the middle, and tliree on each side,
fronra peduncle fartner branched ; pedicels, when mat are, visc.id, dropping with the
fruit ; calycine leaflets obiong, acute, cqucave ; petals white, upngat, lanceolate,
shorter than the calyx ; styles divaricating.

This plant is common in Jaipaica. Broivne calls this. the i^/r^e/- 4>^'€r>can chicli-xeu!^
and says that it^rows in tufts, and seldom rises above ten or twelve inches from the
ground ; that the smaller birds feed much upon the seeds, but that it is seldom put to
any other use, except that large .wads of the fresh plant, heated over a gentle fire, are
sometimes applied to hard and painful swellings, m order to relax the parts and dispose
-the obstructions to a resolution. It is also recommended as an emollient fomentation.

2. DIANDRUM. TU'O-.STAiMENED.

'Dlundruin petalisintegris, Joliis niintfribus obox-atts ; petiolis et cau'
libiis marginatis.
Stems procumbent, very rigid ; leaves roundish ; flowers two-stamened.
Browne calls this the .j?Ma//f>' c/iR-^a't'ei/, and says it is not common in Jamaica ; the
two hlaments are placed in the same line with the petals of the Hower, which are live in
.number, as well as the divisions of the cup. The plant is very small, aud seldom n^jea
above six or seven inches from the ground.

CHICKWEED, AFRICAN. MOLLUGO.

Cl. 3, OR. 3. — Triandria tn'gj/nia. Nat. OR. — Caryophyllei.

'Gek. CHAR. — Calyx a five-leaved perianth, leaflets oblong, from upright spreading,
coloured within, permanent; there is no corolla; the sUmensare tnree filaments,
bristle-shaped, shorter than the corolla, approximatmg to the pistd ; anthers sim-
ple ; the pistil has a superior germ, ovate, three-grooved ; styles three, very
short, stigmas blunt ; the pericarp is an ovate capsule, three-celled, three-
Talved ; seeds numerous, kidnej -form. Two species are natives of Jamaica.

1. VERTICILLATA. VERTICILLATED.

Minima repens, foliis linearibus verticiUatis,Jlorihus quinariis pedun-i
culalis coi'fertis. Browne, p. 139.
Leaves in whorls, wedge form, acute j stem subdivided, decumbent; peduncles
oae-tlowoi'ed,

A..a2 This.

1S>3" HORTUS JAMAICEKSrS; mwA--

Thid is a trailing plant, spreading out eiglit or nine iiiciies every vva}', atid'liaTirig
six or seven sma'l leaves at each joiut, ,sj)reudiiig outinforiii of a suir, i<'lovv«rs smalj, .
like those of chickweed,. one on eacii footstalk, succeeded by oval caijsules, lilicd witii
small seeds, about twelve in each ceii» Br.owne says this plant is prctiy common in the
dry savannas in I.,iguanea; . its h'aves and~branchcs are very small ; tbaitiie staik sciduui
riiiis above six or eight iachcs fro,in tiie root ; tiuit tiie flowers are generally four or live,
together, and grow on single tufts on the sides of the wiioris.

2; BELUDIFOLU. Will r£-f l-OWEKED,

■Alsini (ijtmisyj'oi'is hdlidis minonSy caid'c nudo. Sloane, r. l, p-»
2(X'3,, t. 1 2S, f 2. .

White-flowered, with naked sta!ks>.

This species of ■inolliioo is not mentioned by Linneus, who, it is remarkable, never
quotes Sloane, and has been ovi^rlooked in vhe latest botanical works. Sljane takes
particular notice of it,, .and has given a correct figure. It is a rare plant. Tjie leaves
of the cup perform the office of petals, they are white above and expanded, but as tlie
fruit increases, they become green and connivent, closely embracing the capsules,
whose vaUvs, b'.iiig very thh» and tender, they help to strengthen. This littie plant
flourishes in September, tiie, root is perennial, the leaves are sweet in taste as liquorice,,
but with souie a Ijav of bitterness. Sloane describes it as follows ; It hatha crooked
white root with many hairs. . The Icf.^^s lie on the stuiace of the earth, spread round
the root, being aiiout an inch long, froai a narrow beginning increasing by degrees to
a round fnd, not iiniikethe leaves of the lesser daisy. From tiu; miJoie of tne leaves
rises a staik or two, four or five inclies long, without leaves, being branched tov.ards
the top, the branches divided into small twigs, each whereof sustains a small head, En-
closed by four v.hitish capsular leaves, havii\g within thern a round whitish seed vessel, .
iiill of roundish blark seeds, very siijall. . It grew in sandy piaces of the town savaaua-
towards Tavo Mde Wood*

CHINA ROOT. SMILAX.

Cu 22, OR. 6. — Dioecia hcxandria. Nat. OR. — Sarmentaceoe.

C^F.N. CHAR. — Male calyx a six-leav€d perianth, spreading, bell-shaped ; leaflets ob--
long, approximating at the base, bent back, and spreading at the tip ; there is no
corolla except the calyx ; the stamens are six simple filaments, with oblong an-
thers. The l< mule calyx as in the male, deciduous; there is no corolla ; the pistil
has an ovate germ, three very small styles, stigmas oblong, bent back, pubescent ;
the pericarp is a globular three-ceiled berry j seeds two, globular. Two species
•aie natives of Jamaica.

1.- CHINA.
Smilax aspera, fructu niaro, radice nodosa, magna, levi, farinacea,
China dicta. Sloane, v. 1, p. 231, t. 143, f I. Sarmento tereti^
infcrne aculeato ; foliis subrohoido cordatis, triherviis^ petinlis-
<hviciila mia vd atcra rcfcrtis, Brovvue, p. 359.

•^tem

4^ji H0RTUS JAMAICENSIS. i?i

Ptcm pri -Uy, roundish; leaves umniied, ovate-cor(U:te, tl<rf3 or five-ncrve.l.
This plant is frequent in t'tie more cojI inland par.ts ofJan^aica. It grows vviki, i-ising
from a tliick porous root, and climbs by a pretty slender rigid stem, to tlie top of ti;*;'
tallest trees in the woods; this is adornei witha few pricliies towards the bottom, di-
vides iTito many branches at the top,- nud throws out its winding teiidiils iVorfi the foot-
stalks of the leaves. The root is coniuionly used in Jamaica, atnl observed to, answer
as well as that from the East Indies. It is of a shca,ihing nature, arid a very fit ingro-
tlient in all diintijig,a.pozems. - The plant may he easdy jiropagatedso as to supply th<;
European markets, if the medicine was in anygeneral lepute ; but, at pressut, what
grows wild is more than sufficient to supji'ly the inhabitants, atid serves frec|irefHly to
icvd the hoL;s, which arc said to live ciiie% Vipoadt, wiien there i& a scarcity of v«i4.
fi'uit. — Ji rcwn£.

This root grows in great plenty in lAitiK'nca. ft hath a root ss big as one's arm, is
crooked and- jointed, with knobs at every joint like some canes. The stems are very
tough, and when youBg of a green colour, very full of prickles like a rose -bush or
brier, but when older ha-, little orno prickles, ^md will grow to be bigger than a man's
thumb, and soinetimes ten or fitleon (eet high. Tiie leavcj are like the stndax aspera,
or saisaparilia .; ttiey are cordate<l, ssjiooth, of a very dariO green, witl) nei'ves like-
those of the English piantaiie-leaf. ■■ At the end and between the twii;s,comeout- the
flowers, several tagetiier, -hut frotn one centre, standing on an half- iwcn pistil,, of aa
iimbel fashioa ; each Dath six petals, with very small green apices, standnig round a'
green short stylus 5 -after, -follow so many blacKish bernfs, round, and of tiie bigness-"
of those of ivv, ha-^ingan- unsavoury purple pulp, with ,. ])urple stone as big as that of
the haw. Sometiijses a gum is to^ be founii, r.liich the Indians call tziliL'., which they
chew to strengthen -or fasten their teeth. I liave sec:i,a sort much wiiiter, wituout and
within, itban. tiie comtrion sort.. The useand virtues of this root are so well known for
and in..venefeal. cases, as f need not give any further descrijition of it ; only just men-
tion what use Br! Tra^iham made of it in such cases, v/lio practised many years in Ja->
jnaica ; but he first ga%fe the following electuary :

Take pulp'of tamarinds and cassia fistula, ot each half a pound ; juice of semper
■?ive, three pounds; small red pepper or capsicum, dried, one scruple; Winter's
cinnamon, one scruple and an half; of molasses, clarified with tiie white of an &g'^, a
pound and an ha'f Put all tiiC.-.e into an eartlicn pot, v^^iich pbice in the sun, .stirring
the mixture with a wooden spatula, two or tiiree times a day ; let it stand till it thickeui!
to a due consistence of a soft electuary, which keep for use as a general purge. The
(lose, from haif an ounce to an ounce and an half ; in clysters, two ounces. Let the
patient take half an ounce of this, or two good broad knife-points full, in the morning
fasting, and as much at night going to bed, two iiours after having eat«n some spare-
supviej-; coutbnie every otherortiiird day till tne gonorrhoea ceases. The dose may
be lessened according as it vvorks ; and ttiose days they do not purge at r.ight, let them
take a drachm of china-root in powder, drinking the foliov^ing decoction or infusion of
china-root, warm, to sweat with ; the drink ought to be made new every day, v/ithout
"bedng fermented with-sugar crage. The water is only to he boiled as that for tea;
then so much china-root, sliced, addetl thereto as may mak-e it of a claret colour; there,
can be no excels in the root, neitlier need there to be added, save for palate sake, a.-
little sugar, for it is better without ; let him drink thereof every night in bed plenti-
isiUy, about tH'o q.uarts, tiic better to sweeten the sour juices, which china- root power-

1S2 HORTUS JAMATCENSIS. «io.gks»

fully (loth in tlicse cases as well as in oiliers, such as -gouts, tertians, beefcrc.s, rcii-
suniptioiis, &'t. and tlien, to coixiplcte the cure and strenythea the sncrniatic vesst:ls,
let thenj take hog-gi»in in pills tor some time.

f am very well assured, tiiat this West India china-root is in every respect as effica-
cious and as valuable as that from the East Indies ; but the great diihcultv is how. ta
preserve it froui tlic worms ; for, in a month <jr two, it will be lji)red, a»d ail ilie fariua.
or mealy part scooped out, by a large white maggot with a red liead, tiiat-breeds in it.
I have tried several ways to prevent it ; tiie only way was, to tnm it well of all its soft
knobs, and then to bury it in white-iiine ; or in the following uiunner : Make a brine
with salt and water, strong enough to bear an egg ; then put in a fourth part of cham-
ber-lye, and a reasonable quantity of quick-lime, which mix, and boil togetiier about
traif m hour ; then take it ofl", and put china-root into ttie liquor ; let it remain there
tmtii it be thoroughly sTalded or parboiled ; then take it out,, and dry it in the iiot sun,
and then nu woruis will take it ; antl if^ little cA' the red coloui- comes out of the root it
is never th.- worse foi sale (so that you can b«t keep iSie worm from it), for the palest
china-root is now become tiie most valuable. — Burkam, p. 40^ 198.

The root has a reddish brown skin, and is more mealy than fil)rons. It should b^.
chosen full, heavy, and compact, and free from rottenness. A strong decoction of it
is an admirable astringent batii for sores, when the inflammation is removed. If it is
found to have a tendency to irritate the sore, a handful of oil nut leaves may be added;
to tiie decoction.

2. LACRIFOi;rA. EAY-LEAVItD.

.jisperoy foliis trineniis oblongis, petiolis biclaviculatis. Browne.
Stem pricli.!)', round ; leaves unarmed, ovate-la.nceolate, three-nerved.

Browne calls this the pn'c/cli/ stnilax, with slender wots, and says it is pretty like tlia
foregoing, but the roots are small, and divided into a number of slender branches.

■ Sec Sarsaparilla.

■'Chinese EosE — fe Changeable Rosfu

■ClUVES — See EsCRAhOT.

CHO-CHO. -ISECHIUM,

Gl. 21, OR. 9, — Monoecia syngenesia. Nat. or. — Euphorkice.

This is supposed to be derived from a Greek word, signifying to fatten, as the fruit
is used to fatten hogs.

"Gen. Char. — Tiie calyx of the male flower is one-leafed, half five- cleft, {frequently
six or seven clefts), spreading, segmeats of the border lanceolate, hat, acumi-
jiate : the corolla is one-petaled, tube the size and figure of the calyx, and fas-
tened to it; border five-cleft, (often six or seven clefts), segments triangular,
flat, acute, more than double tiie length of the calyx, spreading : tlie nectary tea
hollows, two at tlie foot of each segment of the corolla ; the stamens are five fila-
fljeutsj coi^ecied iato au upright cj-iiiider, five-clelt at top, spreading very much ;

autui^

antlier on the top of earji filament a litie creeping twice do'RTiwarc^s z'^i snc? up»
wards, farinii'eroiis. Females on the satrie pidui : calyx as in the male, placed
on the germ bv a jie'lice!, deciduous; corolla as in tlie male, but the lioilovis cr
pits Ijigqer ; the pistil has an ovate gcrui, tonicntosc, five-;^rooved, itiien'or ;
style cylindrical, erect, .(K>c-half the length of the calyx; sli^mavoty large,
peltate-rcflexed, v/ith the margin l5v^ cleft ; the pericarp verj? large, ovate-tar-
binate, five-grooved, fleshy, unequaJly gibbous at the top, luuricated >vith liarnj*
less priekies, one-celled above; seed one, sciborato, plaao couipressetl^ileshy
bilamellate, blunt at each end. There is only cue species.

EPyr.E. EATABLE.

FoUis tnrdoJ-o angulufisj rasemis minori'ms ad alas. Browne, p. 355.'

, This genus is-evidentiy monoecia j)entandria. It has the habit of the Cucumber aixl
imelon tribe, and climbs like them by tendrils ; leaves cordcite-anguiar, rugged on rfie
TJpper surface, with the angles toothed and acute, alternate on a smootii petiole ;
flowers small and scentless, pale yellowish ; .th^ males are many flowered peduncles j
the females one or two only 'in a peduncle from the same axil; the imit green .anil
shining on the outside ; whitish and fleshy within, differing in size, and singular in
structure ; the seed is green and naked, and, ia large fruits, an inch long, it is placed
Jtear the apex of the fruit, ansl when ripe, protrudes itself and many fibres from the
fruit, which drop into the eaitb; between -the lamelhB it puts forth a leafy stem, -and
then the fruit gradually putrefies.- Tfie moisture of this fruit itiself is sufficient to ve-
getate the seed and to afford it out ciraeUL, but the growth is quicker if the whole be
-covered with earth, . This fruit- is an agreeable and wholesom^i vegetable, but being,
rather of a watery insipkl taste, is mucu improved by Jpne Juice, by salt, or spicv in-
•gredients. Riixed with lime juice and sugar it is a gooil succeimeum for apple sauce,-
The vine beaa'siVuit all the j'ear -long, an , makes very good arbours, a* they ruu and
spread much. - The root of the old vine is sometuing like a yam, and on be^ng boileds-
or roasted, is farinaceous and wholesouie. -Tlie seeds, or iicarts, are very good if takejj
tiut idter the fruit is boiled and fried with butter. The fruit is also much coveted J^
.liogs, and greatly helps to fatten them.

CHOCOLATE-TRFX TirEOB'ROMA.

Ca.. 18, OR. 1 — PolTjadelphia deeandncr. Nat. OR. — Columnifertf.

"This generic name is derived from a Greek word, signifying the food of the goHs:
'<5en. Char. — The calyx is a five-leaved perianth, leaflets lanceolate, acute, S])read-
ing, deciduous; the corolla has fire petals, smaller than the calj'x, claws wide^
arched, coeca^'e like a helmet, emarginate at tne top, scored intemally with a -
thick triple line, inserted into the nectary at the base ; borders roundish)
acuminate, -spreading, each narrowed at the base into a small claw, which
i-s f'Jin uprigut recurved, and fastened into the claw. The nectary is .a-
. short little pitcher, putting forth five little horns, which are awl-shaped, lono-,
erect, acuminate, bent in and converging, decurrent along the pitcher. The-
stamens are five filaments, filiform, erect, bent outwards at top, -lying v. ithin the -
elaws of the petals, growing externally to the nectaiy, alternate with and shorter
^an the horas \ anthers on each filament two, one on eacksideat the tip, -rertsi-*..,

rl^-t HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. chocolate

cal,- o'ttp cell "^uperiov, the other inferior ; the pistil has an ovate germ, a^filiFurtu
style a little longer than tlie stamens; stigma (ive-cleft ;, the pi-ricarp is on ublong
capsule, coriaceous, unequal, five cornered, five-celled, vaKeless, not opcjung;
the seeds many, sub-ovate, nestling in a bnttery pulp, fastened to a central co-
luinnnr receptacle. There is only one species, the

CACAO.

Cacao. Sloane, v. 2, p. 15, t. 160. Fructu (rjafa.acumitiato, sub'
jvcmico.w, Ji.ct'm sulci's lun^^ituii/vnlihu.* sitbarato. A vaiiety :—
i^'ructu iubrolundvy sabvL'micoso, decern suicis subarato. ' BrownCj
p. 306.

The cacao or cliocolate tree grows in a handsome fornato the height of twelve or six-
teen feet ; the trunk is upright, and about as high as a nian before the head spreaiis
ont ; the wood is light and of a white colour^ the bark is brownish antl even. Leaves
lanceolate oblong, bright green, quite entn-e, alternate, from inn e to sixteen inches
long, and three or four inches wide at most, on a petiole an incli in lengtli, and thick-
ened at both ends ; peduncles slender, about eight or ten together, chieHv from the
scars of the fallen leaves, one of them only for tiie most part fruitful, the rest abortive ;
flowers small, reddish, inodorous. ■Fruits smooth, yelloiv, red, or of both colours,
about tliree inches in diameter ; rind fleshy, near half an inch in thickness; flesh-co-
loured within ; pnlp whitish, the<-<msistence of butter, seperaiing froin the rind in a
■ state of ripeness, and adhering to it only by filaments, which penetrate it and reach to
tlic seeds ; hence it is known when the seeds are ripe, by the rattling of the capsule
when it is shaken. The pulp has a sweet and not nnpleasant taste, with a slight acidity,
•and is sometmies sucked and eaten raw. -^t may be easily seperated into as many part^
as thereare seeds, to v^hicli it adheres strong!}', and tliey are wrapped up in it, so that
each seed seems to have its own proper puip. The seeds are about twenty-five ia
naniber ; when fresh they are of a flesh colour, they quickly lose their power of vege-
tation, \yhen taken out of the capsule, but^ kejH in it, preserve that power for a con-
.siderable time. The tree bears leaves, flowers, and fruit, all the year through; but
Ihe usual seasons for gatheiung the fi"uit^re June and,Deceinber.

This tree is carefully cultivated in all the French and: Spanish islands and settlemeirts
in the warmer parts of America. This was formerly the case also in .Jamaica ; but at
present we have only a few straggling trees left as monuments of our indolence and bad
])oiicy. • This tree delights in shady plates and deep val.ies. ' It is seldom above twenty
feet high. Tiie leaves are oblong, large, and poiwted. The flowers spring from the
trunk and large branches ; they are small and pale red. The pods are oj-'a! and poind-
ed. The seeds or nuts are numerous, and curiously stowed in 'a white pithy suiistance.
The cacao nuts being gently parched in an iron pot over the fire, the external covering
' soperates easily. The kernel is levigated on a smooth stone ; a little arnotto is added,
and, with a few drops of water, is reduced to a mass, and formed into rolls of one pound
' each. This simtile preparation is the most natural and the best. It is in daily nse ia
• most families in Jamaica, and seems well adapted for reaiing of children.— /j^;^^/;/.

This beautiful plant and profitable tree grew once in such plenty in .Tamaica, that
they valued themselves upon it, and thought they were or should be the richest people
ill iiie world i but they sooa saw themselves deceived ; tbrablast at once canie upoa

the

tfHOtO!„\Ta HORTUS J A Mx\I C E N SIS. -tti

the trees and dcstroyecl them all, and few or none cauld ever he got to grow there since .
what do grow are generally in plantaiii wa'.ks, or amijni^ sliady trees, and in bottoms or
rallies siieltered from the nortii winds. Tiiis tree grows in bigness and much resemb-
ling the heart-cherry tree, the boughs ?.nd branohes beautifully extending themselves
on every side, -their ieaves.being mucii of the same shape ; the flower is very beantifnl,
andpdmost of asaffron colour ; the fruit proceeds from the body fas in the calabasii),
and shall be full .almost all the way from the bottom iip to the brandies, which are also
. iiiil of fruit, whiclvis first green, and, as it increaseth its bigness, changes its shape
and colour^ until they are thoroaghly rip.e. I have seeq two sorts ; one very large, as
big and almost in shape of a.cuctmiber, but pointed at the end, and of a raoSt delicate
vcilow or lemon colour, with a httle red blush of «ne side wheB ripe ; another sbrt, not
"so big, of a fine blueish red, almost purple, with rcdvlish or pink colour veins, especi-
ally on that side-nest the sun; they hnve on the outside ridges and fm-rows, with
smooth bunches or knobs, as cucumbers huve^ They are ripe and f>t to g;ither in .Ja-
nuary and in May, having' two ci-oiw or bearings in a year. The external husk or rind,
which is pretty thick, being broke or cut, there appear' the kernels adhering to one-
anothsr by soft filaments, an^l inclosed jn a white pulpy substance, so/t and sweet,
which some suck when tiiey taJie.thera out of their shells, which contain ten, twenty,
and sometimes thirty nuts, almost like almonds. There is much difference in theit
largeness and goodnea? ; those at Carpenter's River are the largest, those brought frorn
the coast of Caraccas next, the smallest are those of Martinico, Tlicy are cured in the
sun upon cloths or blankets. Tiiat which vve naake our chocolate of is the inside of the
nut, encomjiassed with a thin shell or case, which, when tj^ken off, the dry and hard
-sui)slance looks of the colour of a kidney bean, with crannies or crevices between them.
The^y are very apt to mould and decay, if they are not well cured ; and, if right good,
they are ptump, smooth, and oily, and of a bitterish taste when raw. The oil of tiiis
nut ia the liottestrf any thing known, and is said to recover cold, weak, and paralytic
limbs, and to smooth the skin. This nut is very nourishing, as is tlailv experienced in
;the West Indies. wu«!re many Creoles live in a manner wholly upon chocolate. The
•..way of making it is so -well known that 1 need not describe it. — Barluim, p. 26.

This tree grew once so plentifully in Jamaica, that the inhabitants flattered them-
selves it would become the sour-ce of inexhaustible wealth to them. In 1671 there were
eixty fine walks in Ijearing, and many new ones in cultivation; Iwit some years after-
wards they vere all destroyed at once, as it is said, by a blast which pervaded the whole
island ; so tiiat thev were never afterwards recovered ; and at present there are but very
few ; the greatest discouragement in going upon this article being the extreme tender-
ness of the young plants, and the length of time they require to come to maturity ;
vvhich most settlerivf-re too sanguine and impatient to wait for, but rather apply to other
comm idities, which make a quicker return, although it is certain that a good cacao
walk, once e^^tablished, is far more profitii)le, and demands fewer labouring hands than
almost any other marketal>le West India product. Tliere are many trees still in the
island, scattered about in the woods, and found chiefly in rich cool bottoms, that are
sheltered from the winds. As the cacao is a very capital article in trade, and may i)e
pro luce I as such in this island, T shall lay dawn the best rules for the culture of it'that
'J.have been able to meet with.

The most proper soil for the plants is a moist, rich, and deep earth ; for they gene-
rally send fortli one- tap root, n-hich runs very deep into the ground ; so that, whenever

3h the;,'

iS« HOR'TUS JAMAICENSTS.- tH0reUT3-

~tliey ineet wHh a roclvy bottom near the surface they seldom thrivP, Tier are long lived.
A rich glade of brick Tiioiild near water is perhaps the best situation cf a'ly. Before the-
plantatiion i.s begun, the grouiiJ should he well piejiared by digging- it deep, and clear-
rng it from roots of trees and noxious plants. Wjien the ground has been thus pre-.-
pared, the rows should be marked out with a line.*- Some of the .largest, finest cods,
i'nll ripe, are then to be selected; and, after beiiTg kept two or three day*- from the
time of their gathering, they are opened, the nuts taken out, and thrown in asmall.
vessel of water ; such as swim are to be rejected^ the:0j,hers are to J-.e washed cieaa
from the ])ulp, the outer skin iiken off, anj they are sulFcred to lie in shallow water,
till they appear Just ready to sprout,. A hole is^ then made about one foot diameter,.
and six inches deep, in the ground ptepared for their reception. A plantain leaf is
laid in the hole, so as to retaina length at one end of about eight inches above ground ;
the mould is lightly rubbed into the leafj till the hole is filled ; and the nnts are after- .
wards set triangularly in it, three in a hole, at two inches depth, care being used to
place them with their ends perpendicular ; they are to be co%ered with monlrl, loosely,
shaken over, artdthe extremity of the plantain leaf folded down, and kept in that po-
sitionj .with a small stone laid u]X)n it., In about eight or ten days time U:;e ])!ants will
appear above ihe. mould ; ihe plan. tain leaf is then raised, and some thntch tree, or other
strong leaves, are set round, to shade and protect the young plants from the sun. — »
Small bun lies, of about eighteen iaelfes, made in basket work, or reeds bundled toge-
ther. Would perbajjs be preferable, as they are fixed more firmly by their stalks in the
earth, so as not easjly to be throwivdown by the wind, and husk off the seed leaves of
the plants ; for these are only the tender divided lobes of the kernel, and the loss of
them would wb.oUy put gm end to their farther growth.. These screens are continued
about six.months, after which the Spaniards take a branch of coral bean tree*, and set
it s. S.w. (in Jamaica it shoidd be N. N. E.) at a small distance from the,plants, and in-
termixed between the rows. These slips vfill grow up with the cacao, and defend it
from blowing violent weather; The young plants are susceptible of injuries from
strong winds^a tooiiot sun, or great droughts, so that the^' cannot be too well secured
atrainst such accidents. For this reasoii, the most sheltered situation must be chosen-
for them. Th(? winds mpst to be fi:ared in Jamaica, are the N. R. s. e. and southerly.
Some defend the young plants, by planting plantain suckers about tv/o months, or cas-
Sada six weeks, before the seeds are set. They plant the nuts in the rainy season, or,:
at least, ia cloudy weather, or when rain is expected ; and, in case the weather proves
too dry and scorching after the cacao makes its appearance above ground, they contrive
to water it, by lading pieces of rag, cotton, or even v/eedsfv thoro-ughly wet, gently
round the stem, and let them rest there, till the earth has absorbed a considerable por-
tion of moisture ; a watering pot, with a rose head of very small holes, would no doubt
be less troublesome, and perform this operation much better ; but <he water used fop
the purpose shouldbe taken from a ri'v^er, and suffered to stand for some liours in a tub
or cistern previous to its being used. Plantain trees afford the most natural and agrce-i
able shade for these plants, while very j-oung ; but, as they rise, they should be fur-
nished with a more substantial defencs against the inclemencies of tlte weather, tiU
thev attain to full perfection ; and it ought even then to be removed with jirecaution*
If the walk is extensive, a few large tiuiber trees may be left on the outline or skirts^
l^re and Vbere, to break the.force of tlie wind. Tiie Spaniards set orange-treesj but

the^-

•HOcOLATt HORTUS JAMAICENSIS, is?

they are, I think, '"too slow in their growth. I have seen the horse cassia at>d mammee
msed tor this purpose ; and they seein better adapted, froiq the largeness of bulk, anij
thick shady leaves.

When the cacao is six months old, the planter, from tliis period, roust not he too
fend of cleaning the walk from grass and herbage ; because ituy keep the ground cool ;
but all creeping climbing plants, and such weeds as grow hign enough to overtop thu
cacao, should be destroy ed.x Tue distance for laymg ni the seeds uray be about sixteen
«r eighteen feet from tree to tree. The reason for putting in three seeds is because
-they seldom all succeed ; or, if all grow, they will not all. be equally vigorous ; wiienj
^herelore, they are about eighteen inches high, one of theweakesi and most un|)ro-
nibing ot the three may be drawn up and tlirovvn away, care being taken not to injure
or disturb tb6 roots of the two reuiaming. It is found by experience necessary to plant
the seeds where tlie trees are to remain; for the transplanted trees will never thrive,
nor bear well, on account, as is supposed, ot the tenderness of the tap-root, wliicli, if
it be tue least injuredv will bring on a decay of tiie tree.

In two years time, the plants, having grown to the height of about five feet, will be-
gin to flower ; these first bi(Jssoms are always plucked off; for, if suffered to remain,
and produce fruit, the vigoin- of the trees wiil be greatly impaired, and they will never
bear well after wardij. Their fruit is not allowed to remain for maturit_\ tni the third
year, and then only go much as seems proportioned to the strength of each tree. By
these precauvious they will afterwards yield a larger, better ncninghed fruit, and hold
their vigour much longer. In the fourth year they are permitted to bear a moJerate
crop, but some flowers are geuerally pulled off froui those that appear too weak, in
order that they may recover their strength, before they are old. When planted in a
good soil, and properly managed, they will continue vigorous ani fruitful for thirty
years. They bear two cro|5s a year ; the greatest in December or January, the other
in May; and from the time when the Sowers drup off, to the maturity of the truit is
about lour months. I'he time of maturity is known by the yellowness of the pods, and
the rattling of the nuts, when the pods are shaken. The4atterai-e then plucked, the
nuts picked out, and leaving the pulp, if any remains upon them, they are exposed
every day to the sun, for a month, upon mats, blankets, or skins.* It is best not to
■was ii oft the pulp, as it makes them keep the longer. The pod^ cantain no certain
number; they iiavefrom ten to twenty and even thirty iiuti; but this depends chieHy
-on the right training them during the first tiiree pr four years of their growth. Wlien
thoroughly cured or dried, they are ready for the market.

Altera walk is once established it. renews itself, the roots sending out suckers, to
^supply the phice of the old stocks, when decayed or cut down.

The produce of one tree is generally estimated at about twenty pounds of nuts. The
produce ptr acre m Jamaica has been rated at (me thousimd pmnd-s per annum, allow-
ing tor bad years. In poor soils, and under bad management, the produce per tree
rart'ly cxcee.ls eight p.ounds Weight. The chemical oil extracted from the nuts is ex-
tremely hot, and esteemed a good euilirocatiou ia pM'aiytic cases; the Mexicans are
sal to eat the nuts raw, to assuage pains in the bowels.

Tlie chocolate, so much. anCt so justly preferred by the West Indian natives to most
■Other aliments, is highly restorative, insomuch, that one ounce of it is said to nrmrish
■: ai* mucii as a pound of beef. It is esteemed in all countries where it is known, and is

Pb.3 fouui

^* It is uaual first to laj the pods in heaps t9 t veat for three ot four days before they are opeaei].

:.»^ HOIITUS JAMAICEN?'?^. Ci;o,coLA-m-

found a s»it;ir>k- part of diet for all ages, hut in pitrticular agreeable to iiaanrs, oUi per-
sons, ^uictudinarians, mid sucji us are on tlie recovery from sickness; and, prL-purecU
w.iili miik,. it is liiujily tip|)roveJ ot in coosuinptive habits. Froni what has been pre-
iiiis>'d it j'.ppears tfia; tiris is. not a plant wliich can- be every ^vhere cultivated. It vaiII
not tiu'ive in the <lry iow parts oi' the South side^ nor oaelev-atedorrQcJ^y spots in the
mountains. It reqiiires a f!at,.iiioi.»» soil, v^eji sheltered. by sun'ounding heif^its ;. vvliicirj.
occasioned -Sir Hans.'Sioa'oe to remark, *'' that it is bnt.iil living where there are good
Cddio walks ;'^ for \v!;ich mois^t, tmventi^ated places are, witliout douljt^the most iu>-
Tiliolesonie for inynkind to Jreside in. Yet, where such glades or sp Jts are found, they
certainly cannotybe turned to any §art of cuiturethat wijl yield more profit ; aiid it does,
not fplidvvthat because a settler is possessed of such a spot, he is therefore to liv£ upon,
it; since the situation supposes trie neigubouriiopd, of Jii^her spots more proper tot
coiLstant resideiice. — Lf^tigi P- &Vi>.

The cacao or chocohite nut, a production equally delicate, wholesome, and nutri-
tive, is/a native of South America, arid is said to have been originally conveyed to His-
paniola from some of tuq provinces of New Spain, where besides affordiog the natives
ah article of nourishment, it served the purpose of money ; an.d was used by them as a
medium in barter-; one hundrec}'«nd fifty of the nuts being considered of rriucii the
same value as a lyal by the Spaniards. From this eircuniiuance it seems pFobable, that
if the ancient inhabitants of South America were emigrants from Europe or Asia, they
must have detached themselves at ai;i early period, before metals were converted into
coin.3, or from some society which had made but moderate advances in civilization.

The fift!) year the tree bears, and the eighth attains its full perfection. .: It is obnoxi~:
ous to blii^hts, and shrinks from the first.appearance of drought. It has happened that
tlie greatest part of a whole plafitation of cacao trees have perished in a single night,
without a visible cause. Circumstiuices of this nature, in early times, gave rise to many
superstitious notions concernmg this tree, ai>d,. among others, the appearance of a
comet was always considered ^, fata:! to the cacao plantations. .

In spite, hovveverj of the infliience of cornels, and notwithstanding the care and pre-
caiuion tiiat are requisite in the first esublishment oi a cacao plantation, it is certain
that the cultivation of this plant was both extensive and successful in the Britith sugax
islands, for many years after they had became subject to the British government.
Blome, who published a short account of Jamaica in 1672, speaks of cacao as being at
that time one of the chief articles of export : " There are" says he, " in tliis island, at
this time, about sixty cacao-walks, and many^more now planting.." ' At present, I be-
lieve, there is not a single cacao plantation from one end, of Jamaica to the other. A
few scattered trees, here and there, are all that remains of those flourishing and beau-
tiful groves which were once the pride and boast of the country. They have witherexis,
ivith tlie indigo manufacture, vmder the heavy hand of ministerial exaction. Tlie ex-
cise on cacao, when made into cakes, rose to no less than twelve pounds twelve shiU
iings per hundred weight, exclusive of eleven shillings and eleven pence half-penny, _
paid at the custom-house ;, amounting together to upwards of four hundred and eighty
per cent, on its marketable value ! — Edwards.

Choise'ji, VEk-^Ssc Bastard Sensitive* .

-CHRISTMAS

•HflisTMAS HORTU?. JAMAICENSIS. 133,

CHRISTMAS GAMBOL. CONVOLVULUS

Cl. 5, OR. 1. — -Pentandria monogT/nia, Nat. OR, — Cavipanacea',

■Gen. Char. — .Vee; Bindweeos, /). 88.

POLYANTHOS.

Convolvulus major pohjd-ni ho.'!, longissime la/tssmieque repens,Jlorilus -
alh/'s ininoribus- o,d/)nitis. Sloane, v. i, p. 15.'3, t. 97, f. 2. Poli.
(uitltos glahcr undiijuc repen!^,^:racemls" subcomosis sparsis ct alari-
bus, capsulis Dinno.'sriermis.- iirowne-t \i. 15^. v

This plant covers sonietimes a .great many trees, and'sQiaetifiies pastures for a great •
"breadtli. It has a broad or compressed, fiat, long, cornered root^ of a brownish co-
Jour, Irom wlience issue many. strin>gs. The stalks are whitish, broad, smooth, iiavirig
several round eminences on tiieir surt'acc, piutirig iorth branches adorned with leaves
at an inch and a half (iistance ; they are siiaped liice a heart,_an uich and a half long,
«ii an iiicli long peduncle, and an inch broai^ut the round !)ase, wiiere ilroadest, smooth,
soft, and of a darkish green coloun ^ The tlovvers^come out in the bra'i.ches in great
numbers, on inch long footstalks, they are monopetaious, beil-fashioned, white, small
with respect to the plant, and sraeiiing very svyeet-. After each ot these flowers comes
!ioe large oval seed, like brown vehxt, ^olid, inclosed in a brown membranaceoii.s,
hairy seed vessel having five 'brovvn leaves, .standing out at every side under it like tiie
says of a star. ' It grows on the plain grounds near the river side by the town of St. Jago
de la Vega, and iii other places of the island, very plentifully. It flowers in May aiid-
December, when the homuung birds are very busy about it, feeding on the-farina of
4lie flowers. The suiell.of the flower Is somewhat like tiiat of the narcissus. — Sloane.
All the parts of this plant are smooth.

jj^fi BiNixwERDs — Jalap — Imdian-Creeper — PurginCt Sea Biseweed— Scammony— ^

.Sweet Potatoe.

CHRISTMAS PRIDE. RUELLIA.

Cl. 14, OR. 2. — Didynamia angiospermm. NAT. or. — Per sonata.

This is so named in honour of Joannes Ruellius, a learned physician of Paris, who
«fed in 15^7.

CrEN. Char. — Calyx a one-teafed, five-parted, permanent perianth, having lineap
segments, acute, strai^ljt ; the corolla one petaled, uTegular, with a patulous
inclined neck; border five-cleit, spreading, blunt; with two upper segments more
reflexed ; the stamens are four filaments, placed where the tube widens, approxi-
mating by pairs ; anthers scarcely loiigtr taan the tube ; the pistil has a roundish ■
germ, a filiform style the length of the stamens, a bifid acute stlgua, the lower
segments rolled in ; the pericarp is a round caj>sule, acuminate both ways, tivo-
celled, two-valved, opening elaslically by the claws ; partition contrary; seeds s
,few roundish, compressed. Four species arc natives of Jamaica.

I. PANICULATA. tanicled.

^■Sj)£culu7n veneris majus, impaiicns, ^ioaiie, v. I, p. 158, 1. lOO, f. 2.

Proceriixr^^

ISO H O Pv T U S J A M A I C E N lb 1 S. - xhrirtmss

.T'roccrioi; mbci. erea, hirsuta ; pedunculis ramosis i jfiore mulli-
plici. Browne, p. i.£7.

'Leaves almost entire, peduncles uichotomous divaricate, panicled.

The r(jol is perennial, stem frutescent, from two to three feet high, often prostrate,
four-coniereo, smooth, but pubescent towards the top ; leaves opposite on short peti-
oles, ov&ie-ianceolate, subserrate, nerved,, suinevvhat hirsute or ruttged ; stem leaves
longer; branch leaves often deciduous; panicles formed of opposite ciichotomous
brandies, divaricating very much; pedicels one-flowered, flowers biggish, blue; cap-
suie acuminate, surrounded by tha calyx, two-celied, bursting by the claw ; seeds
roundish, compressed, black.. The wiiole herb is somewhat clumsy, witii glands, imd
has an odour approaching to that of caujphor. .It is a native of Jamaica iu llie soutlicrix
parts ill dry hills and hedges. — Sw.

- When the capsule is ripe it bursts open with great violence on being wetted, throw-
ing the seed to it coiisiJtirjble distance. T*iib is a remarkable provision nidde liy nature
for propagating tiiese plants when rain falls. It is very common al)oui Spanisii Town,
and generally blows ab;iut Cliristnias, in the months of Becember and January, iiiak-
ing a beautuul appearance on the hetiges at that season of the year, whence ics name,
C'hris/i/tas-pn.:e, has. been derived. The plant biing weakly setdomrises above a foot
or two unsupported, but climbs on the neighbouring bushes frt-quently the lengtli of
tliree or four feet, bearing a great number of flowers. .This is the self-heal, or all-heal,
ofBarham, of which he gives tne follovying account :

*' These herbs are called in Latin prunella, or a;tieaLcr self-heal ; and the Germans
call tlieni brundla, or brtaieilen, because they cure that disease wuich they c-all die
brucn, common to sohliers in camps and garrisons, which is an inflammation of tne
mouth, tongue, and throat, with bjackn.'s.s, accompanied with a strong l)urning fevjer
and disti-aetion or delirium ; The juice of these piajits is a certain specific for tliat dis-
temper, and all sore mouths and tnroats, mixed with a little hon^y of roses and white-
wine vinegar. The decoction of the herb, in wine or water, -makes an excellent trau-
matic drink, to forward the healing of ail wounds and stubborn ulcers. 'Jt is said to
take away the jJiii.a and swelling of tiie testicles,, which negroes are apt to have. ,7\bove
twenty years past, one captain Pickering, a gentleman I knew very well, had a stick
witii fire at the end of it .darted at him, vshi'ch happened t© come jtist under the brow
of his eye, ^nd ses^inied to turn his e\e out, and all despaired of his life. jSio surgeon
being at hand, , they sent for an old negro man, well stilled in plants ; as soon a.s he
came, he ran and took of this herb that hath tne bluish or purple flower, and washed
it, reduced the eye as well as he conhi to its place, and then laid on the bruised herb,
bound it up, and tlie captain was carried home. The next day iie sent for a surgeon ;
and when tiiey came to open it, found it healed up to admiration; upon whicii they
sent for the negro, and 'desired him to finish his cure ; which he did in two or three
<}ays, only applying the same thing ; andtlien'the captain rewarded the negro very
well, and desired Jiimi;o shew hiiii the'herb. This Ihad from several worthy gentle-
men who were th<.-re present, and affirmed it to be matter of fact and truth, who since,
they" toid inej'use it to all green wounds with great succe.ss, and call it Pickering's herb
,i;Ci tliii day." — Barhain, p. 171. .

-2. -BLfXHUJT.

PruiiQlla datioyjlorc (klti«. jSioane, v, 1, p. 173, t. 109, f. 1. Bb-.

«1N\VAM0J^^ KORTUS JAMAICENSIS, !?;

chum. Foiiis ohlongo ovalis, spici's- crass 's/o'iolati's ccntcc g'.iit:lfutis
sub/iirsuh's. Browne, p. 2tJl.

Leaves ovate, serrate- toothed, somewhat hirsute; spikesovate; inner bractea
in pairs ; flowers three together, sessile.

Stem herbaceous, two or three feet high, upright^ bi"anched, four-rornered, stria
»ted even ; the branches spreadinof, opposite, axillary ; leaves petialed, opposite,
ovate-lanceoiate, acuminate, nerved ; spikes terminating, four-cornered, conical, at»
inch long ; bractes imbricate, or floral. leaves, cordate, acuminate, nerved, hirsute, at
the base of which are two little lanceolate bractes, and within them three sub-sessile
flowers, small, whitish blue. Calyx five-leaved; leaflets awl -shaped, erect; corolla
fiinnel-form, border threcT-cleft. Seeds membranaceous, black. It is an annual plant,
common in the pastures and bushy places of Jamaica. Browne says it thrives best in a
gravelly soil. Sioane found it on a rocky hill bej'ond Guanaboa,

3. BLECuromES. - /'

Loaves oblong, somewhat toothed^ smooth; spikes ovate; flowers longer than-
the bractes , ,.

The stems are prostrate, dichotcmous, even, slightTy four-cornered ; leaves oppo-
site, ovate, scarcely pubescent, quite entire, tocjtiilets obsolete; petioles ciiiate j
spikes loose, four-cornered, ma le up of cordate, floral leaves, with two short lanceo-
late bractes withiii each, and within tliese two sessile flowers, one without the other..

See Spirit Leaf.

CINNAMON. LAURlfS,

Cl. 9, OR. 1. — Enneandria vionogijnia, NaT. oa. — Hohratea^
C5£N. CUAfi. — ^t'(? Avocado Pear Tree, p. 37.

ONNAMOMUM.
Leaves three-nerved, ovate-oblong ; nerves disappearing tovrards the end.

This tree hath a large root, which divides- into several branches, covered with a barlf^
•which on the outer side is of a greyish brown, and in tiie inside has a reddish cast.-—
The wood of the root is hard, white, and has no smell. , The body of the tree, wliicb
grows to the height of twenty or thirty feot, is covered, as well as its numerous branches,
with a bark, which at first is green, and afterwards reddish. Tue leaf is longer and
narrower than the common bay tree ; and it is tiiree served, the nerves vanishing to- •
wards the top. When first nnfolde! it is of a beautiful flame colour ; but, after it has-
been for some time exposed to. the a;r, and grows dry,- it changes tou deep green oa
the upper surface, and to a lighter on the lower. Tne flowers are small and pale yel-
low, and grow in large bunches at the extremity of the branches : they have a smell,
something like that of the lily of the valley. The fruit is shaped like an acorn, but ia
not so large.

The cinnam.on is the under bark of the cinnanomum. The best season of separatin<5
ifef-WOLthe outer bark, which is grey and rngnred, is tiie spuing, wiien the sap flows la

1921 HOUTUS JAMAICENS'lS: cinnamon^

the greatest abundance. It is cut into thin shccs, and exposed to thr ?tia, and curls
up ill drying. The old trees produce a. coarse kind of cinnamon. V. iien tlie trunk
Ijias been stripped 01 it» bark, it receives no lurther nonrishnient; hut th« root is still
alive, and eontiunes to throw out fresh shoots. Its seed, wlien boiled in water, yielJs
an oil whicti swims at top and lakes fire' If left to cool, it hardens into a white sub-
stance, of wi'ich candles are made, which liave an agreeable smell, and are reserved
for the use of ibelCmg oT Ceylon. The cinnaiT)on js not reckoned excellent unless it
be fine, smooth, brittle, thin, of a yellow colour, inclining to red ; fragrant, aromatic,
and of a poignant yet a^'reeable taste. The connoisseurs give the preference to that,
the pieces of vvhicli are long but slender. Cninamon is a very elegant and useful aro-
matic, more grateful both to^he palate and stomach, than most other substances of tliis
class. By its astringent quality it likewise -con-ol^orates the viscera, and proves of great
service in several kinds of alvine fluxes, and immoderate discharges from the uterus.

Tiie cinnamon is a native of Ceyioi). Some trees were introduced into this island
l)y Admiral lipdney, whu captured them with other valuable plants in a French ship.
— One vvas planted in Mr. East's Garden, and another in the Bo'tanic Garden^ in St.
Thomas in the East. From these parent trees many hundr£x5^s of joaiig trees have been
produced, and now thrivein alnjost.every part of theJsland.

Dr. Dancer gives the following aecount of the cinnashon trees, growing in this island^
in the eigluii volume of the Transactions of the Society of Arts :

" The cinnamon t!-ees of this island have been raised from a few plants taken, along'
tvitli a large collection of other oriental exotics, in a French ship, bound from the Isle
of France to Hispaniola, and presented to the Botanic Garden by Lord Rodney, whea.
he came down here, alter his glorious victory of the !2th of Apfil, 1782 Upon com-
paring the parts of the tree with the description and figure given by Burman and other
botanists, it appears to be the real Ceylon cinnamon, and of the best kind, called by
the natives rassc coionclc.i but the specimens of bark taken put it out of all doubt, be-
ing, in the opinion of the best judges, of an equal if notsuperior <jui-lity to any im-
ported from India.

" The various and important uses to nhich tiie several parts of the plant are applied^
make it an invaluable acquisition to the West India colonies ; and there can i)e no im-
pediment, except an impolitic prohibition, to its becoming an article of general culti-
vation, and of the most jucralive commerce. None of the botanical writers, whom I
have had an opportunity of consulting, ^ay much of the cultivation -or proy)agation of
the cinnamon ; and we have hardly had time to make sufhcient observations on the sub-
ject of eitner ; but, for the inf )rination 'of the pul)iic, to whom it is a matter of some-
importance, I shall venture the few remarks winch my own short experience enables'
me to offer.

" The cinnamon plant, though, (according to the account of travellers,) it grows
to the height of twenty or thirty feet is, properly speaking, an arborescent one, and
not a tree of the common kind ; it puts out numerous side brandies, with a dense fo-
liage, from the very bottom of the trunk ; which furnishes an opportunity of obtaining
a plenty of layers, and facilitates the pnipagation of the tree, as it iocs not perfect its
seeds in any qnantity under six or seven years, wnen it becomes so plentifully loaded,
that a single tree is sufficient almost for a colony. It seems to delight in a loose moist
■soil, and to require a soutKern aspect; the trees thus planted, flourishing better than
•Utiier.s growing in a loam, and not so well exposed to the sun. Wheu healthy, it i^,

(froBx

!,i;-oi^^;c''er5) ofr! prottv <:^--;:L grov^f •, i-e-i^-uinp; i- Mj^rir ^eirs tne height of fiuec?! or
twentv ff'tt, u v&y spreadiug, and famished wuU nlvinarous branches, rtt a fit .size f-^r
decortication. The seeds,' hoive^.'er, area long tmie in-couuiig up, and the plain ta
make small pyogress for the first year or two. 'i'.'-e birds appear to be very fond of the
berries, and will, probably, propagate this tree in the same v;ay they do manj; others
every where "•■■"'■ 'i'p if !(-!' : s-:> ;•■;■* in ? 5'v:ri. t'r;"^ ii_ w;;; .--,';.; j.:^ ; ■»;:!' -rusly, of
Vsithout cul-i

" " Tiie-be^^r c;a:;:;:'!oa o;:riv, aecoitinig to ti::- Oin-T^-;', (.nnis i ii^ve "-:^..rj >s taken
fr-. n the small branches, of about aii inch diameter, the larger limhs not being so easily
decorticated, and not visldinac so ^ood -or so stron<>; a ciiuismon. The sixialler twim,
or those that have n;>t acqinred a ciuentious bark, are too iud oi sap and rtincilage, and
have little aroma..' It is the Ither, or inner bark, that constitutes the cinnamon, from
•which the two extej-nai barts T^ii>^r he carefully and .entirely seperated, or they vitiate
the flavour of the-<^iftnam U> this with dexterity, and to raise the bark from tHe
v.'ood, requires some pracu. e , out there rnay perh;ips be an easier method than that
which I made use of; which was that of a ooaunon pruning knife. The bark being
thns seperate<l, the smaller pieces arc to be placed within the larger ; whicii, by ex-
posure to the sun or the air, presently coil up, and require ko furtlier preparation. A
dry season, I apprehend, is the proper cme for taking the bark ; as I hare fovjrid 'the
.cinnan^on not so strong after long or heavy rains. Cinnairion seeros to be much more
retentive of its virtues than any of th-e other ipices ; but it will certainly be proper lo
protect it, when taken^ ....--. u .., ., - --v-' - i- -• .i. ~ -■■■ ^ , < .-.:..,. , :, . -■;.,.- ..-,.:-

ing in cedar chests.

" Having thus'^commuriicatod ini tiiat i cm able {roiri rr,y own obsorratioas, respcci:.-
ing the culture and preparation of the cinnamon, I shall add *,vhat i know; with respect
to th^; use.=! of its several parts.

" The leaveSj wbether recent or dried, ^re so strongr, ...i,::\;j;nated vp'ith an aroma^
similar to the cinnamon, that they are on all ocea,iions a good succedaneum for the
tark, both in cookery and medicine. Distilled, they -give an excellent sioaple and
3pirituou.<; water, and an essential oil, of the nature of oil of ciove.q. Powdered, they
are a good aromatic species, or mareschal perfume. Every part of the . , jjording
t.o writers of the best authoritv, affords some useful product."

To -rcount for ths great quantities of cinnamon trees stii! remaining in the island of
Ceylon, after the general exportation of the bark that has prevailed during several
centuries, some authors have assured -us, that, after the bark has been stripped off lLo
tree, it becomes fit to be stripped off a second tirr;e in fq?ir or five years ; but this^ as-
sertion is no less contrary to obseri-ation than it is to the common cfcurse of nature. — ■
The truth is, the barked trees being cut down, quickly put forth new shootSj which in
a period of from five to eight years come again to the knife. Great numbers also of the
f.reesiare continually springing from the fruit, which either drops upon the gr )und, or
is disseminated by the wi^d doves called there cinnamon eaters; insoipuch, that here
and ther<3 along the roads;§uch qaantities of these young trees are to he seen, as to look
5>Kfi iiltie ivood^. ' . ■

'ihi^^roiiorring account of tlie mode of procuring cinnamon iv), Ceylon^ is extracted
jTroca rhaabi;rg'iB Travels ;

C 0 <« Cinnamojft

f H. K 0-RT;U S.V J A M A I € E N S I S. cesxamoJt

" GinnaiT)oii is baAed in tJjc waods-at,;two<lifferer.t seasons of the year. The Orst is
termed thegraiKl han-est, and lasts from Aprii to Avigust ; the second is the small har-
vest, and lasts ■fioni November to the month. of JiUiuary. The barking is performed m
the following manner : first, a good cninamon tree is looked out ibr, and caosen by the
loaves and other characteiistics. Those branches wtiich are three years old, fire lopped
off with a comtpan hooked pruning knife. Secondly, frqm the twigs that have been
lopped ofF, the outside pellicle f epidermis J of the bark is scraped off with another
knife, which is convex on -ene edgcj, and concave on the other, .with-a sharj)- point au
tii^end, and sharp at both edg^s. Tiiirdly, after tlw; bark ha.3 been scraj>ed, tiic twigs
are. ripped sip longvifiys with the point of .the knife, and the, bark gradnaily loosciieu
from them with the convex edge of the knife, uU it can be entirely taicen olF. ' FourtLi v,
the baik l>e)ng peeled off, is gathered iip together, ..several smaller tubes or quills of it
arc inserted into the larger, and thus spread out to dry, whenthe bark ot: its ov.rn ac-
cord-rolls itself up still closer together,, and is then tied up in bnndles, and finally car-
riedoff. Sandy gronnd is best aiiapted of any for cinn^moa trees. After the ciimamoa
has been packed np, t!ie distilling'.of it coa\meitGeg. This,, the dearest and most ex-
cellent of oils, isdisiiiled from the fragments and smai'l pieces of cinnamon, whiclt
break off and fall from it. during the pac.king. This dust and refn-.-e is iuid in laro-Q
tubs, and a quantity of water poured upon it suitixieiit^ta cover it coYnpletely. In ttTis
manner it is left in several different tubs, which are got ready, in daily succe.ssion, for
six or eight days together, to macerate. One of these tubscomm-)n!y.hoiJs one hun-
dred pounds wdght of cinnamo.n dust.. AU this i.s poured, a littje at a tjme, into a cop-
per alembic, and drawn off with a slow fire. The water, called aqua cinimomi, then
comes over quite white, nearly <)f the colour of milk, together witii theoil, which iluats
at top in the ope.n glass recipie;it placed underneath, A tub is distilled ok every
twenty-four hoiTs. I was at great pains to ascertain how mnch oil is prixmred from
one hundred weight of cinnanion dust, but constantly without effect,as it is again.st ths
apothecary's interest to let thi-i be known. Thus much however is certain, that cinna-
mon does not yield much oil, in proportion toother spices, and that therefore such
cinnamon as is useful cannot be employed for this purpose, but only the refuse, which
cannot be sent to Europe. The wood of the tree is of a loose and porous texture, and
handsome enough : wi>eu sawed into planks it if; sometimes manufactured into caddies
and the like, but its scent does not secure it from the attact-s of worms." — Thunbero-

.i'ee AyQC^fiO Pear— Bay Trees — iBenj.vmix — Camphire — Cogwood — Sassafras.

CI.NXAMON, WILD. CANELLA.

Cl. 11, OR. 1. — I)QdeoandvLamoaogyma. 'N.CT-. or:.!—

Ge>t C5IAR. — Perianth one-leafed, thr^e-lobed ; lobes roundLsh, concave : the co-
rolla has five petals, obloug, se,-isi|e, longer than the caiyx, two a h!tt!e narrower
tlian the rest ; nectary pitcher-shaped, tiie length of the petals, anthers bearino- •
the stamens have no filaments; amhers from niue to twenty, or even more, linear
parallel, distinct, fastened on the outside to the nectary : the pistil has a superior
genu,, within the nectary, ovate ; style cylindric,: the length of the nectary
»ti<^mas two or threes blunt, convex,, wrinkled; tiie pericarp aa oblong three*

celled

«TN>;.W0M I-IORTUS JA?,IA!CF,NSIS. ir$

ce'leJ berry ; seet!"? raiinnjsh, kidney-shapcci (two to four). This is n]li«tl to

tutus.. la the rips fru.i orte ceil om^ is ijrule, me rudi.nyiits oi die «ther twoi
btirig rarely seen,

AI.TJA. ^^TUTE.

. Arhor baccifera, Litirifolh, aio.valica, fructu mriii calijcnfnio raeei
inoso. .'■^oane, v. 2, p. i<7, t., 191, f. 2. Foliii: oblonitis ohitnis nii
tidis, racanis ttrniiuaUbtia. Ei-owne, p. 275, t. '2~, i. 3.

T'ols tree is vpry common in Jamaica, one! grows sometimes to tlje heijjlit of fortj of
fiitv foet, sti'digbt, ijjjrigat, branching at tiie top, and making a handsoiue appt-ar-
ancv". Tue bai-k haS an ouuyaivt -rind, thm, -of a light grey colour, with some vvliitu
spots scattered over it, having also several shailavy furrows of adarker colour. The iri-
%varJ bark is twice as thick as Hie outer, sinool'i. and of a lighter complexion, of a
nincb mare biting aromatic tast<», soiiiev^-hat like that ef cioves, not glutiiious like tin-
naoion, bat dry, ar.d crmuliling between the teeth. The leaves come -!,>ui at the ends
of the twigii witnout any order, generaliy aiternate ; they are petioled, oblong, abouK
two inches-and a half lung and one broad, of a yellowish grssn caionr, shuiing and
smooth. The. flowers grow at the tups of the, branches in ciusters, but upon divided
pe inncles, they are small, and seldoifc open, of a purple or violet Colo-ur. Tne lobccj
of the calyx are divided almost to the bottom, incumbent, green, smooth, nicrnbra-.
naceons. permanent ; the petals are concave, upright, thick, and deciduous ; as is also
the nectary. The berry is about the size of a pea, fleshy, smooth, green at first, but
turns blue and black when ripe. Ti;e seeds are generally two, as tivo cells are coumionly
abortive. Sioane says ha found four seeds in those iie exrmined. The berries grovr
Koftan 1 pulpy when ripe, and lose tiiat heat and pungency they possess when green,
like those of the pimenta, and are then greedily devoured by the wild pigeons, and
other birds, v/ho clisperse the seeds in dilTerent places by their muting.

This tree is common as welt in the mountains as in the lower woods and rocky hills,
antl frequently 'found near the coast, wiiere it seldom exceeds twelve or fifteen feet iu
height. A!i the parts of the tree when fresh are very hot, aromatic, and pungent, and
when in blossom throws a perfume all around. I'iie iio-.ters dried, and softened in
water, -have a fragrant odour nearly approaching to musk.

The bark is cured without any difSculty by dr_)ing in the shade ; what is taken from
the bi-anches is thinner, and rather milJcr, than fron^ the body of the tree, more nearly
approacning to the true cinnamon The bark jields by distillation a warm aronie.tia
oil, which is often sold for, and generally mixed with, oil of cloves ; nor is the adul-
teration thought of any pre;)ud!ce to the medicine. It is reckoned a good remedy in
scorbutic habits ; invigorates the blood, is carminative, and stomuciiic. Powdered and
snuffed into ihe nostri's, it is cephalic, and produces a copious discharge of rheum. — .
It is used by mostapoihecaries instead of the true corte.i- win/cranus, and being supe-
rior in qualitv, has s-uperceded it in use. Four ounces of the bark, with six ounces of
cassia lignea (whicn it v^ry much resembles), and one gallon of proot spirit, ( a hand-
iui of common salt being thrown in to dephU-gmate the spirit,) makes a cinnamon wa-
ter ; and the greater part of what is vended in the shops, is comjiounded in' this man-
ner. A quantity of the bark, mixed with badly distilled rum, is said to discharge in
part its nausejus empyreumatic taste and smell. This bark is a common ingredient
wUii eapsicums ia th«; food of tlic negroes.

Cc3 CITHON,

»?« H011TU3 JAIJ.U'':-:'-'"^!. ■ <:tkom'?

Cl. 13, OR. 'Si.—I^oli/adtlphia t'cosandria^ ■ NaT. os..^—Bicor77e^.

Gfn. char.— -Pr ■•:—'■ '-ne-leafed, five-cleft, flat at the Ka^e, very sniail, uiihering;
corolic. iive-;.' , /utong, Hat, !»prea,duig ; , slaaierii, ustiaiiy tweoty tilu-iiicuL-.

Eubisiate, coni...^;;,;;.:, ertJct, placed ia a ring or cyiinder, uiatod- j^eiieraii'
ff>v bunches ; wrdx oliUmtc aadiers ; jhe pii-til n;;3 a superior rotiridish ^enu ,
cjiinJric,. the length of the stameas ; s /,)u!af, nim;-celled, within; Uie

pericarp h iiom \;j^!: a iicshy rinJ, ., iiiafi- r.,' n' i --i:c li.-,! : sf;,uls ::x

COUpii-s, ;:\!!v \ To thii . , _. .

C:' ■': arhor ef riati-J' cJfr'ea, 8Ioane, ". ' '"nir.tti_obIcnrro iinr-

Joii, .cari'ice ; - ngsOy $apeijicieine:^iialivcsica,lato. ... _,
p 30$. .

Fi-uit with a rowgh-knobbed rinJ.

This tree, when cultivated, g-. , ; ' ' '.Tteen feet or mor'^ .. ■awIId'-

S'aue Keldcni exccecis beven at eigixt. it js piitk.ij, with long reclirjui^ iu:grat;eful
"branches. IiidK?ecl, tiie wiiole tree has the iMo.st unseeniiy and straggiing.appeararic-a
of any of the species, Tiae leaves, are, ovate^oblong,. alternate, subserrato, smooiii,
p:i!e green, thick, having winged foolstaiks. .The flowers are wliite, oddriierou i,
on many fiowered term:nating peduncJes. The fruit is very laj-ge,. ob;i>ng-ov\ii,
rouijh rinded ; the pulp white, commonly acid, the riad pale yello-\,. ihitk, hardi.NOj
cdimferous, irregular. Properly there are two riiuir,, the outer thin, with iiinutiiera-
ble miliary glands full of a most fragraiit oii ; die inner tSiick, whitt;,. and luugoHsi
ftiie partitions consist of two ve^y thin diaphanous membraoaceous piates, co>ineci.ed at-
the'axis, and inserted into th«i-ind at the periphery; the ceils are filled with a blad-
dery pulp.. In each cell are a few seeds, comraoaiy one or two, soinetmies. three or
I f'.;ur. There are two varieties of this, one vvith round, and one with. obiong, fruit — -
The fruit of the citron is seldonreaten raw, though i.t has an ugretable acid taste ; bat
its rind, is well known as apieasant sweetmeat when caadied vvith sugar. The peel put
among clothes is said to dnve away m:)thsj and imparts to them a gooo smtd ; if sleep-'
cd iu siiiriis gives them an agieeable flavour. According to Labat citron juice and cor-*
dials is an antidote to Manchioneal poison.

In Martyn's Dictionary it. is observed, that the orange sr; n distinguished frorni

the citron, hme, and lemon, by having winged petioles; which the three last have not.*-
Ttiis js a mistake, as ail these plants have tiieir petioles winged, though the wings/are"
much smaller than tho.se of the orange kindi A better distnrction is crrtaialy the s-ize,.-
shape. atiifl colour of the leaves themselves, as well as the larger size, ^aHd veryOifler-
encjiabit, of the orange from any of the lemon kind.

The kaves of the iuiie are neither t-o large nor so acute pointed as the orange; tbos®
of the lemon approach still nearer the oval, are of a paler green coioar, and more ser-
rated than either j the leaves of the citroa havo winged petioles, and are more serrated
■thau oran^-e Isavcs.

* Tiie tiree ksawn, bj the ttune of Frtnch lime it diitiiiguiitbed t:^ esaad saVed jjetUlef.

Tlis leaves of ifis sTKaJJ.jcx have by far the krgest wingaoa the petialsjj and ncari/
ycscuiiiie taOjc iii mo citi-uu in every rcjpect.

iu-ij LiMii— L.EMO^I— OaANGE— SHAr>0OCE«

C^.iD:uM — .ye^ Bog Rosh,

, f!i.. 5. oa. 1. — Prntandria viorwgynia. Kat. or. — Asperifollas .

Th:s is so named ih hoiK'ur of fc Gemian bofnaist, Ramed Eunciua-Cordus, of the?
jSSAieeiith ceotary.

G£N..CHAR. — The cd,yx ;s .,. oiv;-;^;..'. .. i;^'...i:,.i o^;;._»r,Li, toothed at the top, perma-
nent; the conilla is one-petaled, fmvnel-form ; the tube patulous, twice tiie
length of the calyx ; border erect., s:)r6ading-, cut iiicr> five obtuse aivisioij.; ; t.'ia~
staiuens are nva or si.Kf',iamep.t:s, subulafed ; vvifh oblong anthei'5 the ieiigtu ot toe
tube; the pistil has a ronndiih acunitnate geni), asinijiie s.yle, the laugth of tuo
atamens,,bifid at-top \ divisiams riind ;' stigmas obtuse ; -the pericarp is u giobos
tirupe, acuminate^: growing lo the calyx ;' the seed a furrovved nut, fouc-ceiied,
jgwu barreii. Six species of tiiis genus ar(? native^ '_■•' J :'vi'"i/

i. COLLOCO:^.

C&-aso affi.nisurhor bo,(xij£raracemosa\fihrtpev^peta.loherhc. •- ■ f.
taio, Jruclu cocciheo viontxpyreno-viscido, saiii>ie-rus.oio. Sijaae^
T. 2, p. 35, t'.'203, f, 2.' Foliis, j-ugosk vciK^is oblvn^} ovatiS, jlij<-
rlbusHaxe raccnw'sis: JBi'owne, p. 167.

L'€av«5 Gordate-Qvatej ohte entire; 'ijsvers ■ corjn.i: , .l , ...;. ;:oi tjir.entoss'
within.'
T'his tree cjrows in most of the lowlands of Jamaica. It has a^ straight undivided
^iTiik, rising tifceen to t.veucy feet, Sloane says even to fifty. Tiie bark is saiooihand
ciav-coiourei. . Tlie branches spread on ever, hand; the leaves are oval, rugged, ob-
iiquelyveiaeJ, and disposed alternately, about six. inches' bng and two broad. These
leaves are shed in 'December, and the bjosso;i)s, of a yellowisli green vTitn brovni spocs,
come oiu in February, tiie fruit wpening ia .4pni. Tiie leaveij follow some time after
" *ae biossoms. Tiie berries cooe out in clustttrs, of a fine red colour, about as big as a
smiddUiig clierr)', Iiavhig a soft, swi^etish,- claHisiiv palp, inveloping the nut. ■ Turkiea
and Oliver poultry feed inuch updn these berries, hence it is sometimes, called the tor-
key-b^rry-tree. Mogs and dogs are also extremely fond of this i'ruit, an .1 it is thought
^/> fiiten'them. It is observeJ '.U:-t G-uinea hens, feeding «n Uie bfrrlts, bre faut^si;
ejii'iu tbej,' iire in seasoa.

2. MACROPHYiXA.
Trunus rc.ceynosa) foliis oblongis hirsutis ino.ximis, fnichc rucv.—^-
Soane, v. 2, p. 130, t. 22!, f. 1. Piafj/pkyikis nnyo/'^ raumis
^mbellatis. Browne, p. 168.

Jj-'^avss ovaie-viiiose, a foot and a half in length.

Tills

i^-^ IIORTUS JAMAICENSIS. - cu^nrr

Tiiis tree, v.Iiich is called the brcud.lenved cherry, also rises to a coniklerable heiglit,
from forty lo fifty feet, but is sslJom above iweive or; ■'teen ifiches in cliiiint'ter, shoot-
ing by a straij^iit trunk. The leaves are ii foot aatl a ?» : lout;, verj lar^>e and rougii ;
the berries are the same size as those of the du,ni,ny. Brovvae sa\s they are wnite,
F'oime d^seribea them of a rciklish coloiir, owing povbaps to their dirteriint degrees ut
ripeness. The leaves are of a fresh green colour, Having one iaroe roiodle iib, aiid se-
Teral transverse ones, staiiding onahree-r^uartersof an inch footstalks. Tiiis tree gn)vvs
ciiiefly in the lower woods, and Sioane found it on the banks of the Rio Cobre. Tba
heart is of ayeliovviah colouv.aud a pretty good timbervvood. — SLoanc ifi Brojisne.

3. SEBKSTENA.

CaryophyUus spnrws inodonis. folio suhrohindo scahro, flore race'moso
heapetaloide coccineo speciDssisshno. J^Ioane, v.' 2, [>. -^0, t. 164,
I'oliis dnipliofibus hiriis Ovatis, tubo Jipris suba-^uaii. JBrowue, •

p. 202. '- ■ ' ' ■

Leaves oblon^-ovate, repand, sca1)ron?».

This rises, by seTerai stems, eight or nine feet high, having a clay-coloured hark.
Tlie leaves grow towards the tops of the brandies, standing on round inch-long' foot-
stalks, very thick setby one another. Tliey are airnost round, four inc-hes iong, and
three broad, very harsh to the tout h, and of a very dark green colour ; the ffowers stand
each in a long- rough calyx on the branches ends on their footstalks, umbel fashion.- fcce
of a delicate scarlet colour, ir.any and iarire, consistiug "of a long undivided tubutus^
something like a clove, and a broail aiargin, cbvtded.iiito sii sections, all stauumg la
a dark brovm capsule. — Sioane.

This- bush V sbrub gro-Ws on the banks abovethe beach lying betvveen the small lagortj
-eastward, of Kingston and Captain Cornish's ; and is said to grow in great abiuioa'ca
ou those little islands about Old Harbour, The limb of the corolla has six segare/its,
and there are six stamens. Ii seldom rises above seven -or eight feet above the root,
and is furnished v'ith rough oval leaves, and adorned witn large bunches of fine scarlet
'flowers, (hence the name oi scarlet cordla,j the most beautiful andagTeeable of any' E
have yet observed in America ; but the form of them is quite diiTerent from tijat deii-
neated by Plumier, vviierein the tube swells above the cup, and consequently must ba
considered'as a different tspecies. This would make a most agreeable tiowering shrub
ina garden or a fore.st ; and maj' probably be useful, could it be brought to bear per ,
feet fruit, which it hardly evar does in the state I liave obsened it. — Browne.

TkTi'ier snys that a small piece of the wooa of this species, put into a pan of lighted
coals. «^ends forth a most igreeible odour, and periunes a v\hcle bouse. 7he irutt, he
adds, is recounted cooling and moistening, useful against sharp thin defiuxiuns upoa
the lungs, helpingcoughs and catarrhs, and taking otf the tieat of urine.

The effoii', a variety of the cordia sebesttna, was brought to this island in his Majes-
ty's ship Providence, and is said to. be a good dye wood.

4. MICRAKTHUS.

Leaves elliptic, lanceolate, quite entire, membranaceousj veined ; raccmeji
cocipouud, iai. — »S'm».

5. EXUPTICA,

ctnasiNV K 0 RT Ij S J A M A I C E N S I S, 19f

5. EI.LU'TrC.A. OVAL.

Leaves elliptir, nrurninare, tntii\', coriaceous; braaib?» coipr^ound, diffusei j.
drupes acinuinatii. — ,Sci;.

See Spamsh Ewi.

Ci.ARY, Wn.Vi—SrP TiJRX$OLES.

Clerodendrum — See Vo.uKAi.i£aiA.

CLD.-U3TNG SORREL. EEGDNIA.

Cl. 21, OR. 8. — Monoecia pab/andria. -. NAT. OR. — Holoraceee.

«Gen. ciiAii. — Ttie male fiower has no caly.x; the corolla has four petals, of whid-x
two opposite ones are larj-er; the stamens are nuajerous filaaiertts inserted into
the receptaclf, with obloRg ercGtaatiiers: Feniate/riovvers usually on the saifi*
common pedvincie with the mala* i ti>»;yhaveno cuiyx ; the petals four, five, or
six, commonly UFieqna) ; t!ie pistil hus ati ii-.t'erior germ, three-aided, generaii/
wijiged ; styles tii-»v>, .bifid; stigmas six ; tiie pericarp is a three-cornered c;p-
Bule, wiflged, three-celledj, opemag at tiie base by the wings, four species are.
Siatives of Jamaica.-.

I. ACCTirOLiA^ ACt'TE-LEAVat/.

jiceris fnictii herba aywmala, fiort telraptUilo. Sloane, v. 1, p. 199,
t. I'i7, f. 1, 2. Syiveslris t'Cariden.t:, loliis cordalo angulatis, ab al-
tet(( parte majofibus,- Browne,, p. 203.

Ca'wlescent, leaves semi-cordate, angular, toothed;, the largest vvkig of the
cap.suie obtuse-angled, the others acute-angled.

The characters of this genus do not yet appear, to be well understood, nor the differ-"
«irt species well described, although Mr. Dr^and.er particularly studied it from sucii
nlauts and specimens a,? he found in Englann. The following accurate description of
this species, is taken fro.n the manuscript of Mr. Anthony li.ibinson. It is asiQuishmg
that the spathaceons -calyx in both flowers, so very conspicuous au-i beautiful, should
ha.ve been overlooked :

"Caiyx of the male flower is a spathe consisting of two leaves, whose bases are
Inroad, embracing the stalk sideways, ending in a. roundish point. They are of a dee^
blush red containing: each two flowers, one of which blows while iheother is budding.
The fruit, when arrived at maturity, stands upon a pedicel one inch or more in length ;
^\fi other advances in proportion as this decays ; the pedicels are transparent, smooth,
aid shining\ ot'a lovely coral colour. Tsie corolla consists of two pairs of petals, alter-
nately nnequal, and oppositely equal ; the broadest are roundish, with dented ungues
into wtiich the pedicel is in.ierted, the narrowest are oblong-poinied, and inclosed in
the large ones before they open, they are not more than half aninch long and a quarter
broad, the large petals are nearly an ir,ch both ways.; the ungues of the broad petals,
are red, those of tiie others as .well as the bractea blush-coloured. Between the two
hroad petals arise the stamina, in rows, they are short, unequal, erect filaments, about
ibrty in number, *iid sustain oblong, thin, upright, anthers ; both the stamens and.
aoithers axe of a pa.e yeliow, and are uot near so long as the petals.

■ ■ •' The-

'" The cnlvs of the'feniale flo^vfr Is a spatbe iikc ;iK.t <:-! ihg male, contiitiing but
r^'ie flouer ; the ger\u is triquetrous and sessi.e,- !::!• iri;>- n nicn'-v.injus wiiig cxtt'tjucd
h angle, kngthways, one ot" which is a.oi..' lian the rest ; the

.. a, oF the female flower coir i^r: of" sr: i. ,r v ..:.....,. j.„tats. crecto- patent,

placed circularly on the top of ' pariicuiar calyx more than the.

. i:iuie ones. Fro w the cent-- - ■ ...!.. ■ ij^to tvvo pugmas, curi~

<uis!y twisted. The Sowers , atei pe.iiceis, in thin

1': :■ of which siisUiia i.i;: '.auic, i,i,vi aUiCK t.ic: .teiU-de, blossoms, but never

I Th^ pedicels are ail of a pale transparent coral colour, polished and

shilling, i"he steix-isare hranched, round, an:! jo'ii'^ed, -on which leaves grow in an a!-
t!-rnatc orJer, in shape like those of tii: r/'. ■'',.;,/// ■!. a'- Oi.-f t^:^r of an ape or a bat'*
wing, having the pedicel inserted or: -five inches long ana

three'hroa-'i,' of a deep greehj. cbncavt:; ,...■.,.. ,-, '■••, tite extssrior mar-

gins angled, nitd undiiiated between the angi ., two inches long,

. ' ' : ' -e, smo; ■ . . - nerves cdnspicuous

t of whi,; .- leaf, or largest au~

!; .-, .;.••■ nig oil lesser ones on ■: of^tbe -iigst-b, -the Cesser divisions,

V. i'jii nr^ f;ix in niimber, termi;. :a,3,n an^. :e margin of the hasej and

inore rounded lobe ordtvisionof the leaf. This plant (every part of which' is cat of tha
eartj,!) is tender, brittle, ^nd succulent, endued with an acid taste, !38e sorrel, but
leaving ah acrimony like that of the arum, though in a less degree. The lower side
of the leaf is nf a paier green than the iipp/;r, aud istin^-dd in many parte, very.irregu*
lari^' with red."

.This plant is very common in mar.y parts of Jamaica, in woods, and on the sides Gi
focks» rivers, and precipices. A decoction of the leaves, which have an acid-bitte?
taste, isjr^commended as very useful in colds. Browne says when, it grows in jthe free
and open air, the flowers have an agreeable flavour, and are sora.etimes used in makjag
whey, where wine cannot be admitted^ aa^d, other acids. tliough^ toq active and irritating
for the stomach. " '

; ; - GLOSsr.

Shrubby, erect; lea-ves very finootb, imequally cordate, obscurely ^ootjied j
largest wing of the capsule roundish. . c

This is the;purpu)'ea<)fSv/&Ttz, and he says therawztx of Browae, which is also.re-
ferred to above as the acvtifolia. This is described as havmg alternate- cyiindria
branche.-^. Leaves seven-nerved, almost entire or obscurely toothed, oiie lobe of tiiQ
base double the size of the other, the younger ones rose colourecj about the edge ; ail
very smooth and shming, bright green, paler beneath, four or five inches long and Xvt/a
or three broad : the petioles cyjindric, thick, spreading, oiie third the Jength of the
leaf: stipi>les sessile, oblong, one-nerved, as it were three-winggd fropi a rib winged
underneath, produced into a point : on the sides membranaceous, revoJute ; they are
spreading, deciduous, the length of the petiole :. racemes .eompound., cymose, andro-
gynous,; the malps.very numerous, the females few at the top^ solitary', axiiiary, ore
long pcilu'xcles, dichotomous, three inche= I'/ide ; peduncles upright, eyUndric, Ion™
ger than the leaf, the tfxickne?s of the petiole ; bractes opposite, beJ<i,w the dichotomiije
and. the pedicels, half emhracing, ovate, or roundish, membranaceoaiiSj caducous: ;co«j
ralla flesh or rose- cyloursdj sQme.ticies darker, ^''f.i-'"=T'; '.": pecaiied/ . ;■■;'..

S. ACUMINATA.

(CLOVe:^ HORTUS J AI\1 AT C ENSIfe, 201

3. ACUMINATA. ACUMINATE.

Caulescent, leaves hispid, seaii- cordate, acuminate, unequallj' toothed; Uie
"largest wing of th;; capsule obtuse-an^^ied, the others acute-angled.
The male tlowers have four peti'ls, of wiiic-h two are opposite and smaller ; tJie fe-
male Howers have five petals,, of which two also are smaller than tlie rest. At the base
of the germ are two bra; tes, which are sharply serrate, and only hali" the length of the
germ. Jt grows on tlae Blue Mountains.

4. scandeJis. scandent.

Scandent radicant ; leaves ovate-roundish, obscurely toothed ; the largest wing
of the capsule obtuse-angled, the others parallel and very small.

This has decumbent knotty stems, pushing out roots at the knots, and climbs trees
■»ithin its reach. Floweis greenish. All the species are easily increased by cuttings^
and are frequently found in New Liguanea mouutaius.

CLOVEN BERRIES. , SAMYDA.

Cl. 10, OR. 1. — Decandviiinionogynta. Nat. or. —

»tjEN. char. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, coloui'ed within ; tube bell-shaped, ten-
streaked, border tive-cleft, segments ovate, flat, spreading very much, blunt, two
of them augmented with a pomt ; there is no corolla : the nectar}' is one-leafed,
conical, truncate, ten-streaked, almost the length of the calyx, and inserted into
its border at the base, mouth bluntly ten or eight toothed ; the stamens have no
filaments; the anthers are ten or eight, oblong, erect, small, placed on the teeth
of the nectary ; the pistil has an ovate germ, an awl-shaped style, erect, length
of the nectary ;" stigma capitate, obtuse ; the pericarp is a roundish capsule, four-
grooved, coriaceous, thick, one-celled, four-valved ; the seeds are ver}' many,
sub-ovate, obtuse, marked with a little pore at the base, "fastened to the valves,
'.wrapped iu a pulpy pellicle. Five species are natives of Jamaica.

1. nitida. glossy.

■JF'ruticosafoUis pitidis cordatis, levissime crenatis ; rudimenfis molli-
bus rubentibus ; raceynis ienuioribus alaribus, Browne, p. 217, t.
23, f. 3.

Flowers eight-stamened ; leaves cordate, smooth.

Browne calls this the shrubby sdmydu with wa.ven rudiments, or the larger clovni'
icrry hush. It is frequent in the lowlands of Jamaica, and shoots sometimes to the
height of seven or eight feet. The leaves are shining and very slightlj- ci-cnate ; the
rudiments or segments of the nectary soft, red ; flowers in slender axillaiy racemes. —
It has only eight filaments in each flower. It loses its leaves before it blossoms, and
when they shoot again they are small and reddish. In Browne's figure the rudiments
are ioo short and not natual in their form.

2. PAIIVIFLORA. SMALL-FLOWERED.

/irbor baccifera, foliis oblongis acuniinatis, Jloribus confertivi ex alls
D d foUorum

r.02 K O 11 T US J- A ?>1 A I'C K N S f ^. . ci.m^r*-

fvlioyv.nrerumptiitibii<;fritctn minimo crccco. Sloane, t. ?, p. 103,
t: 21 1, f. 2. Fol/'is ovaiiscum (itumine, /ruciibus p/urintis mino<-
ribiis cojifertis. Browne, p. 217,.

Flouers ten male ; leaves oWoiig, pointed, crenulate, glabrous both sides, sl.in-
ing- ; peduncles crowded, axillary,, one iiowered..

This rises fifteen feet hig-h, having a trunk a.s i>ig as an- arm, with a smooth 'sviiito
l)ark like hazel. It has imiiiy branches, and the twigs thickly set with leaves alterr.a-
tiveiv, hr.t so close that they appear as. if wiuged., The-leaves are smooth and uf a yel-
low green colour, two inches long and three-quarters of an inch .broad in the uiiddle, ,
where bnjadest. Between the branches and these come out the flowers, so small as to .-
be scarcely discernible, roundisli, and pale green, many togethei;, and sessile, to which
foilovv so many berries of an oiange colour, bigger thai> large plus heads, consisting of
a thin yellow skin, very thin pulp, and aciiii or seeds. It grows -every where anionj^
the lowland woods, near the biiRks of the llio Cobre. — Shane.

This has the same kind of staminal rudiments as the first, and has three styles on the
top of the gcrnien, in which it differs ; the rudiments are not red but green. The
leaves are more deeply dented than those of the nilida, and are always at tneir full size
when the tree is blossoming. Browne. calls it the smaller samyda or cloven berry Ifush,
and says! this seldom rises above tour or five feet. This has nine or tLUi filaments in the
fiower^

3.PUBESCENS. PUBESCENT.

Frutex hacc'fer, folio ohlongo integro, flore pentapetah, paUtde liiteo
odora'issitn«. Sloane, v. 2, p. 10!J. Fulii.i o-jatis villosis, Jioribui
confertis, fiusciculissparsis. Browne, p. 218.

Leaves ovate, tomentpse beneath.

This is a small shrub, rising eight or nine feet high by several small trunks, straio-ht^
and covered with a reddish grey-coloured bark; the branches have leaves ac three-
quarters of an inch distant, which about the beginning of February fall of, and in their
])lace come tuffs (jf flowers, four or five together, oa scarce any footstalks ; they are
pale green, pewtapetalous, with stamens of the same colour, and smell very sweet. — •
To these follow oval black berries, about the bigness of small sloes, -cleaving into tvvo
for the most part, whence the name- After these come the leaves, on one-tenth of
an inch long footstalks, three inches long and one bVoad in the middle, where broadest,
very soft and woolly, of a yellowish green colour, except the ribs which incline- to red.
It is to be met in the Ked Hdls going to Guanaboa. The berries when ripe are eatea
bv wild pigeons, v/hich fatten them very much. — Sloane.

This is called the hairy mvrj/da or cloven berry hush, but known among negroes by
the Dame Oi savanna Wdt/le, parrot-wood^ and wild coffee : the berries are larger than
those of the other species ; and there is a variety of it which has berries still larger.^ —
The blossoms smell like. honey and contain.aiieciareous. juice, and the berries have-a
bitter taste. /

4. VILLOSQ. VILLOUS.

Flowers ten-stamoned ; leaves oblong, sub-serrate, oblique at the base, silky,,
viilose beiieatli ; peduncles ^olitarj, axillary. — Sw. Fr, tjS^.

Tliia,

Co» HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 203

This shnil) \s a fathom in height. Leaves alternate, sprefeitllnij, rounded and oljliqiie
St uie base, havjiis;- a short point at the end, nerved and veined, tua nerves beneath
t iTuginous; petiijies nmi) 1, short, viUose ; pedunc-les axiihay, solitarv, rising, veri^
6iicjn;7 one-flowered ; tiowers bigpish, white. This is certainiy a different' species
t'/jca cae pubiscens. It is a native of tne tnountains and flowers la the spring.

5. GLABRATA. SMOOTH.

Flowers ten-stamened ; leaves ovate-lanceolate, quite entir?, shining; pedmi-
cies axillary, one-dowered. — Sw. Pr. p. G8.
This is a small true, with a Lruiik ten or twelve i'eet high, smooth, unarmed. Leaves
alternate, spreading horiiiontaily, nerved and veined, smooth on both suies,^ shmmg
above, blight green, wren pores so small as to be scarcely visible ; petioles siaornsn ;
peduncles m genera, snorter than the peiioies and thicker, axiiiary, soiuary, aiul one-
iiovvtred ; H jwors biggish and white. Two small acute stipules at the ba.iC <j1 the pe-
tiunctes. All the species are propagated by seeds.

Besides the above native species, the rosea^ a native of St. Domingo, has al;o been
iniroduied. Ii is a vcrv oni; mental plant, producing fine red tiowcrs in abundance
a.o ig its Hexile pendent brandies ; and is supposed to be the 'auuloiua idinijolio j^or»,
ViJSta of Pmuiier. Tliere is. also a wiute variety of tins in liie llortus Eastensis,

Ci.ovE Strife — See Primrose- Willow.

COB NUT. OMPHALEA.

Cl. 21, OR. 8. — Monoecia wonadelphia. Nat. or. — Tn'cocc/e.
■Gf.N. char. — Male calyx a four or five leaved jierianth, spreading ; leaflets two, op«
posite, larger, ovate, convex, coloured: no corolla; nectary four glands, or a
fleshy ring'encircling the germ ; the stamen one columnar filament, tliick, short;
anthers two, oblong, u^cumbent, connate at top, poUiniferous at the edge; or
one, plano-convex, trifid. The female flowers in the same raceme : calyx a five-
leave.i periantli ; leaflets three, larger, ovate, encircling die germ ; there is na
corolla ; the pistil has an ovate germ, no style, stigma trifid : the pericarp is an
cblong roundish capsule, fleshy, bluntly triangular, three-celled, three-valved :
the seeds are solitary nuts, ovate, hard. Four species are ihaigenous to this
island. '

1. NUCIFERA. KUT.BEARIVG.

Fo/ii's ohnvatis glabris, ad basim biglandulis ; florihiis triandrit's.-^
Browne, p. 335, t. 22, f 4
Racemes compound, leafy, terminating ; leaves scattered, oblong, very smoodij
bio-landii.ar at the base ; stem arboreous.

"TThis tree frequently rises to the height of thirty or forty feet, or more, with a straight

»tem better than a foot in dia neter, having a brownish bark with white spots. It grows

«isrv comu*only in Jamaica. The branches bend down and are waited and sub-divided.

-^ Dd2 The

?04 II OUT US JA^IA^CENSIS^. c&n-

The leaves are alternate or scattei-ed, thty are oval, iliick, .sivccn'<^nt, six or seven
jnclies lone snJ three or four broacl, hiiving footstalks an incli and a half or two iivches
loiiT, arid are of a pale green colour. On the whole not unlike tlie man. mee leaf. — -
'i'iie olaods arehi pairs,, fiat, depressed,, round, .perforated in. the middle, distilling ;
irii)ist\ire - racemes solitary, the length of the leaves, nodding, loose ; ijractes peiioled,
K,ub-axi!lary, oblong, entire, biglandukr at the base.; racemelets alternnte, diyaricat-
jn<:-, with tivo or three male flowei's on a pedicel, and one female in the middle of ea'di ;
oaryx fivc-icaved, tin-ee larger, ovate, convex, membranaceous at the. edge, coloured ;
nectary a fleshy blood red ring ; fiiameot purple from. the middle of the disk; anthers .
piano convex, purple trifid, with three f)olliiiiferous incisures ; germ oblong, three-
fc-ornered, striated w:iiiij six lines ; stigma jjerforated : Cijpsule pendulous, large, (about
three inches broad and one thick, not uniike the shape of a turnip) roundish, obtusely
three-cornered, thick, tough, and containing three hard nuts, about an inch diameter
each, round,, but iiaiu-d on the side where the}- are Ignited to each other, where they
stronsjly adhere ; they c-ontain a whitish kernel, surrounded by a. yellow membrane,
which has a very agreeable laste. The French call this Koi.se/ 1 ie r, znA in Jamaica it is .
known in some parishes by the name of «?^ or Ao^ nut. The cotyledons of the nuts
are emetic and purgative. The timber of this tree is of no, service in building, being
of a soft brittle nature. The kenvels of the nuts in the raw state are delicately sweet and
wholesome ; they are produced in great abundance, and, when ripe, they burst from .
the pod and fall to the ground, where the hogs greeilily devour them. When roasted
they are equal, if not superior, to any chesnut. By compression they yield a very
sweet and fine flavoured oiL As tiiis tree is of quick growth, and bears fruit in three
or four years, it is well worthy orextensive cujtivation,. and it succeeds very well in ihe
poorestsoils. They might easily be cultivated from the seeds along intervals, or inter-
spersed among jwstures, to which they would not onlj' prove ornamental, but useful^
by furnishing abundance of their fruit, and affording an agreeable shade to cattle and
other live stock. , These and the bread nut planted in hog crawies would be very
Taluable. ,

2-. CORDAT.V. , HEART-SH.4PED.

Frutescens diffusa, foliis amplioribus ovatis, petiolis biglandulis, ra^^
e^mis ter-minulibus. Browne, p..334.

Racemes compound, leafy, terminating; leaves scattered, cordate, villose un-
derneiath, biglandular at the base ; stem scandent.
Stem shrnbbyj scandent, sub-di\'ided, diverging, rounti, pubescent. Leaves aUer-
jiate, acuminate, sub- coriaceous, thick, entire, smooth, pubescent underneath, on
loiigish loose biglandular petioles ;_ glands depressed, roundish. Stipules at the base
et the leaves, small, lanceolate, deciduous; racemes branched, diverging, loose;
bractes lanceolate, pedicelled, obtuse, smooth, at the base of the racemelets, which
are many flowered ; the flowers in clusters, peduncled, small, green. Calyx four-
parted, with roundish segments,, two of which are larger : filament from the centre of
a coloured concave diskj convex at top : anthers purple, inserted into the margin of
tlie filament ; germ roundish, three-cornered ; style very short, fleshy, three-corn-
ered ; stigma trifid, villose ; capsule large, yellowish, containing three brittle nuts,
with oblong-angular kernels. , It grows in rocky coppices. — !iw,

3. AXa.LAB;lS»

COCKSCOMB HOUTUS JAMAICENSIS. tui

3. AXILLARIS. AXILLARY.

Racemes axillaiy ; leaves distich, ovate-acjuminate, sliiningj on \'ery short pe-
tioles ; slipuies miicronate ; stem shrubby. — Sw.

4. CAULIFLOHA. f LOWER-STALKEO.

Racemes cauline, scaly at the base; leaves tUstich, oblong, acute, shining j:
stein arborescent. — Sw.

No English Name. COCCOSTPSILUM. .

Cl. 4, OR. 1. — Tetmndria mon«gyma. Nat- or. — Stdlatts.
This name is derived from two Greek words, signifying- a measure of grain or seed.
Gen. CHAR. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, foiir-partecl, superior, with erect acute
segments; the corolla is one-pelaled^ fimnel-form'; tube longer than die calyx,
gradually widening towards the border, . which is four-]3arted, the parts ovate,
erect; the stamens are four filaments, the length of the tul)e, inserted into the
base, fihform, erect ; anthers erect : the pistil has an ovate inferior germ ; style
the length of the stamens, bifid at the tip ; stigmas simple; the pericarp is a
roundish beny, inflated, two-celled, crowned ; seeds numerous, minute^ There
is only one species, which is a nativ^e of Jamaica,

REPENS. . CREEPING.

Herhacetitn repens, foliis venosis ovatis oppositis, pedunculis brevibus ■
subtnnbellatis cid alas alternas. — Browne, p. 144, t. 6, f. 2.

This plant is frequently observed in the cooler mountains of Liguanea and Mount-
Diabio ; it grows in spreading tufts, each stalk creeping about eighteen or twenty
inches from the root, and shooting out a few lateral branches as it runs. The leaves*
are opposite, and the fijllawing flowers and fructifications rise oo short divided footv-.
Stalks from their alternate alije. — Browne.

COCKSCOMB. CELOSIA.

Cl. 5, da. l. — PentandriamonogTjnia. Nat. or. — Miscellanete.

OeN. char. — Calyx a three-leaved perianth, leaflets lanceolate, dry, acute, perma*
nent, similar to the corolla ; the corolla has five-petals, lanceolate, acuminate, ,
erect, permanent, stiflSsh, calytiform ; the nectary a margin surrounding the
germ, very small, five-cleft ; the stamens are five filaments, subulate, conjoined
:V, the base to the plaited nectary, length of the corolla, with versatile antliers;-
tiic pistil has a globular germ; style subulate, straight, length of the stamens;
&tigma simple ; tiie pericarp is a globular capsule, surrounded by the corolla, one=
celled, circumcised ; seeds few, rounilish, emarginate. One species, the pani'
eulata, is a native of Jamaica, another beautiful one, the cristata, has been in-
croduced.

eo6 H OUT us JAMA ICE NSIS. coco*.

!. PANICULATA. PANICI.F.D.

jiiii-arn^'tiis J rutico.uis citc/iis, spicu viiidi, lava et sfrn'osa.. S!nanO|v
v.- 1, p. l-iL', t 91, fc 1. I'oiiiS oblongia, jioribus iuctuiV^e sptcatos^
Jc-ic sc'ss.hbu.s. Bri>wne, p. I??.

Leaves ovate-ohiong ; stem risiiij^-, paiiiclcd : spikes alternato, terminal, re-
ruoce.

Stem suiTniticose, prostrate, ronn;1, sub-iliviJecI, striated; branches diverging. —
Leaves acuiniiiue, peiioled, entire, snaooia ; s, ikes rdceuie;!, axi^ary, ana terniin-
EiiiiL), short; liowers distinct, whiiisti ; tiie cafyk consi.sts uf five ovate-i.cute leatiets,
•niiitish witiiic;; corulJa.nojije bnia (.vin-shaped live-cocnercd nectary, surrounding tne
germ; t) the edge of uhich the filaments are fixed. Tiie anthers are versatile and
jmrjile ; genn ovate ; sty-le su'>uiate, sinspie, red ; stigijia.tnfid ; capsule cov^rea by
the perniaiient culjX, with, nuuierous shining seeds. — Siv.

The flowers of this p'ant seldom open, aiiJ are of a yellowisb green colour, with, a
blackish style-; the sjeds are so sitiaiJ as singly to be scarce discernible, shining; and
of a bnjwn colour, roun iish, and hollowon one side, when vieivcd by a luicruscope.
h. grows by the banks of tlie Rio Cohye.—S'lounf.

2. CRISIATA. ,:CRFSTF,D.

Leaves oblong-ovate ; peduncles round, sub-striated; spikes oblong.

This is the buli-colotirea ce/osia or cockscomb, a most beautiful plant, which, since
its intrajviction,/ lias been genei^ally cultivated, and thrives most luxuriantly- in Ja-
Oiaica. It xecciveJ its-iKune from tlie form of its fiijvvers resenil)iing tiiat of the conila
of a cock Tatrc are many varieties r..ised from the suuie seed, dilfering in form^
.magnitude, anl co'our ; and some bave been observed variegated witli two or tiire**.-
coiours. Ic is a r.ative of Asia.

Cocks-Hf.ad — See French Honeysuckle..
-Cock-Spur — See Fi-sgriuo,

COCOA NUT TREE. COCOS.

Cl. 25.—.\/,i/wecia luxandria. Nat. or. — Palmar,

This is called by the Portuguese coco, from the three holes at the end of the shell,
■iviiig it the apjieurance of a monkey's head.

■ Gfn. char. — Male flowers in the same spa lis withiihe females. Male calyx an uni-
; ■ _ ver>al univalve spathe ; spadix branching ; perianth three-parted, very small ; di-
-''; visio.Ls sub-a-iquetrous, concave, coloured; the corolla has three petals, ovate,
ficute, patulous ; the stamens are six.fiiaments, simple, length of the corolla, with
sngitiate anthers ; the j^isiil has a scarce jmanifest germ, three short styles, and an
obsolete stigma : tne jjericarp abortient. The calyx of the femalefiower is a
common spi.the with tiie hermaphrodites, as likewise the spadix ; the perianth i&
three-p„rted, divisions roundish, concave, converging, coloured, permanent j
the corolla has three permanent petals, like the calyx, but rather iaVj^er ; the i>ii-

■til

vvcoA IIORTUS JAMAICENST3. ?07

ti'i lias nn pvafe geim, no sule, a three-Iobed stic^ma ; the pericarp is a coriaceous
drjpc, very iar^'e, roundish, obscurely triangular ; the seed is a very lurge nut, .
sui)-jvate, acu;iiin>'ite, one ceHevI, valveless, obtiiselv three-ioruered, llie buso
peri orate J hy three holes ; kernel hollow. Three species of this genus are natives
ut Jaiiiuica.

SUCIFF.HA. NUT- BRA RING.

Ptdma inclica nucifcra coccus dicta. Sloanf*, v. 2, p. R. SpadicihiLr
alaribus ; Jruclu maxiino ; caudict subcequali^ cicafrirulis circuia-
ril'us scubro s Joliis ensiformibus, replicaiis, pirmatisi Brovmej. ,
p. 341.
Unarmed ; frofids pinnate ; leaflets folded back, ensiforin, .

This tree is planted in most parts of America, both for its beauty and productions ; .
It grows generally in the lowlands, -and rises- frequently to a coi'sidorable height, I. ear-- -
in^^all its foliage at the ti^p^ like the rest of its kind. This consists of many strong ribs,
furnished with long narrow leaves, fokled lengtliways, which rise in u continued series-
on both sides, and spread very evenly both waj's. These ribs shoot gradually from the
top, and as the younger ones stretch out snfiiriently to paise the sap, the lower ones
decline, wither away gradually, and fall off in time. The flowers of this tree rise in
spreading bunches from the alse of the ribs, and are supported by so manv large
branched footstalks ; these, while young, are ver^- thickly beset with bloMoms, and
covered with a simple, thick, fibrous, spathe or theaih, of an oblong form, pointed at
the top, and moderately contracted at the bottom. When all the )>arts of the flowers
have gained a due degree of perfection, the spathe splits on the under side, from the
bottom upwards, and exposes the common bunch, wiili all its flowers, to the open air :
most of these are males, and fall off gradually as the spathe withers,^ .leaving the eni-
brlo fruit, which is generally fixed to the lower and stronger part of the stalk, to in-
crease and ri5)en gradually. These grovy very large and are composed of thick fii)rou.?
husks, containing so n'any large hollo.'/ nuts; which in most ot the tribe are irri ocubr;
though in this, as well as some of the other species, two of the ceils are obliterated,
and the third only comes to perfection. Tlie nut or shell is f,)rn)ed of a hard compact:
substance, and filled with a swe*;tish vyater, while young ; but as the fruit advances in
its growth, this deposits a soft gelatinous crust upon the sides of the shell, which nai;-
dens gradually with age, until at length it aeqnires a strong concreted texture ; and
tlien it is not urvlike' the substance of- an almond, eidier in taste or cojsijtt nee. The
water contained in the nuts is very iilca^ant while they tire yoHng,.and generally looked
upon as one. of the greatest dainties of America; but, as they grow old, the liquor
becomes more sharp and cooling, and far more agrteal le to over-heated habits. The
kernel is very nourislung, and may be used instead of almonds,, in ndd<s, emulsions,
and apozems, and with greater propriety as it may always be had fresh. Tlie- shells
serve for drinking anfl water cups, and the husks, whi<h are very fibrous, are made
into various sorts of cordage, in some of the easteru pacts of the world, but in Jamaica
thev are only used to scour floors. The leaves oi tne tree are used f )i' thatch, and tiie
lender shoots at the top afford a pleasant green or cal>bage (which, however, when c'\t
destroys the tree). The outward part ol the trunk is made into lathings, and the juice
©btained by tapping it at the top, being mixed and fermented with molasses, aft'jiJs a,
•very pleasant wholesome spirit, which differs but very little from arrack. At theiJot-
-toiu of the ribs we find a coarse fibrous net-work, that serves for strainers ; and the ■

isriifii. i

_H* HOllTUS JAMAICENSIS. -cocoa

kernel is iVeqiiently rasped and made into fritters and cakeb*. The roots of tiie
lice are very slentier, simple, and Hexile ; they rise seperately from the bottom of tiie
inijik, and spread in all directions, some nianiiij;- to a great depth in the ground,
while others creep almost parallel to the surface. — Browne.

This tree rises to the height of fifty or sixty feet, and fl )iirishes remarlrably on the
very margin of the sea, planted in the sand with a little mould.- It is {M-oduced from
the nut, Which bears transplanting extremely well, though rendered more vigorous
by mixing salt with the earth into which it is removed.

"The substance which incloses the sbellis made of tough fibres, of which tiie Indians
niais'e not only cordage and other tackle for ships, but a kind of oak hum for caulking,
which is highly extolled. Steeped in water, and l)eaten Hke flax, it is manufactured
into an excellent linen. After this coat is taken ofl', the shell makes its appearance,
which takes a fine polish, and is often foroied into drinking cups, set in silver. The
liquor is generalh- esteemed highly antiscorbutic, one of the pleasantest drinks in Ame-
rica, and makes e^salutarv emulsion in fevers ; it is also added in the distillation of rum,
and thought to improve "the flavour of that spirit. The trunk is formed into gutters,
and occasionally employed for enclosing and roofing out-houses, and, being nailed
ciose, is so hardy as to resist the weather for many years.

In order to make arrack from it, the tree must be kept from bearing fruit. For this
purpose, the sprout which produces the nut, and which shoots every month, is cut,
and jars fastened to it to receive the Hquor ; or the body is bored, and a plug put into
the orifice, which is occasionally taken out when the liquor is wanted: this liquor is
suffered to ferment, and, whilst it is in this state, it is distilled into, the spirit called
arrack, which far excels what is drawn from rice. If this liquor is exposed to the sun,
it soon turns to vinegar ; it must therefore be carried, immediately after it is collected,
into a shady place.

Near the base of the larger branches or footstalks is a weh-Wke plexus, composed of
fibres curiously inter^t'oven by the hand of nature, which is the clothing this tree is
said to afford ; and is often used in this island for strainers.

Considering this variety of productions, those writers have not been guilty of much
exaggeration, who assert" that it furnishes meat, drink, physic, clothing, lodging, an^
.fuel" — Long.

The milk or water of the nut is cooling and pleasant, but, if drank too freely, will
frequently occasion a pain in the stomach. A salutary oil may be extracted from the
kernel; which, if old, and eaten too plentifully, is apt to produce a shortness of
breathing. The largest coco-nut trees grow on the River Oroonoko. They thrive best
near the sea, and look beautiful at a distance. They afford no great shade. Ripe nuts
have been produced from them in three years after planting. The nuts should be ma-
cerated in water before they are put into the ground. Coco is an Indian name ; the
Spaniards call it also palnm de las Jndias ; as the smallest kind, whose nuts are less
than walnuts, is termed by them ro?i////o. This grow.s in Chili, and the nuts are es-
teemed more delicate than those of the larger size. — Grainger.

This useful plant is supposed to be a native of the Maldive and some desert islands

ia

c<'nrn.v B'OTITU'S JA>rArC ENSra J>0^

lathe Fast Tnriies, and from thence to have heen transported to all the warn pnrts of
America ; for it i.s not foim.l ia any of tlio inlaml parts, nor any where distant from sct-
tiemcnts. , The body. of the trunk, which generally' leans to one side, occasioned, as is-
supposed, by the great weight of nuts it sustains when young, is tlie exact shape of an
4ipothecary's large iron pestie, being of an equal thickness at top and at bottom, b't-t
somewhat smaller in the middle ; its colour is uf a pale lirown throngho-at, and the b;.r!t
juiooth. Tiie leaves or braneliea are often fourteen or fifteen feet long, about twenty-
eight in number, winged,, of a yellowish colour, straight and taperi!>g-: Tlie prnnse nr '
{)anial leaves are green, often three feet long next the trunk, bnt dimi'iishing ia
ength towards the extremity of the braaiches.- The branches are fastened at-top iiy
"brown stringy threads that grow out of them, of the size of ordinary pacl<-tb!X-fl I, ani;
ani interwoven like a web. The nutS' hang at the top of thetmnk, in citistcrs of a do-
sen in each. Each nut, next the stem, has three holes closely stopped ; on'^ of them--
Vemg wider and more casiiy penetrated than the rest. T"ne quantity of liquor in a full
grown nut is frequently a pint and upwai-ds. The bark may be wrought into cordage^
and the leaves make baskets, brooms, hummocks, niat^. racks, and ot^.er n -ef'd -I't^^i-
sils. In Maldivia tlie cocoa nut is esteemed as a pow^ert'ui antidote against the bites q&
seipSnts and other poisons. .

The fo'iow'.Hgz.tjbservations orv the cocoa nut tree, and its n^es in the East T idies arc "
c-itracted from the account given of thi -. vaiuabie piant b M. Le G vix do Flaix, a:i
"jugenious oflScer of engineers, and a member of the Asiatic &x'iety of Calcutta, • whichs •
was nnbiist;ed some ye-ii's ago : : -

" It is iveil known that the fibrous coyering of the coco-nut is roqrerted iiito good
ropes, wliich are useful in navigation, and for various purp )3ea on sh jre. Ca'des for
anchors nia ie of this substance are nuicli better than those made of hemp. Tliey a.s
exceeJin'Tiy elastic, stretcii without straining the vessel, and scan eiy ever break ; in-
appreciable adva'Uages,.. which are not possessed )iy tho<fe ofhemrj; Tiiey are alsa
lighter, and never n)t,:-in: consequence of their heiiig soaked wiib Sea water. They
r.sver, like those of henp, exnale damp iniasmita, exc?ed-ii>giv hirtfn} to the crews
of ship,; wlio sleep on the same deck where these ropes are kent when ships ar>^ und t
sail. T-i all these adva'icag>'s iuust be a -ded, thart ropes made of the /racr* djat like
wood, tnat they are mucii easier managed, uni run better in the pudeys during nauti-
cal in a r:oenvres.

" Txie paims of this tree, when e-i r;', are employed tr? -mike mats for sleepin:^'
■upon. VVaen split through the middle, ac: ording to the length of the foot-stalk, th-^v
are wjve i ita mats f >r coveri ri sheds and h iises. Tue use of these mats, even for the
laiig'^st edifi'-es, is gen^'ralon tne coast of Malabar. When tiie nut is ras >e I with n
•cii'cuiar u ethed pi^ce oi'ir )n,i there rs extracte i from it a kin I of milk or em i!si m, I y
Tidxi.ig wittidt a small quantity .f boiling water, and tti^n .-trdninr it througn a pieca
of thi 1 ;i>th in tlie same r..a i.ier as those do who extract milk of al nonds.

" TnistHiitilsion ii emplyye.l for different purposes : it is used for pr'parniw salofj
and .sago. VViien put into coffee,, instead of cream, it giv?s ifan ei?:quisite taste : th:it
*t our aim judi prodiiGes a^-ar.v the same eff ct. Tuis emulsion is enil.iveJ also in t la
a.-t if painting chintzes,; to r 'm>v3 stains of ch3 co'ours, .an I scan r the doth after t.ia
ioi'.. a^va been a^jpiisd.- < Tue .ail. i j' ; lo couj-)i», t'ujgii oily, oiLvvoiOxis vi-a

E 3 .eo;

** r<K> Ki-'tioo aama ior Uie fiaroua covorio^

21(3 ilORTUS JAMAICENSIS. . focoi

SI aci.l extract of that plant caJlcfl Iw the Hindoos cotechi, and theacid then proci]>i-
tates it into u grayisli limo, which hfcoiiH's of .a rich violet colour liy the addition v.'t
lixed alkali ; u is \vith this colour that cotton cloth and chintzes are dved. ■' VViien this
t'inalsion is mixed with quicklime the alkali' becoraes rose-coloured. It is hy these
r.;cans that the Hindoos prepare the rose-colmired hine which they use with betel.

" Tiie dyers employ this nnik « iih great advantage for silk, cotton, and woollen
stuffs, whicii ihev dye black. It prevents that colour, wliich is generally caustic, tram
buvning the. stulis, and the dye becomes darker antl more beaiititul. I suppose that
sinalsion ol'atmontU would prcw-lut'e tlie same efi'ect as that of the coco-niit ; our black
stuff's then would nut be bura.t, as is gentijally the case; this-cbservataou may be of use
to dyers.

" If the milk of the coco-nut be concentrated "ry ebi7lUtionfT)ver annbilBrate fire, a
sweet oil, agreeable and fit for the tai)le when fresh, is olitaiiied from it. .The phv^i-
cians of the country compose with riiis emulsion a gentle purgative, which is not nau-
seous : it prodnces no cholic or violent paie.. -It is administi'rtd in cases of pleth(jra,
jionorrhea, and -<jther diseases ; it- is also an excellent teriahfuge. ' It is-^ composed of
half a pint of emulsion in which- fehree or four heads-of garlic have been elissolvedj by
boiling over a slow fire, to the consistence of marmelade : -it is giTeii So the patient
lastiutr, while warm, with the addition <rfa little sugar.

" The oil of tiiis nut is-extracted -by pressure ; it is fit only for being burnt in lamps ;
it is of a drying quality, a little-ax: rid, white, and so liglit that it btnomes fixed even -in
*he torrid zone ; -'.vhen burnt it gives a clear bright flame without exhaling any odour
or smoke. It is employed by rich people an I in the houses of the Europeans in pre-
ierence to any other kind. The si;bstance fraii> wliich this oil has been squeezed is ~
gi\ en to beasts of burden mixed with their forage ; this food when given to cows and
goats increases the quantity of their milk.

" Such are the properties and ditferent ««es made of this palm. If theiTood could
-be employed for building or for domestic purposes, it might justl}- be said that the
coco-nut tree alone would be sufficient for the use of man. It is, however, an useful
vegetable production, a valuable gift of Providence to the peaceiid inhabitants of that
fine country where it has been placed.

" It was the coco-nut tree which ga\'e -the Hindoos 'the first idea of inventing the
allegory and ingcniwusTable'of the phcenix, as may be seen in the fifth chapter of the
Poronia, one of the conimentaries of the Vaides, a sacred book of these people, which
contains the princii>les of their religion, the history of the country, their sciences,
and in general all their knowledge, iis well as-the practical Jtriowledge of all the arts
•\vhich are cultivated in it."

The emulsion and oil of the T^ernel of the cocoa nut is recommended as good in
touorhs aud complaints of the lungs. Pound the kernel in a mortar with water, then
put it in a vessel with a larger quantity of water ; let it settle, and then skim off the
tream. This is preferable to the expressed oil, which soon.becomes rancid. — Dancer's
Med. Asst. second edition, p. 386.

In addition to the former known uses of this vaUiai)le tree, a verj' respectable gentle-
man of this island has lately <liscovered- that the outside shining surface, both of the nut
and the branch, scraped olT ia fine powder, and applied to old and foul ulcers, will
tleanse and heal them rapidly. The efficacy of this simple application was fully proved
by llie cure of two bad sores occasioned by the bite of a negro's teeth.

Ste Macaw Tree and Prickly Pole.

•coccm

crrcOES; HORTUS JAMAICENS IS. 8!!-

COCOA PLUM. CimYSOBALANUF?,

Gl. 12, OR. \.—hosandria mnnos:ynia. Nat. or. — Pooiaiwc.

Oen. t'H.\R. — Calyx a oiu>ieaft.'cl bell-shupeti poriantli, five-ckTt, (livision.s expnnd-
iriLC, withering : the corcjlhi has five obl(;M;r, flat, sprcaiiiitE;, petals, inserte;] hy
their claws into the calyx ; the stamens are very iiiiiny, placed in a circle, erect, .
iijserted into the calyx ; antliers small, twin : the [listii lias ;tn ovate genn'; style
«• the shape and length ot" the stamens, inserted laterally at the -base of the germ ;
stigma obtuse ; tlie pericarp is an ovate drupe, large, one-ce'led ; the seed air
ovate nut, maiked vvitli live fmrovvs, wrinkled, fivu-valv^d. Tiiere is only one
species.

ICACO.

Fruticoms, foliis orbiculu-tis alternis,fioribus laxeracemosis. Browne,
p. 250, t.'iv, f. 1, 2.

This plant is a native of the Caribbee islands and grows in Jamaica, though the plant,
described as follows, by Browne, is thought to be only a variety :

" It is very common in Portland and Carpenter's iMirtmtains, .and seems to tiirive
best in a cool moist soil. It grows to the height of six or seven feet, and bears a friiii:
not unlike the English plum in size. and shape. Of these some are red, some white,
and others black, without any essential difierejice in tiie shrubs of either sort. The-
fruit is perfectly insipid, but contauis :i large nat, inclosing a kernel of very delicious
flavour, which makes up abunilantly .for ttie insipidity of the pulp. The fruit of the
several complexions mentioned have been preserved with sugar, and sent by way of
present to Europe j but tUc red and black kinds are generally preferred." — Browne. ■

COCOES OH EDDGES. AHUM, '.

Gli, 20, OR. 5. — Gynaiidria polyandna, Nat. or. — Piperitce.'

This name is derived from a Greek word signifying injury, from the' juice of the
leaves being very biting and paiufui in most of the species.

Gen. CHAR. — Male flowers on 'the same spadix with ihe female,- closely heaped be-
tween a double row of threads : Calyx a one-leafetf spathe, very large, oblonurj
convolute at the base, converging at tlie top ; the belly compressed, coloured
witliin ; spadix club-shaped, quite s,imple, a. little shorter than the spathe, co-
loured, fenced at bottom with germs, and shrivelling above them ; there is no pro-
per perianth; no corolla; Nectaries? thick at the base, ending in threads or ten-
drils^ in two rows, issueing from the middle of the spadix ; the stamens have no
filaments, e-dch anther is sessile and fouivcornered. The female flowers, on the
lower, part of the spadix, -close to each other. They have no corolla nor proper
perianth; the pistd has an ob-ovate germ, no style, stigma bearded with villoso
hair*; the pericarj^ is a. globular berry, one-celled ; seeds several, roundish. — •
Nine species grow yery generally iii Jamaica. Two of them, with their varietiesy
•well kauwn under the name of cocoes and taj/as.

&e2 I. C0L0«A5LU

•213 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. cocoRS

1. COLOCASIA.

^roM maximum Aegijptiacum quod vulff^ coloectsia. ' Slonno, v. 1,
p. 166. yJcaide I'lopufeum, Jol.1.1 uniplissimis cordato-sagillatis :
J^urple coco. Acaide maxinmtH^ JoLij-& cordulo^sagittatts : Wliite
coco. Browne, p. 332,

Leaves peltalcj ovate, repaiul ; seiui-bifid at the base.

Of this useful vegetable there are several varieties, very generally, and largely culti-
vated in tliis island; as the}- form a principal part of the subsistence of the negroes^
who preler them even to yams, thoygh not so light nor so agreeable a food, vet
very wholesome and nourishing, either boiled or roasted. All the kinds are easily cul-
tivated by cuttings I'rum the main stem or rout, commonly called the head, alter the
plant ceases to produce its esculent roots, or from its sucker,e. ^It bears m about nine
months after planted, and, after jthe first cocoes are dug, .will continueto produce more
every four or hve. months, for about three years, when the heads should be drasvu." —
The ro(ts. boiled or roasted arc excellent food for fattening hogs ; forvvhich animal all
parts of the plant are a goodfcjod. The main root of all the species, more ispeciaily
of the spotted kind, possess a considerable degree of acrimoii^v, which, after beiag
dried and kept for some time is lost, and they become insipid to the taste. :The fresk
loots apphed raw are a maturating cataplasm ; Long; says that the dried root, pulverised
and mixed with honey, ex])e«torates tough phlegm, and is reckoned excellent in asth-
matic comjjlaints. Mixed with liour of bijmstoue, it is a specific in consumptions. —
The fresh roots and leaves, distilled with a little.miik, ibrm an approvefl cosmetic lo-
tion ; and. tiie juice e.xprcssed from the. leaves is recoinmendcd for cleansing, and iieal-
ing to 111, ulcers.

'Vtii^ following are the kinds principalh' cultivated in Jamaica : "

'Yhe purple caco, ..svhi.ch is of .a dry meally nature and' agreeable taste, as well as. g.
. nourishing food.

I'lie wliitt coco, whose under leaves^ are sometimes used as a green ; -and also produces
livery agreeably tasted root.

Ttie Surinain coco, which is by far the most delicate, but by no means so productive
as the others ; it bears at a greater distance from the main root than the other kiiid.-^, is
much longer in proportion to its thickness, and, creeps to a considerable distance in the
earth.

Ttie San Bias coco, which has come into general cultivation for some years past,
gro>vs to an enormous size in its stem or head, and the cocoes it produces iire so large
as often to weigh three or four pounds or more each. Wiien full they are drv and very
paiateable, forming a hearty and nourishing food. From the great jiro iuctiveness
of this kind, the cultivation of ihe others has of late been so much neglected, that it
is very rare to see a field of any other description. The negroes are particularly partial
to them.

The -S"^ Kitfscoco, which though of a much smaller size than the San Bias, is yet
well wonhy of cultivation, not only on account of its pro.luctivene.ss, but as it is a very
dry, meally, and agreeable food. It is of a yellow colour when ripe.

The baboon hog coco or taya, which also produces a very large root, but every part
of the plant very coarse, and is therefire principally pianted f .r the purpose of feeding^
hogsf which it fattens very well, especially if boiled or roasted ; but, even in that state,
fcOaGfid are its juices, itbwniiaud heats tite thrqat cousiderably. When boiled and

cct

♦-♦eFFRr HORTUS JAM AI C-E'NS I §, . ^]%,

icut into small pieces, the heads of this, as v\xll as, of the other kincTs," which are all of-
_aa ustnngent, nature, arc a^ouu tood t\>v pouliry. '1 he seeds are good to feed chickens^

2. PERTviRINUM.

ji:atile maximuni, Joliis cord.ito tagtttatis, radkelenitermordecante,
Browne, p. 333i .
Leaves cordate-obtuse, mucronate ; angles rovinded.

This seerns only a variety of tire white coco, the pedicels- heing lightly tinged with
^^rtrple, the etnbrios in the spadij;: grow at its base, above which arc a great mmiHer of
. iJiirpie glands, and the upper pait entirely taken up by the anthers, which are disposed
^n bundles of about twelve together, and the thiii white filaments to which they adhere
»co\er tiieii upper or exterior end. Tiie spadis is free all its length.

Browne calls this the 5c7'tf/tA coco, fro ni the pangencj- with which its roots are ini-i
;pregD;lted. * »

See Dumb Canb-— Jive-Finger — lNpuiy'iv\^E:-^WAK|; Robins^

■COFFEEr COFFEA.

"Ci.. 3, eR. 1. — Pentandriamsnogynia. Nat. oR. — Stellafa;,

'This was so named from the Kingdom of Caffa, in Africa, -where it^ grows abimdantly,

'.Gen. CHAR. — The perianth is minutely five-toothed, very small, superior: the co-
rolla is OHe-peta!ed, salver-shaped; tube cyhndric (sweUing a httle towards the

• top), slender, many times longer tlian the calyx ; border hat, five-parted, longer
than the tube-, divisions lance-shaped, their sides rolled back : The staBien's are
five filaments, subulate, placed on the tube, at the divisions of the petals; an-

• thers linear-lanceolate, incumbent, length of the filaments : the pistil has a round-
ish inferior germ ; style simple, length of the .corolla ; stigmas two, reflected,
subulate, thickish : tlie pericarp is a roundish berry ; seeds two (sonielimesj only
one), solitary, elliptical ly hemispherical, gibbous on one side, flat on- the other,

. where it is furrowed longitudivialiy, involved in an aril. One species of this genus
(4s a native of Jamaica,- the occidentalis ; the Ava^ica, or coffee tree, is an exotic,

l.ARABICA, ARABI.1N.

Fndicosafoliis oposilis, floribus plurirnis sessililtus ad alas. Browne,
p. 161.

Flowers five- cleft ; berries two-seeded.

'This valuable plant seldom rises, if left to itself, above seventeen or eighteen feet,
hwt in a state of cultivation is not allowed to grow above five or six feet in height. — •
The main stem grows upright, and is covered with a light brown bark. The branches
are produced horizontally and opposite, crossing each other at every 'joint, so that
every part of the tree is garnished with them ; they are brachiate, smooth, lax, and ia
old trees bend downward, the lower ones are the longest, gradually decreasing tpwards
the top, which gives the tree a most beautiful pyramidal figure when about two or threli
years old ; after that age, however, in a state of cultivation, the tops are generallv cut
«ti' at the height of five or six feet, when ihe-upper branches by that means acquire

move

■2 14 ■ . rt O 1 rr U S J A M A i C t N .>5 i S. eOFFF.f^

more vigour, and slioot out to ihe snvnc length as ili£ lower. Thfe leaves siand^opposite*
to each oclier, are ovate- lanceolate,, ant! wi,en fall ;gro'.vn,^a seven inclies lung aiid^
three broad in ttic micJdie, decreasing tov/:irils ey.e«i .en<l .;•- their borders are liandsouielv
■vvavi-J, tiieir upper suvJiice of a dark lucid j^reen colour, tiieii*^ lower of ;i p;tie dull
green, having half inch long peiioles, wk;t4i e<;<:ti,t)-ae through the !&af, forrtH!l^ the
nu<lril), from which issue aUornate veins, .from ejglrt to tea on each aide, having at
their orii^'.i Httle secretory puticttiw s, Mtueh iire piomiiient on the ii;)per sorfafe ; ae-
CMrding. I.; Linneus, tiie.i« leaves continue throe )^^e<irs. The flowers are jiruluced in '
clutters at tlie base of the leaves, siiung close to. tti^ branches; ikey are of a puro
white, and of a very grateful odour, like jistiiine. T^olhins;' can be conceived more de-
li!;htful than the appearuni e and perfume of a field of-coii"ee in full.hloum; the -air is
filled witii fra<;r.wc^a, a.nd the Irecs itppear us if a shower of sno\v had juiit I'alleii on
ttieir dark green leaves, which are almost o-nuroly hidden by the flowers, but here and'
there the colotir of the ioliage may Vie discovereil, iorniing a fine grovind for, and beau-
til'ul contrast to, the pyje white, of the bios.-.onis. This- appearance is, however, butr .
of short diH-atioo, fttr, in a few hours af;:er they £S"6 full blown, the corollas-decay, be- -
«iome browi:, and drop ofi'; they slip along the style, and wittier while they hang upon .
^he stigniiis ; so that tin; beauty and fragrance -which may have delighted the senses in
■the mornings have cntiiidy vanished by noon. , Tlie berries succeed, which are first,,
green,.. tiHii red when fully grown, rijun iiito a daik- pur-p4c, wiien they shri\el and
drop from the rreei They are of an oblong spheroi.iul furui, .with a ii-ttle circular area
atthe.top,. wjihln which is a call aus dot,; .the puip is pale, sweetish, and gelatinous;
two-celled, and the partition is ti<ishy and vascular; it is the only receptacle, and pe-
netrates tbeelefi. of the scedsc In eael> cell is.one seed only, of an elliptic form, con-
vex jtin ^one-side flat on the otlier, with a longitudinal cleft, covered with a loose, elas-
tic, paochment- like aril, of -a-jxile glaiiC(»iis colour ; -within which it has another very
fiiie silky^. diaj>lwnous, cover.- The time of biossoMing varies indifferent situations,
butis g.encrally in ti'.e spring cf tlieyeai", troin February to June, and there are two or
three.. ditferantbloonts, a tew weeks distant from each other, sooner or later,! accordin"-
to the seasons^ wliich is a very fortunate circumstanc-e- for the- planter, as the>fr-uit ri-
pening at the same inten-alsflft'ords. time for getting in the crop, as well as for curing
it fur market.' The fruit is-fit to pick in about seven luanths troia the ajipearaiKe of
the flowers. In old trees the berry is found often to contain only one oval gram,' hav-
ing no flatted side ; and, on .the other liand, young luxuriant, trees frequenti3- produce
berries containing three seeds.

With regard to the. cultivation of this valuable plant, die higher mountains, vdiera
there is the greatest regularity of seasons^ and where the land is not .'rt' a cold clayey, or
hot marly, nature, have been found by experience most congenial .to the cofl'ee tree.
It delights in a cool climate, to be situated on a declivity, where there: are frequent.^
Siins, and where lhe,soil is deep and -easily. penetrated by its tender fibrous roots, whiclij
often shoot into the earrlh four or even five feet. Ittlirives best in a southern or westf
ern aspect, well sheltered from the blasting effects of the north wind. It grows lu.vuri-
anth , and is very prodiiftive, in rocky land where tlxe soil is rich and deep in the in-
tervals between the rocks, which prevent it from washing away. In flats or bottoms,,
sviiere water frequently lodges aboutits roots, the leaves become spotted, drop off, and
tiie tree itself soon decays. In such situations, indeed, it seldom jjroduces much fruit,
huf runs into a wilderness of branches and leaves. Cofl'ee may be planted at all times
«' the yew, when there is rain, but it .certainly succeeds. much the best when planted

■ ' in ,

■^QVB'E^ ^ HORTUS JAMATCENS'IS. ' 21«

-Tn the siprinsf. In settling a ct'STee estate it is alw;n s advisealjlc to make clioioe of virgin
land, which ouyht to be vvxtll cieni'eil, and roads tracketl or iiuide throiHi'h it hefore, or
-■6IJOI1 after, tlie coffee is planted. Tiie plant is pro,5ai^ated from the seed, which v t;^e-
■tates very quuklv, and nurseries should l)e formed, so as to produce good plants, i«
time, for any intended plantation, plants may be taken about six months old, or be-
tween that and twelve months, but should not be older. They are generally planted'
from six to eight feet distant every way from, each other, according to the poverty or
richness of the sail. After they are planted the ground should be kejit perfectly clean.
Some settlers prepare a siuall hole, lulled with manure, for each plant; but others
content themselves with puinting them by means of pointed )iegs, vviih .which tliey
simply bore a hole in the g;\nirid and in.sert the pla,nt; the former is certainly the pre-
ferable way, although, in good land, the coffee succeeds very well under the latter
treatment. The trees bear when between two and three years old» the. fourth year is
♦he fullest bearing year in all situatiQu.s,; and tliey will contiaueto thrive ?.nd to bear
tor thirty or forty years in a good soil. They are seldom allowed to grow above six feet,
3ome planters eut off the tap much lower, which process throws great strengtji.into the
bearing branches, aad renders the tree much more convenient for picking than if it
was allo\\ed to ruri up taller^ This topping preserves the lower branches, which other-
»visc would decay* as they do in all trees that are allowed to a.scend. Topping, how-
.£ver, renders constant arid laborious pruning necessary after the fourth year, as, with-
out pnmhig, the vegetiztion, instead of producing fruit, would be i'orced into an use-
less production of brandier, and leaves, which woidd prevent the sun and air from pe-
netrating to the stem, by which the coffee is very nmch benefited ; and on which, in-
<leed, its good bearing^epends. The best time for pruning is imnvidiately after the
crop is taken off'; the sooner the-better, especially for such trees as have suffered by
itoo heavy a bearing, ia thes^^ trees the fruit frequently blasts in. its early state, turn-
ing black and droppii\g froGi.4.he tree. The very blossoK! is often blasted" by the north
winds, or excessive dry weather, when they fall withered to th? ground ; but, if the
fruit succeed, little capsules «r knobs are formed beiieath the tlower, which suspends
itself, withered, at the end of the pistil.

After the coffee berries have been picked from tiiC tree, there are several modes of
drying and preparing them for market.

The simplest, but most tedious, method, is by dryins; the berrii;s on platforms in
the state they are jiicked from the tree, which produces the best .Ravoured ami heaviest
coffee, weighing from three to "five per cent, more than when dried by any of the fol-
lowing methods.

Another mode is by passing the coffee berries, as picked from the tree, through a
simple nmchine, which breaks and bruises the pulp, allows the sweet j.uice it contains
to drain off, and thereby much facilitates the process of drying, not taking above half
the time the former method requires, about ten days, in favourable weather.

The third method, which is generally adopted on large plantations, is by passing the
berries through an ingenicrus machine, called the grating mill, which tears off the pulp,
And completel}' seperates it from the seeds, which are afterwards washed in cisterns,
jind are then exposed to the sun, or dried in kilns, in the former way becoming suffici-
ently dry in three or four days, and in the latter in a few hours. This machine, how-
vevcr, injures a good many of the grains by scratching and breaking them, as well as
"Occasioning a general deficiency ia the weight of the coffee. These losses are, how-
ever,

216 HOllTUS JAMA|CENSTS. COTFEf^

ever, of ite ronsideiation, compared to the time that is gained, and the labour savetly ^
bv Uiis process. - "^

^Vhen the berries arc sufncieraly dried, which tliey are when the hiisks crackle un-
der the feet, Jn either of the above ways, the husk and parch mcne^sk in are retinovefl
by tiie peeling mill, whicli ii a circular ti'ougb about ten or twelve inches deep, \n
which IS a Uufje vertical roller or ■wheel, made c.f hard and heavy tiiTiher, from five to,
seven feet high, through whith an a:'ii(? is. nitssed, an! the machinerv, as its situation
HiRv fidmit, so cbnstnuied as t,o be turned round cUiier by wateror-hyniub s. It cx~
actiy roseniblesa cyder mi.iU After the berries have been ground ir(, tl^.is niill nr.ril the
husks are reduced to chaff, thewhole is.passed through the faaner, which blown off the
chaff, and the coftes fallsdown a sloping board behind the fanner. The Ixid, black, br
broken, grains, as well as small stones, or othei- substances that may have fallen among it^^
are picked ont,bj' the h4nd,,ani the coffee is then ut f(jr market.

The best and-smaliest coffee is prodi^t'od by old trees, and, to have it in perfec-
tion, it should be ailoiveU to remaiVi on tHo, tree^ until the skin shrivels an.l the fruit 13 -■
rGiKly to drop off. Tl)e Arabians spread cloths uiidemeath tlie trees, and shake them
when the fruit i? suiHcieiitly ripe to drop off readily ; and there is no doubt th;.t the. -
berries v;hich drop off tbems.elyes through rij^eness. make thebe&t flavoured coffee.—
Age is said to add m.nck.to its good qualities, and. the superiority of Eastern to West
India coffee has .chiefly been attribistud to this circumstance; the former bein<i; miicfe
older before it reaches-the European marketthan the laht r. I3!r Po.hergill mentions,'
that he conceives Uie dryea* the soil, .and tii.e more it a?5iiii'!atps to the dry,' hot, .sandy,
soil of Arabia, .tlie smaller the grain will be, an.l the Ixjtter fl-Uonred ; in old coffee -
trees the fcvnt is smaller and better, on the .same principle, that the fruit of yojinor vval<^
nut trees isj large, watery, .and insipid^ but as the tre^ gi^ows older -the. -n>i!s-f'efrea?e iri
size, and their taste becotnes. more agrceabie. The doctor mentii.)ns, thathv.vin"- re- .
ceived a present of raw Coffee I'rom the We.st Indies ^j which was so iil tti?ted as to be
unfit for use, but, bting.luid by in a d:y d iset f',t a vcar, was-a^ain tned. and found to
be greatly amended. In ar.jfciier year, he thought it would be little i:;fcrior to tl'C
As^iatic. if it continued to amend in propuirtion. Mr* Edwards obsenres, thetthe notion.
thfVt V/esr liulia coffee.is iaferi-n- to ihat..'.f the East, as being the prnuiu tion of a
coarser tree, neeas no other refiita ion than the .dircumstance related by the ceJebrat.-d
gar.lener, Mi:, Miller, ." that from plants brought frorn the West I.ulies, and- raise.} ii,
F^i^ii^h hoL-liou es, coltee berries liave been produce. I, which, at a proper age, ^vere
fo-n.i to surpass the very best Mocha that could be procured 11. Gi*eat Brit; in." Mi".
Miller does not .■<eem tr. tui.ik that age is necessary 10 improve coff. e ; f)r, in anoti;er .•
place, speaking 00 this subject, he.savs, " Thii scheme of keeping American coffte
berries several, years is contrary to all the experience I havel.aJ, and the inforniatioa
I.;Gan obtain fr Jin tiiose who have seen thewhole manageinent of ciffee in Arabia. —
Two gentlemen, who had lived there some. years, assured me that the berries when -.
first gathered were. much ijetter ti. an. those which are kept any time : and a curious
giiiitl num, who resided in Barbadoe.*; two years, also. told U'e. that he n'verdr.ink
l)e.ter coffee in any part of the worhl, than what he made frorn the fresh hei-ries, which
lie gathered himself, and roasted as tie had occasion for them. This account is con-
fij-meci by trials witit. berries pro.'uced in our Efi^li'-h stoves, which make a bptt.-r fi,"-
voure.l liquor than the best Arabian .coffee berries that can be procure b i-i Englan i.'*^-
Tnere can be no d.iubt thiJt tne quahty of the coffee, made in the West Tidies, is fre-
^ejatly nivjcji inj ured 14. the. voyage hume, fur, ivauily imbibing the siuell ou fiavo.nr of

aj>|^

♦CPFKE HORTr-S JAMAICENSI-S. 217

any article it comes in rontact with, esprciall}- sugar, rrim, or pimenta, and being
stowed tw> near these commfxliijes in the slii|), ihey coniinunicate their disagreeable, taste
and sniell, which even tlie iire, in parrhing, cannot again seperate from the coffee.- — •
1 he, greatest care shonKI th;refbro be taken to keep such articles entirely seperate,
and to patk the coffee in the driest and soundest casks ; and, if possiijle, to ship it oa
such vessels as are entirely loaded v/ith coffee.

Front many samples of Janiaira coffee, carefnlty cured and sent to London, it ap-
peareiJ tliac it was equal to tiie best Arabian cutiee ; and lUe dea.lers pronounced sonic
of them even superior.

The following obser\-atiotis on ■ the quality cf coffee, are taken from Dr. Bco«Tie's
Hibtory of Jamaica :

" It is a generiu remark in England, and indeed a certain one, that coffee imported
from America does not answer so -well as that of the growth of Ai'abia, nor is it owing

- (as some iniagiue) to any foreign fume or vapours it coight have contracted in the pas-
sage, though great care should be .nlways taken to pix?vent any acquisition of tlii;' na-
ture ; for even tliere, what is commonly used, will neither parch nor mis like the
Turkey coffee ; but this has been hitherto owing to the want of okservation, or know-

. jng the nature of the grain, most people being attentive to the quantity of the produce,
•'.vhile the qualities are but seldom considered.

" I have been many years in those cxilonies, and, being always a lover of coffee,

- have beeti often obliged to put up with the produce of the countiy in its diiVerent
states. Tiiis gave me room to make many observations upon the giain, and 'I dare say

'they are such as will be constantly found true ; and, if rightly regarded, will soon put
-the inhal)itants of our American colonies in a way of supplying the mother country with
as good coffee as we ever had from Turkey, or any other part of the world : For the
-easier understanding of this assertion, I shall set down the-remaiks I have made as they
*ccur :

. ♦' 1. New coffee will «ever parch or luix well, use what art you will. This proceeds
from the natural clamminess of the juices of the grain, wiiich reqiures a space of time
-proportioned to its quantity to be wholly destroyed.

" 2. The smaller the grain, and the less pulp the berry has, the better the coffee,
and the sooner it will parch, mix, and acquire a flavour.

" 3. The drier the soil, and the warmer the situation, the better the coffee it pro-
duces will be, and the sooner it will acquire a flavour.

" 4. The larger and the more succulent the grain the worse it will be, the more
clammy, and the longer in acquiring a flavour.

" 5. The worst coffee, produced m America, will in a course of years, not exceed-
ing ten or fourteen, be as good, parch and mix as weW, and have as high a flavour as
.the best we now have from Turkey, but due care should be taken to keep it in a dry
place, and to preserve it properly.

*' 6. Small grained coffee, or that which is produced in a dry soil, and warm situa-
tion, will in alwut three years be as good, and parch as well as that which is now com-
monly used in the coffee houses in London.

*' These are facts founded on repeated experiments, which I have tried from time
"Jto time, during my residence iu Jamaica, though it be very rare to see what a man

i f may

2!5 HORTUS. JAlNfAICENSlS. coffb^

may csU "-ood coffee in die island, for they generally drink it a la Sw-tan ,-•* and never*
reserve more than is sufficient to supply them iVom one year to another.

" I have examined the Turkey roffee v\'ith great care^ .since I came to En^and, and-
conclude, from tjie size of the grr.:n,_ t'^e frequent abordon of one of the seeds, and
the narrowness of the skia that contains .tiie pnij>, that the shrub niirst be greatly-
stunted in its growth, and from hence judge that v.'hoever.endeavours to produce good;
coffee, and such as would raelkivv as stjon as that of Arabia ; or expect seeds that hihv
have the same flavour, must try what can be, produced on the lower hills and mountains^-.
of the southern part of the island."

An interesting analvsis of coffee-bas lately been, made by M. Cadet, apothecary ifl
ordinary to the Vfench imperial household ; from which it appears, that the berries*
contain" mucilage in abundance, much gallic acid, a.resin, a concrete essential oil, some
albumen, and a volatile aromatic principle, with a portion of. lim.e, potash, charcoal, ;.
iron, &c. Roasting developes the soluble principles. Mpcha coffee is of all kinds ths >
most aromatic and resinous. M. Cadet advises that coffee be neither roasted nor in-
fused till the day it be drank> and "that the roasting should be moderaie*

The various usesand great virtues of coffee, have been most clearly pointed out in
Dr. Ivloseley's learned and ingenious Treatise, from v.kich the following extracts are ,
taken : ^ _

" After coffee has recei'^'ed all the excellence it can from the planter ; it is a matter •
of great consequence, that proper care be taken in shipping it for Europe : it should .
not be put into parts of the vessel, where it may be injured by dampness, or by the
effluvia of other freight. Coffee berries are remarkably disposed to imbibe exhalations .
from other bodies, and thereby acquire an adventitious and disagreeable flavour. Kum ;
placednear to coffee will, in a shoVt tirhe, so impregnate the berries as to injure their .
i3S.V0ur.- It is said, that a few bags of pepper on board a ship from India, spoiled a,
whole cargo of coffee.

" The chemical analvsis of coffee evinces that it possesses a great portion of mildly
bitter^ and lightly astringent gummous and resinous extract ; a considerable quantity
of oil; a fixed salt; and a volatile salt. These are its medicinal constituent princi-
ples. The intention of torrefaction is not only to make it deliver those principles, and
make them soluble in water, b.ut to give it a property it does not possess in the natuVal
sraire of the berry. By the action of fire, its leguminous taste, and the aqueous part
of its mucilage, are destroyed ; its saline properties are^created, and disengaged, and
its oil is rendered empyreumaiic. From thence arises the pungent smell, and exhiler-
atino flavour, not found in its natural state.

'•^Imitations of coffee have been procured from roasted beans, peas, wheat, and rye,
with almonds ; but the delicacy of the oil in coffee, which the fire, in roa^sting, con-
verts into its peculiar empyreuma, is not to be equalled.

" The roasting of the berry to a proper degree, requires great nicety. If it be un-
der done, its virtues will not be imparted, and in use it will load and oppress the^sto-
HKivh : If it be over-done, it will yield aflat, burnt, and bitter taste, its virtues will ,
be destroyed, and in use it.will heat the body, and act as an astringent. The closer it

is

• v'rihis I take to he rather the infusion of the half burnt flafte.<: of new coffee (for it never will parch, crind, _
or mix, proptriy while fresh), like that commonly uied by tiie coflee planters in JanaJca, tij4» a dtcocuaBiiV
■Si the coverings, as it is commoniy reported to be.

eotvst. K0J3,TUS JAi\IAICENSI3. £19

is coiifine!^, at the time of roasting, and till used, the better will its volatile pungency,
;ftav.jur, and virtues, be preserved. Coarse, rank, nev/, cotf'ee is meliorated by being
liept alter it is roasted, before it is used.

" The influence which coffee, judieioiisly prepared, imparts to the stomach, from
its invigorating- qualities, is strijngly exemplified bj- theiimnedrate eifect produced (jii
taking It, when tue stomach is over loaded with food, or nauseated with surfeit, or de-
bilitated by intemperance, or languid from inanition.

" To constitutionally weak stomachs, it allbrds a pleasing sensation ; it acc(>Ierates
the process of digestion, corrects crudities, and removes the cholic, and flatulencies.
Besides its eifect on the gastric powers, it diffuses a genial warmth tiiat cherishes the
animal spirits, and takes away -the listlessness and langour which so greatly embitter the
hours of nervous people, after any deviation to excess, fatigue, or irregularity.

" From, the warmth and efficacy of coffee in attenuating the viscid fluid.s, and in-
creasiiiij- the 'vigour of the circulation, it has been used with great success in some cases
of lluor albus, and in dropsy ; and also in worm complaints; and in those comatose,
auascanius, and such other diseases as arise from unwholesome food, want of exercise,
weak filjres, and obstructed perspiration.

. " In vertigo, lethargy, catarrh, and all disorders of the head from obstruction in the
capillaries, long experience has proved it to be a powerful medicine; and, in certain
cases of apoplexy, it has been found serviceable -even when given in glysters, where
it has not been convenient to convey its effects by the stomach. Mons.'Malebranche
restored a person from an apoplexy by repeated glysters of coffee.

" There are but few people who are not informed of its utility for the head ache ;
the steam sometimes is very useful to mitigate pains of the head. In the West Indies,
where the violent species of head ache, such as cephaleea, hemicrania, and clavus, are
more frequent and more severe than in Europe, coffee is often the only medicine that
gives relief. Opiates are sometimes used, but coffee has an advantage that opium does
not possess ; it may be taken in all conditions of the stomach ; and at all times by wo-
men, who are most subject to these complaints ; as it dissipates those congestions and
obstructions that are frequently the cause of the disease, and which opium is known to
increase, when its temporaiy relief is past.

" From the stimulant and detergent properties of coffee, it may be used to an ex-
tent to be serviceable in all obstructions occasioned by languid circulation. It assists
the secretions, promotes the menses, and mitigates the pains attendant on the sparing
discharge of that evacuation.

■" In the ^Vest Indies the chlorosis and obstructed menses are comraon among la-
l)0rious negro females, exposed to the effects of their own carelessness, and the rigor-
ous transitious of the climate ; there strong coffee is often employed as a deobstruent;
which, drank warm in a mornmg fasting, and using exercise after it, has l)een produc-
tive of many cures. From its possessing these qualities, Geoffroy cautions pregnant
women, and such as are subject to excessive menstruation, to use it in moderation.

" The industrious overseers of plantations, and other Europeans employed in culti-
vation in the West Indies, who are exposed to the morning and evening dews, find
great support from a cup of coffee before they go into the field : it fortifies the sto-
mach, and guards them against the diseases incident to their way of life ; especially in
clearing lands ; or when their residence is in humid situations, or in the vicinity of
ijtagiiant water. Those who are imprudently addicted to iutcmpcrancc, find coffee a

ii 2 benign

220 nOETU,^"^ .^AMAICF,NSI5.- (joipfc

benign restorer of the stomach, for that nausea, weakness, anl uisorderly conditiori,
which is brouj^hcon hy drinking btul fermented liquor, and ut-w ruirs, to excess,

" In continued and remittinjr f.-vors in liot cHuiates, it ireciiiently happens, .,a*>.ihG
period when bark is ilidicated, tiiat the stomach cannot retain it. Tins is an eiubairass-
sueat of great im])oriance, in vvhiiii tJie practitioner iias a.n interval onivof afew hours,,
to decide on his patient' s.iate. Bai'k iiv substance is required to ansy.er the intention ;
and hercj as well asia-man}- eases of intermittents, wlien every other rnoile of adnii—
iiisiering bark has proved abortive, coffee has been found an agreeable and a successful-
vehicle. In obstinate remittents, where a course of. bark iia* been long continued, it
seldom fails to inciea,se those ^-iscerai obstructions wh.ich are incidental to the disease
itself. To assist ike bark in its openuion, I have often used coffee ;■ and have known in-
stances where it jias removed sligbt intermittents ;. an i for i.hose obstructiojis, which'
the disease, orlxirk, or both,, frccp.icntly iea^e after them, and which patients are often
obliged to suffer, as the least evacuation brings ou a return or the fever,! have also re-
commended coffee to make a considerable portiun in the diet, with advanta.ge. Coffee
having the pr.o)>erty of promoting perspiration, it allays thirst and checks preternatu-
ral,hfiat> Sir John Char<:lin, when in Persia, civred himself of a bloody Hnx by drink-
ing four cups of hot coffee, and going to bed, and covering himself veil with bed •
clothes. But this cure was occasioned by the perspiration it produced ; though he. at- '
trilnitcd it to some specific quality in the coffee.

" TJie great use of coffee in France is supposed to, haye abafed the prevalency of the
graveL In the French colonies, wJiere cotTee is more used than in the English, as well"
as in Tiirkey, where it is the principal beverage, not only the griavel, but the gout,
those tormentors of so.niany.of the liuman race, are scarcely known.

" Du Four relates, as an extraordinarv instance of the effects of coffee in the gout,
the case of Prions. Deyerau. He says this gentleman was attacked with the gtnit at
twenty-five xearstof age, and had it severely until he was upwards of fifty, with chalk-
stones in thi2 joints of his hands and feet ; but for four years preceding, the accouat of
Ids case. beiiig given to Bn Four, to lay before tlie public,' he had been recommended ;
the use of coffee, M'hich he adopted, aud had no return of the gout afterwards.

" Coffee has been found useful in quieting the tickling vexatious cougJi, that often
accompanies the smallpox and other eruptive fevers. A disli of strong coffee without
jnitk or, sugar, taken frequently in the paroxysm of some asthmas, abates the fit ; and
I -iiave often known it to remove the fit entirely. Sir John Flower, who had been af-
flicted with the asthma from the seventeenth year of his age, until he was upwards of'
fourrscore, found no remedy in all his elaborate researches, until the latter part of his
life, when he obtained it by coffee.

" Prejjared strong anil clear, and sweetened agreeably with sugar-candy, and di-
luted, while hot, wuh a great portion of boiling milk, it becom.es an highly nutritious
and l)alsaigic diet; proper in such hectic and pulmonic complaints, where a rnilk diet,
is useful ; and is a great restorative to constitutions emaciated by the gout and other
chronic disorders. Nieuhoff, a German physician, in his account of the embassy from
Holland to China, in 1675, first described the advantage of milk coffee in pulmonic
complaints.

'^ Mons. Monin, an eminentphysician of Grenoble, performed many extraordinarv
cures with it among consumptive people, when a milk diet, asses milk, and the air of
Montpelier, had proved ineffectual. He relates the following case of his wife ;' of
wliom, he says, * She had been m a cousumption for sixteen years, and was at ths

fokit-

corn-E HORTUS- JAMAICE-NSia- 221

jjoint of death lately with ;i peri piummony. The iiiflanjtnation of llio lunijs wys re-
moved t)y the ordinary methods in eight days ; there remained a very troublesome
eougli, an heat in the liuigs, .and quick pulse, with a ^reat dtyuc^is ot the skin, whirh
Ttuiile me api)reaend she woukl fall aij;iiii int(j her cousviinptire .slate- f prepared iu-f
by gentle piirtratives and aperient ine<hcines, as fier bowels were in.a ixid state, and-
her spleen ohslructed,,, and put Jier on a course of usses milk,, whieh she took reguiarlv
lor a month ^ but without th<c least sucvess ; lier p<ilse remaitwxl the siiiiie, lu^rcou^h '
Mas wurse, she spit triore, Jier complexion wasyellowj-sometimes greemsh ', -she com-
plained of li'eats and oppressions of her hveast, notwithstanding the exact regimen, and'
gentle purgatives repeated every week. . Fimiing that., the asst^s milk was useless, I
again put her or) a c.?nu-sc of her former mttk collee, of which she took about a quart
every day for six weeks, purging her every ten or twelve days. This course was so fa-
vourable to her, tliai all the syrnptonis betore mentioned ceased in the first eight days ;'
Iter ap])etite soon -relnrned, and she. grew more t'rt 6o«jy()i'/ji' tiiua she had ever beeij ■
in her life.'

" Long v/atching and intense stiuiy are- wonderfully supported by it, and uithciit
the ill consequences that succeed the suspension of rest and sleep, when the nervous-
inlluence has nothing to sustain it Tlievenot says, ' Wlien mercnaists in Turkey ha\ e
any letters to v;rite, and iatend to do it in the eight time, in the e.veniiig thev take a
dish or two of cofFee, which is good to hinder vapours, head achj and to take away
slcepine.ss, Sec. In short,, in the Turk.s opinion, it is good against all maladies, and._
fertainly it.hath, at least, as much virtue as is attributed to tea; and fts to its taste, by
feat time a mau hath drankjof it twice, he is accustomed to it, and finds it no longer ■
unpleasant.'

" We are told that travellers in Eastern countries, and messengers who are sent with
dispatches, perform their tedious journies by ilie alternate effects of opium and coffee ;
and tliat the dervises and religious zealots, in their abstemious devotions, support their
vigils, through tlieir nocturnal ceremonies, by this anti-soporific liquor.; Du Four
nays the poor people in Turkey use it through oeconomy to save victuals ; asfrequentlv
two or three cups of coffee is their whole sustenance in the course of a day. Bernier
^■ays, tiiat the Turks,, who frequently subsist a considersible time upon coffee only, look
on it as an aliment ihat affords great nourishment to the body ; for which reason, dur-
ing the rigid fast of the rawadum, or Turkish lent, it is not only forbidden, but any
person is deemed to have violated the injunciions of the prophet, that has had even the
smell of coffee. Bacon says coffee ' comforts the head and heart and helps digestion.'
Dr. Willis says, ' being daily drank, it wonderfully clears and enlightens each part of
the soul, and disperses all the clouds of every function.' The celebrated Dr. Harvey
used it often. Voltaire lived almost on it. He told me, nothing exhilerated his spirits
more than the smell of coffee ; for which reason he had what he used in the drn-,
roasted in his chamber every morning, when he lived at Fcrnai. The learned and se-
dentary of every country have recourse to it, to refresh tlie brain oppressed by study
and contemplation.

" Among the many valuable qualities of coffee, that of its heinnc an antidote to the
abuse of opium, must not be ccnsidered as the least ; for as mankind is not content
with the wonderful efficacy derived from. the prudent use of opium, the abuse of it is
productive of many evils that are only remediable by coffee ; which counteracts the
hy.^)notic or sleepy effects of opium. The heaviness, head-ach, giddiness, sicTcness,^'
aiid nervous affections, which attack the patient in the morning, who has taken an.

opiate.'

222 II O R T U S J A M A I C E N S I S. - coppse

©piate at night, are abated by a cup or two of stronsr coffee. In military ^hospitals, in
hot clunuti-.s, recourse is often iiad to large and rejjeated doses of o])inm; froii) which
1 Lave frequently observed, iliat die retenlion of the stomach of the patient lias been
grciitly injured ; tha secretion of urine impeded, or the bladder affected by a paralysis ;
—even these effects have been subdued by a few cups of strong coffee.
. " In habits subject to haemorrhages, particularly those of the puliiionic and uterine
kind, ilie interdiction of coffee is every where justly admitted.
. " A small cup or two of coffee, immediately after dinner, promotes digestion.

" \\'ith a draught of water previously drank, according to the eastern custom, coffee
is serviceable to tnose who are of a costive habit.

'*' Coffee is not proper where tfiere has been long sitting after dinner, when heavy
Bieals of animal food. have been made, and much Porcugal wine has been drank ; and
never should be used after dinner, nor at any other time by ihose who intend to return
to the bottle, and drink wine immediateiv upon it.

*' The mode of preparing this beverage for common use differs in different countries,
■principally as to the additions made to it : but, though that is generally understood,
and that taste, constitution, the qualitj' of the coffee, and the quantity intended to be
drank, must be consulted, in regard to the proportion of coffee to the water in making
it ; yet there is one material point, th|e importance of which is not well understooti, and
which admits of no oeviation : The preservation. of the virtues of coffee, particularly
when it is of a fine quality, and exempt from rankness, as. has been said, depends on
carefully confining it after it has been roasted, and not powdering it until the time of
tising it, tnat tUc volatile and ethenal principles, generated b}' tlienre, mav not es-
cape : but all this will signify nodiing, and the best materials will be useless, unless the
following important atimoniiion is strictly attended to ; which is, that, after the liquor
is made, it slwuld be bright and clear, and entirely ^exempt from the least cloudiness or
Joul appearance, from a suspension of any of the. particles oj the substance of the coffee,

" There is scarcely any vegetable infusion or decoction, whose effects differ from its
gross origin nio re than that of which wc are speaking. Coffee taken in substance causes
oppression at the stomach, heat, nausea, and indigestion : consequently a continued
use of a preparation of it, in which any quantiiy of its substance is contained, besides
being disgusting to the palate, must tend to produce the same indispositions. The re-
siduum of the roasted berry, after its virtues are extracted from it, is Jittle more than
au earthy calx,-and must therefore be injurious. The want of.attei)tion to this circum-
stance, I make no doubt, lias been the cause oi many of the complaints against coffee,
and of the aversion which some people have -to it; and it isfrom tiiis consideration that
coffee should not be prepared widi n iik instead of water, nor should the milk be added
to it on the fire, as is sometimes the case, for ceconomical dietetic purposes, where
only a small quantity of coffee is used, as the tenacity of the milk impedes 'the precipi-
tation of the grounds, which is necessary for the purity of the liquor, and therefore
neither the milk nor the sugar should be added, until after it is made with water in the
usual wa}-, and the clarification of it is completed. The milk should be hot when added
to the liquor of the coffee, which should also be hot, or both should be heated together,
in this mode of uaing coffee as an article of sustenance.

" The Persians roast the membrane wkich envelopes the seed, and use it together
with the seed itself, in their manner of preparing the infusion, and it is said to be a
-considerable improvement. Tli£ peo^ile 6f fashion among the Turks and Persians
ziiakc a delicate diink from tiie capsules oiUy, which is cooling aad refreshing ; paiti-

«uiaj:ly

c3>rTF.E tiOP.TUS TAMAICENSIS. ssr

cularly in summer time. This was mu;h extolled by the French travellors, w};n saw no
other coffee used at the houses of the great. This is called by the French, cafe a la
Sultan." — Mosdexu

The great superioritj' of coffee to tea, ds containing more ronrisbmeiit, and possess-'
ing so many qualities beneficial to the constitutions of mankind in general, mo'.*:
strongly recommend its general use, as a substitute for the expensive as well as perni-
eious'East India plant* : and this subject cannot be better coiirluded than bA'thefoi-:
lowing passage, from the Supplement ta the Encycloptiia Britannica, under tlic word
coffee :

" If a knowledge of the principles of coffee, founded on «:<arfiinatio:^' and various
experiments, added, to observations made on the extensive and indiscriminate use of
it', cannot authorise us to attribute to it any particular quality 'unfriendly to the human'
frame ; — if the unerring test of experiencs has confirmed its utility, \n many countries,
not, exclusively productive of 'those inconvenienci^S;^ habits, and diseases, for which
its peculiar.properties seem most applicable — let those properties be duly considered ;
and let us reflect on the state of the British atmosphere, tlie food and modes of life of
thei inhabitants, and the chronical infirmities which derive their origir^ from these
sources, and it will be evident what salutaiy effects might be expected from the general
dietetic use of coffee in Great. Britain."

Dr. Fothergill says that coffee made in the following manner is pleasing" to most peo^
pie, and is much preferable to tea or to coffee, made in the usual manner, for break •
fast. ■ Let it be made in the usual- manner, only a third part stronger; let as much
boiling milk be added to the coffee, before it is taken from the fire, as there is water ;
let it settle ; drink it with cream or xyithout, as maybe most agreeable. Very little
s-ugar, he says, ought to be used with coffee ; on weak stomachs it is apt to become
acid if made sweet ; which is one reason wi)y many people forbear drinking coffee. — ■
Was coffee, he adds, substituted instead of tlie bottle after dinner, it seems more thaii
probable that many advantages would flow from it, both to the health of individuals,
and general oBconomy ; it saeuis probable, that by deferring coffee or tea so late as is

usually

• The tea pJant in its otif;inal state is of a poisonous natnre. According to Kosmpfer it ()Osscs«»S a ciafnfay
acrid jiii"e, which is so corrosive as to excoriate the iiands of tho«e who prepaie it for use : In order to cor-
rect tliis noxious quality, and t'le better to enable it to be rolled up or ciulerl, it is either steeped in water, or
steamed, by being put into a hot kettle just emptied of boiling water, in which the leaves are kept closely co-
vered up until they become cold. Tliey are then rolled up and dried on plates of iro-i or copper, from which
some of their noxious qualities are said to be derived. Even in this state, they are consi<le>ed to be so dan-
gerous by tile Oiinese, that the leaves are not used for a twelve-niontli after they are plucked. Nay, after ad
these preparations, and after time has softened its acrimony, a strona; extract of the jiiice has been attended
witli the mo^t fatal consequences ; and even tlie etiinvia of the herb, lonj; and frequently smelt at fas tea-bru- >
kers have frequently experienced), will occasion pal^y, appoplexy, and other nervous disorders. The manner
also in which it is brought from tlie East, in slight boxes lined with a composition of lead and tin, and ex-
posed to be sdfected by the corro-ion of tliote two metals (which the marine acid of the sea-water frequently
brings to action), mu't render the article much more nnwholesome here than in China: and not only is it a
fpemicioHS article of itself, but it is frequently mixed, both in A^ia and in Europe, with a variety of otheV
substances of a deleterious nature. There can he oo doubt that tea is naturally pernicious, and, taken in any
quantity, a poisonous plant; and that the use of it has occasioned the weak and enervated bodies of the Chi-
jtiese. Adair, in his " E^iay on Did and /ip<|-i»nt'n,". observes, that in proportion as its use has become general,
many diseases, especially low fevers, hystcricaJ, hypochondriacal, paralytic, and dropsical, have be-
come more frequent, to which green teas have particularly cnntriauted. Udder these considerations it is n
■wonder this herb has so long kept its ground , an I, iu u political point of view, it is certainly a serious object,
that it should be brouffht, at such an immense exyence of treasure, from so };reat a distance, and from a fo-
reign people ; when our own colonies produce, ia cotlee, a beverage.tvery way friendly to tU* hiinian frao-fc,
»-.Sec Hhiclair'B Code of Ucalih, v. 1, f. i'H,

:'-'4 HORTUS JAMAICENSTS. cotfrs

usiKiUy practised, we Interrupt digestion, amd-atld a -new load of matter-to that alrr;u!y
on tiie stomach. * ■

Dr. Hill menlions, among tiie Eastrrn nations they make coffee of the memhranos
sunonnding- the seeds, not of the seeds themselves, as we do ; and adds, that a decoc-
tion of the raw or unroasted seeds is a powerful diuretic and .sii(iorific- ; which medicinal
qiiaUtv may i)e useful in the strangury or.fiiippn-ssion of urine. For this purpose Hj
small taJilo-spoonfnl of the grain, boiled in a cpi art of water/ for a short tnne, is to be
used as a common drink.

A dish of strong coflte newJ^'tuasted, and drank withont milk, relieves the asthma.

Coffee, though It relieves the liead-athe, yet, -freqiienily in ohstinate ones, it is
necessary toad*! from twenty to f^^rty drops of laudanum. Strong- coffee is well known
to occasion wakeiidness, but, when tosed to excess, perhaps it is less generally knovva
"to lay a foundation for paralytic complaints.

The foliwving dtrecticns for riTaking coffee, by the Earl ofBuchan, as well as the
"Arabian mode oi' preparing it, are tnj<ea from Sinclair'' s Code of Health, v. 1, p. 377 ;
" Roast tiie beans by a gradual application of heat, scorching but not burning them,
keeping the roasting instrument all tiie time, and thereafter, excluded from evapora-
.tion in ihe air. Next pound the beiins with a pestle and mortar to an impalpable pow-
der, not grinding them with a coffee niili, as is wshal, when thev remain gritty, anfl
unfit to.afford a perfect tincture by boiling."" Di:. GriiEths, in his Eastern Tour, gives
-the following account of -the Turkish or Arabian mode of preparing coffee: "It is
ground or beaten to an impalpable powder, and preserved closely, by pressing it down
in a vvooden box. The quantity required for use is scraped from the surface of the
mass by means of a wooden spoon. Two small coffee pots are employed; in one ii
"boiled the water, generally mixed with the rem;:ining coffee of a former njeal ; in the
other is put the fresh powder, wluch is sometimes placed near the fire, to become
-heated before the boiling water is added to it. The mixture is tljen boiled two or three
-times, taking care to pour a few drops of cold water upon it the last time, or to place
-a cloth dipped in cold water over it, then it is allowed to subside, and afterwards poured
into the coffee pot, which contained only the boiling water."

" The quantitv of coffee powder necessary to make a fine strong tincture of coffee,
may be estimated at one coffee cup ot coffee powder, and three dishes of proper coffee
Jiquor for tlie table." — ^inc/airs Cade of Health.

The agreeable liquor prepared fi'om coffee seeds is said to have been drank from time
immemorial i a Ethiopia Mr. Bruce, in his Travels, says that the Galla, a wandering
nation of Africa, in their incursions on Abyssinia, being obliged to traverse immense
desarts, and being .also desirous of falling on the Abyssinians without warning, that
they may be encumbered as little as possible with baggage, carry nothing with theru t©-
eat but coffee roasted till it can be pulverised, and then mixed witlrtutter into balls,
and put into a leathern bag. One of these, about the size of a billucrd ball, keeps
them, they say^ in strength and spirits during a whole day's fatigue, better than a loaf
of bread, or a meal of meat. It was introduced into Aden, in Arabia, from Persia, by
Gemaleddin, only about the middle of the hfteenth century. Not long after it rcacheil
Mecca, Medina, &c. and Grand Cairo ; hence it continued its progress to Damascus
and Aleppo ; and in 1554 became known in Constantinople ; being introduced there
■by t»vo persons, whose naiu^ were Siieais aiid Hekiii ; one from Damascus, the other

.from

CWFRE II OUT US JAMAICKNSTS. ^2';

from Aleppo ; Pach of wliich opened a public cofTee house in that city. It is not cer-
tain « hat time the use of coUee passed from Constantinople to the western parts of
Europe, but it is probable that (he Venetians, on account of the proximity of their
domniionSj and their <;reat trade to the Levant, were the first accjuainted witii it ; and
J'ietro della Valie, a Venetian, in a letter from Constantinople, written in In 15, tells
his friend that upon his return lie sh(juld bring with him some colifee, whlcii hebolieveJ
was a thing unknown in his conntr}-. M. Thevcnot, the French traveller in the I'"ast,
at his return in 1657, brought witli him to Pans some coffee for his own use. It was
known some years sooner at Marseilles, namely, in 1<544. M. De Tour, who wrote
©n coffee in 1685, says that the French kaew nothing of it until 1645. M. La Roqne,
who published his journey into Arabia FeUx* in 1715, contends that his father, having
been with M. de la Ha3'e, tlie French ambassador at Constantinople, did, when he re-
turned to Marseilles-, m 1644, drink coffee every da}'. He allows, notwithstanding,
that Thevenot was the first who taught the F<-ench to drink it. However, till the year
1660, it was drank onlj' by such ap had been accustomed to it in the Levant; but that
vear some bales were imported from Egypt, and in 167,1 a coffee house was opened at
Marseilles. Before the year 1669, coffee was not known at Paris, except at M. The-
venofs, and some of his friends. This year it was effectually introduced by Solyniaa
Aga, ambassador from Sultan Mahomet iV ; and two years after Pascal, an Armenian,
sold it publicly at the Foire St. Gejmain, and afterwards set up) a coffi'e house on the
■Qnai de I'Ecole ; but, meeting with littie encouragement, he left Paris and went to
London. However, not long after, spacious rooms were fitted up at Paris, in an ele-
gant manner, for selling coffee and other refreshments ; and in a short time the num-
ber of coffee houses increased to three hundred.

The use of coffee was introduced into London some years earlier ; for, in 1,652, Mr.
Daniel Edwards, a Tiykey merchant, brought home with him a Ragusian Greek ser-
vant,, whose name was Pasqua Ptossce, and who understood the roasting and making of
coffee. This servant was the first who sold coffee, and kept a house for the pur[)ose
in George Yard, Lombard-street ; or rather, according to Mr. Houghton, in a shed
in the church yard of St. Michael's, Cornhiil, which is now, says he, 1701, 'a scriven-
er's brave house.' Mr. H. adds, that one Rastall, whom he knew, went to Leghorn,
in 1651, and there found a coffee house ; that he met Mr. Daniel Edwards there, with
his Greek servant, and that Mr. E. was the first who brought the use of coffee to Eng-
land, except it was the famous Dr. Hane)', who some say did frequently use it. Pas-
qua, being no free man, the ale-sellers petitioned the Lord Mayor against him. This
made alderman Hodges, whose daughter Mr. E. married, join his coachman, P'owman,
who was free, Pasqua's partiier ; and thus Mr. Rastall found them in 1654. But Pas-
qua, for some misdemeanor, was forced to run the country, and Bowman, by his
trade, and a contribution of one thousand six-pences, turned the shed to a house.
Bowman's apprentices were first John Painter, then Humphry, from whose wife Mr.
H; had this account. The first mention of coffee in our statute hooks was in 1660, 13
Car. IL cap. 24, by which a duty of four pence was laid upon every gallon of coffee
'bought or sold. The first European author who has made any mention of coffee is
Rauwolfus, who was in the Levant, in 1573 ; but it was first particularly described by
Prosper Alpiinis. Lord Chancellor Bacon likewise makes mention of it in 1624 : he
says that the Turks have a dritik called coflee, made with boiling water, of a beriy re-
duced into powder, which makes the water as black as soot, and is of a pungent and
aromatic smeif, and is drauk warm. Faustus Nacionous Bainsius wrote the first treatise

G g expressly

226 0 OUT US JAMAICEMSIS. COFTFif

expressly on coffer, which was priatcd at Rome in 1671. Two En^ilish tmveilers no-
tice tliis hevcragf at the very beginning i)f tiie seventeenth century ". Biddiilpli about
1C03, ani! William Kmcli in 1607. In";GS8, Mr. Kay affirms, that Loniloninight riv.il
Grand C'uirj in the numi)er of its coffee; houses, and that ihev were to be found, not
only in Uie c;ij)ital, bnt in every town of note in England. Probably the ill-judged
prociiun:ition of Charles II. in 1675, to shut up coffee-houses, asseminaries of sedi-
tion, which was suspended in a few days,.contribnted mutch to establish them. >Speak-
ing of it as a drink, Mr. Ray says, it was very mnch in use, and snpDoses that the Aralis
destroyed the vegetable qualitj- of the seeds, in order to confine their commodity within
themselves ; and adds, that he wondered the neighbouring nations did not contrive to
bring awa)' sc/tne sonpd seeds or living plants, in order to share in so lucrative a trade.
Tins wiis soon done ; for Nichola.s \Vttsen, burgomaster of Amsterdflnv and governor i
of the East India Company, desired Van Hoorn, governor of Batavia, to p'rocure from .
Mocha, in Aral^ia Ftlix, some beiTies of the coffee tree, to be sown at B^itavia, which
he having accordingly done, and, about the year 16'J0, having raised many plants from
seeds, sent one over to goveriior Witsen, ■iio presented it to the garden at Amster-
ilam ; it there bore fruit, whicli in a short tii;ie produced many young plants. From
these the East Indies and most of the gaidens in Europe have been furnished ; and so
eariy as the year 16"6, the coffee tree was cultivated at Fuiham bv bishop Compto-n.

In 1714, the magistrates of Amsterdam presented Louis XIV. with a coffee tree,
vhich was sent to the Royal Garden at Mnrly, under the care of M. De Jnssieu, who
li*:d written a memoir, pri-nted in the History of the Academy of Sciences for 17'^,
describing the characters of the genus, with a figure of it, from ;i small tree, which he
had received from M. Pancras, burgomaster of Amsterdam, aiid director of the botar.ic
garden there. In 1718 the Dutch colony at Surinam liegan first to plant coffee, and.
in 1722 M. de la Motte Aigron, governor of Cayenne, contrived by an artitice to bring,
away a plant from Surinam, which, in the year 1725, had produced many thousa-i.ls.
iRochon, in his account of Madagascar, asserts, that in 1718 the inhabitants of the isle
of Bourbon .sent to Moka and Aden S)r some young plants of the coff-e tree, wiijrh
being cultivated with care, became in a few years, very productive, and the island so.^n
afforded tne French East India Company, a, very important ar.ticle of Ivade. In 17'.''7,
the French, perceiving that this acipiisition night be of great advantage in their other
colonies, conveyed some of tiie plants to Martinico. M. Fusee Anbiet indeed affirms,^
that M. Clicux carried the first coffee plant to Martinico in 1720, and that the French;
East India Company sent some plants to the isle of Bourbon in 1717*; that- one plant
only survived, which bore fruit in 1720, and n>any >vere produced from it. From Mar-
tinico it most probably spread to the neigi.houring islands. It was first introduced into
Jamaica in the year 1728, by Sir Nicholas laws, and planted at Town well Estate, now
Temp!e-Hall, iii Liguanea.* In the year 1732 it was cultivated in tiiis i.dand under
the encouragement of -nn act, 5th Geo. il.- by which the duty \vas reduced on home
consumption tiom two shiliings to eighteen pence per pound. By a further reductioa
ofthedutVj in 1783, to six pence, the cultivation was very nnirh extended, and pro-
duced considerably more to the revenue than the former heavy one. On this occasion,
Mr. Edwards observes, " Happily for the coffee planter in the British West Indies, the
English market, by a prudent concession of govermnent in I7S:;, was rcn lered more,
open to them. Before lliut penod, the dutiiii and excise on the iinp.)rtation and con-

sumplioa,

* It !ia"^ bppii asserted that .sp.vfiv berries only w*re brniicht to t'lis island fionj St. Domingo, and tiiat tUe
ajviutr of il 'jte, raised trow one ot'tUem iu Ven-, soli; ti^ ^jr^t prodiiee at a bit a berr_v.

' tOFFCE K O E T U S J A M A I C E N S I 3. 227

'Cumpfion of British plantation coffee in Great Britain were no less than ioiir hundred
■and eig+ity percent, on its marketiibie value. Under sudi exactions its cultivation iu
our sugar islands nmst, but for the American market, have shared the same fate as that
of indigo. The great and iaiportaat reiiuction of one shilling a pound from the excise
duties, created an inunediale and wonderful c.hiuige ; and, while it promoted the in-
terest of tlie planter, it even augmented the revenue of the state; more than double
the quantity of coffee having been brought to entry in 17S4, than was entered in the
j'ear preceding, increasing the sum total of the duties (though reduced tvvo-thir Is)-
from ;i'2869 105. xoyl. to .£'7200 155. 9d. an important proof among others how fre-
<]ucntly heavy taxation defeats its own purpose."

An additional duty of six pence half-penny per pound was laid on coffee by the 3 5th
Geo. III. cap. 13, but by the indefatigable exertions of Mr. Edgar CorrLe, of Liver-
pool, and of several other West India gentlemen ; a late most favourable and we'.l-
ttnied reduction of the duties has again taken place, from nearly two shillings per
pound to seven pence, which it is expected wid be the means of bringing it into ge-
neral use in Great Britain ; and in some measure counteract the ruin that threatened
the planters from a prohibited commerce with the continent of Europe, it would from
this also have been easy to. prophecy an increased cultivation, had-not the abolition of
the slave trade rendered that impossible. From the consequences of this measure,
notwithstaiidin-g every other encouragement, it is easy to forsee thata verj' rapid reduc-
tion of the exports from this island will speedily take place. The old settlements are
yearly wearing out, many new ones have been thrown up, and po fresh st ttlement can bo
attempted. Under these inauspicious circumstances it is no imiirobable conjecture that
ia ten years, or even less time, the qtiantity of coffee exported from Jamaica will not
be one half what it is at present.

The foUowiug statement will shew the wonderful increase which took place in coffee
from the moment the duties were reduced, and which has not only promoted the pros-
perity of tills island, hut greatly increased the national commerce, wealth, and strengtli.

In the year 1752 the export of coffee from Jamaica was rated at k9,0{)0lb. In 1775
it was 4'J3,9&l/(>. ,• until 17^53 it never exceeded 850,OOOM. when a reduction of the
heavy duty u}>on-it took place. In the year 1790 the quantity was trebled, exceeding
two millions and a quarter. In the year 1795 it rose to 5,902,1 Mlbs ,• and the follow-
ing is a statement of its progress since : the exports .are -as returned each year, to the
iiuuse of assenibly-by the naval officer ;

lbs. coffee.
4'Vom 30tb September, 1800,* to 30th September, I801 9,992,859

1801 1802 17,961,923

1802 1803 15,866,291

1803 1804 22,063,980

1804. 1305 24,137,393

1805 1806 29,298,036

1806 1807 26,761,188

1807 1808 29,528,273

1808 1809 25,586,66S

G g 2 2. OCCiDENTAUS;

228 HORTUS JAMAICENSrS* COLT'a

2. OCCIDENTALIS. WESTERN.

Janmimtm forte urbornnn, foliis laurhiis ex ad-jirso nascentihiis ob-
longis acLoninatis fiore albo. Sloane, v. 1, p. 97, t. 205, f. 1. —
Foliis oblongo ovatisoppositis ;. stipidis setaceis jpetiolis interpositis,
Browne, p. 142, t. 6, f. -1.
Flowers four-cleft ; berries one-seeded.
Tills differs from the coffee tree in liuving the flower only fonr-cleft, and a single
four-lobed seed at bottom. It seldom rises above six feet, upright, branching; the-
leaves are lanceolate-ovate, ending in a blunt point, quite entire,., shining, petioled,,
opposite only on the young twigs, four or five inclies long. Sdpules alternate with
I the petioles, subulate, acuminate, upright^^ and opposite ; racemes trichotomous,,,
sometimes panicled, usually terminating, but sometimes axillary. Tlie corolla is while
and very sweet scented. Browne calls it the zi.'/ld Jessamine, and says it is jjrelty coaLo
-gaiou ia the lower woods ; the flowers long and tubular.

COGWOOD. LAURUS.

Cl. 9, OR. 1. — Enneandria monogr/nia. Nat. or. — Holoracetp..
Gen, char. — See Avocado Pear, p.iT. ^

CHLOROXYLON.

Foliis ovatis glabris vigidis trincniis, fluribns si:-igularibus. Bro^vne^,
p. 1S7, t. 7, f. 1.

Leaves three-nerved, ovate, coriaceous ; nerves reaching the tip.
Browne classes this plant pentandria trigynia, b}- the name of grrenlieart or cog--
<wood tree. It is comnion in. many parts of the mountains, and rises by a strong;,-
branched tnuik to a,very considerable height. The inward bark is of a light blood co-
lour, and incloses a strong greenish timber v.'ithin the sap. The leaves are smooth, of
an oVal form, and adorned with three considerable arched nerves each ; thev resemble
those of tlijc caraphire tree, both in shape, size, and texture. This tree bears its fnjit,
which seldom exceeds a naked hazel nut in size, scattered up and down upon the
branches. The wood is very tough, hard,, (and ponderous,) and observed to answer-
better tiian any other sort for the cogs usetl in the rollei-s of a sugat-miil, and generally
esteemed one of the best timberwoods of the island, and used oa. all occasioiis where
strength and durability is required. — Brou-ne.

COLT'S FOOT. PIPER.

Cl. 2, OR. 3. — 'Diandria trigynia. Nat. or. — Piperitas.
Gen. char. — Calyx an imperfect spathe ; spadix filiform, quite simple, covered-
with florets ; there is no perianth ; no corolla ; the stamens liave no filaments ;
anthers two,, opposite, at the root of the .^erm, roundish ; the pistil has an ovate
germ, no style ; stigma three-fold, hispid ; the pericarp is a roundish one-celled
berry; seed single, globular. INIany species of this genus are natives of Jamaica^
llic tuiiowia^, aad tliose placed uader the nmiic pepper-elder :

L.tlMiJELLATOMi.

coLT'& HOUTUS JAMAICENSIS, 239

- 1. UMBELLATUM. UMBELLEXJ.

Piper longuviraceniusu in malvactum. Sloane, v.], p. 136. Foliii
aniptis prbiculatu-cordain; sinii aperto, petiolis vaginaniibus.—^
Browne, }). 203.

Leaves orbicular- cordate, acuminate, veined ; spikes umljelled ; stem erect,
grooved, pubescent.
Hoot annual ; stem herbaceous, from one to two feet high,. Found, simple, jointed,
hoary ; leaves terminating, distant, spreading-, entire, nerved and veined, wrinkled,
somewhat hirsute underneatii, the lobes of the base converging forwards ; the nerves
radiate from the p«;tiole, which is almost in the middle of the leaf; petioles long, round,
smooth, slieutbing at the base, embracing. Spikes axillary, in umbels; uml)ellet3
pedale, with from three to six spikes,. on short pedicels, upright, whitish. Calyx, and
corolla none, but roundish ciliate scales, whence the spikes appear sub-tomentase to
tlie naked eye. Filaments approximating, two for each scale, very short; anthers
roundish, white. Germoblong, longer than the scale;. style none; stigmas three,,
reflex, thick, black ; visible only with a glass. — Sw^

Browne calls this the opC7i leafed cclfs foot, or Sun fa 7i'Iar!a leaf, v'liich is very com--
mon in the woods of .Jamaica, and seldom rises more than three or four feet al)ove tiic
roots, which are consposed of short blackish fibre.*.- The stadc it sends up is as thick as
ones thumb, jointed, of a grey colour, rougli, . round, striated, .with S04iie furrows on
it, having towards the top large round or heart-shaped leaves alternately ; the foot-
stalks of tiie leaves encompass the stalk, and leave a mark when they fall. otF. The
nerves of the leaves run from the top of the footstalk as from a tomriKm centre, through
the whole leaf,, which is very soft, of a dark green colour, somewhat, like those of mal-
lows, and about seven or eight inches in diameter. The flovver.s and fruit come out,
ex all's Jolioiiaii, being three or four juli two inches- long^. at -ni-st Avhite, then green,
standing on a common footstalk. . The leaves being softand. large are applied to thn

head when it akes, aiidare thought to ease the pain ; tJiey-may be. boiled and eaten.

Piso says, that if the jidi or pepper be boiled in water, .and exposed to the sun, they
growstrbnger an-d niore durable forall uses.. The root smells like clover, and is hot to
the third degree, reckoned a counterpofson, and of thin subtle, and therefore open-
ing p.ifts. ll'.bruised and [)ut like a-pouitice to any diseased part it ripens and clenuses.
The juice of tiie leaves,, because cold, eases burjjings ;- and the leaves putinto clysters
have tne same qualities as mallows. — Sloane.

Biwhe'says theVe is a syrup made of- it in many parts of our sugar colonies, wliich
is much useu by the inhaiiitants in cobls and catarrhs.

IWr. A. Roluu.son mentions that he kne.waiady. violently afflicted with the tooth-n-ciie, .
v.'ho api/lied a leaf of this plane to the affected p:u't of lier clu'ck at nigirt, and perceived
the pain gradually clecre;Ke,*"tni:d,",; before the morning, entirely gone ; but her cheek .
was pretty much swedecfand iiiHanied, which was a'.so cured iu a little time by the
same application. A chirhrgeon at Bagnals infoirijed him, that he found them very
good pectorals by loug experience, and used them in decoction or syrup.

2. rF.J.TATUM. TARGET-MKE.

Foliis amplis m'biculalo cordatis, pcltalis ; petiolis vaginantibus.—^-
Erovvne, p. 203.

Leavca.

230 HOIIT'JS .TAMAICENSIS. • coM.\reOr.'£

Leaves peltate, orbicular-coi(J;ite, blunt, rcpand ; spikes iiinbel'fed.

Browne Cirlls this tlic lart^er colt's foot, with iinibilicated leaves. He think'sit only a
vanauon of llie fort'going, or so like i-t, Uiat the tlisposition of' the sinus of llie leaves
makes liic \\liole diilciente betutjen tJieni ; and ad(.ls, that it is not used like tii-'J
other,

iice Pepper- Elder.

• COMINIA. ALLOPITVLLUS.

Cl. 8, OR. 1. — Octandria viomgr/iu'a. Nat. <jR. — Guitifer/p.

Gen. char. — Calyx a four-leaved perianth, leaflets orbindate, two exterior, oppo
site, smaller by half ; -corolla four-petaled, less than the calyx, -orbicuiate, equal,
claws broad, leiigtii of the tvvo smaller leaves of the calyx ; the stamens have tih-
forni fdanients, the length of the. corolla ; anthers roundish ; the pistil has a supe-
rior genu, roundish, twin ; style filiform, longer than the stamens ; stigma bififj.
With the diviiious rolled hack. One species is a native of Jamaica.

COMINIA.

Bccci/era Indica trifolia, fnictiifrotimdo monopyreno. Sloane, v. 2,
p. 100, t. 20S, f. 1. Arhoreafoliis midulatis piniiato-ttr)iatis, Jlo-
ribus minimis, racemis tenniiialibus. -Browne,, p. -05.

Leaves ternate ; flowers in panicles.
The stem is the thickness of 'the hf.man thigh, rising thirtv* feet in height, with a
r.niooth ash-coloured ba<"k. Petioles two inches long, russet coloured and hairy. Leaf-
lets four inches and^. half long, two inches broad in the-middle, dark green above, and
wooliy underneath. Flowers very-ciumeroiis, -whitish yellow, small, set very close to
one another, round a stalk an inch and a half long, like an anient or catkin ; there are
three or four of these spikes, and sevei-al of them cornefrom the ends of the twigs. —
To these succeed small orange-coloured smooth ber?ies, the size of small pins headsj
havinf a single stone in them, with a thin brittle sliell, and a large kernel in propor-
tion to the fruit. It grows on the Red Hills, and in most woody hills,- very plentifully
in Jamaica. The pulp of the berries is very dry and little.— .SVoc?)^. 'Browne saj's he
observed it about the Angels, and in the upper parts of Liguanea, growing in hedges,
where it seldom rose above eight or ten feet; with roundish leaves, and the bcrriei
very thick and small.

COMMELINE. COMMELINA.

Cl. 13, OR. 1. — Triandria mcnogynia. Nat. or. — E7isttf<e.

This name was given in honour of John and Caspar Commelins, brothers, and fa-
jnous Dutch botanists.

Gen. CHAR — Caly.K a cordate spathe, converging, compressed, very large, peima«
Bent ; the corolla has six petals, of which the three exterior are satall, ovate, con-

cavct

CONTRA 7SRVA II O R T U S J A M A I C E N S I S; ??4

cave, resemhling a perianth ; the three, inferior ones alternate, very large, romrU
jsh, coloured ; nectaries three, rcsemhiing stamens, seated on -their proper fila-
ments, cruciforni, horiiiontal ; the stamens ar-^ t!iree fiiainents, suhiihue, rech'ied,
agreeing in fimire and circuit with tlie filaments of tlie nectarv, hnt inferior to
them; anthers ovate ; the pistil lias a superior ronndish perm ; style snhnlate, re-
■voUite, ienyth of the stamens; sti^nta simple; tlie pericarp a naked capsulcj
nearly globular, three-furrowed, tlni^e-celled, three, valved ; seeds two, angu- ■
lated. Two spucies are natives of Jamaica. ,

1. CO.M.MLrM.S. COMMOIf.

Precinnhens foliis lanoeolafa-ovatis, floribiis ptmtcioribuHy petalis duo-
hus mujorihus.

Corollas unequal ; loaves ovate-lanceolate, a(?ut£ ; stem creeping, smooth.
This plant has several trailing stalks, which put out roots at the joints, ha\ing one
leaf at each joint, which is.sinrtoth, of a deep green, and marked with several longitu-
dinal nerves, and emhraciiig the stalk. Flowers axillary, two, or three together on
short peduncles : the corolla is composed of two large blue petals, and, four small gret-ti
ones. Browne calls it the broad-leaved eYij/i>7ji'//«i',.whichg,rows.very, commonly in the
niidflle lands of Jamaica, growing in beds, and crtx ping generally along the ground,
and liiro'.ving out a great number of leaves and smaU branches towards the top It is
accounted an excellent food for most sorts of eattle, especially, those tliat give milk.

2 NUDIFLORfc, NAKED'-FI.-OVVERED.'-

Ei'ecfa simpler angiisii folia, Jioribas singularibiis. Browne, p. 126.

Corollas equal-,, peduncles c^iiliiry ; leaves ]ii}ear ; involucre none; flowers
two-stamened. ,

Stem somewhat erert, decumbent at the base, somewhat scabrous; leaves sessile,
acute, sheathing; peduncles terminating, two, a greater and a smaller ; flowers from
four to six, pedicelied, .noddiiig,. . Brovvae says it seldom rises above the height of
mi>eteen or twent}' inches, tliat it v,as pretty c(,tr>inon in the mountains of VVestnaor^.
land,, but he had not seen it in any other part of the island.

Ste SuDER Wort.

eONTRAYER,VA.- ARISTGLOCHIAr.

Cr.. 20, C'K. 5.1 — Gi/nandria hexandria. Nat. or. — Sarmentacex;

GcN. C!»AR.-r-There is no calyx; corolla on-.^-petaled, tubHlousi, irregular; hase^
swelling', sub-globular, torulose ; tube oblong, iiexagon-cyhndric ; httib dilated,
extentled below into a long tongue ; the stamens iiave <io filaments ; anthers six
fastened at. bottom to the stigmas, four-celled ; tjie pistil has an abloii'r oerin, in-
ferior, angular ;• style scarcely any ; .stigma sub-glol)u!ar„ .sjx.-jiarted, concave ;
th<3 pericarp is a large capsule ; six-angled and six-celled ; the seeds several, dc--
preiicd, incaiubeiit. Ttiiree species are natives of Jamaica.

I. onor..iTi,SarMA».

£33 no R T us J A iM A I C E N S I S; <K3N.rRAYPR»A

1. ODORATISSIMA. - SWEET-SCENTEB.

Aristolochia fcandens odoraiissima, flovis labello jnirpureo, senune
cordato. Slcane, v. 1, p. 1C2, t. (04, f. 1. Scandcns, foliis cor-
dato-acuminatis florumJlabcUis iimplis purpurcis. Browne, p. 329.,
Leaves cordate ; stem twining, slirubly ; pedancLes solitary; lip of the corolla
very large.
Tills is so called in Jamaica from its great efficacy against poisons, Init is in no re-
q)ect like the Sj)anish contrayerva ; I'or this plant hath a loni,^ round geniculatcd root,
in shape and bigness of long birthvvort; so are its leaf and flower. It hath a round
f^reen climbing stem, taking hold of any tree or slvnsh, nsing six or twelve feet higli,
(covering them with its n-iinierous branches. The leaves stand on the main stalks, cor-
dated, of a dark-green colour ; the flowers stand on a three-inch.foot-stalk, like other
Inrthvvorts, of a yellov.ish colour, the lip covered whh a pvu-ple farina; the fruit is
liexangnlar, two or three inches long, containing six cells, full of small flat odorifer-
ous yellowish-brown seeds, of the shape of an heart The roots and seeds are very
bitter, hot, and odoriferous, and are most excellent alexiphaiimcs or counter-poisous,
strengthening the heart, stomacli, and brain ; they cure the bites of serpents, and the
poison of Indian arrows. I am of opinion, it exceeds the Spanish tontrayerva, e^pe-
-cially in dropsies. 1 ha^'e seen wonders done with it : It drives out the small pox,
measles, spotted fevers, plague, or any malignant distemper ; it gently purges some
In- stool, feut never fails working powerfully by urine, and someiimes by sweat. I have
known it recover several in lingering distempers, when tiieir appetites have been wholly
lost and the use of their limbs, and that only by drinking a simple decoction of the root
in water ; but in wine it makes the best stomachic, it being excessive bitter and aro-
matic ; also this makes the best bitter wine in the world, exceeding all in the dispen-
satories, or Stoughton's drops ; and, if you add steel to it, it cures the green sickness,
dropsies, opens ah obstructions., sweetens tlie blood, and restores it to its due crasis.
— Barham, p. A^.

This plant -(which is the iiavnc or seiyenf n-t/f/ie of the 'Frenclii^ from its being an an-
tidote to the poison of serpents) abounds ever)' where among the woodlands and thick-
ets on the south and north sides of the island, and rises frequently to a considerable
height among the trees and bushes. It destroys worms, for which purpose the root
(which has a strong smell) is chopped in small pieces, and given by the planters to their
horses, mixed with corn, which destroys bots, and wonderfully recruits the animals
flesh and strength.

It is so abundant in this island, -that it maybe collected, annually, in large quantities,
for exportation, if there \yas a demand for it at the home market ; and it seems to merit
4his encouragement, as it has been thought, by very able physicians, to be superior. ia
efficacy to the i^pariish contrayerva. — Long:, p. 717.

2. TRILOBATA. THREE-LOBED.

Scandens, Joliis suhlobatis obtusis, floribus mnplissimis. Browne,
p. 329.
Leaves three-lobed ; stem twining ; flowers very large, bagged at the base ;
tongue linear, very long.

TMs

CORAL " H O R T U S J A M A I C E N S I S. 2S3,

This is also a climting plant, which Browne calls the contrayt'Wi of file.' sauili st'dc^
ar.d die t'orrr,or (jf tiie ncnih side, where they are most eonunuu. He ascr-ibcs the .iaiaitt
virtues to both species, aad to he used in tue same uianaer.

Sec Pelican Flower.
Cooper's Wythe — See Hoop Wythe.

CORAL OR RED BEAN TREE. ERYTIIRINA.

Cl. 17, OR. 4. — Diadclphia decandria. Nat. OR. — Papilionaei\e.

Thfs treucric name is derived from a Greek word, si"-nifvinq>; reel, the corolla b«iiiiT
generally scarlet.

Gen. char.— Calyx a one-leafed perianth, entire, tuhnlar, mouth emaririnate ahove>
l)eiieat.h furnished with a iTieUit'erons pore; corolla papihonaceous, five-petaled,
standard very lonjr ; stamens ten-filanients, conjoined to tlie lower part, but little
bent in ; anthers ten, sagittate; the pistil has a pedicelled subulate germ, with a.
terminal simple stigma ; the pericarf) i.s an extremely long legume^ protuberating
at the seeds, terminated by a point, one-celled ; seeds kjdney-form,

CORALLODENfiRON.

Coral arbor. Sloane, v. 2, p. 33, No. 10& 11, t. 178, f. I. Arho^
rea, spinosa et non spinosa i Joliis rhomltoeis, pinnato lernatis. — .
Browjie, p. 288.

Leaves ternate, unarmed ; stem arboreous, prickly ; calyxes truncate, five-
toothed.
This tree rises generally to the height of sixteen or eighteen feet, sending out strong
irregular branches, and grows in many parts of .Jamaica. The leaves grow on long'
footstalks, tlie middle leaflet much larger than the other two ; they are all heart-shaped,
smooth, and of a deep green colour. The flowers come out at the ends of the branches,
in short thick close spikes, of a deep scarlet colour, and make a fine appearance. — >
Browne observes that there were many reasons v/hich induced him to think that this
tree was not a native, but had been intjroduced into this jsland while the Spaniards wero
in possession.

Bean Tree. — This beautiful tree grows in plenty in most parts of America. In the
island of Jamaica, they make fences of them, being very prickly. About Christmas,
these trees are to he seen all full of large red flowers, without any green leaves, being
%-ery beautiful to the sight. After the flowers are fallen, the green leaves shoot out,
andi the fruit begins to appear, which is a pod about six or seven inches long, contain-
ing about eight or nine beautiful red beans, in the shape of kidney-beans. The trees
are generally ■very large and spreading, armed full with black crooked thorns, like cock-
spurs ; the leaves are like those of thephysic-nut. The virtues of this plant have not
yet been discovered, though I know by experience that the flowers make an excellent
eye-water. Bontius saith, that the fruit is a great diuretic, aqd purgeth strongly water,
and therefore proper in dropsies j he saith they expel wind, and cure the cholic. — >
Barham:, ft. 19.

231. H'ORTUS JAMAICENSFS. coraioe

It is i>ropagated by slips or euttings, or by the seed. It blossoms in three yeaxa from
the seed, aiitl has yn-uisg pods about iht; Jiriiddk: of February ; and ijy. tlie latter end of
Marcli Tiie seed is full yrovyii. and of a beautiful retl colour. Tbe prickly species make
good iVnces. They rise to the li.eiuht of six teen, or eighteen feet. Thuv were proba-
bly both introduced by the Spaniards, to be planted among their cocoa,y«'alks, where
they lay most exposed to the weather, to.brtiak the,impeti!osity t>f the wind; and hence
their coiunion ajipellation of mail re de cacao, or hiother ofcaciio.

A seed of the bean tree, being planted by a gentieman.in his garden, for experiment
sake^ it was found, in two years nine monchs, to luue grown Lo the height of seven^
feet, measured, ffoni tlieJ)asc of the rc'pt to Uie brauches. Tne lyiiekness of its rscent,
and sturdiness,"provc it admirably well tidapted to be the protector oi'the young tender
cacao plants.— Zowif, p. 78H.-

Itay sa}-s that tbe inhabitants of Malabar make sheaths of the wood for swords and
knives... Tiiey.nsethe satne, togeth-er .wit-h the bark, in washing, a sort of garments
M'hich the.v call sarassas ; and make of the. flowers the confection cai'vl. The leaves
pulverised and boiled with theniatnre cocoa nut, consume venerwil buboes, and ease

lu wuiiicn ; unii iiie sanie eixtijL iuuuvv!> iium lu' ui^e .ui tiie Dinu ieyigai,eu wiui vinegui,
or swallowing the kernel stripped of its red jiellicle. The juice of the leaves, taken
with oil scrgelim, mitigates venereal jiains ; clrank with an infusion of .rice, it stops
:Uixes ; made inu> a caiaplasnv with the leaves of beteleira, it destro3-s wonns in old
dcers ; and worked with oii, it cures the psora and itching. — Sloane.

Two other species of thio,.gemis have been introduced, the picta, or prickl^'-leavej
coral tree, a native of the East Indies ; and the herbacea, or herbaceous coral tree, a
native of South Carolina.

CORATOE. AGAVE.

Cl. 6, OPu. l.—IIexandriamonagi/nie. Nat. or. — Coronarite.

This generic name is derived from a Greek word, signifving admirable, glorious.

Gf.N. char. — There is no calyx ; corolla, one-petaled, funnel (bell) shaped ; border
six-parted, equal; parts lancsolate-erect ; the stamens are filiform erect filaments,
longer than the corolla ; anthers linear, shorter than the filaments, \ersatile : the
pistil is an oblong germ, growing thinner tov\ards. both ends, infierior : style fili-
ibnn, the length of tiie stamens, three-cornered ; stignia headed, three-cornered \'
the pericarp is. an ublcivg three-cornered capsule, three-celled, tluee-valved :
reeds numerous. One species is a native of -Jamaica. Linneus separated this
genus from the aloe, because the stamens and style aj'e exteoded- much longer
than the corolla, and the aoroUa rests upon the germ. There is also another dif-
ference in the growth of the plants, wliich is, that all the agaves have their central
leaves closely folding over each other, and embracing the fiowcr-steni, which l&
ibrrrjed in riie ccjntre; so that these, never flo.wer until all the leave-'^ are expande*!;^
icd. when the flower is ua,5t t)ie plants die jjvhercss tbe fio-,ver-3tem of the aloe is.

^ ■ 2H'oduceA

cen.vTOE' KORTUS JA M AICEN SI S. e?>4

prOiUiced on one side of the centre, atinujvlly from the same plant, ?.nd the {eaves
«T« more cxiianded thun in this geiuis.

AMiimCANA. AMER,ICA>f,

Alve secunda scu folio in o'ol tiiUDti, aculeum abcuy}te. Sloane, v. T,'
p. l.'4ti. Foliis stib-cnmprfssix vmcronatis, ad nmrgincs spiiiaao-
daitutis ; siapo zululu uisufi^cnii, raaino soatioso ramuso. B/u.wueji
p. 199.

Stemloss ; leaves tooth-thoray.
;'here are but few j)ian^s more common titan this in Jamaica. It grows naturally irt
ttit! most barren rocky hills, and, when it flowers, affords tiie mosL pleasing sight of
any sliriib or plant irj. that part ct the world. This curious ])i:'.iuthrov.'s out some sharp-
pointed, indented, leaves, that spread into a Uitt about the root at first, and continue
to increase, though slowly, hoth in si?e and rpiantity^f foliage, for many years : at
length it acqnircs a ccTtain degree of perfection, and then throws up a stem from the
centre of its leaves, which generally rises to the height of eight ov t^-n feet above the,
root. This is simple and iii.ked immediateiy above the leaves, hut yery much divided
and branched towards the top, where it bears almost an infinite numlier of nioderatclsf
large ^ el lov/ flowers, by whicli it may be distii^gnished for many miles. The stalk ia
very short during the'first stage of the plant, and the leaves disposed c'iosely togetlier,
standing in an ablique or ececto- patent position, and shooting giadualiv' one above an-
other, while a few of those nearest to the ground wither wholly auay; but', when it
begins to throw up a stalk, the circulation grows very strong, and this'part is generallj'
completed, and fully aviorned with its blossoms, in a few weeks. The natural opera-
tions of propagation are tlicn carried on with great vigour, and the whole top soon after
appears adorned v/ith a thousand vegetated seeds, or rather plants, furnished with a
convenient number of roots and leaves, to seek SJ^A raise the necessary food whenever
they fall from the parent stalk ; but this seldom happens until they have acquired a
stated degree of perfection, and then they are blown olf gradually by every vnnd that
shakes the withering stem, which, with the leaves, now dies gradually away, and ends
its life with the completion of the last,-!eaving so many thousands to renevv the kind. —
The leaves of this plant are pretty succulent, and generally used to scour both floors
and kitchen utensils, which it does admirably well. Tlie pulp is a warm pungent de-
tersi^'C, and would probably prove a very active medicine in many cases, properly pre-
parecKand administered. The inward spungy substance of the deca3'ed stalk takes fire
very readily-, when thoroughly dried, and for this reason is generally used instead o|"
tinder. — Browne^ /

The following observations on this vegetable are from the manuscript of Mr. A»
Jlobinson :

" The leaves of one of these plants measured five feet and a half in length, at the
base next the stem they measured six inches in breadth and four and a half in thicknesSj
about twelve inches from the stem they measured but five inches in breadth, whence
■they increased in breadth and thickness, their greatest breadth being about twelve
inches, decreasing from thence to their extremity, where they end in a thorn, which
is not very strong. The leaves ^re lightly dented on their' margins, wnich are fur-
nished with sharp but very short thorns,: hooked inwardly, hardly exceeding the eighth
part pf an inch in length : The leaves grow circularly in an erecto patent posture, and

H h 2 are

2C- ~ iIGRTUS JAMAICENSTS, fonATCs

are remarkably elegant and granMul in their form ; if viewed edgeways tliey form the
Hogiinhian line ot beauty: when the plant iy in bloom the leaves are then patent,
whicli ]iosiure tluy are thrown into in" their bein^r t levated by tiie b;u;e of the stem on
uiiic-h tliey then seem :ill to l;e phiced, :m<i also bv reason of tlieir want of nonrishment,
the juices Ijeing all conveyed to the support of tl;e stem and. fniclifRatiwns. When the
})lant is near blossominj; it emits from the centre a tew- narrow leaves, much shorter
than the rest, which keep their erect posture vvhea all the rest are declining-. The
stem measured about four feet from the ground eighteen indies in circumferenc<\ — -
When the leaves of the coratoe are raised on the stetn, they arc then seen to grow in a
regular manner round it, in the following (jrder : Tliey were dispo-od or divided into
thirteen series or rows, in each row or series they xvere placed one above anothf-r, tlie
concave or upper part of the lower leaf receiving the convex cr lower part of the upper
one. The fioweritjg stem began to rise about Christma.s, and in the beginning of-
March tlie flowers began to open. The nightingales or mock birds are fond of the
honey found at the base of this flower, which supplies the place of a nectarinm. 7"he
Bai-badocs blackbirds are also fond of this honey, between winch birds happen great
dissentions and bickerings. If the blackbirds would liold their tongue, wiio are natu-
rallv very lo(]uarious, thej' might feed unraolested ; bnt their incessant chattering dis-
turbing the nightingales, who then had j'oung ones, they assaulted the blackbirds with
p'reat fierceness and vigour, and socjn obliired them to reareat to the neiohbourinir
bushes.

" The coratoe of Jamaica does not appear to me to bo the agave of Linneus, the
flowers have no tube, the style is trigonal, and longer than the stamens, but in the
agave it is not so long ; the stigma is i.owever trisulcated ; the corolla of the coratoe is
beil-s;;ajieJ, cut almost to the base into six erect segments, broad beneath, but sharp
pointed or subulated above,, and ribbed oa their sides ; there is no calyx, and the co-
rolla is placed on the germen, which turns to a trigonal tricapsular fruit, in which last
circumstances it agrees with the tigave of Linneus. Other specifical differences are as
follow : the corolla is not above bu inch in length, whereas the agave's corolla is four.
The stem of the coratoe never branches, nor does the plant, ever that I have seen, emit
more than cne stem, nor does it ever produce any off^sets^ in all which it differs from,
the agave of Linneus,, or AiHeriean aloe."

I take this name (cun-ato) to be a corruption of en ragiia, for so it is called in Brasil.
It is of tlie aloetic kind, and I have made an extract out of it much like aloes. Its juice,,
with a little sugar, will powerfully force tlie terms, is a great diuretic, and forces gravel
or stone ; the leaf, roasted in the fire,, takes away the pain and weakness of the limbs.
The extract eases the pain of the gout, and strengthens the part, if strained, stuck
upon leather, and applied thereto : At first applying it seems to increase the pain,
for it draws strongly a sort of dew from the part, but, after three or four hours, the
pain ceases, and the part grows stronger everv' day ; it must lie on until it drops off. —
I always stuck it upon white paper, and applied it to myself,, and in two or three days
was able to walk three or four miles, &c. If the extract is not well boiled, it will draw
pimples, and cause a great itcliing. I ha%'e given it inwardly in pills, with good suc-
cess. It is also called niagulj/. — Barkam, p. 49.

The juice of the coratoe leaf is noticed in Dancer's Medical Assistant to l)e a good
dressing for aa uleer, by mixing it with lime juice and molasses, and boiling to a thick,

consistence.

Con.vcoK HORTUS J AM AI€'£ NSl S, 237

consistence. The f;!)?es of tiic Icas'es are oasi!)- separated by brnisiu<:^- uii"! ste-epi;K>-
taeir. Ibr some time ia water, and ut'tersyards bcatin^^^ thcin unid tlie)- are entirely dis-
entano-lcd j these fibres make an cxceileut strong thread for the common uses of ciotii-
ing, fishing lines, ropes, nets, &c. A method of preparing veget;il)le soap from llw;
juices was discovered by Mr. Anthony Robinson, who- received a preminu) from the
Douse of assembly for it. The following is the mode of procuring it, laid before that
h<(use ia the.sessions of 1767 :-

" The lower leaves of the moderately grown, plants raaj he cut off for use, without in -
jury to the other ])?.rtSj but care must be taken not to cut ofT so great a quantity, as to
prevent the plants from flowering or vegetating ; for, by such naoaBs, the planter will
never be able to increase his stock.

" Ttie plant blossoms in the springs and tlie whole top of-manjcf them is then co-
vered with a number of lutle plants, which are to be carefully gathered as the stem
wi-thers, and planted inthe f.ssurcs of the rocks, where there is some so:!, iJid_ at pro-
per distance, iiiaking allowance for the spreadu)'g of the.. plants, which, when arrived
at maturity, .espantl fourteea or fifteen feet :.

'' Or,' they may be planted in the worst savanna soil,, where the prickly pears, an'l
such like plants, are usually fouHcl. .

" When the .leaves are, cut off for use,, the most expeditious way of obtaining the
juice*;, by passing- them singly, with the point foremost, through the rollers of ^i
couiniun cane-niiU, and. straining it through an hair-cloth, crocus, or coarse blanket.

" The leaves, after being press'eii, and the juice strained in thrs manner, maybe
soakei.l in water a few days, and then di-ied,..clean-sed, and the fibres manufactured into
ropes for plantation use.

" III places where the convenience of cane-mdls Cannot be had, proper hand-mills,
M'ilh two.ar, more rollers of //i,'H«?«t7V.i', or other hardwood, to be worked by a negro
or negroes, may be erected at a very trifling expunce ; where these are not erected,
the juice may be obtained for the use of private families, by cutting the leaves in pieces,
■ind bruising them v/itli an heavy pestle, in a wooden mortar, and then pressing the
bniised pieces ia a cassava or other press, or. finally wilU hands, i£ other means are
wajited. ;

" -The juice being thus extEacted and strained, may he inspissated by three several
processes :

" The first by corarHon coction, m a coppery tin, or iron vessel, over a slow fire».
frequeo.tly stirring the liquor during the operation, to prevent its burning, which it-
will be apt to do,, without proper care, and thereby lose scni^what of its detersive,
quality.

" The second is l)y coction in halneo marice ; for example, put the extracteil juice
mio a tache or boiler, and place the tache or boiler within one of the largest coppers,
U)>on a trivet, or other support, in such manner as to prevent the tache or boiler
from touching the sides or bottom of the copper ; put such proportion of water into
tlie copper, tint, ia case of ebullition, it may not flow into the tache or boiler, ami
Bnix with tlie juice ; let the water in the copper boil with a brisk fne, and continue the
process until the juice in the tache is gradually brought to a due consistence ; by this
method of jjreparation, it will be effectually secured from burning.

" The third method is by insolation, or exposing the juice, after straining,, in a
large shallow receiver of wood, or metal of any kind, to the action of the sun and.
Urseze : Tlie soap prepared ia this manner,. Is tbuiid to be the most detergent.

" Whem

-• '5 S II O rt T U S J A :»! A I C E N S t S. «-<n-To:«

" When the juice or extract is, by eitlior of tVie preceding mcthojTa, broi}g>f!t to <%
(Ine consistence, it may be uianiit'actnreu into balls, about the size of common wash-
ImUs, dricil in tii.c shaUe, and kejH for iise ; anil^. to prevent their sticking together,
or to the hands, nothing ianiore proper tiian the fine iishes of the iyc-tiib, which may
be toan J on most estates, or may be prepared occasicinaliy, being first (iried and siftci.

" A caution must be used, (lOver toeoinpoujid tihe extract with tailovv, or any other
uuctagns materials, for any mixairc of tiiat kind vvuL render it mucit lesi efficacious."

Cork-Tref.— ^ee DownTrrr.
CoRK-W'o(,)U — See Ai.LiOATOR Apple.
CoK^" — See GiiEAT Corn and Guinea Corjs.

COTTON". GOSSYPIUM.

Ct. 16, OR. 6. — Monadeljikia polyarrdrla. 'NATiOii.—CutinnniJera-.

Ttls thonglit this generic name is derived from an Egyptian word.

Gen, CHAR. — Calyx a double periantii : outer one-leE\ed, trifid, flat, largjer ; inner
one-leaved, bluDtlj eniarginate, ii> five rows, cup-hjrni ; the corolla hasfj\r pe-
tals, ob-cordate, flat, spreading, fastened by their base to theUibe of the stamens ;
the stamens are numerous filaments, ♦miting at'bottom into a tube, separate at
and below the tip, lax, inserted into tlie corolla ; anthers kidney-form : the pistil
lias a roundish germ, style colunmar, the length of tae stamens, stigmas three or
four, thickish ; the pericarp is a roundish capsule, acuminate, three or four-
celled; partitions contrary ; the seeds are very many, oval, involved in cotton. — •
Two sjjecies grow in Jamaica.

I . BARBADENSE. EARB.\DOES,

-Gossypium Brasiliayiuiyi flore Jiavo. Sloane, v. 2, p. 67. Frutieo^
sum, J'oliis trilobis, semviibu.<; 7najoribus. Browne, p. 283.

Leaves three-lobed, quite entire, with three glands underneath.

Stem from six to fifteen feet in height, suffruticose, biennial, smooth ; branches
almost erect, round, and smooth or pubescent; leaves alternate, the upper threo-Iobed,
the lovi-er five-lobed ; lobes ovate, acute, nerved, smooth above, but pubescent un-
derneath ; petioles five or six inches long, roundish, patukous, smooth, or sometimes
pubescent. Glandular pores commonly three, on the u'.idribs of the leaves underneath.
Peduncles opposite to the petioles and shorter, thickish, round, striated, pubescent^
one-flowered. Flowers large, yellow, turning finally reddish. Outer calj'x half five-
cleft ; segments ovate, acute, smooth, or pubescent, or having black atoms scattered
over them : inner having three or five minute blunt teeth : petals having a purple spot
at the base, and smootjh on the outside. Filaments shorter than the petals ; anthers
yellow or fulvous ; germ roundish, acuminate ; style three or five-cleft at top ; capsule
ovate-roundish, smooth, sometimes dotted with black, three-celled, three-valved i
seeds oblong, eight to twelve, black, easily separated from the cotton. — Sw.

The following account of cotton, its cultivation, and manufacture, is taken from
Mr. Edwards History of the West ladies :

*' Tliat

^errccf- HORTUS J AMAIG ENS IS. . 5i".0

*' Tiiat bea-uiful vcf;-rtn.l)le wool, or substance^ called ro'toii,. k, the ,"iior>t:an«o!iR
produclion of ihrcc parts of th( earth. Ic is for.ud gr()\vi!ig naturally in a!) the iropH'-il
TC-^l'Mis of Asia, Africa, aiul Amcrtca ; and rnay justly he corcjireheiuieri among the
3nost Viiluahle gilts of a bountiful Creator, superintending and })roviding for the neces-
sities of man

" The cotton wool, vvhich is manufactured, into oloth (for thore is a species in t\vi
West Indies, called xift or rcihi rvlton, unfit for the loom), consists of two (iistini;t
kinds, known to the planters by the names oi gn'_en-se(:(l-<:fltton.;\nA shnib-colton ; and
these again have sidjordinate marks of diifercncc, with which the ci'.kivator onght to be
A\eil accjiiiiinted if lie means to apply his labanrs to the greatest juU-aiitage.

" Grccn-seed cotton is of twa species ; of.one. of, wtiich the voolis-so firmly ^t-
.tached to the seed, tliat no.ni«tlu)d.has biUierio been (bund of seperatiiig them, except
by the hand ; an operation so tedious and troublesome, tliat the valiis of the comnia-
dity is not ecpial to the pains that are requisite in preparing .it for marRet. . This sort
therefore is at {jresent cultivated principallv for supplying, wicifcfor the lamps^.that ar«
used in sugar boiling, and for douieslif;. p\irposes ; but the staple being e:ccefdingly
good, and its colour perfectly white, it would doubtless be a valuable accpiisitioB. to tfie
mushn manufactory, could means be found of detaching it easily from the seed. •

" The other sort lias, larger seeds, of a duller green than the former, aiui the waol
is not of equal fmeness; .though much finer than the cotton wool in general cultivation ;
and it is easdy separated from the seed by the common method, hereafter to be des-
cribed. I have been told that this species of .the green seed cotton is not sufficiently
known to the planters in general, (beitig usually confounded with the former) or that
probably it would be in^bigh estimation. .

" B(jth the species above-mentioned, thaugli they produce pods at an early stage,
when therare mere .shrubs, will, if suflered to spread, grow into trees of con.^iderabte
magnitude, and yield annual crops, according to the seasoli, without any kind of cul-
tivation..i The blossoms put forth ir..succession from October to January, and the pods
begin to open, fit for gathering,, from Februaiy to June. I now come to the

" Shrub cotton, properly so called. The shrub itself very nearly resembles an Fu-
ropean corinth bush, and may be subdivided into several varieties, all of which, how-
ever, very neai-ly leKcmble each, other. These varieties (such of them at least as havie
come to my knowledge) aic ■

" 1st, The common Jamaica ; the seeds of wJi-ich are oblong, perfectly smooth, and
have__no beard at the smaller end. The sta])le is coarse, but strong. Its greatest de-
fect is, that the seeds are so brittle it is scarce possible to render it perfectly clean ; on
which account it is the lowest priced cotton at the British market. Such, however, is
the obstinacy of habit, that few of the Britisli cotton planters give, themselves the trou-
ble to select, or seem indeed to wish for a better sort.

" 2d, Brow7i-heayded. — This is gejierally cultivated with the species last mentioned,
but the staple is somewhat finer, and the pods, . thotigh fewer in number, produce a
greater quantity of wool. The shrub gives likewise a better rattoon, it it therefore the
interest of the cotton planter to cultivate it seperately. The only isadvantage atteiui-
ing it is, that it is not so easily detached from the seed as the other, and theicfore a
negro will clear a f«.;w pounds less in his day's work.

" 3d, i\'ffw/.(:c«.— This differs but little in the seeds or otherwise from the spcc'cs
last mentioned, excej)t in the colour oi the wool, which is that of the cloth calletl nan-
ic£C7i. It is not so much ia demand as the white.

" 4th^

efO lIOrtTUS JAMAICENSIS. cotton

" 4th, Fr;!'i^/! or siiialj seed, '.vith a wliilish beanl. ;Tiiis. is thr cotton in general
riiltiriiii;)!-! in llispaiiiola. Its staple is liner, ana ifs. produce Ccpinl to thither of the
tlircc s)iccies last tncntioiiecl, as the shrubjis suppo.se.l tQ l)c;ir a greater niunbor of poiks.
than the Jyniaica or the brown iiciirdctl, but is less hardy thaa' cither.

'■ .Jch, Kidney colton, so called fVom the seeds being coiig'oniorated or adhcnng
firmly to each otiier in tlie pad. In all the otiicr sort.-; tliey are .-icperated. It is like-
wise called c'^a/w (.y)//3«, and, I believe, is the true cotton of Brasil, — The .staple i.<
good, the pod large, and the produce considerable. A .single "negro may clear with
-I'ase sixty-five pounds a day, besides which, it leaves the seeds behind unbroken, and
comes perfect!}- clean from the rollers. It is therefore inriprovident, in the highest de-
gree, to mix tins species with any ether.

" On the whole, the most profitable sorts for genera! cuki%-ation seem to be, the
second of the green-seed, the French or small-seed, and the Tira-silian. The mode of
eidtnre is the same with all the diti'erent species, and there is this advantage attending
tliem all, that thjey vvill flourish in the driest and most rocky soils, provided such lands
have not been exhausted by farmer ouhivation. Dryness, both in respect of the sc(il
and atmosphere, is indeed essentially necessary in all its stages; ,for, if the land is
jiLoist, the j)lant expends itself in brai'.ches and leaves, and, if the r^-ins are heavy,
either when tiie plant is in blossom, or when the jjods are Ijeginning to unfold, the
crop is lost. , Perhaps, however, .tli'-se observations apply more immediately to the
French cotton than to any other.

" The plant is raised from the seed, the land requiring no other preparation than
to be cleaned of its native incumbrances ; and the season tor putting the seed into the
ground is from May to September, both months inclusive. Tliia is usually done in
ranks or rows, leaving a space between each, of six or eight feet, the holes in each
row being commonly tour I'eet apart. — It is the pmctice to put eight or ten of the seeds
into each hole, because some of them are commonly devoured by a grub or worm, and
others rot in the ground.* The young sprouts make their appearance in about a fort-
night, but the}' are of slow growth for the first six weeks, at which period it is neces-
sary to clean the ground and draw the supernumerary plantsy- leaving two or three only
oi the strongest in each hole. One plant alone would be sufficient to leave, if there
was any certainty of its coming to maturity ; but many of the tender sprouts are de-
voured by the grub. At the age of three or four mondis, the plants are cleaned a se-
cond time ; and both the stem and branches pruned, or, as it is called, topped; sax
inch (or more if the plants are luxuriant) being broke off from the end of each shoot ;
which is done in order to make Uie stems throw out a greater number of lateral branches.
This operation, if the growth be over-luxuriant, is sometimes performed a second and
even a third time. At th(* end of five months the plant begins to blossom and put forth
its beautiful yellow flowers, and, in two moaths more, the pod is formed. From the
seventh to the tenth month the pods ripen in succession; when they burst open in
three partitions, displaying their white and glossy down to the sight. The wool is now-
gathered, the seeds being enveloped in it ; from which it is afterwards extricated by a.
machine resembling a turner's lathe. It is called a gin, and is composed of two small
rollers placed close and parallel to each other in a frame, and turned in opposite direc-
tions, by different wheels, which are moved by the foot. The cotton being put by the
hand to these rollers, as they move round, readily passes between them, leaving the

seeds,

* The seed is apt to decay if plaited toe deep, especially in wet weather, therefore should be slightly w*
■veicU at first.

0-n'Toifi' HOKTUS lA>rArCE.N-srS'. 241,

gc-edr', wliicbiare.toolai-ge for the interspace, behind. The \vi;ol h aften»av;Vs }ian;l
oicked, tliat it may be properly cleared of dec;iyed leaves, broken seeds, and wool which
lias '*eeii j;uiined and damaged in tLe pod. ft is then packed into bags of about two
Jiundred pounds weight and .sent to market."

An acre is said to pi'oduce- from two to three hundred pounds, but the crops of this;
plant are very uncertain, for, as Mr. Kd^'ardsjusth' observes,

" Of all the. pi-oduetions to which labour i.s applied the cotton plant is perhaps the
most precarious. In its Srst siage it is attacked by the grub ; it is devoured by cater-
pillars in the second; it is sometimes withered by tiie blast ;. and rains fre(|uently dcsi-
troy it botii in the blossom- and in -the pod."

A kind of cottony csHed the Bmivhon; was introduced into tliis island in 1T?5, being:
sent from ilie East Indies by Mr; Atkinson,, of Bengal, to his brother. In his letter he
States, " I have a si>«it»s of cotton in my ga.rden, ■ the like of which has not been seen
in this country, nor do I know where th:; seed came from. I send yot) a^ ripse pod of
two inclo-ed, and forward a larger quantity of its seed, ,vvith the other articles I have
m;ntioue:i. Its produce is extvaordmary, and the staple remarkably fine ; you shall
have a sketch of the plant by a future opportunity, which will enable you to judge whe-
ther or not it is a native of tlte \'7(. st Indies. If you have it not, I imagine, it will be
a valuab-ie-acquisition ; for the plant I have has been jdanted upwards of three years, is^
full eighteen feet higli, .and is stiU growing* and would break down- with its weight of
pods, was I ntjt to prop it up."

The above seeds were planted in Mr. Mtire's garden, -grew extremely well, and
bor-j abunJanUy. Tue cotton was considei-ed by competent judges to be of a very su-
perior quality to any hitherto produced in the West Indies. Tije staple is of a moder-
ate-length, -and it; parts freely from the seed.

The plant his since been much cultivated,, and bears in the driest weather, indeed
almost all the year round ; being never out of season, and ever productive.

Tne following ob--ervations upon the Bourbon cotton are extracted from the Bahama
Advertiser : " The species ot cotton called Bourhi)n, having been fon-nd to answer un-
conunonly well, and a considerable quantity being now cultivated in these islands, ren-
dK^rs It an object of importance, and any hints for die improvement of its culture, and
pr- paration for market,vvi!l no doubt be listened to by our planters. Some complaints
having been made bv tne manufacturers, that it wow Id not card well, I suspect that the
cause lias been improper treatment after gathering it oft' the trees, such as not allowing
it to di7 sufficiently in the sun before it is put a>.vay in the barn, as it is more apt to
beat, unless thoroughly dried and sunned,, than any other cotton,, and whipping it»
either bv hand or niax^hines,, in my opinion, does it some injury. You will therefore,
it is probable, do so.ue service to this colony, by publishing the following seniimenta
of a well informed planter upon this subject r

" It is now evident," says he, " that "the complaints' of the Liverpool manufacturers
were well founded, and, I think, we have discovered the cause. ' Some of the Bourboa
cotton, after being girmed, was cleaned in the common whipping machine, and whip*
jied w'.th switches,, which rendered it impossible to card,, without running into lumps
or knots, the .same was complained of in Liverpool. Another parcel, of the same cot-
te)n, was only cleaned by hand, without passing through any switching or machinery-
'ffliatever, and tkis^ cotton not only carded well, but very fine thread was spun of it — -

l^ Ycta

^i-2 - H'ORTD.S J'AMAICENSIS. CCTTo;*

'You ma}- depend upon it I sliall not fail to avail myself of this di<;Mverv, which I hope
will !>e tlie moans uf procuring ai least such a pijce as yvas ^iven to Mr. M'Intosh, of
the Caicos, two years <igo."

An emulsion of the seeds of the barlhidense are said tabe p;ood against* the bloody-
flux, and are thought pectoral; the .oil clears die skin of spots and freckles. Tlie seeds
jield a great quantity of oil by expression, and sufipJy many plantations with that com-
modity. A tea made of the young leaves.is good in a [-j.^ hubit, and the 'patient should:
;jit avex the hot decoction of the same.

2. HIRSUTUM. SHAGGY.

i-*r6c<:r!us, foliis trilobis, soninibus minoribus virentibus. Browne^
p. L!82.

Leaves five-lobed, with one gland underneath ; the twigs and petioles pu^
bescent.

Stem shrubby, a fathom in height-, erect, striated ; branches hirsute : leaves alter-
i>ate ; the upper ones undivided, cordate, acute, en tire, rough vvith haks about the
edge ; the lower three-lohed, the lobes little divided, ovate, acute, entire, hir.sute
beneath, smooth above; petioles round, striated, dotted with black, hirsute. Tuere
is a single glandular pore on the midrib underneath, and sometimes two or three on the
next nerves. PecUfncles tiiree times shorter than the petioles, thick, stiff, hirsute,
dotted with black. Outer calyx three or five cleft, seguients ovate, acufe, rough wiiit
hairs ; the inner truncate, with three blunt teeth. Petals rounded, retuse, enrin%
yellow at the baiie, purple at the tip, pubescent on the outside ; germ ovate, acumi-
nate, dotted -witli black ; style longer than the stamens, three or five cleft at top, in-
clined ; capsule large, ovate, dotted with black, three-celled, three-valved ; seeds;
ovate, acute, green. — Sw.

This shrub is planted in a few gardens in Jamaica, but is not much cultivated ; for
the cotton is not thought to be so good, and the seeds are so small, that it is a difficult
matter to separate tiiem from the wool. It grows, however, more luxuriant than the
other, and rises generally from seven to nine feet in height, be-|iring a great number of
seed vessels on all the branches. — Bn.'wne.

Swartz mentions a variety called cotonier de suie, the cotton of which is. het.ter thaa
jaiy of tlie rest.

COTTON TPvEE. BOMBAX.

Cl. 16, OR. 5.: — Monadelphia polyandria. NaT. or. — Columnifera.

Cen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, tubular, campanulate, permanent"; mout^
three or five-cieft, obtuse, erect ; coroila five-parted, spreading ; segments ob-
long, concave ; .stumens five or many filaments, subulate, the length of the co^
rolla, connate at the base ; anthers oblong, bent in, incumbent; the pistil has a
jroundish germ ; style rilitorm, the length of the stamens ; stigma capitate, five-
Jijothed ; the pencarp is a large capsule^ turhinate-ablong, five-celled, five-

fiil-vecl;

COTTON IIOHTUS' JAM'AICENSIS.- C43

vv.ved; valves- wocc!}' ; seeds verv manj,. vonnd; woolly; recrpt»(lo rolunrnar,
hvc'-coi'iicred, tarniiny, tht? panuiuns. Tvvo sp-cies are natives ot' Janiuica,

1. CF.IBA.

Gossipmm arl'rirenm waxtmum spinosinv filio cli^lfafn, Java serir-j
grifca. Sioane, v, 2, p. 72. I^oliis digitaiic, brachns erccto natcn-
tibus. Browne, p. 27 7.
Flowers manj'-staraene'.l ;, leaTOS^quinate,

.This tree has a very round sterw, greenish wlren ycmn^y zti<[ co^^red with fhort
|mckics, which disappear as the tree gathers st.ren2.th and size. The leaves are' then-
&niad and of a deep green coluur. At'tcr a few years the trunk turns nf a ^rey or ash-
coiour, and the tree grows to ai> enormous size. Ft braBehes towards the top, iiaving
leaves composed of five, seven, oa- more,, smorrth lancrolate leaflets, joined .Lo a com-
inon centre, at their base, where tucy adhere to long footstalks. These fall off annn-
ally, ana for sometime the trees are- naked; before the- n^w'leaves come- oui, the
flower buds appear in large tufts at ihe ei^ds ot-tbe branches, and soon expand. I'hey
are cf mposeci of five-obiong petals of a dirty white colour, with a great number of sta-
mens in the centre, and are succeeded by oval fruit, Uir;ifer than a swan's egg, having
a tliick woody cover, which, when ripe, opens in five parts, and is fall of a short dark
cotton, inclosing many roundish seeds, the sizeof sraail peas. Browne calls this spe-
cies the silk cotton tree with erect hrwnches. ■

The stupen-'ddiis si2e' of these trees Has attracted the notice of mo.st travellers in tTie
West Indies.- They have bet n known to rise to npuar !s of one hundred feet in height,
tapering from the b-Aix., and art freciirenily seen Ironi fifty to eighty feet length of shaft,
nieasurtsd to the first insertion of the lower arms or brandies, and from twelve to four-
teen feet circurnfeience.' The woodis light and porous, and makes excellent canoes.
In Columbas's first voyage, it is said, there was a canoe seen at Cuba made with one
of these.trees, large enough to contain one hundred and fifty men. When sawn into
boards, and these afterwards well saturated with lime water rubbed into the pOres, tho
w.iod. bears expooure to the weather for many years; it is also formed into- laths for
roufs, curing pots, and hogshead hea iing. Tiie leaves and bads, when' young and
tendi.'r, are very niu> ilaginous, like ochro, and boiled by the negroes as greens. The
pods are pyritorm, upwards of six inches long, and proportionaWv thick'in the biggest;
part, tajjering towards the pedicle, like the pear kind. It is sometimes used for'stuff-
ing pillow cases, and seems to possess the elasticity of the eider down as soon as it i.s
impregnated with the warmth of the booy ; but it is thought unwholesome for West
Iiidiabeds, as it is apt to- excite too strong a perspiration; it might pTobabiy answti?
b.euer for winter coveruds in Great Britain. Whether it- has a sufficient staple to bo
mixed to any advantage in fa'irics of the loom experiment must determine.

When tile tree decays, it becomes a nest for the 7)2ccac(i breile ; whose caterpillar,
gBlted and fried, is esteemed by many persons one of the greatest delicacies- in tha
world.

The bark of the root has boerr sometimes -u.ted with' success as a vulnerary and sub-
astringent; and the- seeds are adiainistered in emulsions and pectoral infusions. — •
&>ng, p. 736.

Barlijim says the seeds of these trees are much of the same quality as the other cot-

I i 3 tou fc.

24i IIORTUS JAMAICENSIS. e«>wiTCit

ton; its green bark, he says, made into a poultice,, is good against iaflaramations. —
Piso Siiys tlie prickles being- taken o(Fand their j,uice Sijueezed out, a little quantity put
into tile eyes cures lliem when inflamed, and strengtiiens tiie sight.

2. PfiNTANDRUM. FIVE-STAMEjrKD;

FoUis digitiitis, brachiis hori.zontalitcr poirectis, Browne, p. 277.
Flowers five-stamened; leaves in sevens-
This species is principally distinguished from the forrner by its horizontal branches.,
thase of liie cciba bum^ erect. Tlicy are both very corauion in Jamaica.

COWITCH. DOLICHOS.

Cl. 17, OR. 4. — Diaddphia decandria. KaT. or. — Fapilionacear,
Cek. char. — See Cat-Claws, p. 166.

I'KUKIENS. PURPLE.

Phascohis u/)'his(fue Indite lohis viUosis puvgenfibtis vu'nor. SIoaB^^
V. 1, p. C(7. SlizoloLjium. Pedunculis Uipartitis ularilms. Browne,
p. 2'>0.

Legumes in racecnes ; valves somewhat keeled, rough-haired ; peduncles by
threes.
This hatii a fibrous root, and an herbaceous, climbing stalk, which is naked, divid-
ing into a great number of branches ; and rises to a great heigiit, when properly sup-
ported. The leaves are alternate and trilobate, rising from the stem and branches
about twelve inches distant from each other. Tlie footst;ilk is cylindrical, from six to
fourteen inches long. From the axil of the leaf descends a pendulous ^ioiitary spike, also
from six to fourteen inches long, co'/ered with long purple or blood-C(jloured papiliona-
ceous Howers, rising by threes in a doul)le akernate manner, from small fleshy protuber-
ances, each of wiiich is a short peduncuius of three flowers. These are succeeded by legu-
minous, coriaceous, pods, four or live inches long, crooked like an Italicy'.- densely co-
vered with sharp hairs, which penetrate the skin, and cause very painful itching.-^
Tills plant grows among fences and ruinate, being seldom allowed to grow in cultivated
ground, because tiie hairs of the pods fly with tlie winds, and torment every aiiimal
tiiey touch.

A decoction of the root of this plant is reckoned a powerful diuretic and cleanser of
the kidneys ; and a vinous infusion of the pods (twelve in a nuiirt) is said to be a cer-
tain remedy for tlie dropsy ; the dose half a pint, when made in beer — Broivne. — •>
Grainger says that a fowl stuffed with cowitch, and made into broth, has sometimes
carried oflf the dropsy by stoul and urine. The roots of ail the species of this genus are
said to be diuretic.

The very valuable pronerties of the cowitch as a vermifuge, have been fully des-
cribed by Mr. Wiiliain Chamberiaine, surgeon, in his ingenious treatise upon worm
comjiiaiiits, from which the following extracts are made :

" The ill success of the cabbage-bark in a few cases, induced me to make some en-
quiry concerning a medicine which I had heard of, as being successfully given, ia

inaiiy

.^yft'vm HORTUS J AMAI C ENSIfe, 24»

Ciany parts, to all patients afBicteJ vvfili complaints arisieg, or supposed to arise, from
svfOi'ais ; anJ tli;it, Q^-t only by regular pructitiop.er-^, but even by ly^noratit negroes, at
random, and without any jujt propurtion in tiiie dose ; This v/a,s stinolohiunt,* or
cowhage.

" Satisfied, as I said before, of the cabbage-rbark-tree, I had never given myself the
■trouble to make enquiry about any other more powerful vermifu.ge ; nor did I think
tiiere could be one in;)re powerful, until the death of a negro girl, evidently occasioned,
.as aj6peared upon my opening her, froai vast numbers of woiras lodged in the small in-
testi.ies, convinced me that I ha 1 not done my duty, and cKcited me to push my en-
quiries in search oi a more efiicacious medicine ^till farther. "^

" I had Jjcard so much of the cowhage or co\v-itch, that i resolved to raake trial of
it ; but the didbrent modes of e?:hibiting it were as various as the persons who took
upon them that office, One administered it in molasses j castor oil was the favourite
vehicle of a second; and a third irisiste(( that U was of no service unless mixed with
honey. The greater number agreed in giving tnolasses the preference ; but there was
even among these a considerable disagreement with regard to the pFO|>ortions to be ob-
served m the mixture. While some cautiously put two pods'bf the cowhage in a quart
of melasses, others boldl}' stirred up two dozen in a like quantity. Some again-would
have six pods to be sutficient ; and others imagineil that some secret virtue or charm
was to be expected,' from having the number neither greater nor less than exactly .

" By some the 5<'te contained on the outside of a- single pod, mixed witli one or
two table spoonfuls of syrup, honey, or mclas>es, was given for a single dose, without
distinction, to young and old. By others, a quantity uf each ingredient was mixed to-
gether, without bearing any proportion to each other, farther than was merely suffici-
ent to bring the composition to the consistence of an electuary ; and one, two, or three,
tea spoonfuls given as a dose to children ; and one, and sometimes two, table spoonfuls
to adults. As far as I could learn, however different the compositions and proportions
of the ingredients^ the effects were found to be nearly the same in all ages, sexes, and
constitutions.

" I considered, that the wonderful eflicacv so generally attributed to the cowhage,
could not be supposed to arise from any specific medicinal quality residing in it, so
much as from tlie sharpness and elasticity of the setas, with which the pods are covered,
which take the same effect on worms as they do when applied to our skin. The setse
piercing, vellicating, and tormenting, them in such a manner as obliges them to let
go their hold ; acting like so many needles, as may be plainly demonstrated by. viewing
the setic through a microscope ; which shews them to be a number of long spiculte,
needle-shaped, hollow, transparent, and armed with points, exquisitely sharp and
•iine.

" The idea that their action is merely mechanical is supported by the observations
of several very judicious enquirers, who have made trial of the cowhage, particularly
X)r. Leake ; who, in his Lectures on the Tlieorii and Practice of Midui'ifcri/, and Dis-
eases incident tg Children, enumerates the cowhage among the most effectual of those
remedies, gtven to children, for warms. He supposes that it acts in the same m:inner
as hair, cut fine, and given with the same intention — but much more effectual, because
<jf its iiillexibility, and the exquisite and almost inconceivable sharpness of its points.

*' Curio.U|

• So named by Browija,

«46 HfORTUS JAMAICENSrS;. cov.TTcr?;-

" Cnribus to know how far die application of the setiie to the external coats of worms
bred in tlie l;i>m,in bo(i< , woulil allo.ct t(;t)se animals whenc^pclleJ from the body, 1
waited not long before I liiul an opporiniiiity of raikii>j[^ tlte eptpenment.. A calabash,
lull of ver}' large ones, of tlie teres- kind,, in, full vigour, voided by a poer emucioted
patient, was broi^ght to me. Among these I sprinkled some of the set*,. For/a minute-
(^r two, no visible clfcct xyas produced ; but, in a lirtlc time,, they began to writhe and.,
tivi.st tiiemselves in an unusual manner,,and exliilrited evident signs of'^extrenie torture. .
I- took, one of the worms, snA; vne\vin_g it through a- magnifying glass, per^;eived that
several of the seta; had picraed very deep, and others were sticking loosely in various'

Sarts of the Ovly,. but that none of ihe spiciilae, which had once feut^red iota tlie skm,
roppe 1 off.
" Convinced, in a short time, both from wiiat I had heard, and from ray own expe-
riment: on the internal exbii)ition of the cowhage, of the safety an'l effi.acy of this in- ■
comparable medicine, I laid asiJsj the cabbage'-tr^e bark, and for several years have
lised no other vermifuge than this. .

" M,- u-.ual way of preparing and administering itdias been in the fohn of an electuary^,
with ho'jey,.nielasses,or s;. ru-i, of a thick consistence, without observing any vtry exact,
proi^oraon in thequantit\ ©. t^e seta^ Of this electuary a tea.- sjjoonful is a sufficient dose
to young ciiildren ; and to aduits one or even two taoie spoonfuls in a morning fasiin"-.
This may- be r<?pe- ted fortwo or three mornings ; but, in general, there is seidom oc—
casioH to go b( yoiid the third do.se ; and a gentle purge of some kimd or other -com-
iHonly completes the cure for the time.

" The abov'e-mentioned \'ehicles (honej', &c.) bhnit the spicultE, and prevent their
injuring the iaiK-es an<l oesophag-ns ; and are preferable to an oily vehicle, because,,
lieing diluted in the stomach, by die succns ga.stricus, .the spicule are set free, and,,
reuaining their elasticity, enter into action j.wherea.'; oil, heitig not easily soluble by
till e secreted fluids o-t tiie. stomach, stiil continues to sheath the points of these little
spiculse, and carries theui thmugh that viscus, and the intestines, without setting them,
free ; and, by its kvlwicating qiralitj-, prevents then) from uking effect, or injuring
the worms they are sent to destroy. Oil is, therefore^ an improper vehicle ;. and this
will appear stiiiplainer, if we consider, that, to defend our hands from the trouble-
some effects of the sflap, when handling cowhage, if is necessary to oil the fingers.

" No aBatomis,t will ask, wlietiier these spicnlge may not be injurious to the coats oT
tlie sttniwch and intestines ? but, as Ihave i>een asked this question by many people,
who, ignorant of the structure of the intestines, and the nature of their mucus, were
apprenen.sive of danger, and therefore afraid to venture on the medicine ; it maj' not .
be amiss to remark, for the satisfaction of'such as are in doubt concerning that point,
that, ifa httle-honey^or treacle is sufficient to defend the tender nervous papilli of the
mouth and fauces from the troublesome effects of the setce, (whicli,. when applied ex-
teriiallv to anv part of our skin, cause a most tormenting and intolerable itching, some-
times almost even to madness) certainly the mucus of the stomach and intestines will be ■
very suffici-tMitto defend tho^e parts from the irritation of the setce.
' " Ni-vcrtheless, hoHe\er inoffensive in general the cowhage maybe, reason will,
dictate to us, that, where the nrucusof the stomach and intestines is abraded, or les-
sened, from dj'sentery, cholora-morhus, or any other cause whatsoever ; or where
there is a tendency towards inflammation in any part' of the intestinal canal, the exhi-
fijtion ot this niidi' ;ne cannot be unattended with danger.

" I shall uot go so far as to say, iu jirauie of thi;^ iny favourite medicine, that E

oeyej;

■^ovfiTcn. KORTUS JAMAI-CENSIS; 2i7

ftaver knew it to fail ; bin I will say, that I liave experiencecl more certain gooJ effects,
^nd fewer ill consequences, tlian i'loiii any other medicine, gi^'cn with the same inten-
ftpn ; insoiniicb, that I have, since I first beg'aii to exhibit the ccwiia-ge, had no occa-
sion to look for any other venaiiuge.

" The won lerfui' antl salutary elTects v^^ich I saw from the use of this niedicine,
both in my own pro-ctice, and that of others^ among whom it Qhtainad the same uni-
versality, and Ukemse among those, who, thougli not. in the medical line, freely ad- ,
jninistered it, both to their ovvn cliildren and their negroes, witliout any dread of ill .
coosequencesj induced me, from the very first,, to commit to. paper my observations
relative to the exhibition and effects of cowhage .; hoping that it might be no unaccept-
iable service to the comuinnity,. to introduce into general practice in England, a medi-
cine which, in the West Indies, is of such vyell known and indisputable efHcacy. i
shall, for the present, beg leg.ve to give the remainder of this' account of the cowhage
or cowitch, in the words of those gentlemen who have obliged the world with an accu-
rate description, of this pjp,nt, and its uses, takeiv from tlie second volume o{ the Me-
dical Commentaries..""

Extract of a letter from IVIr. Thomas Cochrane, surgeon, at Nevis, to Mr. John Bal-
four, surgeon at Edinburgh ; conccrninu- the use of cov/haije, as an anthelmintic :—
From the Medical Commentaries, vol. 2, part 1, page 82 :

" Tliere is a medicine which is much used here agairi&t worms. Planters give it to
the negroes with great success ; and I have ordered it myseif both to, children and
adults with very certain good effects. The plant is here called covvhage, arid is fur-
iiished with the ^iliqua hirsuta of Linnaeus, The parts which are used are the hairy
spiculoe, scraped from the pods, and mixed with syrup. They are supposed to act by
promoting the peristaltic motion of the guts., and (iricking the worms. The dose is not
exactly limited ; but the spicule obtained from a single pod are esteemed a sufRcient
dose for a child o,f seven or eight years old.

" This remedy is perfectly safe and iiinoceBt, although it occasions some uneasiness
upon beiiig first tjiken.* I have seen large clusters of worms come away from the pa-
tients on the first dose. It is given at bed-time, and a purge in the morning. This
practice is repeated after fin interval of two days ; and it is seldom necessary to give
riiore than ij second dgse."

" From aa accurate description, it appears, that'the cowhage is the fl''o//fAo5 /JJ'iU'/-
ens of i^inasus. Mr. Kerr has said nothing with regard to its medicinal virtues ; but,
in confirmation of Mr. Cochrane's account, we shall here present our readers with the
testimony given concerning it by iVIr. Bancroft, in his Essay on the Natural History of
Guiana in South America', a work pyblisiied at EoiiLdou some years ago.

" 'After mentioning the frequency of disorders arising from worms in that part of
tjie world, and assigning some reason for it, he adds, ' IJnt, from whatever cause these
worms arc produced, their number is so great, that the usual remedies are very insuf-
ficient for their dcstructioi\ ; for which reason the planters in general have recourse to
the cowhage for that purpose. From whence its use was first suggested I am uncer-
tain ; but its e[}icact/ is indisputable. Tiie part used is the setaceous hairv substance,
growing on the outside of the pod, which is scraped off and mixed with common syrup
i>r meiasses, to the consistence of a thin electuary, of which a tea spoonful to a child

ot

• " Not if the syrup be thick enoHgh; hiil, if the vehicle be too thin,' or in a state of fermentation, the
-teta; occa-ion a tidiling ia the (Uuccs, anj arc sepcrated from their vehicle by the action of the tontjue, *ual
;^c out,"

343 E'O.RTUS J;AMAfef:NSfSi. eowirei^

. of two or tlirce yc^irs okl, and c!oi!i>ie the quantity to an adult,; is given, m tslie mornins
fa-ling, a!id repeated tlie two succeeding mornings ; after which a dose of rhubarb is;
USlKlliV subjokiifed.

" This is the empirical practice of planters,^ wJio \isualij-, once in three or four
months,, exhibit the cowhage in this manner to their-siaves iii general ; br.t especially''
to al! tlieir children, wit' ^fint distinction ; and in tiiis manner I- have seen it given to'
Ijinidrcds, fi'ym. one year old and upwards, with the niost happy success.* The pa- -
tients,, after thesecoiid.dosej usually discharged an incredible nunihcf of wornw, even-^
to the amount of more than twenty at a time ; so that the stools consisted of little else
than these animals. Bnt, though these were indisputable proofs of its eflicaw, f'was;-
far fi-,)ni being convinced, of its- safety. I' observed,, tiiat the substances given,, con-
sisted o) an a-Si mbiage of spicnlse, exquisitely fine,, and so acutely pointed, that, when,:
applied to the skin, they e>a;ited an intjlera!;le itching, and even inilanimati-on ; fron^,;
whence I appreh! ndod dangerous consequences' fioni their contact with the .stomacK
and intestines.. Indred, when, tnixecf into an ehxtuarv,. in the mannet in which they
are given, their elasticity is so impaired that tliey do not produce the san>e sensible ir- -
ntation ; but yet I could conceiyt! no other qiialitj',.on whicH the-ir elB'cacy depended ; ;
especutlly after I'had prepared both a tincture and decoction from the cowhag-e, and.
given them to worm patientSjVviihout any sensible adv;anage. Influenced by these
suL'ge-tions, I particularly examined the state and condition of all such patients as i
knew had taken the cowhage ; and yet, can with the greatc-st truth declare that, though;,
prejudiced txi its disadvantage, Iwa* never able, either by my own observation, or a,,
diligent enqnir)', to discover a single instance of any ill consequence resulting from its,-
use, which has been so extensive that sei'eral diousands must have taken it: and, aS:-
no ill effects have been observed, Ithink,. not only its efficacy, but safety, .are suffici-
ently evinced to entitle it to general u.se ; especially when we reflect on the uncer-
tainry,_ and even danger, which attends other vermifuges. It is to be observed, that
lliis remedy is particularly de.signed agamst the long round worm ; whether it is equally
deleterious to. the ascarides, or whether it has been used agiiinst them, I am un-
certain."t

," Ishall here subjoin a letter which 1: received from Mr. Neil Stewart, surgeon iri.
Jamaica, relative to the success of tlie cowhage in his practice, as a farther confirma*
tion of its utility and safely :.

" Hope Estate, Liguama, August 9, 1 752.
" My Good Friend,,

*' In compliance with your reqvtest, that Tvvould give you my sentiments, and re-
commendacion, of the covyhage, in wjitmg, . Inovv sit down to give you a historj' of "
it; butmnst premise,, tliat you can expect no more than F have already so often as-
sured 5'ou of, vha voce : — which is, that the cowhage, as a \ermifuge, has not its equal
in the world, either for certainty of its effects, or its perfect innocence. Too much
cannot be said in the praise of that extelient medicine. I have, for mv own part, givea
it for these tea. years pa.-t, in all sorts of worm cases, both to old and to young, and ■

with.'

* " It was my constant prartrpe, wliite in Jamatoa. to have s!l the children of the estates an(V settlements
tiat 1 liuil tl c- I art of, tVoni the joinigest infant to those of twelve year.'s o.lil, hrought to me once in two •
snoiitlis, to ali of whom, withoiit eNception, I gave the cabbage-bark, and latterly tlie cowhage, for three -
nioriiinif.s, .whether t;;ey had symptom* of woi-ms or not."

t " WJien we considfrtlic n^iture of its operation, and that it is carried through the whole length of the in«
testinal canal, without sutlering any alteration, 1 tUiiik there cau be no sort of doubt 3» its being equally Uou.-
fc'les'jnit to every species of worm."

eowmo HOPvTUS JAMAICENSIS. 549

with such gooJ success, that I have never had occasion to look for any other anthel-
iTiiutic. 1 have totally discarded the useless cetkiops mineral ; the uncertain crude
mercury, and the still more uncertain, and less innocent, preparations of it ; such as
calomel, corrosive sublimate, and so forth ; and, in short, all other medicines givea
witli the same intention, except cabbage-tree bark ; and even that is not so great a fa-
vourite of mine as it formerly used to be ; not that I have any reason to find fault with
it, but only because 1 iind the cowhage to answer every purpose I can want. I have
given it even to tender and delicate v/hite children under one year old, without an)' ill
cousecjuences. On the contrary, it has- frequently brought away worms from them,
even at so young an age. Every body, that gives it without advice, has a different
%vay of preparing it ; but the manner in which it is most commonly prepared, and the
manner in which I myself order it, is to throw a dozen or two of ripe pods into a cala-
bash or common quart pimch bowl, full of melasses, and stir together, until the hairs
or spicnlfE are taken clear olT the pod, and well mixed with the melasses. . The pods
being useless are then thrown away. .

" Of this mixture I order the hot house man on every estate to give all the children, .
without distinction, a table spoonful, for three nibrnings, once a month ; ajid not only
to the children, but, if any of the grown negroes are suspected to have worms, it is
likewise given to them, but in larger quantity ; and it is inconceivable to one, who has
not known the good effects of cowhage, what wonderful success it has in expelling
every s])ecies of worms ; and I can safely aver, I never saw any ilf consequences, or
had any complaints, from those for whom I have prescribed it, "or recommended it to.
However, I would not think it adviseable to be given where there might be any disor-
der tending towards inflammation in any part of the alimentary canal, or where the na-
tural mucus is tlefective.

" I agree with you, in supposing, that th6 cowhage acts mechanically, in the same
manner as cut liair would do, from no intrinsic virtue ; because a decoction of it is of
no manner of use.

" I must desire you particularly to take notice that it is, and always has been, my
practice to premise an emetic, where it can be done with propriety, previous to enter-
ing upon the cowhage. I have often found the good effects of it, which induces me to
continue it. A gentle dose of ipecacuanha, or tsi tar-emetic, clears the stomach of
matters which might impede the action of the cov.hage; and, to children, a little
oxymel of squills will answer the purpose : but some of the Creoles, who seldom use
an European medicine, when tliey can find an apothecary's shop in the bushes, never
use any emetic for themselves or their negroes, but the wild ipecacuanha, or red-head..

" 1 Ifave received the thanks of several ladies in and about Liguanea, and the moun-
tains, and in the town of Kingston also, who have used the cowhage from my recom-
mendation, both for their ov.n children, and for their negroes. They are all lavish in
praise of its virtues. In short, I think it may he-looked on as a more certain specific
m worm complaints than the Peruvian bark in the cure of intermittents. I am, he. &c,

" Your's affectionately, " Neil Stewart."

See Cat-Cl.wv — Horse, and Horse- Eye, Bejvn.

CowiTCH Cherry — See Barbadoes Cherry,

K k 00WITCI4.

250 HOUTUS JAMAirENSlS. ■amncn

COWITCH, CREEPING. TRAGIA.

Ci.. 2\, OR. 3. — Monoecia triandria, Nat. or. — Tricoccx.

- This was so named in memory of Hieronymus Tragus, a German divine arid
pliysician.

Gex. char. — Tiie male calyx has a thrcc-paned pei-ianth ; segments ovate, spread-
ing ; no corolla ; stamens three. filaments, the length of the calyx ; anthers round-
ish. The females on the same plants calyx, a five or six parted perianth ; leaf-
lets ovate, concave, acute,. perniiment; bo corolla; the pistil hasa roundish germ,
three- grooved ; styie single, erect, longer than the calyx ; stigma irifid, spread-
ing ; the pericarp is a tricoccor.s capsule, roundish, three-celled, hispid ; each
coll marked on the outside at the base with two dots ; seeds solitary, globular. —
Two species are natives of Jamaica.

1. VOI.UB1L1S. TWINING.

; Urtica racemosa scandens, ongustifolia, frucfu tricocco. Sloane, v.
l,.p. 123, t. 82, f. 1. Scandens, J'oliis haslatis sevratis hispidis. —
Browne, p. 336.

Leaves cordate-ovate, acuminate; stem twining.

This plant rises six or seven feet high, with a woody, reddish, striated, stetK, suffru-
tescent, h)ose, roundish, stinging with its bristles : branches filiform, all directed one
iv;iy, simple ; leaves petioled, alternate, serrate, bent down, nerved, hispid with bris-
tles ; stipules lanceolate, opposite by the side of the petioles, which are long and his-
pid. Racemes peduncled, axillary, sttlitary, longer than the leaves, filiform, loose,
composed of numerous very small male flowers^ oii very short pedicels, with minute
awl-shaped bractes under the pedicels, and females at the base, pedicelled, solitary,
larger. Cal3;x of the mak; three-leaved, leaflets coloured of a dark purple, filaments
very short, contiguous : calyx of the female five-parted, germ lursute, style trifid,
stigsnas re volute. — Sxv.

Browne calls this the creeping cowitch, and says the footstalks of the flowers rise
from the alfc of the leaves, and divide soon after into two simple branches ; whereof
the one bears a number of male flowers, disposed gradually in the form of a spike, to-
wards the top ; while the other sustains only a single fenxale blossom, which is fixed at
the extremity of the branch. There is no more than two filaments in each of the male
f;Owers of this plant ; and what Linnaeus calls a cup or perianthium seems to be rather
p real flower. The plant is very common in Jamaica, and well known on account of
its sharp itching hairs. The root is looked upon as a good aperient and diuretic ; and
both the decoction and juice are frequently used among the negroes for those purposes.
' — Browne, p. 33(5.

a.-MERCiURIAUS. MERCURY.

Subfruticosa, foliis oblongis glabris, fructu hispido. Bi'owhe, p. 336.

Leaves ovi.te.

,This plaiU has bcivH considered only «s a vantty ,of the chainalea, an East Indian;

.s|jecie&i

GRAHTCHIS

HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. ^^

species. Browne calls it the smooth-leafed coxvitch, and says lie foimd it at the Angv
at trie side of the road, growing commonly to tl)e lieight of four or live leet.

Crab Grass— ^ce Bent Grass.

No English Name. CRANICHIS.

Cl. 20, OR. 1. — Gynandria diandria. Nat. ou. — Orchide^.

This generic name is from a Greek word signifying an helmet.

Gen. char. — Caiyx wandering spathes, no perianth ; the corolla has five petals, ob-
long, sub- horizontal ; tht^ three outer (or two upper lateral, and one anterior)
ovate-lanceolate, equal, spreading ; the two inner anterior scarcely smaller, more
slender, ovate- lanceolate, erect.,. Nectary or upper petal (between the outer su-
perior petals) galeate or.vaulted, erect, ovate, gibbous, slightly keeled, entire
at the tip, dotted within, covering and embracing the genitals behind ; the sta^
mens are two or four pedicelled anthers,, placed on the apex of the style, turned
towards the helmet ; with an upriglit two-celled lid, fastened to the column of the
style in front ; they are covered at the back : the pistil has an ob-ovate germ, ob-
lique, inferior ; style an erect cohunn, shorter than the helmet, dilated at the tip,
obtuse, bearing the stamens at the back ; stigma funnel-form, between the column
of the style and the lid of the stamens ; the pericarp is an oblong or ob-ovate cap-
sule, attenuated at the base, three-cornered, three-keeled, one-celled, opening
under the ribs, cohering at the tip and base : seeds numerous, very small, Like
■ sand or saw-dust, affixed to a columnar receptacle. Swartz discovered five species
in this island. .

I. APHYLLA. LEAFLESS.

Bulbs in bundles ; columnar acute ; scape almost naked ; petafs converging,

2. OLIGANTHA.

Bulbs in bundles, club-shaped; leaves petioled, oblong, acuminate, shining j
scape almost naked ,•■ spike filiform ; petals converging, .

3. DIPHYLLA. TWO-LEAVED,-

Bulbs in bundles, filifoi-m naked ; leaves peirioled, cordate, acuminate, twin j
scape almost naked. .

4. STACHYODES. STACHYS-LIKR-

Bulbs in bundlesr, cobminar obtuse ; leaves petioled, ovate-acuiHinate ; scape
sheathed; spike columnar ; petals revolute.

5. MUSCOSA, MOSSY,

Bulbs filiform, in bundles, tomentose ; root-leaves petioled-ovate ; stem leaves
sheathed ; nectary dotted within,

Ckess— /.yee Indian Cress— Pepper Grass—Water Cress,

KkS CROSSWORT.

£c.2 ' IIORTUS JAMAICENSI8. esucuTED

CROSSWORT. VALANTIA.

Cl. 23, OR 1. — Polygamiamcjioecia. Nat. or.— .SVeZ/a-V.
So named in Loaour of tjebiibtian Vaillant, an einiiient French botanist.

Gen. char. — Tliere is no hermapliradiie calyx ; tiie corolla is four-parted ; stamens
four-li laments; style biiid ; se(;d one : there is no male calyx ; tha corolla three
or four-parted ; stamens three or four ; pistil obsolete. One species is a native
of Jamaica.

HYPOCARPIA.

Rulr.a. — Suhhirsu^a scandcns vel reclinata,foUis crvciatis flortbus sin—
gvUirihus ad alas. Browne, p. 141.

All the flo\\ers quadrifid below the germ ; pedimcles naked, one-flowered.

Stem herbaceous, from one to three feet high, loose, branched, grooved, rugged;
branches opposite, numerous, divaricating, suh-divided, patulous, loose, hirsute.—
■ Leaves in four's, sessile, small, oblong, entire, convex, channelled at the base above, hir-
sute-hispid. Flowers peduncled, axillary, small, yellow; peduncles shorter than the
leaves or of the same lengtli, pubescent ; calyx i'our-leaved, inferior, scarcely bigger
than the corolla ; leaflets ovate with ii short point, rough haired, rugged. Filaments
very short, anthers roundish, very minute ; germ superior, minute, two-grooved ;
style very short, pellucid ; berries two, connate, fulvous, small, one-seeded : seeds
roundish, whitish, shining. — S'w. Browne found this plant in the middle mountains
of Litruanea ; it is very weakly, grows in tufts, and seldom rises above two or three
feet. Barham calls it goose-grass, from its resemblance to the plant known by that
iiaiTfte.

CRUCIATED GRASS. CHLORIS.

Cl. 23, o?... \.~—PolT/gamiamonoecia. Nat. or. — Gramin/e.
Gen. chak. — ^The hermaphrodite calyx is a two-valved glume, two-flowered, awned;
there is no corolla ; there are three stamens, two styles, and one seed : the male
calyx is a one-vaived glume ; the female calyx, a sessile two-valved glume. Five
species are natives of Jamaica.

1. cruciata. -cruciate.
Gramen dactylon Income minimum aristis longts armafum. Sloane,
V. 1, p. 112, t. 69, f. 1. Cruciatmn spicis brevioribus ct crassiori'
bus, dear sum frugiferis. Erowne, p. 136.

Spikes about four, cruciate; florets pointed.

This has very small fibres or roots, from which rise small, narrow, capillary, pale
.green leaves about an inch long ; from the middle of these rise very small jointed
round stalks several inches high, having so many joints, and at each joint a leaf. At
the top stands its panicle, divided into two spikes, like two horns, having a few seeds,
each of which has an arista or awn. — i'loa7ie. Browne says it is iiardj and kmd pastur-
agCj and calls it the shori-shaiiked cruciatcd grasso

2. CILIATji,

.-CtjcuMBER HORTUS JAarAICENSIS. 2S3

2. C!L!ATA, CIUATE,

Spikes digitate, about five ; glumes ciliate on the edge. — S'^. This is the an-
di'opoi^on pubcscens,

■3. PETRCr.A. ROCKY,

"Spikes about four, stiff, nearly erect ; s'pikelets crovvtled, -glubrous, av.-nless ;
cf.im compressed. -"—ia'.

4. POLYDACTVLA. MANY-SPIKED.

Gramen clactylon cla/ius spicts plurimis tomcntosis. Sloane, v. ]j
p.. Ill, t. 6.5, J'. 2, Andropon \. Browne, p. 364.

Spikes numerous, fascicled, lax ; glumes cijiate-villous on the margin.

This has a strong fibrous root, broad leaves of a pale yellowisli green colour, like
Ttbose of oats. The stem is knotted, rising three feet high, at the uppermost joint
•sometimes divided into two tops, the one llovvered the other not. Several spikes, from
four to eleven shoot from the same centre, hanging downwards, each about four inches
long, and very hairy, downy, or woolly. It grew plentifully in the savanna byTtto
!Mile Wood. — Slocuie. This is the andropagon polydadijion of Linneus.

5. RADIATA. RADIATE.

Grayncn ilactylon spins gracilioribus phrumque qiiafuor crucJformifcr
dispositis. Sloane, v. I, p. IM, t. 68, f. 3. Cruciattnn assurgens,
spiels subhirsul is Icnuioribus et loiigioribus deorsinn Jrugifevis. —
Browne, p. 137.

Spikes numerous, fascicled, nearly erect ; florets subulate, glabrous.

This has a deep fibrous root, short and narrow leaves, a jointed, crooked., slenden,
white stem, about a foot and a half long, tearing generally four white slendei'- spikes,
standing crosswise, though sometimes they are three, six, or five, in number. On
them stand the seeds in two-eared husks. This is the most ordinary grass in the savan^
jias, its stalks, remaining dry most part of the year, and the andropogunfasciculatiDH of
Linneus.

^

CUCUMBER. CUCUMIS.

Cl. 21, OR. 10. — Monoecia syngracsia. Nat. or. — Cuairhilaceee.

'Gen. CHAR, — Male calyx a one-leafed perianth, bell-shaped, the margin terminated
by five subulate teeth; corolla five-parteti, growiug to the calyx, bell-shaped;
divisions ovate, veiny-wrinkled : stamens three filaments, very short, inserted
into the calyx, converging, two-bifid at the tip ; the anthers are lines creeping
upwards and downwards, outwardly adnate ; receptacle three-cornered, truncated,
in the centre of the flower. Female calyx, as in the n>ale, superior, deciduous;
corolla as in the male; no stamens; filaments three, .acuminate, very small, with-
out anthers ; the pistil has an inferior large germ ; style cylindric, very shorty
etigmas three, thick, gibbous, two-parted, turned outwards ; the pericarp a three
or four-celled pome, cells membranaceous, soft, separate ; seeds numerous, ovate-
acute, compressed, placed in a double order. Only one species of this genus is

25 1 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS.. cudwf.eb.

a native of Jamaica, the cm ifuria, or wild cucumber, the fativus, or common cu-
cu.mbtr, as wcil as the 7nelo, or musk melon, have both been introduced and suc-
cessfully cultivated.

1. AXGURiA.

Cucumis anguria folio lattore, aspere, friictu oninore candido spinulia-
obiusis muricaio. Sioane, v. 1, p. 227. Sub-hirsutus ininor, Jo-
liisprofitnde sinuatis, fructibusmurtcutis. Browne, p. 333.

Leaves palmate-sinuate; stem angular ; fruit oval echinate.

This has a deep white oblong root, sending forth several long trailing branches. — ■
The stems are square, rough, five or six feet long, at every four inches distance hav-
ing leaves, clavicles, and flowers. The leaves have t"iVe sections, curled, sinualed,
and rough, the undermost sections near the base being the smallest, the iifth is three
inches long and has two notches in it, tliey have four-inch long rough footstalks. The
cia\Hcles and flowers grow from the ah« of the leaves, which are yellow. The fruit is
of a pale green colour, oval, as big as a walnut, having many short, blunt, thick, tu-
bercles, sharper /than those of other cucumbers, and within the pulp a great many-
small seeds. This fruit is eaten very greedily by sheep and cattle. — Slodnc.

It is called the small wild cucumber, and grows very plentifully in Jamaica, where it
is frequently used with other herbs in souj)s, and proves a very agreeable ingredient.
The rind is thickly beset with blunt prickles, having the appearance of the back of a
hedge Iwg.

2. SATIVUS. CULTIVATED.

"Leaves straight between the angles, fruits oblong, scabrous.

This is the common cucumber, which thrives extremely well in Jamaica. Two other
species have also been introduced, the diidaim, or apple-shaped encumber, from the
Levant; nwA the Jlexuosus, pr Turkey cucumber. Although cucumbers are neither
sweet nor acid, they are considerablpacescent, and so jiroduce flatulency, choleraj
diarhcea, &c. Their coldness and flatulency may be likewise in part attributed to tha
firmness of their texture. They have been discharged Viith little change from the sto-
mach, after being detained there for -foity-eight hours. By this means, therefore,
their acidity is greatly increased ; hence oil and pepper, the condiments commonly
employed, are very useful to check their fermentation. Another condiment is some- ■
times uscxl, its skin, which is i)itter, and may therefore supply the place of aromatics j
but should only be used when young.

Se_e Musk Melon — Wild Cucumeer,

CUDWEED. GNAP1L\LIUM.

Cl. 1?, OR. 2. — Sj/ngenesia poli/gamia superfiua. Nat. or. — Composilir.
This name is derived from a Greek word, signifying cotton or nap.
Gen. char. — Calyx common, rounded, imbricate, with the marginal scales rounded,

scariose, coloured ^ corolla compound ; corollets hermaphrodite, tubular,, with

apetalous-

-Curhant ' IIOUTUS JAMAICENSIS. 255

apctalous females so;netimes intermixed ; herniaplirodites fnnnel-form, with a
five- cleft reflex border ; stamens (in the iiermaplirodites) are fi^e capillary, very
short filaments, with cylindric tubulous anthers ; the pistil has an ovate germ, a
filiibrm style, the length of the stamens ; tlie stigma bifid-^in the females reflex ;
there is no pericarp ; the calyx permanent, shining; seeds solitary, oblong, small,
crown'ed with a capillary or feathered down ; receptacle nalvcd. Two species are
-natives of Jamaica.

]. AMERICANUM. "AMERICAN.

Erectum, spicaturii, simple.v, villo.mm et incanum ; foliis longis,
angastis, sessilibus, .et sem-' -ample lantibus. Browne, p. 313.

Root leaves Ungulate-lanceolate, snow-white beneath; str.lk simple, upright,
tomentose ; flowers spiked andlateral, sessile, crowded,

Browne calls this the mirrow-Ieafed undivided cudweed. It is a native of the coid/?st
'jmountains of Liguanea, and grov\s generally in most open places, but seldom rises
above six or nine inches in height. The flowers are yeHowish, and disposed pretty
thick about the lop of the stalk, which puts on the appearance of a shorter spike.--
Broxi'ne.

Baidiam calls these plants 5/(rtV?fl'.9, and says, "We have a wild sort or two: Ono
sort is called b}' some cassiduyry, or French lavender ; another is a sort of cudweed. —
These plants are very ■astringent, and therefore proper for fluxes of the body, and all
defluxions of rheums. A syrup made of the tops of it, when in flower, is good for
coughs and catarrhs." — Barliam, p. 184'.

2. ALBESCENS. ^yIJITE.

" Snowy tomentose ; leaves linear-lanceolate ; stalk upright, undivided at hot*
torn; branches terminating, fastigiate ; flov/crs crowded, conical. — S'zf,

CURRANT TREE. EHRETIA,

Cl. 5, OR. 1. — Pentandriamonogynia. N.AT. or. — Asperifolice^
■Gen, char. — See Bastard Cherry, p. 60.

^ bourreria.

Jasmirmm, peryclymeni folio, fiorc albo, fructuflavo, rofundo, tefra'
pyreno. Sloaue, v. 2, p. 96, t. 204, f. 1. — Arhorea foliis ovatis
allernis, racemis rarioribusterviinalibus. Browne, p. 168, t. 15, f. 2.

Leaves ovate, quite entire, smooth ; flowers in a kind of corymb ; calj'xes
smooth.

This tree rises from eight to fourteen feet high, having several trunks, covered with
a clay-coioured or grey hark, like that of dogwood ; the branches very many, irregu-
lar. The leaves are twa inches long, rough on the upper side, alternate, petiolcd,
entire, various. Racemes corymbed terminating. Flowers white, sweet, with five
rouadish segments. Berries as big as peas, shining, saffron or orange-coloiired, pulpy,

sweet.

259' HO 11,T US J A r.I A I C E N S I S, cvNANCiii UM

sweet, succulent, ir.ore qnadi-augular as they are lander, containing in a thin pulp font
triangular stones. The berries are eatable. It grows very common in Jamaica in the
savannas, and in Liguanea niountams. Browne called it bourreiia, after Mr. Bonrcr.
an apothecary of Nuremberg, and a great promoter of natural history. Tins species
is considered as the connecting link between ehretia and cordia.

See Jacqjjinia.
GtJURANT Cactus — See Indian Fig.

CUSTARD APPLE. ANNONA.

Cr.. 13, OR. 7.— ^Polj/andria poh/gynia, Kat. or. — Coadunatte,
Gen. char. — See Alligator Apple, p. 11.

RETICULATA. RETICULATE.

Annona via.vima,folii,': oblongis angustis,fructu ma.rhno luieo corioids-^
corliee glabra in areolas distincto. Sloane, v. 2, p. 167, t. 226. —
Foliis oblongis undulatis venosis,. frudibus areolaiis. Brownej ,
p. 256. ' .

Leaves oblong-lanceolate, acute, smooth ; fruits ovate, reticulate-areolate ;
outer petals lanceolate. Inner minute.

This tree grows to tlie height of twenty-five feet or more, with spreaditig branches,
thebark smooth and gS?}. rhe leaves of a light green colour, having rreveral deep
transverse ribs, and hollow, ending in acute points ; they are alternate, in two rows ;
tlie petioles are gibbous, short, excavated, smooth ; flowers thret or four, close toge-
ther, peduncled, nodding, whitish. Petals three, linear, thick", three-cornered,
bkuit, unequal and brown on the outside, j'ellowish white within, spotted with dark
purple, excavated at the base. The nectary consists of three very minute, ol)long,
Linnt, petals, at the base of the genuine petals; the body of stamens and pistils is
roundish, minute, whitish; the fruit roundish, heart-shaped, the rind sometimes re-
ticulate, thick, brown, shilling, of a yellow or orange-colour, with a reddishness on
one side, when ripe ; having a soft, sweet, yellowish, pulp, the consistence of a cus-
tard, whence the name : the seeds are black, oblong, depressed, and shining. This
tree grows in dry places, and the fruit is much esteemed by some people ; it ripens bv
beinjj allowed to remain some time after gathering. The seeds are said to stop fluxes, .

No English Name. CYNANCHIUM.

Cl. 5, OR. 2. — PentandriadigT^nia, . Nat. o?..—Contortcet

Gen. char. — Calyx, a one-leafed, five-toothed perianth ; corolla one-petaled, witij
scarce any tube, border five-parted ; nectary in the centre of the flower, erect,
cylindric, with a five-cleft mouth, the length of the corolla ; the stamens are fire
filaments, length of.nectary, parallel j anthers-toucliins,. withia the mouth of the

COKolla, L

JSEi-K-OMORTU.vj B O R T U S J A M A I C EN S I- S. 253

corolla ; the pistil has an oblong germ, two-cleft ; style scarce any ; stigmas two,
obtiise ; the pericarp, two oliloiig, ;• luninate, one-celled foliclts, gaping length-
wise; seeui numerous, cbiong, crowned with a down, placed in an imbricate
manner. One species was found in this island by Swart^.

CRISPIFLOUUM. CURL-fLOWEKEC. -

Stem twining ; leaves underneath viliose, oblong, cordate, with the sinus closed j
petals curled at tiie ends.

This genus is by some classed devundria, and none has giren more trouble to botan-
ists than it and «.Vi;^t"jw/«.y ^.^t'e Z^«.v/a/'</ /y;e';atwaw/?()', /). 65), on account of the struc->
ture of the genitals. They alliiave two germs, running out into conical styles, covered
"ivith a fungous i^entagoo body, all of which, except the upper .surface of the latter, are
so covered, first witli a sheath, and then with little bags hanging down and pressed'
'rlose^ that there does not seem to be the minutest opening to tiiese parts.-

m English Name. CYNOMOTlTUIVt '

Cl. 21, OR. 1. — Moiioeciamonandria. 'Nat. op..— yhnentaceie.

jDen. char. — Male flowers disposed in an imbricated anient with the female : calyx
an erect club-shaped anient, on every side covered with iloscnles ; perianth pro-
per, four- leaved ; leaflets three cla^'ate, and the fourth inferior, one larger,
very obtuse, channelled ; there is n'o corolla ; the stamens single filaments, firm,
straight, longer than the calycine scale ; anther twin '; female calyx a connnon
anient with the males ; perianth proper, superior ; leaflets four, club-shaped,
tuberculated, equal, permanent; no corolla; the pistil has an ovate, inferior,
germ; style single, erect, firm, sprctding, length of the calycine scale; stigma
■obtuse ; there is no pericarp ; the seed is single, roundish.

JAMAICENSE. J.\M.^ICA,

Erectum, breve, cylindraceum, nudum ; prima atatc sgnamaium.—^-
Browne, p. 334.

Stipe scaly ; ament elongated ; scales imbricate, halved, rhomboidal.

This little plant is seldom met with but in the most shad}' inland woods ; it grows in

ibeds aiKl rises generally to the height of three, four, or fivo inches, but is commonly

smallest towards the bottom. _ At first it is covered pretty thick with scales of the figure

of a heart ; which fall otY gradually as it rises, and expose the body of tL^; }>lant thickly

beset with little transparent denticles, intermixed witii a few tubular trifid tiov/ers, thai

.jet above the level of the surface ; the stem of the plant is succulent andileshy, and oil

4be parts astringent, — Browne.

Cyrilla. — See Gesneria anci Ttea. .

Li' 3AGGEE'.

£5g HO R T US J A M A I C E N S 13.. UAGGEit

BAGGER-PLANT, or ADAM'.S NEEDLE. YUCCA;'

Ci,. 6, OR. 1. — Ilexandruimonogynia. NaT. OR. — CpTonarite.

This generic name is adopted from the Indian appellation. .

Gen. chae. — ^There is no calyx ; the cyrolla is belUshsipetl, six-partecl, cohering by
the claws ; .segments; ovate, Tcry large, spreading ; the .stamens are six very short
filaments, thicker abnve, reflexed ; anthers vei-y small ; the pistil has an oblong
germ, bluntly three-sided, longer than the staipens ; no style; stigma three-
grooved, obtuse, with bifid segments, pervious ; the pericarp is an oblong berry,
obscurely six-cornered, fleshy, punched with a little hole between the stigmas,
six-celled; partiiions liiree tnickcp and three thinner, and menjbranaceous dia-
phragms forming cells i'or each seed ; seeds flattish, incumbent, fastened to the
inner angle ot' each ceil. There are four species, natives of America, ail of which
have been intrcducod, and lijrive remarkably- well in Jamaica.

1. GLOfUPSO. . SUPERB.

Leaves quite entire.-.

This seldoiiT- rises v\ith a stem-above two feet and half or three feet high, wliich has
leiives almost to tlie ground, which are^broad, stiff, and have the appearance of tiiose
of. the aloe, but are,-ii:t\n:c.)wer,. of a dark green colonr, ending in a iaarp black spine.- —
It frequently produces its, panicles of flowers from the centre of th,e leaves j the flower
stalk is three feet high,- branching out on ever\' side to a considerable distance, but the
•flowers are placed very sparingly on the stalk, which renders it less beautifnl than the
other sorts. _ The flowers are white within, but each petal is marked with a jxirphj
stripe oil. the outside ; they are bell-shaped, and hang downward.

2, AL01FOLIA, ALOF.-LEAVED.

Leaves crer.ulate,., strict.

This rises with a thick tough fleshy stalk, to the height of ten or twelve feet, lia\'ing
a head or tuft of the leaves at the t 'p ; these are narrower and stifl'er than those of the
former Aort, and ««? of a lighter green colour ; their edges are slightly serrate, and
their points end in sharp thorns. The flower stalk rises in the centre of the leaves, and
is from two to three feet. long, branching out into a pyramidal form ; the flowers grovy
close on the branches, and form a regular spike ; they ate of a bright purple colour tin-
the outside, and white within, making a .fine appearance. Whenever they ap])ear the
head decays, but one or two young heads come out from the side of the stalk below the
old one.

3. DRACOMS, dragon's.

Leaves crenate, nodding.-
This has a stem. tlwee or four feet high; leaves narrow, dark green, hanging down,
serrate, and ending in acute.spines. The flowers pendulous, milk-white, with a strong
unpleasant smell, about one hundred and fifty on a thyrse ; seed vessel tJiree-celled j
«eeds horny, .wrinkled, blackish when ripe.

4. FILAMEKTOSA. THREADY.

Leares senate, thready.

T\,i

■Skvn-F.uoyr H OUT US JAM AI C EN'SI S- 2S9

The stalk ami leaves are like those of the first sort, bat the leaves are obtuse, and
have ho spines at their ends ; the 'flower stalk rises five or six feet high, and is gene-
Tally covered with flowers most of its length ; the flowers are larger and whiter thaa
those of the other spedes, and sit close to the stalk; fronr the sii!e come o'lt lf)n2^
threads which hang down. All these plants are very omaiTiental, and easily pro])agated
from seeds, or troai ofl'-sets and heads taken from the old plants afier the maiinei' of
aloes. ■ ' _

DAMSON-PLUM. CHRYSOPHYLLUM.

Cl. 5, OR. 1. — PentandriamonogTjnia. Nat. or. — Dimiosx.

This generic name is derived from two Greek words^ signifying golden leaf.

Gen. char. — Calyx a' five parted small perianth ; leaflets roundish, obtuse, perma-
nent; corolla uionopetaious, bell-shaped; hordei- five-cleft, segments roundish,
much expanded, shorter than the tul.e ; the stamens are five filaments, subulate,
placed on the tulje, converging; anthers roundish, twin, incumbent; the pistil
has a roundish germ ; a very siiort style; an obtuse sub-cnunquefid stigma; the
pericarp is a ghjbular berr}', ten-celled, lai'ge ; seeds solitary, bony, compressed,
marked with a scar, shining. Three species are natives of Jamaica, the star- apple,
or cainito, and the following :

1. MONOPYRENUM.

Fructu minovi glabra, folils subtusferruginiis.—Vi^ovme, p. 171.

Leaves elliptic-acuminate, golden-tomentose beneath ; fruit ovate, one-seeded.

This tree never attains the size of the star-apple, either in height or the size of the
trunks by half ; but the branches are slender and garnished with leaves like it. It
grows wild in many parts r)f Jamaica. The flowers come out in clusters from the side
of the branches, which are succeeded by oval smooth fruit, about the size of a berga-
mot pear. This contains a white clamniy juice, when fresh; but, after being kept a
few days, it becomes sweet, soft, and delicious. It frequently contains lour or fivQ
black seeds about the size of those of a pumpkin.

2. RUGOSUM. 'WRINKLED.

i Leaves oblong-acuminate, smooth on both sides ; fruit acuminate, wrinkled*
— -.Hw.

See Star- Apple»

DANDELION, or LION'S TAIL. TUSSILAGO.

Cl. 19, OR. 2. — Syyigenesia polygmnia superflua. Nat. or. — Composiftf.
This name is derived from tussis, on account of son>e of the species being of use ii^

■.TJnng coughs.

Gen. char. — Calyx coiraaon cylindrical ; scales lanceolate-linear (fifteen or twenty) j

L i 3 eq^ualj

260 H^RTUS JAMAICENSI-S. -*ats

equal, as long as the disk, sub-viTiembranaceons ; corolla compovind, "varionsj sta-
nieiis in the hermaphrodites, five capillary very short filaments; anthers cylindrical
tubular; pistil i a the herniupliroditcs has a short germ, a fiiiform style, loi.g-er
than the stamen, an^l a thickis!i,,';ti5jma ; there is no pericarp ; calyx scarcely
changed ; seeds iti the hern^aphrodites solitary, oblong, compressed ; dewn ca-
.pillurj, stipulate ;. receptacle naked. .Three species, are Jiatives o£Jjimaica.

1. NUTANS. .KODDING.

Dens leoni's, fulio subfiis iacano, flore purpureo. Rloane, v.' 1 , p. 555,
t. 1 50, f. 2. Eoliis radical ibiis villous is, ob-wafis, subius lanugittosis
incants ; scaposimplicintcdomonojloro. ^Prowne, p. 310. .

Scape one-flowered, without any bracte ; flower nodding ; leaves lyrate, obtuse.
This is an annua! stemless plant, about a foot liigh. 'It has reddish roots. The lea%'es
js.re radical, three inches long, petioied, y/edge-sliaped, sometimes ovate, having near
the top several deep incisures, gradually attenuated at the base, white tomentose be-
neath, dark green above. 'In tlie middle of the leaves rise one or inore naked stalks,
pale green, downy, haying a solitary nodding flower ; scales of the calyx tomentose at
tlie base ; corolla radiate ; coroilets of the disk ,five-cleft, white ; of the ray, ligulate,
longer than the calyx, linear, bifi J, purple ; seeds angular, flying off when ripe. — ■
Tiiis plant is generally found in moist shady places, but thrives best in a cool gravelly
soil. Browne says it is reckoned an excellent diuretic, and frequently used. Sloane
says the decoction of it is given to women in child-bed ; and tliat it dissipates wind,
provokes the catamenia, is good against convulsions, takes away gripes, and is. a re-
medy against all sorts of cold, being hot and bittei-.

2. ALEn.'VNS. --WHITE.

Scape one-fio\yered, y/ithout any bracte ; flower nearly erect ; leaves laiiceolate-
ovate, tomentose beneath, indistinctly serrate backwards.

Root annual, simple ; leaves radical, a finser's length, webl>ed above, white toman-
tose beneath ; scape longer than the leaves, more tomentose at top ; calyx oblongs
imbricate J scales somewhat pappose, linear, acute; seeds striated ; down rufescent.

3. PUMILA. D\yAUF.

Scape one-flowered, v/ithout any bracte, erect • leaves lyrate, gashed, tooth. .-
lettedj tomentose.

DATE-PLUM. DIOSPYROS.

Cl. 23, OR. 2. — Polygamia dioecia. Nat. or. — Bicorna.

'fThis name is derived from two Greek words signifying divine wheat.

^EN. CHAR. — Hermaphrodite calyx a one-leafed four-cleft perianth ; corolla cn«-

leafed, pitcher shaped, four-cleft; stamens eight (only six), bristle-form; an-

.thers oblong, unproductive; the pistil has a round turbinated, and hairy, germ;

^tyle single, half four- cleft ; stigmas obtuse, two-cleft j the pericarp is a globose

i»e:rj^.

PATSj . ' HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 2,n

benv, e'leht (four) celled, sitting on a very large spreading calyx ; seed solitary,
roundish,"^ compressed, ^very hard. Male, in a distinct plant, calyx a one.teafed,
lour-ci<;tt perianth ; corolla one-pet:ded, pitcher-shaped, leathery, four-cornered,
tour-cleft; divisions roundish, roiled back, in the manner of asclepias ; the sta-
mens eight (six) siiort filaments, inserted into the receptacle ; anthers double, in-
• terior shorter ; the pistil is the rudmvent of a gerni. One species of this genus is.
a native of'Jtmaica.

TETRASPERMA. FOUR-SEF,DE».

Leaves membranaceous, shining, wedge-form; berries foar-F.eeded. — Siii.

DATE-TREE. PHCENIX.

Cl. 22, OR. 3. — Dioecia triandria^ Nat. o^.—^PalvitS.

*Gen. char. — The calyx of. the male flower is an universal one-valved spathe ; spadix
branched ; perianth three- |iarted, very sraal.l, permanent ; the corolla has three
petals, concave, ovate, somewhat oblong ; the stamens are three filaments, very
short; anthers linear, four-cornered, tiie length of the corolla. Female flowers
on a different plant ; cal\S as in the (uale ; no stamens ; the pistil has a roundish
.germ, an awl-shaped short st} le, and acute stigma ; the pericarp is an ovate
drupe, one-celled; the seed single, bonyj sub-ovate, v/itli a longitudinal
groove.

DACTYL1FERA» F1NGERE0.

Pahna daciylifera major vulgaris. Slo.me, v. 2, p. II!. S'tihcmf"
rca, foliis brevloribax piyinat.is (juasimodo confertis^ iiifiinis krevissi-'
jnis et in spinas quasi redactis. Brov.'ne, p. 344.

Fronds pinnate ; leaves folded together, ensiform.

The dactylifera, or common date-tree, isii native of Africa and the Eastern countries,
■where it grows to fifty, sixty, and one hundred feet high. The trunk is round, up-
right, and studded v.ith protuberances, which are tlie vestiges of the decayed leaves.
From the* top issue forth a cluster of leaves or branches eight or nine feet long, extend-
ing all round, like an umbrella, and bending a little towards the earth. The bottom
part produces a nuntber of stalks like those of the middle, but seldom shooting so high
as four or five feet. These stalks, sayi^Adanson, diffuse the tree very considerably ;
so that, vkfherever it naturally grows in forests, it is estremely difficult to open a pas-
sage through its prickly leaves. The centre of the trunk is not solid, but filled with
pith. The date tree was introduced into Jamaica soon after the conquest of the island
by the Spaniards. There are, however, but few of them in Jamaica at this time, and
it is a pity it is not more cultivated. .Tlie fruit is somewhat in the shape of an acorn.
It is coiuposod of a thin light, and glossy, membrane, somewhat pellucid and yellowish ;
which contains a fine, soft, and pulpy fruit, which is firm, sweet, and somewhat vi-
Qotis to the taste, esculent, and .wholesome ; and within this is inglosed a solid, tough,
Aud hard, kernel, of a pale grey colour oa the outside, aad finely marbled within, like

the:

262 H O R T U S .■ J A ?>I MCE^SIS. :- iv.Ts'

the nutmeg.- For medical use;tlatesaie to be chosen large, full, fresh, yellow on the
surl'ace, scjt't and tender, not too much wrinkled ; such as have a vinous taste, and do
not rattle when sliaUen.

The trees which spring from seed never produce sncli good dates as those that are
raised from shoots ;, tiiey being alvva\s poor and dl. tasted. It is undoiditedly by force
of cultivation, and 9.fter several generiuions, tliat ihey ecquire a good quality.

Tlie dale-trees, whicli have beeiroriginally sown, grow rajiidh, and sometimes bear
fruit ui the fourth or fifth yead-.' Care is taken to cat the inferior branches of the date-
tiee in proportion as they rise ; and a piece. of tjie root is always left of some inches in
Icngibj which atfords the easy means of cJiinbing to the summit. ; These trees* live a
long time, accor>iiiig to the account of the Arabs ; and, in order to prove it, the}' say,
that when they have attained to their fuii gi-ov\th, no change is observed in them for
the space of three generations.

The number of iensales cnltiv;ited in Asia ismnch sn])erior.to;tbat of the males, be-
cause they are much more profitable. TJie sejcual organs of the date-tree grow, as is
well known, iipoii diflerent stalks, and-these trees flower in the months or April and
May, ^at w.hicli time tlie Arabd cut the -jnale branches to impregnate the female. For
tills purpose, they make an incision in. the trunk of each branch, which they wish to
produce fruit, and place in it a stalk of male bowers ; without this precaution the date
tree would jnoduce only abortive fruit. In some camons the male branches are only
siiakcn over the female. The practice of impregnating the date tree m this manner is
very ancient. Pliny desa'ibes it very accurately in .that .part of his vvijrk wiiere he
treats of tJie palm tree.

Pere Labat, in his account ofAmerica, mehtions a tree which grew near a convent
in Martinique, which produced a great quantity of fruit, and came to maturity enougli
for eating ; but, as there was no otlier tree of the kincl in the island, it was desirous to
propagate it, but none of the seeds would grow, -.iie conjectures that diis tree might
probably be so far impregnated by some neighbouring palm-trtes. as to render it capable
of bearing fruit, but not sudicient to make the seeds ^jrohfic. The flowers of both sexes
come out in very long bunches from the trunk between the leaves, and are covered
with a spatha which opens and -withers ; ihose of the male have six siiertsstamens, with
narrow four-cornered anthers filled with farina. , The female flowers have no stamens.
The celebrated Linna;us, m his Dissertation on (he Sexes of P'ajifs, spe:aking of the
date-tree, says, " vV ieinale date-bearing palm flowered many years at Berlin without
producing any seeds ; but the Berlin people taking care to have some of the blossoms
of the male tree, which was then flowering at Leipsic, sent to them, by the post,_ they
obtained fruit by these means; and some dates, tiie offspring, .of this impregnation,
being planted in my garden, sprung up, and to this day continue to grow vigorously.
Koempfer formerly told us, how necessary it wa?. found, by the oriental people, who
ive upon the produce of palm-trees, z.ad are the tvue. lotopkagi, to plant some male
^rees among the female, if they hoped for any fruit : Hence it is the practice of those
who niake war in that part of tlie world to cut down all the male palms, that a famine
may aftlict their proprietors ; sometimes even the inha'oiiants themselves destroy the
male trees when they dread an invasion, that their enemies jnay find no sustenance in
the country."

There is scarcely any part of the date-tree which is not useful. The wood, though
of a spongy te.xture, lasts such a number of years, that the inhabitants of the country
say it is incorruptible. They employ it for making beams and -instruments of bus-

.Jbandt^y ^

^ATT. nORTUS JAMA IC EN SIS. 263

'fcandvy ; it hurtis slowi^", hut the coals which result from its combustion are very strong,
and produce a great (leat.

T)ie Arahs strip the bark and fibrous parts from the yonijg date-trees, and eat the
substance, which is in the centre ;. it -is ver}' nourishing and has a sweet taste, and is
known by the name of the marrow of the date-trse. T-hey eat also the leaves, when
they are young and tendtf, wiih lemon juice; the old ones are laid out to drv, ar.d
are employed for making mats andotlier works (ff the same kind, which are much used,
and witii wi>ieli thty carry on a considerable trade in- the interior pirts of the country.
From the sides of the stumps of the branches v/hich have been left arise a great number
of delicate filaments, of which they iTiake;'j-opes; :i!>i whirhn^ight serve to fabricate
cloth.

Of the fresh dates and sugar, says H'assefquist, cho r.g- ptians make- a conserve,
wiiich has a very pleasant taste. . In F.gypt they u=e the leaves as fly-daps, for driving
away the numerous insects which prove so troublesdme ir> hot ccnintries. The hard
boughs are used for fences and other purposes of busuandry ; the principal stem for
building. The fruitj before it is ripe.Js somewluit astringent : but, when thoroughly
mature, is of the nature of the fig. • The'Scnegal dates are shorter than those of Egypt,
but much thickenin tbe^ulp, which is-said to have a S'Ugary agreeable taste,' superior
to that of the best dateti of the Levant. ,y

A white lifuirr,; known by the name of milk, is drawn also from the date-tree. To
-obtain it, all liicbranches. are cut from the summit of one of these trees, and, after
several incisions have bee;i made in it, they are covered with leaves, in order that the
heat of tbe sun may not dry ii. -rThe sap- drops down into a vessel placed to receive it,
at the botcoia ofra cii-cniajtigroove, rnacie below the incisions. The milk of the date-
tree has a s wee land, agreeable taste when it is new; it is very refreshing, and it is even
^iveij to. sJckpeopleto drink, but it genera.lly turns sour at the end of tweTity-four
hours. Old trees are chosen for this operation, because the cutting of the- branches,
and the large quantity ot stip which Mows from them, greatly exhaust.-them, and often
cause them to decay. •

Ihe'maleftfjwers of tVie date-tree are also useful. They are eaten v/hen still tender,
jnixfed.up with a little lemon juice. They are-reckoned to be verv provocative : the
odotir which they exhale is probably the cause of this property ascribed to them.

These date-irees are very lucrative to the inhal>itants oP the'desert. Some of them
produce twenty bunches of dates ; but crwe is alwa3's taken to lop off a part of them,
that those uhich remain may become larger ; tcuortv\elve bunches only are left on
■themost vigorous trees. •\Vhen the bunches- a-re taken' franr the trees they are hung
up in some very thy place, where they may be sheltered and secure from insects.

Dates, afford wholesome uourishmei^.t, aiKlhave a very agreeable taste v/hen they are
fresh. The Arabs eat them without seasoning. -They dry and harden them in the sun,
to reduce them to a kind of meal,.. whicli.they •-■lay up in store to supply themselves
with food during the long journies which they often undertake across their desarts. —
This simple food is sufficient to nt»uri'*li then! for a long time. The inhabitaius of
2aara procure also from their dates a kind of honey v.hich is exceediriglv sweet, for
-which purpose they choose those which Irave the softest pulp ; and having put them
into a large jar with a hole in the bottom, they squeeze them by placing over them a
-weight of eight or ten pounds. The most fluid part of the substance, which drops
through the hole, is what they call the honey of the date,

.Ev*a

2G* BOllTUS JAMA rc ENS IS.- -TDIchontjra

Even ibe stones, though very hard, are not thrown away. They give them to their
•camels or sheep as food, after they have bruised ihem or laid them to soften in water.

Tiie dale, as well as other trees, exhibits great.variety in its fruit, with respect to
shape; sise, quality^ and even colour. Tiiere are reckx)iied to be at least twenty dif-
ferent kind^. Datt:s are very liahle to be pitn'ced by worms, and they soon corrupt in-
Dioist or rainy weather.

From, v.'hat has bt:en said itniay easily he perceived tli at there are but few trees
that are used for so rrjany and so valuable purposes as. the datti tree .; which must oc-
casion a deep regret that the cultivation of it has not been more attended to in this
island. W« have had the bread-fruit from the South Seas and the date ^from Arabia^
but what general or real use can be e.x]j.ected fronx»them if so little care is taken to pro-
pagate them as has hitherto been the cas<?.

Dates are principally tised in medicine.; tbeir oitalitiesare to soften the asperities of'
the gullet, to strengthen the foetus in the womb, to ass-uage all immoderate riuxes of
the belly, rnd to ease disorders of the reins and bladtler. Their bad property is that
they are difiicuit of digestion, cause pains in the head, andproiluce thick melancholic
blood. These elfects arise froui the principles they contain, which are^ a raoderare
share of oil, and a deal of phlegm and essential. salt. The oil and phlegm render them
moistening and nutritious, good again.st acrimoihesof the breast, to -ats^uage coughs,
&Ci and tne phlegm and salt render them detersive ami astringent, and good against
diseases of the throat. — Cha)iibt:r''s Ci/clopedia,

The Dad Tree. — ^The unripe fruits are very harsh and binding, .and the ripe, also
while they are fresh, but not so when they are dry. They stop vomiting and fluxes,
and checlf the menstrual discharge ; they are also proper for relaxation of tha fuuda-
auent.and piles, being taken in red wmQ.—Barham, p, 129.

-David's Root — i'ee Snowbekry.

No English Name. DICHONDRA.

Cl. 5, OR. 2. — Pentandria digyniii. NaT; or. — Aspeyifolice.

This name is derived from two Greek words signifying double grained, because eacli'
flower has two seeds.

Gen. cjiar. — Calyx f»ve-leaved, leaflets ob-ovate, netted -ner\-ed, haiiy without^
corolla nioiwpetalous, inferior, rotate, sub-campanulate, five-cleft, the length
of the calyx ; the stamens are tive filameuts, with roundish anthers ; the pisiib
have two hairy germs, divaricate styles, and capitate stigmas ; the pericarp, two
globular capsules,, subliirsute, one-celled ; seeds -one in each cell, globuJai:.

P£PENS. CREEPING.

Leaves silky below.

This has a prostrate stem-, creeping, hrancbed, round; leaves alternate, petioled,
erect, kidney-shaped, sometimes emarginate, above almost naked, below silky, radi-
ate-veined ; petioles roumi^nd silky ; iiowers siiiall, rather nodding, on axillary, hli*

foita*

SPSOKK. HORTUS JAlMATCEN'SrS, Ccl-i

form, simple, silky, prJuncIes, scarcely ilie kni;tli of the petioles, jiTia usuallysolL
tary. This is the i^ihthorpia tvolvidacea oi Liniieus, but it differs fi'oin that <jenui
both in class and order.

Pii.DOF,?— .Sfc Torch Thistle.
I)iLL — Sec Fex.nel.

Xo English Name. DIODIA.'

Cl. 4, OR. 1. — Tetrandria vionogijnia.'. Nat. or'. — Stcllaf^e.

This name is derived from two Greek words signifying by the way, as it grows" by
\^uy-sides.

Gkx. char.— Calyx a two-leaved perianth ; corolla oner-yrctutcdj funnel-form, bor-
der four-parted ; the stamens are four filaments, bristle-shaped, with versatile an-
iliers ; the pistil lias a roundish, four-sided inferior jjerin, n iiliform style, and two-
oleit stigma ; the pericarp is an orate four-cornered capsule, crowned, two-celled,
two-vahed; seed soliuuy, ova te-ol)lontr5 even, convex on one side, flat on the
other, sinning. Three species are natives of Jamaica.

LSIMPLKX. SIMPLE.

Stem herbaceous, Eiraple, almost erect, smooth and even ; leaves ovate-lanceo-
late.— iS'rA .

2. PRCSTRATA. PROSTRATE'.

Stem sufTruticoBe, sab- divided ; branches prostrate, filiform; leaves linear^
somewiiat hirsute, rcvoluie. — Sw.

3, S,\KMENTOSA. SARMENTOSE.

Stem flaccid, shrubby ; branches opposite, spreading ; leaves oblong, acute_j
somewhat rugged. — Sxv^

DOI>DEK. CUSCUTA.

VIl. 4, cr.. 2. — Tetrandria digynia. Nat. or. — Convolvuli?
G'EN. CH.»R. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, cup-form, four- cleft, obtuse, fleshy at
the base ; corolla one-petaled, ovate, a little longer than the caly.x, mouth ibur-
cleft, obtuse ; the nectary has four scales, which are linear, two-clel't, sluij-p, and
growing to the corolla at the base of the stamens, whicii are four subulate fila-
jiients, the length, of thci calyx, with roundish anthers ; the pistil has a roundisl.i
jH^rm ; two styles, erect, .short; with simple stigmas; the pericarp is flesh}",
^.•'juudish, two-celled, cut round, or opening horizontal!}' ; seeds in pairs,

A^IERICANA. AMERICAN.

discuta inter 7najorem et ryiinorern media^amentis longis etforfUnis
Mill iatisstmc

e%i^ IlOliTUS JAMAICENSiS. 'T^OG*f

lathsime super arlxyres vel campos se exUndtns. Sloaie, v„l, p.
I'Ol, t. 128, f. 4. liamosa rtpens,.f.oribus covglovieratis. Browne,
p. 14;:>. ' .

Flowers peduncled.

This is a parasitical plant,- "ven' braiiclnng, leaflets •;twiningj tender, shining', and'
yellowish ; common peduncles very short ; flowers small, without scent, aggregate,
whitisli ; calyx withering, hve-cleft ; seeds two, three, or onl}- one, arri\iiig at maiu-
rity. Nectiiry five-lVinged, converging scales fastened to the petal helow the sUinicns;
filaments always five.- — Jacy^uiii- According to Swartz, the seeds are roundisli, andt
four in each capsule.- Browne says tiiis plant is frequently fouiid crcepjng on the grass
and lower bushes in Jamaica, and thvit it has, always beea esteeoaed as a diuretic and
tipcritivc, and formerly used sis an ingredient in-scrae of the compositiojos of the shops.

Dodder is a strange sort of a plant, running over and destroying every plant it comes
near, therefore is jcalled by some lieil-Weed, or devil's guts. It hath strong yellow
Jilaments, by which it stretches over very large and high trees, covering the plant,
which it feeds' on, and destroying it.- The flowers are vvhitS and Conglomeratetl ; it
Lath a pale coloured seed, somewhat fiat, and twice as big as poppy-seed. This de-
vouring weed generally takes after the quality and properties of tiie j>lant on which it
grows; but in general it Lath a tf.thartic equality, and opens obstructions, &.c. — Bar-i
ham, p. 52.

Tlie following species of this curious plant is noticed in Mr. A. Robinson's manu-».
script ; —

" Floribus peduncidalis pentondris ncctariisfrnbricatis anther Is didymis.

'• The nectareous squama? adhere not to the stamina but to the corolla a little be-
neath, ihey are oi a triangular form, and iiave their edges beautifully fimbriated;
there are two anthers on the top of each stamen. The toji of the germ is divided into
four equal parts, by two furrows which intersect each otiier. The negroes of Liguanea
mountains call it love-bush. I saw it winding about a 3"0uug tree where a neoro woman-
had thrown it, or^ purpose to propagate it. It is_ plain Dr. Browne has not distin-
guished this from the common cusciita. The petals are lanceolated ; the stamens ever
two in number, and more than twice the length of the petals. Oi} the centre of tha
periauth is a hollow nectareous gland, on whose margin the stamens are placed."

DOG'S-TAIL GRASS.- CYNOSURUS.

Cl. 3, OR. 2. — Triandria digynia, Nat. or. — Gramino'.

This name is derived from two Greek words signifying dog's-tail, which the gi-asa
resembles.

Gen. CHAR. — Calyx a common unilateral receptacle; glume many flowered, two-
valved ; valves linear-acuminate, eq\ial ; corolla two-valved ; nectary two^ieaved ;
stamens three capillary filaments, with oblong anthers ; the pistil has a turbinate
germ, two villose reflex styles, and simple stigmas ; there is no pericarp ; corolla
closely plaiting over the seed, and not gaping; seed single, oblong, acuminate
tQ each end. Two species are natives of Jamaica.

1. VIRGATU&K

S9f> HORTLrS JAMAICENSrS. 26V

1. VTKGATUS, TWIGGY.

Gramen dactylcn pankula longa, S spiels plurinus graciliorihus purpe-
reis -utl viridibits mvllihits consfa->Ue. . Sloan e, v. 1, p. 113, t. 70,
f. 2. LoUaceinn., pamcu'a e spicix simplicibus tcrctibns corijiata
s-picillis minimis coinpressis distichisaUnrnis. B-rowiie, p. 137. ■ ■

Panicle with simple branches ; flowers sessile, six together, the last barren, the
lowest sometimes awiied.

This plant is called by Browne, the rising grass with ve?y slender flowef^spik/s,
which rises couinionly about two feet and a half, fnrnished witli a spreading panicle at
to^.'j whicji is generally composed of a good many delicate, slcjider, siivple, spikes.

2. INDICUS. INDIAN.

Gramen dacfylon procunihey^s, crassiim et viridius, cuhno reclinafo.
iSloane, v. 1, p. 111. ]Majic%, cultno comprcsso nodosa distichefo-
lialo atque rumoso. Browne, p. 137.

Spilces digitate, linear; culm compressed, declined, knotty at the base ; leaves
alternate.

This grass is called, /?H^f/e gmss, it has a fibrous root, from which spring very green
leaves and litaUcs, lying on every side on the surface of the ground. The stalk grows
about a foot long, the spikes at top are usually three or four. It grows by highw; v
Sides and low grounds, (and sometimes luxuriantlj' in the mountains,) and is esteemed
tiie best fattenuig and feeding grass for cattle. Bruised in the mouth and put on a
bleeding wound stops a hemorrhage. I saw a black once stop a bleeding artery with
it. — Hiloane,

See Grass.

DOG-STONES. ORCHIS.

Cl. 20, on. 1. — Gynandria diandria. Nat. or. — Orchidete.

"This is so named from the form of the roots in many of the species.

<7 EN. CHAR. — Calyx wandering spathes ; spadix simple ; there is no pcrianfli ; the
corolla has five petals, three outer, two inner, converging upwards into a halniet;
nectary one-leafed, fastened to the receptacle by the lower side, between the di-
vision of the petals ; upper lip erect, very short ; lower lip large, spreading, wide ;
tube behind, iiorn-shaped, nodding; the stamens •are two filaments, slender,

■short, on the pistil ; anthers ob-ovatp, erect, covered with a bilocular folding of
the upper lip of the nectary ; the pistil has an oblong, twisted, inferior germ ;

•the style fastened to the upper lip of the nectarj^, very short ; stigma compressed,
blunt ; the pericarp is an oblong capsule, one-celled, three-keeled, three-valved, -
opening three ways -under the keels, cohering at the top and base ; the seerls aio

.fiumerous, very small, like saw-dust. Two species are indigenous to Jamaica.

1. MONORRHIZA. ONE-BULBED.

Erectum simplex, foliis sessihbus ab altera latere reciirrentibu^t snica
tenninali, nectariislongissimis, Browoe, p. 324.

M ra S TJiia

; b S JIG IX T \; S J A M A I e K N .'J 1' S. . . j>oow€K»«

'J'his. plant is uncommon and grows to the height of eighteen or twen.'cy inches, with
a simple uprigjst stem, ami oblong leaves. Bro« ne. found it in l-igit4nea, and calls .it
the safi/riuiii nith one-eareil leaves and long spurs.

2. HABENARIA. . EEtNED.

Ijiilb sohtary, undivided ; lip of tlie nectary three-parted, lateral ones bristle-
shaped; horn liliionn, raucli longer than the germ.

Rnib single, mid;iie' sized, ohloj;g, tonieatose, with *long, filiform, simple, fibres
aijove the bui'i. Stem erect, Icafv, from one to two feet high, simple, angular,
smooth. Leaves sessil'', alternate, sheatliing at the -hs:;e, ovate-lanreolatf, acute,
smooth and shiuicig, tliree- nerved, netted-vemed ; shsaths closely surrounding the
stem and sinootii. flowers in spikes, alternate, scattered, at a ht^le distance, white;
among the flowers the seem is acirte-angled. Spathes (hractes) under the flowers wide,
keeicu, turt-e- nerved, smooth, green. CoroUas"five-petaled ; three petals exterior-;
the upper or middle one, which is tiie'helmer, arched, erect, three-keeled, greenish
m!ih;', sp.iooth ; two lateral somewhat turned Ijack, ovate-lanceolate, keeled, careen;
two iirterior lateral, cloven at the b&se ; the upper segments inclosed within the arched
pvTL.J, of the same length ; the lower segraems tliifonn, nmch longer than the upper
ones, spreading, white. Nectary behind, imder the helmet, arched ; triangular in
, tiie middle, divided into cells at tl^ sides, and in front divided into two long horns,
between which a fmmel-form passage opens into the horn of the germ. Filaments ca-
pillary, from the lateral ceils of the nectarycommunieattng by canals with the tips of
tiie horns, and there glued to them ; anthers in tlie cells iilled with yellow globular
pollen ; germ iaferior, elongated, three-sided, gibbous, hexangular ; no style ;
stig.na stretched out between the horns, behind the opening, convex, shining, mois-
tened. Lip of the nectaiy three-parted, imerted before the stigma and the horn of
the germ; the middle segment lanceolate, acute, plano-convex; the lateral ones fili-
form, three times the length of the other, bent down ; horn four or five times as lofig
as tlie germ, .roundish, compressed a little at the base, lanceolate at the end, and an-
cipital, glued to the stem after flowering. Capsule large, three-winged, six-grooved,
opening m tue middle into six parts, cohering at the top ; seeds bristly. The flowers'
are very singular, and, together with orchis rnonorrhiza, might perhaps constitute ,a
separate genus. It is a native of Jamaica, in low meadows at the^'oot of the mouii-»
tsius. — Sw.

DOGWOOD TREE. PISCIDL\.

Cl. 17, OR. 4. — Diadelphia decandria. Nat. -or. — PapiUonacccs.

This generic name is derived from the Latin word for fishes, the twigs of the tre-e
irj±oxicating them when bruised and thrown into the water.

Gen. char. — Calyx a cne-leafed, bell-shaped, peiianth, five-toothed, the upper
teeth nearer; corolla papilionaceous ; banner ascending, emarginate ; wings the
length of the banner; keel crescent-shaped, ascending ; the stamens are ten fila-
ments, uniting in a sheath cloven above ; anthers oblong, incumbent ; the pistil
has a pedicelled, compressed, linear germ ; style filiform, ascending ; stigma
iaotitqj the pericarp is a pedicelled legume, Unear, with four Jongitudmal mem-

hranaceot^s

^OGWOOD'k 'HORTUS JA-MAICENSIS. , -<*»

hianaceous angles, one-celled, separat-e<l-l>y double isthmuses ; seeds sottie^ sub-
cyliiidric. There are ivyo sjiecics, both nauves of .TaHfaic^,

I. ERYTHBINA. ^

Corfil arbor pohjphA/hJla non spmaca fvax hit folia, siiiqifadlis foliacch

crtantihtis, voire molcndimrire fiiunatilis, vcl smniman lasernUj

■ instar ain'M. Sloano, v. 2, p. 39, t. 176, f. -I-, 5. 'IWiis putnuhs

ovati;;, raccn},ist6nnuialibus,sili(}uisquadriolAiis. Browne, p. 2!l^6,

Leaves o^-atc^

This is a middle sized tree growing to the height of twenty-hve feet or more, witli ri,
-^ptem almost as large as a man's body, covered with iight coloured smooth bark, havin<j
bereaJid there large white spots; sending out several branches at the top without
priier. The trunk is unarmed ; the leaves are pinnate, with ses'en leaflets for the mosC
part, coHimonly opposite, quite entire, pubescent, deciduous ; race^vos thyreoid ter-
luuiating, many flowered, with decussated branches, flowers pe.luncled, uumcrous,
rather large, of a dirty white-colour ; caljx goblet-shaped, fivorcleft, unequal, of a
dusky purple colour, hoary ; the two upper segments scarcely divided, the three lower
ovale, the middle one acute; banner of the corolla roundish, compressed, covering
the wings and keel, keeled at the back ; wint^s ovate, clav/ed, oblique, white, with
. blood red veins • keel curved in, gibbous, bifid, blood red at the tip ; germ striated,
•pubescent; style curved in, awl-sliajicd ; legume membranaceous; compressed; the
•wings not lateral but niarginal, in pairs ; seeds roundish. This tree grows chiefly In
the lowlands, on dry calcareous hills, and flowers through several of the spring months;,
■fvhen there is no foliage u[)on the tree, which succeeds soon after. It is an excellent
timber wood, and the bark, which has a strong rank smell, and twigs, are remarkable
i'roin their power of intoxicating fish, like the Surinam poison, described under that
•name ; for which purpose it is pounded very_small, and mixed w ith the water, by being;
put into sacks, in some (?.eep and com enient part of a river, whence it spreads itseli",
colouring the water of a reddish hue, and in a few minutes the tish tliat lie hid under
the rocks and banks rise and float on the surface, where they float as if dead, most of
■ tlie large ones recover after a time, but the smaller fry are destroyed, Browne observes
ihat the eel is the only fish he noticed that could not be intoxicated with the common
-jdose, though it was sensibly aflected ; for the moment the particles spread where it
4ay, it moved oflF v/ith great agihty through the water ; and he saw them sometimes
-chased to and fro, in tins manner, for some iuinutes, without being any ways altered.

The wood i)f this tree is of a lightish brown colour, coarse, cross-grained, heavy,
ffirm, and resinous, and considered one of the best timber trees in tbo island. As it
lasts equally well in or out of water it makes excellent piles for wharves, and it is easily
propagated by seeds, slips, or cuttings ; the stakes soon form a good live fence.

It is thought, from tlie restringent nature of the bark, that it v/ouUi probably answer
"for tanning leather.

Thi
. and m

.mud: S'lch a leaf ; i)ut they never grow so large. Its bark hath a very strong raun.

•: smell, and poisons fish. It makes a glorious show when in blossom, which it will be

T, hen there is not a green leaf upon it : Tlie blossoms are very white and sweet, small,

<ipd ijibuaches as full as the tree can hold ; afterwards come bunches of a membranons

substance^

2-0 H O R T U S J A M A I C E N S I .«!. :»*.)R8tei®s,

suHstanre, looking like hops at a distance ; in which is conluiiied its seed. Tlie biirk
is very rt stringent : I litive mado a decoction of ibis bark, uliioh wonid cleanse and.
st(,p the great flux of ulcers, and make them fit to heal, ai;d cure tlie mange in dogs.
— Barhaiii, p. 52.

2. C:\RTH AGINENSIS. -CARTHAGINIAN.

FoUis phlongo ovatis, pinnalis .; siliquis coTupressis^iblongis. Browne,
p. 237.

Leaflets obovate.

Browne calls this the mountain dog-wood, ai.d observes that it is so like the forego-
ing, both in appearance and smell, as v.ell as in the grain and texture of its wood, that
it IS difficult to uistHignish the one from the other, until the fruit is observed, which,
in this, is quite compressed and plain, \vithout wings. It grows to nearly double the
size of the otlier, and its wood, which maj be had lo almost any dimensions, is rather
darker, but equally good.

This tree blossom:; in June and July, the blossoms grow in spiikcs, are of a pale pur-
ple, and it does not lose its lea-\es while in blossom as the enjthvina does. The leaves
are larger and thinner than those of the other, which they resemble, and consist of
divers pairs of lobes grownig on the middle rib and terminated by an odd one. The
^seeds are eorapresscd and kidney-sliapecl. It is found plentifully in Clarendon and
Vere, where it is known by the name of ^//cA-a'wrf, and is more esteemed .than any
,pther wood for tlie purpose of making naves for wheels.

No English Name. .-DORSTErvTA.

•Cl. 4, ©R. I. — Tetrandria monogT/nia. Nat. or. — Scabridee.

This was so named in honour of Dorstenius, a German physician, who published a,
iiistory of plants.

Gkn. CH.-4II. — Cal3'x, common receptacle, one-ieafcd, flat-cornered, very large, co-
vered b}' the receptacle, with very numerous floscules inhabiting the disk, very-
small ; proper perianth four-cornered, concave, imbedded in the receptacle and
xmited with it; there is no corolla ; tne stamens are four filaments, iiliform, very
short; with roundish anthers ; the pistil has a roundish germ ; a simple style; and
obtuse stigma ; there is no pericarp, the common receptacle becoming fleshy j
peeds solitary, roundish-acuminate. One species is indigenous to Jamaica.

CORDIFOLIA. HEART-LEAVED.

Scapes rooting ; leaves cordate, ovate, tooth-letted; receptacles orbiculate.
Receptacle plano-convex, with a crenate dotted margin, and fleshy ; disk a littlft
concave ; male flowers in tlie disk towards the ray ; calyxes immersed in the receptacle,
or lour-toothed hples. Filaments two, three, or four, short, with twin anthers ; flow-
ers in the middle of the disk female, calyxes immersed, or four- toothed, four-cornered,
holes ; germ ovate, style bifid, stigmas retiex. When the germ is ripe it is concealed
within the receptacle, and opens into two parts, dropping the secd^ wiiictl is roundish.
This genus is clearly allied to urUca and punetaria^

I)DWN-11IIEK. OCHROMA.

Cr.. 16, OR. 2. — Moaadelphiii pnifavdria. Nat. ORs — Cchtzinifevar.
Tiiis name is derived fKom a Greek word signifyipg^ idleness.

Gek. char. — Calyx a double periantii : outer three- L'aved ; leaflets- lanceolate, ca-
ducous; inner one-lcalcd, funncl-f.)rni-, five-clefc; the corolla has five petals,
vvedge-fonn, coriaceous ; the stamen one ryhndri.; fiJanicnt ; anther.'; five, laree,
linear, connate, creeping up and down ; the jMstil has a s'.iperior- oblong gerni ;
a filiforav stjle, covered with tlie cyiiiifler of stamens ; stigmas two, awl-shaped,
, wide, contorted ; the jieriearp is a coriaceous capsule, sub-eylindric, five-grooved,
tomnioaly ten-qornerod, live-celled, five-valved ; \alvcs woolly within, rolled
back at the edge ; partitions kidney-fonu ; seeds very many, oblong. There is
only one species.

I-XGWUS. •

Illbisciis. Arhore.rcenx trichnfomnns, foJih amplissimis, cordaio an-
giilatis i .sei!ii/n!)us lana obvolu.tk. ■ Browne, p. 286.

"nils tree is nlso called bomb tst mahoc, and rises sonrvetimes to the heiglit of sixly or
scAenty feet, and is above six in circumference ; it begins to divide about twelve or
iburteen feet from the ground, the branches are diffuse and trichotomons, the leaves
descend from their extremities, supported by long^ reddish brown waving pedicels;
their margins are plain, they are cordated sometimes, .but oftener cordato-angulated,
u foot and a half in length, and a proporti'lnable breadth, their colour a dull green, and
hairy below, darker above. The flower pedicels arise on the upper branchlets froBa
the bosom of the leaves singly,, they are erect-, thick, fleshy, 'cylindrical, five inches
lonsr,- and of an obscure or dull purple colour ; the flower-cup is near four inches long,
widening from a narrow base, of an inch and half to near si.K inches in circumference ;
the margins ar.e divided by dents better than an inch deep, into as many broad seg-
ments, alternately marginated, winged, or welted down the middle of their exterior
])arts ; the petals are two inches longer than the cup, and ribbed on their outsidcs ;
and the stigmata two inches longer than them.- The pod is long, blackish, compressed,
aaid channelled longitudinall}'. The silken down, which envelopes the seeds, appears
on first beiiig-thsplayed as if it had newly passed the hackle, the threads being cie-
gantly.disposed all one way ; but the part of the down next the valves seems to have
bden stuffed, and lies in a disorderly manner. The down tree is very remarkable for
the quickness ef Its growth, arriving to the height-of thirty or forty feet in twelve or
thirteen years, which maybe a reason that the "wood is very lax-and spungy, being fit
for nothing4>ut to nrake corks, and is used as such by fishe'rmen, and therefore called
by some the cork-tree : others slop bottles with it, and some nr.ike ropes of the bark,
which is thick, fibrous, ash-coloured, varied with white spots, and netted with rufe-
scent wrinkles, to which it seems well adapted. The cotton is used for stuffing beds,
matrasses, &c. and is certainly capable of being manufaclured, as it mav' be made into
garments. It begins to blossom in November and December, and continues flourish-
ing three or four months. It delights to grow near rivers, and in rocky or sandy barren
aoiis in many parts of Clarendon mountains ; and is frequent on the banks of the Kio >
Cabrc, jn the road to Sixtceu-Mile-'Walk ; and easily propagated from seecb.

BUCK"

2-h2 , K O R T U S- J A I\I A I C K -N S-1 S». . nv m?»

r>UCIv OR POM) WEED. PISTf A. '

Ci.. 16, OH. 3, — Monadclphia octandria. Y^.w. ok.— Mlscel!ant<K4.

Gen.. CHAR. — There is no calyx ;. corolla onc.>peta!cJ, tongue-shapod, cjitiif ;, an-
ilios six or eight, placed on the fiiHiiient.; si3le one ; caiisiiie ciie-ceiled, at the
boitoiii of the corolla. There is only one species..

ETRATIOTES..: SVVIMMI.VG.

ZeJifinda palu.^tris ae.vta id' yFgi/ptiacaj shestratinfcs aquatkft foliis
sctlo majiyyejalioyibus. Sioaiie, v. 1, p. 15, t. 2, f. 2. Aiinutica
villoma,, foliis obovatis ah i)}\Q. venosisy jioribuA sparsis J'oliis iiiciden-
tibus, Browne, p. 329.

'Rm isa stejnless, floating, elegapt plant. Roots-many, a foot and a half loiig, putting
feHTth simple fibres from their circumference. Other fiin-es come out at the base of the
leaves, v.hich.arci sul)-sc>ssile, wtvlge-shap.cd at the base, elliptic, radiate-veined,
glancous-vel'v?t_y on tlie upper surtiirc : thtj central leaves smaller than the outer ones ;
the inmo.st erect, convoluted, tomentose. The runners are produced from the root
under the leaves, they are long and terminated b\- other suialler plants. Floweis whit-
ish, inodorous, axillary, solitaiy, and erect, on a sbort pqduucle. The corolla shrivelsL,
up more or less,, and b.ui-sts as the germ increa>es.

This plant is rare in Jamaica, 1 have not ob.scrved it r.hove once in that island : it,
',vas in a pond between Mis. Janies's and lir. Thene's, in St. James's : but it is ver}'
common in Antigua, where the greatest part of their waters is collected !u-.d preserved
m ponds, h.M" the public r.:;e. It grows and vhrives very luxuriantly in tlio.se reservoirs,
and keeps the whalers ahyays fresh and cool ; vvhifiii would ba greatly subject to putre-
faction, and chjirged with a multitude of insects, had they continued e.vposed to the
heat of the sun. It :has ils inconveniences, however, and those not very triiiing ; for
the plant is, of its own nature, acrid; atid when the droughts set -in, and the waters
are reduced very low (which frequently happens in that island), they are over-heated,
and so impregnated with the particles of this vegeuible, that they frequently give bloodv
fluxes to such as are obliged to use them at tho.se seasons : but this inconvenience may
be, in some measure, remedied, b\- mixing flour, or some other sheathing substance^
with it, if necessity obliges the use of it in such k. state.- — Broicne, j). 330.

DU?vIB-CANE. ARUM.

Cl.,20, or. 9. — Qynandr-itipolyandt:ia. N.iT. or. — Piperita^
GiiM.,ciiARj — Sei^ Cocoes, ^.211.

-SEGUINUM.

j^rum caule genicuhto, camui' indie ^foliis, sumtnis lahiis dyf^ustnnlei

mutos reddens. . Sloiinef v. 1, pi 1S8_. XJaule erecio, geniculalo^

iiiferneHudo; foliis majoribuspblongo-ovatis., Browne, p. 331.

Neaxly upright ; leaves lanceolate-ovate,

Tills rises to the height of six or seven feet, with a green jointed stalk, at the top of

ipc'hich the leaves are placed irregularly, growing in a gluster ; they are oblong, and of

4.

^vm HO.IITUS JAJlAlCENSI^i -n;

a light green colour* 4F"r.irLi between the leaves the flowers come out on the siJo'of the
^tillk, having a long spathe of a pale gieen colour, marked with white spots, siiniig
-<]o!:e to tiie stem of the plant ; at the first appeal ance it stands erect, soon after it be-
conjcs horizontal, and in a little tiiiie declines downward ; the lowej; ^art is swelling
Ko far as the flowers are ranged on the spadix, above which it is' greatly contracted, and
toward the top enlarges again, where it is a little open, so as to shew the naked part of
the spadix, but is twisted again at the top ; all the lower part folds closely over the
spadix, KO that it is scarcely discernible, unlesF the sputhe be opened, which can rinly
be done on one side, the other adhering closely to tlie spadix, so far ujT.vard^-- as the
fiovvers extend, the naked part of the s])adix only being separated frora th« spathe; so
that the female flowers and stamens are ranged only on one side of the spadix ; in which
it differs from all the-other species. — Marhjn.

This is so called because, if any bod3' bites of it, they-cannot speak for, some time ;
•for it bnrns and benumbs the tongue, and causes a great flux of spittlea It grows in
joints, appearing like green sugar-canes, and therefore so called ; and some have been
deceived in taking them for sugat-canes. Its fruit is like some of the arums ; but the
leaves are like Indian shot, or our water-pepper. It liath been used with good success
in the dropsy, in the following manner : Take the greenest and most juicy, and beaS;
it in a mortal into a kmd of pulp ; then add thereto double the quantity of hog's fat,
or rather tortoise fat, or snake's fat ; the which having agitated strongly together, let
it He for some days ; then beat it vvcll again, and keep it for use ; observing, the longer
it is kept it better answers the iiiteniion ; l)nt it must be heated and beaten now and
^then, lest- worms breed in it. To prevent that, and also render liie ointment more flae^
safe, and agreeable, t;ike of the mass, beaten as before, warm it, and strain it through
a coarse cloth, which boil up to a due -consistence, and keep for use ; which is thus ;
Take of this ointment, and chafe it warm into the swollen parts, and apply as a' cata-
plasm-to the scrotum; by which method the watery humour will be discharged. — >
■ £arhmn, p. 54.

This plant is common in most parts of America, and grows chiefly in cool and moist
■places. The crude juice of the stalk is used to bring sugar to a good grain, when the
juice is too viscid, and cannot be brought to gianulate rightly with lime alone. Trap-
ham recommends a decoction of the plant bv way of "fomentation in hydropic cases;
and it certainly must be a strong resolutive, which cannot'fail to strengthen and stimu-
late the relaxed fibres in such cases. — Broione. Piso says the roots boiled in urine are
a proper fomentatiQii in the gout. The expressed juice is used for curing yaws ; and
-the bruised leaves are mentioned in Dr. Dancer's Medical Assistant as useful in curing
-the itch, tetters, and ring-worm.

The following ingenious observations on the characters and virtues of this plant are
■lextraf ted from the manuscript of Mr. Anthony Robinson :

' " On the upper part and extremity of the spadix are placed, so as to cover it, a
'number of sessile, squar;-, thin, tender, membranaceous, receptacles, to wiiose mar-
gin adhere some ten or twelve anthers ; the spadix adheres to the spatha more than half
its length, from its base on its interior side ; on its exterior side, opposite the adhe-
rent part, are fixed two irregular series or rows of double or testiculated germs, wiYh
feorc ^nd there a single one among them; they are green, shimng, about twenty in

N n KUiaber^

074 * H OUT US JAMAH^ENSIS, 't^vsm

number, covered, when double, with two half-glabose stigrrias mglst and yellow, and,
whcii tiie germ is single, with one siignia (jnlv. I cannot be brought to thmk tlnit the
arum should be cla'i'ieA gynavdria. Certainly the aiuhei's grow not upon the style nor
gern), but upon ,the spadis, which has been laiprojjcrlv termed the pistil. The dumb-
cane sho'uld be classed monoecia decandria, or dodecandria. Why should it not be so
classed as well as the palms.

" The obvious qualities of the dumb cane are penetrating, thinning, and resolvini^.
It also abouniis in some seasons of the year with a caustic oil, which will blister the
tongue and bring off the skin ; but this does not hajjpen always,. and at some particular
seasons only.* One day in .luly 1 ha])peMed to cut one of tlie loaves off at the pedicel,
and, apjjlying it to my tongue, I immediately felt an inexpressible pain, or rather btirn^
itig, as if an actual cautery had been applied to it; yet this sensation differed greatly
tioui that caused Jjy cu«e//<? f///i(7, or such hot, acrid, aromatic, medicines,- ns affecting
only that particular part chiefly ; the rest of my mouth was affected, as. is observed in
common after taking the European arum, but the .-^kin only came off" from that part of
my mouth which had touched the plant. , I found oil of olives and milk both ineffectual,
though applied directly, and it was wltii the most inconceivable difficulty that' I conkl
litter a single oiunosyllable : I was therefore obliged, for.some hour.s, to communicate
my thoughts by means of pen and ink, A gentleman tasted the same witli his tongue
the moment after me, but.was not nearly so cmch affected, aior did his tongue blister,
and a third gentleman some minutes alter the second, and was still less affected thereby.
It may be remarked in cutting this plant, either in its stem or pedicel of-the leaves,
that a milky juice issues iiom it, not from the whole transverse section, but from some
particular vessels, in which resides -the caustic oil above-mentioned ; and, as the most.
jjart ihat uui riow from a section of the pedicels is. thrown out mstautaneously, it is
reasonable to suppose the greatest quantity fell to my share, less to the second gentle-
man, and still less to the third ; and least some should conclude that a plant abounding
with such an oil must be poisonous, it may not be amiss to put them in mind that the
tea, which is so very commonl}' drank in all parts of the globe, also abounds with an
acrid oil, which being of a penetrating active nature may, by its stimulating quality,
be the cause of the watchings or anti-uarcotic quahty observed after drinking it late ia
an evening ; whereas the oil of tiie dumb-cane causes sleep. T'he method of prepar-
ing it is to. mix a fourth part of common distilled rum with three-fourth's of the juice,
expressed from the stem or roots indifferently, of whicli a common spoonful may be
taken even' morning and evening; the juice in this quantity is greatly narcotic and re-
solving. Tiie narcotic quality 1 am well assured of by my own experience ; its resolv-
ing quaiit}' is obvious, by its rendering the saliva fluid ibr many hours after takiii^ so
small a dose as a common tea spoonful ; this was farther evinced by its draining off all
the water in a dropsical patient, who had not only his abdomen but his scrotum filled in
a week after he had been tapped; upon his taking this in a proper quantity, added to
a diuretic decoction, all the water ran dripping out of the orifice made by the trocar,
both from the belly and scrotum. Dr. Trapham's jnethod gf curing dropsies by an

ointment

• Dr. V.'^iiglit .says Tie never could find a patient capable of swaUowinp it; peiliaps this may have been oc»
casioned by hi.s administering it in such season.'*, (which is .said to be in October, Use lains at that time proba-
b!;v filling it more than nsual with sap,) as its caustic qualities prevailed the most in. The doctor mentions
t, at a ntgro woman, who had been long ailing, in a fit ot'duspair eat a good deal of the dumb-cane, v.itb<*
vji -V to dtstioy herself. It excoriated her uiouth and Uiioatinuch, aad she voided dafiy worms, iwt,*t(i«<
Tc^ed lier health soon after-.

J5WARF HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 273:-

ointment made of this plant, mixe 1 with hogs- lard or snakes- fat, proves of what great
service ihii may be in dropsies, and ))ossir)ly might ^ive the hint cf rubbing the abda-
nien witlj oil of ohves for the cure of the same, uuil may shew tiiai frictions with oil
anay be of greater sejvice in medicme tlian is commonly imagined, laongn I must con-
fess I am at a loss to account for its mode of acting in tiiis case. Nu insect feeds upoii
any part of the dumb-cane. It continues imcorrupted for a considerable; time after
taken out of the earth, but the juice loses its acrimony and becomes sour in two days."

lU English Name. DURANTA.

Ct. 14, OR. 2. — Didyimmia angiospermia. Nat. or. — Perxonaice.

So named in memory of Castor- Durantes, physiciaa to Pope Sextus Y. who pub* -
lisijed an Herbarium, 1534>. :

Gen. char. — Calyx a five-clefi siiperior perianth, one-leafed ; corolla one-petaled, ,
border five-partei! j stamens four filaments, t\\»j longer, within the tube ; anihi?ra
roundish ; the pistil has a roundish inferior germ, filiform style, and tliickish stig;--
ma ; the pericarp a roundish berry, covered by the calyx j seed four kernels, two«
celled. I.. One species is a native of Jamaica.

ELtlSlA. ELLIS.

Jdsminiim folio integro obtuso, fiore coerulco racemoso, fructu flavn.—^
Sloane, v. 2, p. 97. Frutescens quandoque spinosa ; Jcliis vxa!{s\
utrinque acutis, ad apiceui serratis ; spicis uianbus. browne, p-
262, t. 29, f. 1.

Fruiting calyxes er.pct. .

This grows ten or twelve feet high, having near fts top severs! branches with leaves
opposite to one another ;, petioled, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, serrate, neiTef!,
smooth on both sides. Racemes compound, terminating, brachiate, many-flowered i
flawers bine, on short peduncles. Browne made this a distinct genu-s, under the name ,
ellisia, in honour of Rlr. Ellis, the author of a Treatise on Zoophytes. It seems doubt-
ful whetlier Browne's and Sloane's plants be the- same, although they agree in many
pai-ticulars, for Sloane describes the leaves to be in tufts like those of the caiabasii,
^vhich IS not the-case iji Browne's figure, the leaves being single and opposite. He
says it grows chiefly in the lowlands, and rises only six or seven feet ; and that they
were so very like the leaves of green tea, he tried some experiments before he was con- -
■^dnced it was not the same plant ; he adds the branches were sometimes beset ivitlxr-
thoriis Uutoften. without ; and named it the tea-leaved ellisia.

Dutch Gr.a,ss — See Dog's-Tail Grass.
Dutchman's Laudanum — Se-j Bull-Hook-

DWARF ELDER. - URTICA.

Ct, 21,, OR. 4. — Monoccia tetraniria. Nat. Oil. — Scabridv.

Nu2 - iGEN.3f

S?<^ H0RTUS JAMAICENSIS. j>',wiiP

Ciy. cnAK.-T-Male. flower : — Calyx four- leaved, leaflets roumlislij conravc, obtuse;
there are no petals ; the nectary in the centre of liie flower, cnp-shaped, entire,
narrower below, very small ; the stamens are four awl-shapetl filjiments, len!jth
of the calyx, spreading, each within eacii calyx leaf; a^nhers two-celled. The
female flower : — Calyx a two-valved ovate jjcrianth, concave, ei-ect, permanent ;
there is no corolla ; the pistil lias an ovate germ, no style, villose stigma ; there
is no pericarp ; the c^yx converguig ; seed ons, ovate, blunt, compressed, shin-
ing. Eighteen spe;ties of this genns have been discovered in Jamaica, the follow-
ingj and those placed under the name nettle,

GRANDIFOLIA., LARGE- LEAFED.

Urtica iners 7-acemosa suhatua, folio nerroso. Sloane, v. 1, p. 124,
t. S3, f. 2. Erecta Juliis ovato-acuminatistrineri-iis nitidis, race-
mis coitipTessis. Browne, p. 337.

Leaves opposite, ovate ; stipules cordate, updiiuded ; racemes panicled, length
of the leaves.

From a small stj-ingy, brown, root springs a, cornered green stalk ; the stem is a foot
and four inches lurh, and its leaves a span in length ; they are rough, a little indented
about the edges, with three ribs running from the end of the footstalk through the leaf,
with several transverse ones.. The flowers are in racemes, larger and smaller, brown-
ish, white, green, and red, very small, of a pleasnig figure. It grows in shady moist
places, and flowers in the middle of summer. Browne says it js common in all the-
cooler gravelly banks of the higher hills.

>

This plant is so called because 'it something resembles the European dwarf-elder
being a short plant, with a round jointed stalk and a reddish fruit ; but its leaves are
niuch like the. large English nettle, 'vjth large nenes or veiiis. It delights in shady
i;>laces. A colonel, who had lived many years in Jamaica, artirmed to me, that it was
a certain cure for the dropsy, purging ofl the water gently by urine and stools, by giv—
jDg its juice or strong decoction. — Barham, p. 55.

See Nf.ttles.

DWARF PIMPERNEL. ANAGALLIS.

Cl. 5, OR. 1. — Pentandiiamonogpiia. Nat. or. — Rotacete.

G.EN. CHAR. — Calyx a five-parted perianth ; corolla wheel-shaped, border five-
parted; stamens erect; filaments, with simple anthers; the pistil has a globose
germ, a filiform style, and capitate stigma; the pericarp a globose one-celled
capsule, opening transversely; seeds very many, angular; the receptacle gloa.
Lose, very large. One species is a native of Jamaica.

P'JMILA. D\VAR?. '

Stem erect ; leaves roundish, acute, sessile.
This species of pimpernel is an annual plant, and was discoveted in Jaraaioa by

EAE.

EBONY HORTUS JAMAICENSTS. sn

EAR-WORT. HEDYOTIS.

Cl. 4, OR \.-r-Tetrandn'amo7iogi/nia. Nat. or. — Stellat'v.

This generic name is derived from tv;o Greek words sigtuiying sweet and an ear^ •
ftome of tlie species being reputed a specific in deafness. -

Gen. chab.— Calyx a one-leafed perianth, fonr-parted, superior, permanent ;
parts linear, sharp; cocolla one-petaled, funnel-shaped, a little longer than the
calyx, half four-cleft ; the stamens are four filaments, subulate, inserted at the
sinuses of the corolla, wita roundish anthers ; the pistil has a roundish inferior
germ, a filiform st\le, the length ui' the stamens ; stigmas two, thickish ; the pe-
ricarp is a twin-glubular capsule, two-pelled, inferior; seeds man}-, angular. —
One speciesis a. native of Jamaica.

RUPESTRIS.

Tkynittlea marithna erica foliis, yurcuiis tinniuis it tomenlosisi-^ J
Sloane, v. 2, p. 94, t. 202, f. !.

Leaves four-faced, awl-shaped, channelled ; flowers sessile^ axillary ; corollas
m villose, -witli a crooked tube.

This shrub rises from three to five feet higiij^'having woody diffused branches, pro-
CTtn^hentat the base, otherwise erect, they are generally covered with remnants of the
footstalks of the leaves, which drop off and are usually reddish, with v/ool of a whuisii
colour, between them, lying like scales over one another. The leaves grow at the tops-
of the twigs, they are short,^ linear, ■ fleshy, convex, numerous, of a dirty green co-
lour, like the leaves of htjath^ and of a siiltish- biting t-isto. The petioles are united
<D« each side by a membrane embracing the branch, and blunt with a point. The flov,-
ers are yellow, without scent, sessile, axillary-, solitary ; the germ and part of the co-
jolla is concealed within the sinus of the leaf; there is a single stipule on each side cf
the oerm, of the sam..e length and form v\'ith the calycine leaflet, it grows on recks oa.- ^
the sea coast.-^iSloap.e 6C Jacquin^

EBONY, JAMAICA. AMER.TMNUM. •

Cl. \1, 0R«4. — Diadelphia decandria. NaT. or. — Papilmiacece. •

Browne named tVis avierinmon, vi;hich is the Greek word for any thing void of carej, .
oxjn. a state of security.

Gen. char. — Cal3K a one-loafed perianth, tube bell-shaped, five-toothed, teeth •
sharp; corolla papilionaceous, the standard has an oblong claw, roundish, heart-
sliaped, expanding, convex ; wings lanceolate, shorter than the standard, keel
short ; the stamens are ten conjoined hlamnnts, with roundish anthers ; the pistil
has a pedicclled germ, oblong, compressed-leafy, varicose, with lateral veins,
jtithin woody, not gaping, cells disposed longitudinally within ; seeds sohtnry,
Icidney-shaped, thicker at the ba^se,. appendicecl at the top. There are t-.i© spe-^ -
ciesj both t'ouiid in Jamaica;,

I. BROWUfiL.;.

2r« IIORTUS JAMAICENSI3*- ebohv-

1. BROWNEl. BR(3\VNE'S.

Fruticosuvi-; foliis nitidis, simpUcibus, cordatO'CeuniinatiSi Browne,- ,
p. 28S, t 31, f. 3.
Unarmed; leaves petioled, ulterniite, subcordate-ovate ; racemes compouni',.,
Axillary, -and lateral.
This shrub grows very fommonly in the. lowlands. It groves very bnshy, to the
lieight of from seven to ten feet, and supports itsielf upon other shrubs. It divides into
long round branches, covered witii a blackish bark, and subdividmg into a great num-
ber of alternate twigs. Leaves quite entire, sharp, sliiniHg, two ot three inches in ,
length. The common peduncles sustain abo'it ten flowers, which are small, white,
and have a veri' sweet scent, and come out in great abundance after every rain. The ■
standard of the corolla after fecundation becomes erect, wUereBa before it spread- out .^
wide.

2. EltENUS. ERONY.

A'spalatkus tt)bnreus, sen pseudu-rbenns bu.rr folio, ftore luteo patulo^
siiiyua, /a/a, bre-ji clmrtacea, semen exrguum^ reniforme cmnplec- -
tcn'.e. Sloane„ v. 2, p. 31, t. 175, f^ I. Brya. — Arboreseens^ j
encta, spinosa ; foUolis confertis, ftoribus geminatis. Browne,^
p. 299, t. 31, f. 2.
Spiny; leaves &ub-sesgjle, aggregate, obovate-oblong ; peduncles two-fiowered,,
Tliis tree has a pretty thick stem, frequently crooked, and is, common in all the hills? .
and lower savannas in Jamaica. Sloane says it rises forty feet, Browne only fomteea,
or fifteen feet. It has a dark brown furrowed bark The. external bark frequently se--
paratcs, and appears like uncombed hemp, it is tough, and used as twine by the ne- ^
groes. The branches are betet with many small prickles, they are tough and flexile, ,
and the smaller ones are frequently used for riding switubes. The^" appear naked ia»-
tb"v' weather. The flowers are diick set on the branches, they are of a yellow colour, <
papilionaceous, and very open, having a sweet smell: the leaves, which succeed tha,-
{lowers, are small and roundish at top, where they are largest, of a dark green colour, >
smooth, and shining ; the pods are very thin and brown, containing one seed. The
wood of this tree is of a fine greenish brown colour and capable of a very fine polish, of ,
a very hard durable nature, and much used by instrument makers, It is bowever very
dillerent from the East ludia ebony. It is propagated fiioia seeds.

.C/ioHj/.Tt-Tbis tree groivs every where in the savantvas. It hath a small leaf like borr, .
and a yellow flower like. English broom, and, after rains, .puts forth its flowers, .
leaking the savannas .i<x)k like English broom-fields. Its heart, or inner part, is as _
black as jet. The oil of it cures the tooth-ache, cotton being dipped iu it, and put .
iluotiieiaollowHess.— .Sa/Vicw, jO. 56. ..

EBONY, MOUNTAIN. BAUHINIA.

Ci,. 10, OR. 1. — Decandria monogyyiia. Nat. or. — Lcmcnfaceer.

Tiiis genus was so iiamed in honour of two celebrated botanists, John and Caspar
Baukiu..

Ge>.

»«« KORTUS JAMAICENSIS. ' 1?^

*Gfk. char. — Calyx five-cleft, deciduous, gaping ; the corolla five oblonc^ petals,
waved and expanding, with claws, the upper one more distant, lower ones larger,
all inserted into the calyx ; the stamens are ten filaments, declining, shorter than
the corolla, the tenth the longest ; anthers ovate, always on the tenth, seldom on
the rest; the pistil has, an oblong germ, sitting on a pedicel; style filitbrni, de-
clining; stigma obtuse, rising; the pericarp is a long legume, sub-columnar,
one-celled; the seeds are many, roundish, compressed, placed according to the
length of the legume. One species of this genus is a native of Jamaica.

PORRECTA, STRETCIIEB.

Stnie spnriiP ant aspalatlw affitis arbor siliqiiosafoliis hifidis, flore pen^
tapetalo varic. Sloane, v. 2, p. 51. Fuliis bilobis, spicis laria
terminalihiis. Browne, p. 286.

Leaves cordate ; lobes porrected, acute, three-nerved ; petcls lanceolate.

This tree rises about fifteen feet high, having several straight trunks, about the
thickness of a man's leg, covered with a whitish bark, dividing into many branches and
twigs, making a pleasimt top. The leaves stand without any order, on inch long foot-
5talks, they are three inches long and two broad, where broadest, of an odd shape,
s liiiethiiig like thatof shears wherewith sheep are shorn, having points, as if a piece
^^'ere cut out, or hanng a deep incisure or notch, they are round at the base, of a yel-
lowish green colour, smooth, thin, having seven or more ribs v/ith some transverse
ones, Biaking tiie whole very nervous. The flov/ers come out at the ends of tlie twigs,
several together, on pedicels half an inch in length ; the petals are long, red aaid white
variegated or striated ; stamens long and white ; legumes brown, five or si"x inches in
length. It grows every where on the hills in Jamaica. The wood is very hard, and
veined with black, wlience the name of ebony. The decoction is a good lotion for ul-
cers ; the root boiled in wine cures pustules in the ear, being rubbed with it. ^ The'
flowers beaten with pepper and applied to the forehead cures the head-ach. — Sloane.

Three East India species or this genus have been introduced, and are in the Hortus
•Eastensiis, viz. tliii purpurea^ scandens, &ndvariegata.

'ECASTAPHYLLUM ^CC PTEROCAKPUS.

-Eddoes — See Cocoes.

. EGG-PLANT. SOLANUM.

Cl. 5, OR. 1. — Pentandria7nonogynia. Nat. OR. — Liiridce,

'Gew. char. — See Calalue, branched, p. 141. Some of these plants have from six to
^even stamens, and the calyx and corolla the same number of segments.

MELONGF.NA.

Solayium poni^ferum qicartum, sive fructuohlongo. Sloane, v. (, p,
237. Hirsutum ct spinosum, friictn maximo, calice majori spinoso.
Srowne, p. 173.

Steal*

tif HOr.TUS J'AAlAICENSI-Sr, El,EPlU^'T^

Stem herbaceous ; leaves ov'a.te-tomentose ; peduncles pendulous Incrassated.
There are three or four varieties of this plant, some' prickly some unarmed, the
inuinuDi, or species described by -Sloane and Long, is so nearly allied to this that it
cannot be considered more than a variety. * It is soraeiin;es called bro-'m jolly or mad~
apple, and a large kind was some years ago introduced front tlie East Indies, called ha-
dmjan or bavjhavi. They all tlirive very fu::uriandy, >and have been generally culti-
raiedin Jamaica, in gardens. Tiie root is conifxisod of a multitude of fibres and does
not descend very dee j) ; it rises with purplish downy stems ; the branches are put forth
near the groiuid, recjining, and frequently run oii it ; they are pretty thickly covered
with leaves, which sU'.nd in pairs, and have stipules ; tljey have a loose down, are moder-
ately large, ovate, deeply siuuated aljout the edges, and stand on long petioles, in
some of tiie varieties armedwith prickles. iTlie flowers are usually single, souietimes
two or tiiree together, they are longish, and of a pale violet colour, with yellow anthers
and green stigmas ; the peduncles are nxillarj', thickened, bent down. The Truit is
ill some of a beautiful purple colour, in others violet, whitish, or variegated ; somo
of them half a foot in-aiameter, or more, having a bitterish tasted skin. The fruit is-
often introduced at table both boded and dressed as tnrnips, as well as fried, and either
way is an agreeable foot!, and accounted to be aphrodisiac. Boiled with wine and pep-
per thej' taste like artichokes. They are natives of the East Indies, and some of them
long ago introduced into Jamaica by the Jews, who sliced and pickled them for a few
hours, and then boiled them as a green. The fruit of the badinjan is by far the largest,
some bf them having been found to weigh from seven to ten pounds each. All the
plants are easily propagated from seeds.

Mad Apple.-,. — These ai^e tribed among the solanums, or nightshades ; they are vul-
garly called val(ms:hanna, in Jamaica. The only reason, that^I can find, why tliey
lire called mad apples fs, because they bnar some r<ssembJance to mandrakes : Somis;
-iiave fancied they were the male mandrake, and, imagining them to be poisonous, did
tor that reason call them mad apples : But! know by experience to the contrary, hav-
ing eaten many of them, both boiled and fried ; but the best way is to parboil them,
taking ott their outer skin, wliii.h is a little bitterish, and then fry them in oil or butter.
I planted, above twenty years ago, haif an acre of ground with them, on which my
slaves fed, and were well pleased v/ith the food. They eat something like a squash,
but better than any of the pompion kind ; and are so well known in America, as to
need no particular description. Angoiajnegroes call theai tongu, and the Congo ne-
groes macumba. — Burham, p. 93.

iSre Calalue, prickly — ^Canker Berry — ^Nightshades — Potatoes — ^To.matcs—

TuuKEY Berries.

Elder — See Pepper Elder.

I

ELEPHANT'S FOOT. ELEPHANTOPUS.

Cl. 19, OR. 5. — Syngenesia poly^amia. segregates, Nat. or. — Co'vpositv.
This was so named from the slp.pe oiXlxQ lower leaves of the Ijist specie^i resembling
rtiie loot of an elepiiaiit,

Gen|

fcLEPiiANT's riORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 25 !"

Gen. char. — Calyx — Involucre of three broad sharp leaflets, many flowered, larcro,
pertnauent, witliout on umbel ; partial perianth four-ilowereil, oblontj, imbricate ;
corolla conipoimcl, tubular, hermaphrodite, coroilets ; stamens five short capillary
filaments ; anthers c} lindric ; the pistil has an ovate germ, filiform style, two
stigmas; therejs no pericarp, the calyx unchanged; seeds solitary, compressed;
down brisitle-form j receptacle naked. Three species are natives of Jamaica.

1. SCABER. ROUGH.

Scahiosa affinis anomala sylvatica, enuhe folio\ singulis flosculix alhts
in eodem C'jpitulo perianthea habcnlihis- semivc pappnso. Sloane,
V. 1, p. 263, t. ISG, f. 1, 2. E rectus ; foliis obtongo ov.itis rugosis ■

' afque serratis, Jloralibm coyYliformilms ternaiis ; capitulis remolis
terminalibus. Browne, p. 312.

Leaves oblong, scabrous.
The stem is round, sti-iated, and roiigh, rising three or four feet ; the leaves have
lialf inch long footstalks, they are large, rough, or corrugated,. and woolly underneathj -
and become smaller towards the top. It is adorned with a great number of flowers, .
gathered into pretty large heads, at the extremities of the'branriies, supported by
hoary inch-long footstalks.. The seeds are of an oblong form, and crowned each with ,
five little bristles. The general footstalks are very long, and terminate the branches ;
but, ar. the separations of them, .may always be observed a smaller head growing' to the
stem, without any supporter. ■. It grows in the woods of Jamaica yery plentifully, and
is a good vulnerary. V The leaves are frcqaentiy used instead, of. eardimsbenedictus in-
the Frenckislands. — Sloane £( Browne.

2. SPtCATL'S. SPiKED.

Cdnyza major i'nodora, keremi folio integro siceo et dicro, cirfioriifiore
alho e ramoruiih lateribiis e.ieunte. .Sloane, v. I, p. 2.56, t.'lrO, f,
3, 4'^ Erectus hirsutus ; foliis ivfcrioribus ovatis, utrinqiie pro-
ductis, JloraUbus oblongis ; capitulis alar ib us. Browne, p. '311.

Lefaves ovate-lanceolate, serratCj scabrous; hundtes of flowers sessile, lateral j
stem branched.

At first coming up it has many leaves five inches long, and an inch and a half where
broadest ; beginning very narrov/, they continue so for Kv.'o inches, and end in a round
point ; they are hard, smooth, dark green, and indented about the edges. From
among these a round, strong, green stall" rises, four feet high, with an embracing
leaf at each joint ; it has branches towards the top, standing round at every joliit, di-
vided into others which are beset with smaller leaves. From the axils of these come -
out the white flow'ers, without any peduncle, standing in small greets leaves. It grew
on the banksof the Rio Cobre and at Guanaboa. The stalks aiidleaves being hard are
made use of for broom to sweep house.s. — Sloane. Browne calls it the smaller ereci
elephantopiis, vitii the flowers <lisposed at the al;e of the upper leaves, and says it is •
roinmon in most parts "f Jutnaica, growing chiefly in oi")Cn gravelly lands, i-ising to the
height of fifteen or twenty inches, or nnore. The common receptacles of the flo'vors
rise singly from the a.vils of the upper leaves, and seem disposed in the form of a spike;,
but there are seldom more than four florets m each, The seeds are crowned with foiu'
Jtfcde bristles. — Brozaiie.

fS4 IIORTUS JATyIAICENSIS. erithalis

•3. ANGirSTlFOLIlN. SMAI.L-I.EAVF.n.

CoTiT/za inodoia, ftelcnii folio, iiitc^ro, dino, an,T!f.<:fo, ohlongo, capi-
/ tulU in hileribus rampruin conglonieratis. Slouae, v. 1, p. 266,

t. 14S, f. 4.

Ftem-leaves liiiear-Ianceolale, entire, villose ; flowers glomerate, in sessile and
peJuncled bundles ; stem .siinple.

The root is large, oblong, whence rises a single, round, striated, hollow, stalk,
about two feet higli, having sessile leaves set on it alternately ; their lower part,
whereby they are joined to the staiU, having a membrane inclosing it ; they are about
five inches long, and halt an inch broad near the top wltere broadest, ends round, are
of a pale gretn colour and wrinkled. Towards the toj) come out the flowers in a spike,
sessile, inclosed in an involucre of a few dry brown membranes, which arc lollovved
by small chanDeiled seeds, having much pappus on them. i. found it about Mount
Diablo very plentifully. — Hloane.

Eli.isia — See Duranta.
Et^M, Spanish — See Princewood.
•English Plantain — See^ Plantain.
EfUPHiA — See Besleria, *

No English Name. ERITHALIS.

Cl. 5, OR. 1. — Pentandriamonogynia. Nat. OR. — Rubiace^e,
This name is derived from a Greek word signifying full of verdure.

Gen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed, five or ten toothed, pitcher-shaped, perianth ;
corolla monopetalous, five-parted or five-petaled, with the divisions bent back ;
stamens from five to ten ; anthers oblong ; the pistil has an inferior roundish germ,
filiform style, and sliarp bifid stigma ; the pericarp a globose berry, crowned, ten-
celled, slightly ten-grooved ; seeds small, in es^ch cell one. One species is a na-
tive of Jamaica.

PRUTICOSA. SHRUBBY.

Fniticulom foliis obovatis crassis nitidis oppositis, pedunculis ramoiis
ad alas supenoves. Browne, p. 165, t. 17, f. 3.
Leaves opposite ; corymbs compound.

Browne mentions two species of this plant, which are thought to be only varieties,
the slirubhy erithalis, and the arborescent erithalis, the latter, he says, has the flowers
in racemes, and the leaves entire and veined. He found both about the north eas,t
parts of the island ; the former growing among the cliffs that lie to the west of Port
Antonij, and seldom rises above two or three feet ; the other about Manchioneal Bay,
wiicre it grows to the height of eight or ten feet. Swartz observes that the berries are
black, a, id the seeds about nine. Jacquin says the flowers are white, and mostly six
stiuiiened, and the calyx and corolla si:? cleft ; smelUng like -common syringa.

ErnoDe.\ — See SpurgEj bi'anched.

SRYNGO HOPvTUS JAMAICENSIS. 283

No English Na-me. EROTEUM.

Cl- 13, OR. 1. — Pohjandria vionog^nia. Nat. ou. — -Doubtful.

<3en. cuar. — Calyx a five-leaved perianth, leaflets ovate,, concave, incumbent, per-
manent ; corolla ftve-petaled, ptv Is ovate-roundish, concave, ei;tire, spreaclinsr ;
the stamens are niimeroiw iiianients (thirty), shorter than the petals, erect^ fili-
form, placed on tiiC receptacle ; anthers rouriui^h. minute; the pistil has an ovate,
pubescent, superior, aerni ; style erect, i^eneraily langer than tl.«r stamens, awl-
shaped, trifld at the tip, jieraianent ; stigmas obtuse, simple, reflex ; the peri-
carp is a roundish berry, juiceless, acuminate with the permane-nt style, smooth,
three-celled ; seeds in three's or four's, oblong, compressed a little. There are
only two species, both found by Swartz in Jamaica..

1. TH^OIDES. TEA-LIKE.

4

Leaves ovate-lanceolate, serrate-toothed j flowers axillary, solitary..

2. UNDUI.ATUHT. WAVED.

Leaves elliptic-lan?eolate^ acuminate, serrate ; flowers crowded, axillaiy.
Branches flexuose at top, hairj^-tomeirtose-, especially tovyards the tip. Leaves al-
ternate, tvvch or three inches long, coriaceous, broad-lanceoiate, acute at both ends,
smooth, paler uuilerneath, thicker at the etige ; tiie younger ones nervtd, and hairy
•underneath ; petioles very short •, peduncles four or five, but sometimes solitar}', one-
flowered, the same length vk'ith the petioles;- calycine leaflets ovate, very fuiely ciliatejj
obtuse. It vanes with smootii branches.

EIIYNGO ou FITWEED. ERYNGIUM.

Cl. 5, OR. 2. — Pentandria disynia. "Nat. or. — UmheUatcc.

<Jen. char. — Calyx, common receptacle, conic, ch'afl's seperating the sessile ffos-
cules; involucre of the receptacle n^any leaved, flat, exceeding thcrfloscules ; pe-
rianth proper five-leaved, upright, sharp, exceeding tiie corolla, seated on the
germ ; corolla imivenal, uniform, roundish, fioscuies, all fertile ; proper fiv^-
petaled, petals oblong, the tips bent inwards to tlie base, straitened longiciidi-
iially by a line ; the stamens are five filaments, capillary, straight, exceeding the
floscules ; anthers ob ong ; the pisti! i.as a hisped interior germ ; styles two, fili-
form, straight, length of the stamens ; stigmas simple ; the pericarp is an ovate
fruit, divisible ill two directions ; seeus oblong, coiumnar. ()ue species is a na-
tive of Jamaica.

TCETIDUM. STIKKl.VG.

_ .EryngiumfoTiis anguitis sermlisfcetiditm.. Sloane, v. 1, p. 264, t.
Ijti, f. 3, 4. Fatklum :oliis injerioribus ansiustis serralis, supe-
rioribiis laciii'atis et aculeatis. Browne, p. 184.

"Hoot Teaves lanceolate-serrate ; floral leaves niultifij ; stem dichotomous.
"This plant has something of the appearance of a thistle, and very common in .Ta-
•naica. It has six or seven iouiiU smooth whitish routs, about ten inches long, goin^^

O o2 .spUai^ilt

ig4 HORTUS JAMAICENSl-S. ^eschalot

straight down into the earth, and unitin*^ iu one towards its surface. The leaves spread
on tlie ground on every hand to die number ot five orsix, eii>ht inches long-, arid one
broad near the end where broadest, very deeply serrated, and having on their edges
soft prickles. From the centre of the leaves rise one or two stems a foot or more high,
bouiewhat angular, green, dichotomous, sjireatiirtg, having at the division two deeply
cut, prickly, short, leaves. 'I'iie leaves on the branches opj)osite, steni-clasping, witli
their edjje.s tiTothed. Tlie seeds set round a Hniall column, are brown, with heitiis-
pheric dots. M\ parts of tlie plant have a very penetrating strong, though not very
unsavoury, smell. It is counted a great alexiphariuic. ,TJae distilled water in reckoned
extremely useful to resist liysteric fits. — Sloane.

The root powdered, and taken to tlie quantity of three drachms, in ten ounces of
water, strengthens a weak and cold stomach, cases pains of the belly and other parts
from coldj, dissipates wind, is good for cholic and Iliac diseases, is diuretic, and helps
tiie catamenia, cures surfeits, incites venery, andis good against the bites xsi venem-
ous serpents. It has a better effect if it be given out of a hot and strengthening liquor,
it dissipates preternatural tumdurs and JiUQiours of tiie joints, and remedies all cold
intemperatures. — Hernandez.

All the parts of this plant are reckoned powerful anti-liysterics and epileptics, admi-
nistered in decoctions or infusions, hence it has been called^/ii't'ef/; it is also said that
the decoction has been found useful in asthmatic conipiaints. Barham says it tastvsa-
Uke skirrets, anci, having a syong smell, is good against Jiysterics if only smelt.

ESCHALOT. ALLIUM.

Ci.. G, OR. 1. — Hexandria vionogynia. Nat. ok. — Spathacea.

*GeN. CHAR.— Calyx a common spathe, roundish, withering, many-flowerecl ; co-
rolla six oblong petals ; stamens six filaments, subulate, often the -length of th.e
corolla, with oblong upright anthers ; the pistil has its germ superior, sliort,
bluntly three-cornered, the corners marked with a line; style simple; stigma
sharp ; the pericarp is a very short capsule, broad, tln'ee-lobed, tiyee-celled,
three-vaived ; seeus few, roundish. .Several species of this useful genus ..hav-e
been introduced, and generally cultivatedwith success.

1. ASCALONICUM.

Scape columnar; leaves awl-shaped ; umbel globose ; stamens three-cusped.

The eschalot was found wild in Palestine by Dr. Hasselquist. The root is conglobate,
consisting of many oblong roots, bound together by thin membranes. Each of these
eniall roots sends forth t\vo or three fistulous, Iflng, awl -shaped leaves, issuing from a
sheath, and are nearly like those of the common onion. The fiower-stem shoots from
a membranaceous sUtiatJi ; is round, almost naked, and terminated by a globular umbel
of flowers, which have erect purplish or hlueish lance-shaped petals of the length of
the stamina. The root of this species is very pungent, has a strong but not unpleasant
Ciaell, and theiefoie i^ generally preferred to the onion for making high flavoiaed soups^

au4

STfVJUK HORTUS JAMATCENSIS, £55

anil gravies. It is also put into pickles, and in the East Indies they use an abundance
•of it for this purpose. It tiu'ives well in Jamaica,

The eschalot is easily pi'oj)agatecl from the smaller roots or offsets, and the time of
taking thtni up is determined by -the withering of tlie leaves. •

2. PORRUM. LEKK.

Umbel globose ; stamens three-cusped; petals with a rough keel ; root coated.
This is the common ceck, wliich is leafy nt bottom. Tlie spathe i« shortly c^^nical,
deciduous. Flowers in a close large ball, on purple peduncles ; corolla also purplish,
'l-^ie leek is propagated from seeds, whicli are knovi'n to be ripe by the heads hanging
down. The ieaves are much of the same nature with those of the scallion, noticed under
the article onion, of V/Iiich it is a variety.

3. SCllOENOPRASUM.

This is the cn^ or f/^^Ve. The leaves are awl-shaped, hollovVj and the stemnaked ;
bulbs long, Hat. oval, connected by vecti-linear planes. This is a small sort of onion,
iUiu has iuuch tiie same taste, smell, anil virtues; it is propagated by parting the roots.

See Garlic mid Onion.
Essence of Lemon Tree — See Savin Tree.

Xo EnsiUsh Name. ETHULIA.

'iy

' Cl. 1 9, OR. 1 . — Syngenesia j)ol%/gamia (equalis. Nat. os..-T-Compos)tce.

'Gen. cmAr. — Calyx many-leaved, leaflets linear ; corolla compound, tubular, co-
roUets hermaphrodite; Stamens have five filaments, with cyluidric anthers; the
pistil has a prismatic germ, a filiform style, and two recurved stigmas ; there is no
pericarp, the calyx unchanged ; seeds solitary, no down ; receptacle naked, con-
vex^ excavated with points. One species is a native of Jamaica.

STRUCHIUM.

Herbaceum sub-assurgens, foliis ohlongo ovatis, utrinque productis^
capitulis cojistipafis ad alas. Browne, p. 312, t. 34, f. 2.

Flowers axrliary, sessile, all tnful.

This rises generall) to the height of two feet and a half, ormore; the leaves alter-
iiate, oblong, entire. Flower bunches in'tersjjersed with a few smaller ones, that rise
between the common cups, as they stand compacted together at the axils of the lea\'es.
Calyx bell-shaped, imbricate, \tfith unequal narrow acuminate scales; from erect

, spreading ; corollets nearly equal, the marginal ones trifid, the central four-partel ;
germ oblong, angular, crowned with its proper calvx, which has about four little
notches ; style longer than the corolla ; stigmas oblong, rcvolute j receptacle tumidj

. di/ttcd. — Bro-tcne,

Ettoiv — Sec Clamjiv Ciierrv.

EYEBRICHT,

256 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. eyebright

EYEBRIGHT. EUPHORBIA.

Cl. 11, OR. 3. — Dodtcandria trigijnia. Nat. OR. — Tricoccoe.

This is derived from Euphorbus, physician to King Juba.

Gen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, inflated, somcwirat coloured, fonr-toothed
at the mouth, in some five»toothed, permanent ; corolla four-petals, some five^
turbinate, gibbou**, thick, truncate, unequal in situation, alternate with the teeth
of the calyx, with their claws on their margin, permanent; the stamens several
filaments (twelve or more), filiform, jointed, inserted into the receptacle, longer
tlian the corolla, brealiing forth at different times ; anthers twir;, roundish ; the
pistil has a roundish- germ, triccccous, three-celled, starting open elasiiraliy- p.
fceeds solitary, roundish. Eleven species are natives of Jamaica, the following,
aud those described under spurgts.

MAC C LATA. SPOTTED.

Chamctsyce. Sloahe, v. 1, p. 198,
Leaves serrate, oblong, hairj- ; flowers axillaiy, solitary ; branches patulous.
This is an acrid and milky plant, readily springing from the seed, and gro.ving com-
monly in Jamaica. The stems are numerous, and spread close to the ground ; leaves
oblong, obtuse, and sometimes acute, obscurely denticulated on the s*!})erio4- part^
smooth on the surface, but edged with hair on the l)ack and margin, extremely nu-
merous, green, or red, or deep purple, and sometimes spotted, thickly crowded on
the tips of the branches in particular; flowers very small, on very short Ibotstalks front
the bosoms of the leaves ; calyx green, j)etals red, capsule haiiy.

This is a sort of thyme, the smallest spurge of them all, and the most common, for
it grows every where, even in the streets, between paved .stones and bricks. I have
known several persons use it, with good success, to take oft' the spots or films on the
eyes, that have come after the small-pox, and that by only dropping the nnikv juice
into them ; but I should think it more safe to mix it with a little honey, for it eats off
all sorts of warts. The people in Jamaica call it eye-brigiit, lor its great cures to the-
eyes. — Barham, p. 182.

It is mentioned by Sloane, "^hat, boiled with victuals or sallet, this plant locsens the
belly ; and tliat wriung with its j idee is not discovered but by ashes.

'See Spurges,

Fai*

fENNEi. H OUT US JAMAICENSI3, 257

Fan' Palm — S^ee Palmkto.
FELWOiii' — See Spirit Leaf,

FENNEL. ANETHUM.

Cl. 5, OR. 2. — Pentandria digpiia. Nat. or. — -Uruhdlatv,

• Gen. CHAR. — The general umbel is multiple, as is the }>artial, neither has an invo-
lucruni ; the geperal corolla uniform, the single flowers consist of fire ianceulated,
involute, entire petals ; the stiimens five capillary filaments, with roundish anthers ;
germ inferior ; styles small, stigmas obtuse ; fruit naked, sub-ovate, convex,
striated on one side, plain on the other.- Two species have been introduced.

1. FCENICULUM. FKNNEL.

Fruits ovate.

This plant is a native of Enrop?, and must i»ave been introduced a long time ago into
Jamaica, as it is now found growiu'g wild in many parts, and thrives as well as if a na-
tive. There are two varieties of this plant, the common and the sweet. The sweet is
smaller in all its parts than the common, except the seeds, which are considerablv
larger. The seeds of the two sorts differ likewise in shape and colour; those of the
common are roundish, oblong, flattish on one side,, and protuberant on the other, of
a dark almost blackish colour ; those of the sweet are longer, narrower, not so flat, ge-
nerally crooked, and of a whitish or pale yellowish colour. B.oth the seeds and roots
are used in medicine. The seeds of both the fennels have an aromatic smell, and a
moderately warm pungent taste : those of the sweet fennel are in flavour most agree-
able, and have also a considerable degree of sweetness ; hence our colleges have di-
rected the use of these only. They are ranked among the four greater hot seeds, and
not undeservedly looked witon as good stomachics and carminatives. A simple water is
prepared from, them ; they are ingredients also in the compound spirit of juniper, and
$ome other officinal compositions. The root is far less warm, but has more of a sweetish
taste, than the seeds ; it is one of tiie five roots called openers ; and has sometimes
been directed in aperient apozems, Boerhaave says that this root agrees in taste, smell,
and medical qualities, with the celebrated omseng of the Chinese ; from which, how-
ever, it appears to be very considerably different. The leaves of fennel are weaker
than either the routs or seeds, and have very rarely beeiv employed for any medicinal
use,

2. GRAVEOI.ENS, STINKING,

Fruit compressed.
This is called dill, an annual plant, also a native of Eui-ope : the root long, slender,
5and white ; the leaves are divided into a multitude of fine, long, narrow, segments,
ijke those of fennel, but of a blueish green colour, and less strong smeil. The stalk is
rpund and firm, growing to the height of four feet, with yellow Howers in moderately
large umbels. It was introduced into the Botanic Garden, Liguanea, by Hinfon E^st,
Escj. The seeds are the only part used. They are of a pale yellowish colour, in sna[)e

£-:5 HOIITUS JAMAICE-NSIS. FEn>?

nearly ovd, convex on one side and flat on the otlicr. Tlieir taste is moderately warm
anLl pungent ; their smell aromatic, but not of tlic most agreeable kind. Several pre-
parations of them are kept in tlie shops. They are recommended as a carruinativc, in
Saiulent choiics, proceeding from a cold canse or a viscidity of the juices.

FERN. FILIX;

Tins name is derived from filnm, a thread, from the threadiness of thcse plants, for
%vhich this is a general name ; tiiey constitute the first ortlcr of Linneus' class vrypto-
gamia^ called crxjptogamia jilices. The fructification of this curious and natural order
tiiffers essentially from all others, at least, in its situation ; being generally disposed
eitlicr in spots or hues on the nnder surface of the leaves or froncls, . There being no
certain distinctions in the fructification suScient- to establish the genera, and the jjartfj
being too small to be observeil v/ithovit the assistance of considerable magniticrs, the
genera are chiefly distinguished by the disposition of the seeds under their covers. — ■
The general structure of the fructification in this order is the following : The calyx is
a scale, springing out of thg leaf, opening on one side ; under this scale, commonly
supported by little footstalks, but sometimes sessile^are globides for the most part en-
compassed by an elastic ring ; these burst with violence^ and scatter a .powder, whicli.
is supposed to be the seed. These globules or seed vessels are covered by a very fine
tlun semi-transparent skin,, v/hich bursts open before the seeds are ripe. When they
are ripe, the ring or cord endeavours to become straight,, and- by its elasticity bears
open the capsule, which then forms two hemispherical cups. . This curious mechanism
may be observed by the assistance of a good piogle microscope, with a reflecting spe-
cvilum. The pov/der which is dispersed in this manner is so niinule as hardly to be
visible to the naked eye. That it is the seed has been proveilj hy actually raising plants,
from that of the hart's tongue by Morriijon ; and lately in tlie most satisfactorv manner
by Mr. John Lindsay, formerly surgeon in Jamaiog,. from the polijpodiuvi Ij/copodioides
{see l'<jlypody), and related by. him in the Linnepji Transactions, y. 2, p. 98. .

The uses of ferns are little known ; they grow in great plenty in Jamaica, and are
the worst weeds known, it being almost impossible to eradicate them, their roots takintj
such fast hold of the ground, some of them having been found to the depth of eigiic
feet. If cut v.'hen £{reen and left to rot, tlje leaves are said to form a good manure. — ■
Few of them ai'e esculent. They have a disagreeable heavy smell. In large doses they
are said to dcsti'oy worms, and some of them are purgative. In many parts of England,
it is common to burn them and make bidls of the ashes, with a little water, which they
dry in the sun ; they are called ask-balls, which are made use of to wash linen, and are
considered nearly-as goocl as soap ;,-, and might be rendered verynseful for that purpose, .
for scburiuij and cleansinsj ne^ro clothin'r. The balls, before thev are used, are made
red hot in the fire, and readily fail into powder wiien tbrown mto water. There are
about one hmjdred.ai5<l twenty different species of fern known in Jamaica, forparticu- .,
lar descri})tions of which
iSec Bleciinum — F^ern, female — Fouk-Ferx — GolDy Locks — Horse Tail — ^Matdf.n» .

Hair^ — Mauattia — jNIarsilea — MooNwoRT— MutES Fekn — Polypody — Seu- -

i>£N.T's To.\gi;e— Splee.nwort — WoLP's Claw.

jȣBjt HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. ,s8?

FERN, /ewc.V. PTERIS.

Ci„ 24, OR. 2. — Ciyptogamia filices. Nat. or. — Filices.
This takes its name from a Greek word, signifying a wing, on account of its winged
ieaves.

'G'Eif. CHAR. — Fructifiration in an uninterrupted mai-ginal line ; involucre from the
margin of tiie frond turned in, uninterrupted, seperating on tiie inner side.— «
Thirteen species have been discovered in Jamaica.

The, following hm6 simple fronds :

I. AKGU.^TIFOLIA. SMAI.L-LEAVED.

Fronds lanceolate-iinear, entire, erect, fruiting along the whole edge. — Szi}^

2. r.INEATA. LINEAR.

Fronds linear, quite entire, fruiting longitudinally.

Tke following have pinnate fronds :

3. GR.iNDirOLIA. GREAT-LEAVED.

Erectum simplex, foliis oblongis marginatis et leniter undidatis.-^
Browne, p. 105. Acrosticum 6. t

Pinnas opposite, ovate-linear, acuminate, quite entire. '
This plant is called, by Browne, an acrosticum, and he says it grows in the cooler
tnountiiins, and seemed to like a free, open, gra\elly soil, and seldom rises above three
feet and a half from the ground. He makes it the same plant as Sloane's, v. 1, p. 84,
N° 41, acrosticum niarginatum, described under the articleybr<t_/i?r«.

4. LONGrrOLIA. LONG-LEAVEI>.

Simplex, foliis impetiolatis longis angiistis uiiritis. Browne, p. 90.

Pinnas lincar-repand, cordate at the base.

This plant seldom rises above fourteen or sixteen inches, and is remarkable for its
jiarrow simple leaves, and undivided stalk. — Browne.

5. DENTICULATA. SAW-TOOTHED.

Lower pinnas semi-pinnate, lanceolate, the barren ones toothlet-cillate, the
fertile ones quite entire. — Sw^

6. VITTATA, FILLETED.

Simplex assurgens, foliis lengionbus lanccolatis, petiolis brevibus.—^
Browne, p. 90.

Pinnas linear, straight, rounded at the base.
This plant springs from a large firm root, and rises commonly to the height of twelve
©r sixteen inciies, sometimes more ; it grows in moist, cool, shady, places, but^hrives
iaest in a rocky or gravelly soil. — Browne.

7. TRICHOMANOIDES. TRICHOMANES-LIKE.

!rricho77ianes iiiajus pinyiis sinuatis siibtus nivcis, Sloane, v. I, p.
Pp SQ»

^(•^ HORTUS JAMAICENSrS.. Verj*

90, t. 3 5, f. I. Acrosticum 7. — Simplex villositm, foliishnceolato-
avails ennui is et sub-auvitis petiolatis mininiis.. Erojvne, p. 105.

Pumas sub-ovate, blunt, repand, hirsute uadecneati).

The leaves are about a foot long, with reddish-brown, shining, s'ender, footstalks.
The pinnae are sometimes opposite, soniciimes alternate, very thick set near the top.
The leaves are of an. irregular figure, notched about tiie edges : green above and very
white below, with a brown down on the margin. It ii comruoii in the middle inonn-
taius of Liguanea, seldom grows more than teu or twelve inches in height, and has the
appearance of aii adiantum.

The/ollowing have sith-pinnate or hranchedfronds :

S. PEDATA. FOOTED.

Jjayi!0)iit:s foLiis afrcvirenlibus vm.vime dissectis sett fili^ Geranii
JiobertHiiii folio. Sloane, v. 1, p. 7:.'>. Minor simpleJ: monophyllus-
a^que lobalus, lobis piofunde incisis, laciniis laiiccclatis. Browne,,
p. yo.

Fronds five-angled, trifoliate ; pinnas pinnatifid, the lateral ones two-parted.

This litble plant seldom rises above four or six inches from the ground ; it is beauti--
fuUy dissL-r ted, and of a very singular form ; but varies much in its division and ap-
pearance.— isrowne. This ]>lant has also the appearance oi anadianhan, and the leaves-
are oi a dark green colour above.

9. CAUDATA. TAILED.

Filir fa'inina sen ramosa major, pinnulis angiistissimis rarissiniisgv^.
Sloane, v. 1, p. IDl, t. 63. Bamosus, /ronde rariori lohata, lobis
linearibius auritis quandoque subdivisis, ierminalibuslongitjiibus.—
Browne, p..£)l.

Fronds super-decompound ; pinnas. linear, the lowest pinnate-toothed at the
base, the tennmatiag ones very long.

This pLmt is very common in die mountains of Jamaica. It grows ver^- thick in most
open spots, and thrives best in a stiff clav. — Browne. It rises about five feet high with
a strong stalk, cornered, as big as ones finger, of a black colour at bottom and reddish
green above; having branches sometimes opposite, sometimes alternate; on which
come the twigs beset with pinneEj very narrow, having a large space betv/een each. — •-
JSIoanc.

1,0. m;,utilata. mangled.

Hamosus, foliis linear ibus per pinnas alatas. Browne, p. 91.

Fronds decompounti, leaflets pinnate, the lowest semi-pinnatifid, the tenninat*
ing one and those of the base very long.

This plant growslike the foregoing, but never rises so high ;. it loves an open gra-
velly, soil, and is very common in the lower bills. — Browne.

11. BIAURITA. TWO- EARED.

Simplex, pinnis longis in limbos anguslos falcatos pt'ofunde sCctis, vi'
Jima uirin^ue geiiiinata, Brovvae, p. 30,

Froniib

fiDDLEV.'OOO IIORTUS JAMAIC ENSIS. 2EI

Fronds pinnate, pinnas piniiatifid, the lowest two-pnrteJ.
This plant grwvs in tlje cooler mountains of New Liguanea, it rises commonly to
^he height of two feet and a halt^ aud is easily distinguished by the regular divisiqn of
its lower xihs.— Browne.

12. IIETEROPHYLI.A.

Jtiit^ vmn'arz'ce accede nsjiii.v minov non ramosa, pinnuUs suhrniimdis
profimde scissis. Sloane, v. 1, p. 92. Sesquipedalis ramosiis ; fo-
liis minor ihus ohlojtgis serrat is. Browne, p. 91.

Fronds bipinnate, pinnas ovate-oblongj serrate, blunt, the fertile ones quite
entire.

Tiiis is a very elegant little species, it grows commonly in moist and shady places,
arid rises to the height -of sixteen or eighteen inches; it is pretty much divided, and
the !ea%'cs, when }oung, are serrated ; but, as it beguis to seed, the margin reflects,
and none of those are seen. It is very common about the Cascade in bt. Ann's. ^—
Browne.

. This has been confounded with oi)KM?2f/ff cmjOrt of Linnens, but ought to be res-
tored to this genus. The fructifications are at first in an interrupted line about the
€jjge, but, wiien matured, become confluent, and are covered by the reflex margin.

The .stalks are of a dark green colour, having twigs opposite below, alternate above ;
the leatkts are set aueniately, about nine pair, with an odd one, they stand on short
-footstalks, arc rouudishj and deeply cut on the edges, — Sloane.

13. ACULEATA. PUICKLY.

Leaflets doubly pinnatifid; divisions broad lanceolate; segments serrate, the
terminal one elongated ; trunk arboreous, and stem prickly.

See Fern.

FIDDLEWOOD. CITHAREXYLUM.

Cl. 14, OR. 2. — Didynamia angiospermia. NaT. or. — Fcrsonatx.

This name is derived from two Greek words signifying a harp and wood.

Cen char. — Calyx a one-leafed bell-form perianth, five-toothed, acute, perma*
neut ; coi-olla one-petaled, funnel, wheel-form ; tube twice as long as the peri-
anth, thicker at the top ; border five-parted, two-lipped ; segments villose ahove,
obiong, truncate, flat, very spreading ; the stamens are four filaments, with the
rudiment of a fifth from the middle of the tube, filiform, two of them somewhat
longer; anthers oblong, twin, erect; the pistil has a roundish germ, a filiform
.style, the length of the stamens; stigma obtuse-headed; pericarp a rounilish
berry, somewhat compressed, one-ceiled ; seeds two, ovate, two-celled, convex
on one side, concave on the other, emarginate at the end. Tnree species are na-
tives of Jamaica^ one is known by the name of oW woman'' s bitter,

'"'''■"■•"■. Pp3 I. CAUDATUM,

292 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS* fisdi,em'OOI>'

1. CAUDATUM. TAIL'ED.

Fruticosum, Jollis suhclipticis, pctiolis pedatts, cnl'cihus fruncahis^
spkis terminalibus hngipribus. Browne, p. 265, t. 28, f. 2.
Branches round ; calyxes truncate.

This is called cval-leaved or long-spiktd fiddlewood. The leaves are elliptic, cmar-
ginate, obtuse, entire ; racemes erect ; calyx slightly toothed. Browne says it is but
a shrub, wiiich seldom grows above ten or twelve feet in height, and bears a great num-
ber of sniall berries, cii:^])osed on divided spikes at the extremities of the branches, and
that-it is pretty common about Sixteen-Mile-Walk.

2. MELANOCARDIU.M. BLACK-HEART.

Berberis Jr.iictu arbor iraxima bacciftra rocemosa, foliis integris oh"
tuais, jloic albo ptnlapelalo, odoratissimo, fructu nigra vumopyreno.
Sloane, v. 2, p. 99, t. i:06, f. 3, 4. Foliis riigosis cvaiis ofpositis,
pttiolis geniculaiis, raitmis terminalibus, caiicibus quadrtjidis.^^
Browne, p. 265.

Branches quadrangular; racemes teraiiiiating, compound j flowers four-sta-
mened.
This tree j^rovNS chiefly in tlie lowlands and savannas, where it is frequently observed
%o rise to Uie beit^iu of forty or <:fiy teet; anJ is geni.-ruUj looked upon as one of the
fcarJest and best timber trtes )n tlie i^laruL The body grows to a consider.ible thi k-
ness, anv.4 is cuv.ereu with a thick whitisn bark, vvhicii, like the grain of the vv;o.i, vvinds
iu a loose s;)irai form. The leaves are pretty long, rugged, and slightly serrated ; and*
the bios.-ouis disposed in bunches,, at tixe extrenuties ot the . ran< he-. The berries are
soial, and of a yellow colour ; they contain each two heinispheric .•■hel s, that coniaia ;
the seeds'., the nuts or mtcuL' of these may be easily parted iuto two lobes or segments..
Tile bernes are soaietimes eat by tiie negroes. — Broxaie.

Sioane supposes. tliat a sweet smelling essence might be made from the. Sower of this
tree. The wood is very durable, even when exposed to the weather or put into the
ground, and therefore makes excellent posts : it grows plentifully inmost of the lower
mountains. From its durable quality the French gave it the name Oifidette wood, which .
we have corrupted to fiddle. A dye of a beautiful sU"aw, ycliow, or orange colour, for
Diasons* work, is tiiaue of this wood as follows :-7-Take ot strong vyiiite liuiC a su.^cient
quantity to hiiish the work intended, niix it with water, as for white wash, put it in
casks or other utensils, then add thereto the heartof biack Sddlewood, finely ctiipt, or
the shavings, in such quantity as will produce the colour required ; let it remain in tiie ■
lime and water three or four days, repeatedly stirring it, so as to extract Uie dye —
Vkhich can be reduced by an additional quantity of water, or strengtiiened by more-
enips and lime, at pleasure. This will be found a never failing mettiod, and w far su-
perior colour to any other material whatever now in use.

' Browne takes notice of two otlier kmds of fiddlewood, which he thinks may he onl/-
varieties, viz. :

1. WHITE FIDDLF.tVOOD.*

yErectuvi, fcliis cblurigis^ xorticc Icvi, fructikus ^arsis. Browne,.
,p. 265.

Thi«

«G- HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 293

This tree is most frpquent in the more hilly inland parts of the islan:!; it gro'vs to a
considerable size, and :s commonly looked upon as a good tmiber tree ; but should he
used where it tn;<y not be exposed to the weather. ! have seen manj' of these trees in
the mountains of St. Elizabeth ; but did not obsen'e any blossom, and have only ran2;ed •
them in this class from tiie appearance of their berries, wluch agree in every respect
with those of the other species. — Browne.

2. GREEN-HEART FrDDLEWOOD.

Foliis venosis cvatis altsrnis, cortice scabra longiindinaliter fisso. —
Browne, p. 265.
This tree is frequent in the woods about the Ferry, where it grows to a very consi-
derabie size, and is generally lo(jked upon as one of the best timber trees in the island. .
I have not seen anj of its fruit or fli^wers, tlierefore could not class it to any certainty, ,
but have piaced u uurc from iis outward appearance, and the grain and texture of its.
wood. — atowne.

Stc Old Woman's Bitter-.

FIG-TREE. FTCUS.

Cl. 23, OR. 3. — Poj/gamia tricecia. Nai.or. — Scalrid«^.

Gen. char.— Common calyx obovate, very large, fleshy, concave ; closed with very
inaHj semi-lanceolate, snarp, serrate, intle.x, scales; the inner surface is covered.
%vitn floscules, the outer of which, or ihose that are nearer to the edge of the calyx* ■
are mil e : these are fewer in number ; the rest lower down are female, and more'
numerous. Male, each on its jiroper peduncle, calyx, pArrianth proper three-
partcJ, erect, divisions lanceolate, erect, equal; there is no corolla ; the siamens
are three bristle-shaped filaments, length of the calyx, with twin anthers; the
pistil a caducous intoited rudiment. Tlie female, als« each on its proper peduncle,
calyx, perianal proper five-parced, divisions lanceolate-acuminate, straight, nearly
equal ; no corolla ; the pistil has an oval germ, the size of the proper perianth ;
styie subulate, inflex, com nig out from the germ at the side of the tip; stigmas
two, acumiuate, retiex, one chorter than the other ; there is no pericarp; calyx
Abnqiie, containing in its bosom a seed, which is single, rounuisii, compressed.
Two species of this genus are natives of Jamaica, and ttie catica^ or common ii^^.
iias also been introduced.

1, CARICA. YG.

Leaves palmate, sub-trilobate, rugged underneath ; fruits smooth, pear-shapecT^,

umi)ilicated. ,

The cUh'ica, or common fig, has been long ago introduced, and thrives very luxuri-
antly in the lowlands, bears well, and produces so delicious a fruit, that it is probably
not excelled in those countries where it is indigenous. It is generally propagated by
suckers, but Mr. Miiler recommends its propagation by layers ; the tree should hardly
ever be pruned, or but as little as possible ; but, if it grows too luxuriant, the gr.juui
should be dug up one side of it, and, about two or three feet from the bottom of tiie
tiurii, all tUe roots should be cut away (big and little), and the hole filled up with nib-

bi.sU

294 KOUTUS JAMAICENSIS.- Ti<i-

bisli of a dry barren kind; wluclij if the like siiporflcoiis growtli-shouy eontinnp, mny
be tned on the other side the foliouinor year. But, if the tioe does not bear thick, or-
the fruit be obseiTed not to come to perfection upon it, tiie top stems should be cut ofl",
so soon iis they and tlie fruit begin to appear in the sprin^^. — Jt>rozv7ie.

The fig has large palmalcd or hand-siiaj^ed leaves, and there are a number o^,
varieties.

There is a remarkable circumstance in the bi.-tory of the fig-tree, wiiich, for many
ages vva.s scnijiniatical, naniely, the caprijication, as it is caited, which is jjc.rticulftrly
worthr of attention, not only as a singular phenomenon of it-^elf, but as it has furnisTied
one of the most convincing proofs of the reality of the se^-es of the plants. L. b;ief,-it
is this : The flowers of the fig-tree are' situated within a pulpv receptacle, which we-.
call the fig or fruit : of these receptacles, in the wild fig-tree, some Itave male lowers-
only, and Others have male an J female, both distinct,, though placed in the s;,me re-"
ceptacle." Tii ihe cultivated ng, these are found to contain only female flowers; v.hicli'
are fecundated by means of a land of gnat bred in jiie fruit of tne wild fig trees, wKich
jjierces thi.t of ti;e cultivated, imorder to deposit its eg^s t\ithin ; at tlie same time dif-
fusing within the receptacle the farina of the male flowers. Witho^it tiiis^pcration the
fruit may ripen, but no effective seeds are produced : hence the garden fig can only be
propagated by ia> ers anij^cuttiiigs, in those countries js'here tjie »'iid fig is not kn.nvn.
The process of thus ripening die fruit, in the oriental cOTmtrie?,'-is not left to n; tr.re,
but is managed Vvith gr^^at art;, and differ&irt degrees of deiteriiy,»so-«5 t^cr r.nvard the
skilful husbandman, wno conveys the gnats at a proper tim.', fixing them at tjie etuis
of the branches, with ahimh larger increase of fruit than would ofherwrse be produce'd.
A tree of the same size where caprification is not practised may produce twenty-five
poimds of fruit, but, by that art, brings ten times the quantity.

Figs are employed as emollient cataplasms and pectoral'decoctions. The best are
those which come from Turkey. l!i the south of France tiiey are prepared as follows :
The fruit is first dipped in scalding hot lye, made of the ashes of the fig-tree, and then
dried in the sun. Hence thes*e figs stick to llie hands, and scour them like iixivial
salts; and, for tie same reason, they excite tO. stool without griping. They are mo-
derately nutrimental, grateful to the stomach, ahd easier to digest than any other of
the sweet fruits.

2. VIREKS. GREEN.

Ficus Indka maxima, Joiin oHoiigo fiiniciiUs, e suvmiis raviis demissis

radices agent ibus se piopugans, jrucfu minore sphcerico .sangiuiico.

Sloane, v. 2, p. 140, t. 226. Arbarea assurgens iifrin^iie brachiata,

folii.^ ovatis, ramis appendiculas tenues jlcxiles depcndentes demit-

ientibus. Browne, p 1 10.

Leaves oblong, acuminaie, quite entire, smooth aiid even, narrowed ar.d^punded
at the base.

This large tree has roots running a great way round it, winding and twining on the.
surface of the ground, with a light grey bark, and growing from large spirrs, hke the
cotton tree. The wood is soft, but makes tolerable good boards lor flooring, doors,
tables, &c. The trunk is divided at tlie top into many branches, spreading on every
baud, having leaves oa inch long fgotstaiks, eight inches long, and half as broad in the

jl6 HORTUS JAMAICENSTS. 295

jnkklle, of a clarl; green colour. The fruit is spherical, and full of re<3 grains or seeds.
The whole tree and fruit, in every part, when broken, j^ milky. The fruit is much
coveted by wild pigeons. — S'loane. Sloane describes five kinds of this tree. His three
first are thiouglit tu be the same, or at most vurieties of this species, as well as Bxowne's
second and fifth kinds.

This monstrous tree is at first but a weakly climbing plant, that raises itself bv the
help of some atiioinirg trunk, rock, or tree; and c(5ntini:es to shoot so'.iie sk-nJcr
flexile radicles, or appendixes, that embrace the supporter, and grow gradually, down-
ward.s^ as the stem increases : liiis at length gains the summit, and begiris to shoot both
branches and radicles, orappendixes, more luxuriantly ; these in time reach the ground,
throw out ninny smaller arais, take root, and become so many stems and supporters to
the parent plant ; which now begins t« enlarge, to throw ou-t new branches and appen-
dixes, and to form a trunk from the summit of its supporter ; which still continues in
the centre of die first radicles, interwoven in their descent, and at length augmented
and connected gradually into a comman mass or body about the borrowed Ibundation ;
which, if a v^etuble, soon begins to decay, and at length is wholly lost within the
luxuriant trunk, it supported. This trse is very ccmnmon in both the East and West
Indies, and a poor despicable creejier ni its tender state : it seldom falls when it mei^a
with a proper support, and geneialiy makes use of ail the arts of true policy to perfect
its growtii ; but, when u nee conijilete, it will live' along, time, for it throws out many
new appendixes for every, one that chances to tail, and eacii more useful, as they sup-
■ port the top mere iiiwr.ediateiy : nor is this all, for the roots frequently emit new shoots,
and these rise by the parent prop into other- trees ; and thus ome plant is sonretimes ob-
served to raise a wiioie grove. — Breunie.

3. AMERICANA. AMERICAN.

Ficus Indxa folio ohlongo, obtuso-fructu minore paUide lufeo spharico.
Sloane, V. 2, p. 140. Arborcscens Jolio oblo)igv ovatis, buccis sub-
verrucosis. Browne, p.

teaves ovate, oblong, veined, quite entire; fruits axillary, peduncled, clus-
tered.

This tree has a trunk as big as ones thigh, covered with a white nr ash-coloured bark",
rising about twenty teet high, with br^-ncnes on every hand, with leaves placed irregu-
larly at their ends, two inches long and one broad, standing on half inch long foot-
stalks. Tiie fruit stands on short Footstalks, is round, bigger than a cherry, of a pale
yellow colour, having within a small thi-n pulp, and a great many round brown seeds.
AH parts of the tree are milky. It grew near the Rio C'.jbre. — Sloane. This appears
to be Sloane's fourth and fifth, and Browne's third and fourth kinds.

Fig-Trees. — Besides the delicious Spanish fig, vre have a sort of wild figs, growing
spontaneoLwly in most parts of Jamaica, whose trees are very large and spreading : Sir
H. Sloane cads them ^ci« Indica maxima, and makes five sorts of them. They differ
a little in .shape, bigness of fruit, and largeness of leaf; but other»vise little or no dif-
ference, ail having a milky juice, which is dangerous if it Hies into the eyes: The
juice is thickened, b}- the sun and art, into a gum like bird-lime. It is rare to see any
of these trees grow up straight of themselves, but have generally iiupporters ; Wn-,
gruaing hy' tlie side oi' anather, they clasp rouui it^ and wlisa it huth got somehel-jlrt, ,

■ is.

29ii H'ORTUS JAMAICENSIS. fingmod

it then puts out little branches like a withe, which grew clo'.VTi%vards to the ground,
where they take root, growing bigger and stronger like suits, and then spreading on
the toj), they overcome p.ud destroy its first supporter. There is botii vviiite and red,
but both very soft, iike deal, of which the negroes mtike bowls, trays, and spoons. -i-
Its fruit is about the bigness of an apricot. Tliey arc as large as the cotton-tree, but
seldom straight. That which hath a reddish wood, I am of opinion, the bulsani caphj^
is got from, or at least a balsam may be got as good. — Barliam, p. 59.

The ficus tincto7'ia, a native of the Society islands, caWed via/lee, is in the Hortas
Eastensis, it was brought to Jamaica in his Majesty's skip Providence, and is used s£
a dye wood.

FINGRIGO OR COCfvSPUR, PTSOTsHA.

Cl. 23, OR. 2. — Polygamia dioccia. Nat. or. — Ni/ctagines.

This genus was named in honour of William Piso, a physician of Amsterdam, autlior
of a Natural History of Brasil.

Gen. char. — Male calyx scarcely any ; corolla one-peta!ed, bell-sliaped, five-cleft,
segments acute, patulous; the stamens are five, six, or seven, awl-shaped fila-
ments, with roundish twin antliers ; the pistil has sn obiong germ, a short style,
and a pencil-shaped stigma. The female calyx and corolla as in the oriale ; "the
pistil has an oblong germ ; a style simple, cylindrical, longer than the corolla,
trect, with bifid stigma; the pericarp is an oval berry, often five-cornered, valve-
less, one-ceiled ; seed single, smooth, o^jlong. Swartz classes this genus Jiep-
tandi'ia monogynia. Two species are natives of Jamaica.

1. ACULEATA. -PRICKLY.

J'aliuro affinis arbor spviosa, flore racemoso herbaceo penfapefaJoide,
J^ructu sicca nudo cannulato lappaceo. Sloane, v. 2, p. 25, t. 167,
f. 3, 4. ^ssurgc7is, sarmcnto -alido, folii!! o-iiatis utrinque produc-
tis, spinis vaiiiis recurvi^, racemis laieraUbus. Browne, p. 35S.
Spines axillary, spreading ver}' much.

This plant rises eight or nine feet high, with reclining branches, and requiring sup-
port, h'om neighbouring trees, which it turns round. The branches, twigs, and
spines, are always opposite ; the latter awl-shaped, acuminate, axillary, perpendicular
to the branch, strong, recurved at the points. Both twigs and prickles make a cross
with those immediately under them. Tiiis tree is often bare of leaves, and the flowers
shoot first on corymbed racemes, branched, axillary, and terminating, not reachino-
beyond the leaves, but, when in fruit, much elongated. The flowers are small, green-
ish-yellow, numerous, supported by three awl -shaped bractes, if the flower terminates
the branchlet of the raceme, but with two only if it is placed at the side of it, the ra-
ceme itself then serving for the third. To the flower succeeJs an oblong, cannulated,
rough, naked, brown, large, seed, sticking to any thing by means of crooked points.
After the fruit is perfected come tlie leaves, at the ends of the twigs, oval, acute, quite
entire, 3uioot|i, petioled^ about twg inched aud a half long aad oae broad^ of a dark

greea

TivcnGo HORTUS JAMAFCENSIS. 23?

green colour. Dr. ^.lartyn gives the following description, in the Gardeners Dictionarv,
ot the ciitVercnt appearance of the male and female plnnts raided from the same seeds :
" The male |)!ants have stalks as thick as ones arm, which rise ten or twelve feet high ;
the hark is of a dark brown colour, and smooth ; these send out man), branches by
pairs opposite, which are inucli stroncrer than those of the female, and do not hang
about so loose : they arc garnished vvii.h ohovate stiff leaves, an inch aad a half long,
and an inch and a quarter broad, standing opposite on short footstalks. From the side
of the branches come out short spurs, having'each two pairs of small Leaves at the bot-
tom,.and from the top comes out the peduncle, which is slender, abont half an incU »
long, dividing at the top into three ; each of these sustain a amalt corymb of herbace-
ous yellow flowers, each liaving five stamens, stafiding out beyond the petal, termin-
ated by obtuse anthers.

" The stalks of the female plants, not being so strong as those of th6.-male, require
support. These rise eighteen or twenty feet high, sending out slender weak branche.s, .
opposite, which are armed with short, stroag, hooked, spines, and have small oval ■
leaves, about an inch and three quarters broad ; these stand opposite on the larger '
branches, but on the smaller (hey are alternate, and have short footstalks. The flowers
are produced in small bunches at the end of the braiTches, sitting upon the germ ; they
are shaped like those of the male, but have no starnans ; in the centre is situated a cy-
lindrical style, crowned with five spreading stigmas. The germs afterwards turn to a
channelled, five-cornered, glutinous, capsule, armed with small crookad spines, each,
containing one oblong, oval, smooth, seed."

This plant is frequent in all the sugar islandg; it is a strong withy cVimber, whose
main trunk is sometimes noless than five or si.x inches in diameter ; but this is gene-
rally in the woods, where it thrives best, and is commonly supported liy the help of
some of the neighbouring trees. The flowers are very various ; they are sometimej
hermaphrodite on every branch, sometimes male in one branch, and fercaie in another,
and sometimes male, female, and hermaphrodite, on- the diff'erent parts>of the same
plant; but most commonly they are all of one kind. The decoction of the roots, with
those of the lime-tree, Sloane says, are thought good for gonorrhoea ; and so it is if
the root is ground and mi.xed with lime juice until it is thickened therewith. The
wood, being tough and flexible, is frequently used to make hoojjs. There is another
small prickly plant called fiigiigo, the mimosa ciner^a, described under the name
sensitive plants.

Fingrigo. — I believe some negro gave the name, for it is very full of hooked prickles,
like cock. spurs; and some call the plant so,, which is well known in Jamaica. The
blossom smells as sweet as the English May. The seeds, when dry, stick 'fiist to any
thing they touch, like burs : I have seen ground-doves and pea-doves, that covet to
eat the seeds, stick so fast about them that thev could not make use of their wings, so
that you might take them up in your hands. The root of this plant -negrceff use in ve-
nereal cases. — Barham, p. €>0.

2. NIGRICANS. BL.\CK,

Unarmed ; leaves ovate-acuminate ; flowers cymed, erect ; frnitij berried,

Swartz refers the pisonia inermis of Jacquiu to this species, which he found in Jai -

Q:q inaica.^-

298 HORTU!f 'JAMATCENSIS. , . .ilea

y

maica. Jacqnin describes it as a small tree without thorns, upright, twelve anti some-
times twenty feet in height, with a trunk five inches in diameter. When ]t grows in
thick coppices it acquires an inelegant liahir, not much unlike the first species. Leaves
ohlong-ianceolate, acuminate; racemes liketiiose t/f the prick I3' sort, hut not elongated
•Tvhcn in fruit ; continuing after thefniit is fallen, and then becoming red ; bractes the"
Same. Flowers sniaM, greenish yellov/, having a slight odour ; l)erry black, soft, con-
taining a whitish ]Mdp, which is ofien wanting, being probably eaten by insects, for it
is always foun4 iii the unripe fruit.

Fit-Weed — See Eryngo.

FWE-FINGER. AHUM.

Cl. 20, OR. 9. — Gynandria polyandria. Nat. ok. — Piperitce.
Gen. char. — See Cocoes, p. 211.

AL'RITUM. -EAREI>.

jirum 77iaximinn scandens geniciiloiu-.v et trifnUatmn foliis, cd hasirt
auriailatis. Sioane, v. 1, p. 169. Svandms tripht/llRin, Jdiiis ex-
terioribus auritis, petiolis vaginantiims. -Browne, p. 331.
Radicant ; leaves ternate, those at the side one-!6bed.

This plar>t is very common in Jamaica, running upon trees, and is very remarkable^
as being the only species of «/'MW, in this island, furnished with compound leaves. — -
The stalk i=. better than an inch in diameter when full grown, thickly jointed, and full
of a milky clammy juice ; as are all parts of the plant. From the joints proceed clavi-
cles, pr roots, w hich adhere strongly to any tree it climbs upon, by which it reaches to
the top of the highest trees. The leaves are produced towards the top, their footsLilks
encompassing the stalk, when they drop olT leaving those marks which distinguish the
joints. They are longer than the leaf, sheathed within a few inches of it,, where they
become round. The leaf has three lobes in the young plant, but, as it acquires age
and strength, throws forth ears from the outward leaves, until it has frequently seven
divisions, the hinder ones appearing like spurs to the others. The uppermost or mid-
dle leaf is hv far the laigest, being frequently a foot long and half as broad ; the others
diminishing as they recede from it, the smallest not exceeding four inches long and two
broad. The leaves are smooth and milky, dark green above, and. paler below.

A decoction of the leaves, stems, or roots, of this plant is sometimes used as a sub-
stitute for sarsa]janlla in venereal complaints. The stalks aiid leaves, boiled with salt
tnd other hog-raeat, are used in many places for the purpose of fattening hogs.

FLEA-BANES. CONYZA.

Cl. 19, 011.2. — Syngenesia polygamia superflua. Nat. OR. — Composilof.
Gen. char. — Calyx common imbricate, roundish, squarrose ; scales acute, the outer
somewhat spreadifiji J coroiia compound, tubulosej coroliets hermaphrodite, nu-
merous.

PLEA HORTUS JAlVUrC^NSIS. 2??

meron?, tuhnlar in the disk ; females apctaloiis, roundish iu the circuit ; proper
• — nrthe herniaplirociite, fiinnel-form, border iive-clel!:, patulous — of the fctnaifS,
ftinucl-form, border three-cleft ; stamens in the hermaphrodites, five capillary
■very short filaments, with cyiindrin tubular anthers ; the pistil in the hermaphro-
dites has an oblong germ, a fiiiform style, the length of the stamens, and a two-
cleft stigma : In the females the germ is oblong, style filiform, length of the her-
maphrodite, more slender ; stigmas two, very slender ; there is no pericarp, calyx
converging; the seeds to the liermaphrodites solitary, obiongj«doun simple; to
the females solitary, oblong, simple ;. receptacle naked, iiat. Four species are
natives of Jamaica.

1. ARBOR ESCENS. TREE.

Covyza. fruticosa Jlore pailide purpureo, capituh's e lateribus rjimulo-'
rmn spicatim exeuntibus. Sloane, v. 1, p. 257. Eupalorinm 1.— »
Erectum hirsiifum, foliis oblongis rugosis ; floribus spicatis, per
ramos terminalis dedinantes uno versiidii'pasitis. Browne, p. 313.

Leaves ovate, quite entire, acute, tomentose underneath ; spikes recurved^
one-ranked ; biactes reflex.

Ttiis is a shnrt)-, with a depressed rugged steni, risifig four or five feet, with divari-
cate, sub-divided, branches, bent down, diverging, villose, with a blackish shaggi—
ress. Leaves petioled, alternate, broad-lanceolate, nerved, wrinkled, pubescent,,
(like sage leaves,) an inch and a half long and half an inch broad, whitest on the under,
side. Racemes terminating and axillary, erect, flowers sub-sessile, alternate, palw
purple; calycine scdes pressed close, pubescent; corolla uniform; tueh'e herma-
phrodite coroUets in the circuit, a little higher than the others, giving the flower a ra-
diate ap.p .arauce. — Sw...

This plant,, tb€ erect eupnforium or hemp agrimony, grows chiefly in the lowlands.
The branches bend generally forwards, and bear their howers in loose spikes along their
extremities ; where they are disposed in a gradual succession on the upper sides only.
— Brozcne. Pi so says, the bruised leaves are good against pains and inflammation^ of
the eyes ; and that the leaves and pappous seeds, because of their being aromatic, are
good in baths.

2. VIRSATA. TWIGGY.

Ildichrysum cauk alato, Jloribus spicatis. Sloane, v. 1, p. 260,n t.
152, f. 5. Ayigiistijolia subincana, caule alato, spica miiltiplici ;
floribus inferioribus tcrnaiis, mtdiis hinatis, suptrioribus singula,
ribus. Browne, p. 318.

Leaves decurient, lanceolate, serrulate; stems wand^-like; flowers spiked, in
scattered heaps.

4. This has several straight stalks, rising two feet high, from the same root ; it is pretty
hairy. The leaves are set at about an inch distant from one another, having two littie
leaflets at their origin, set on an edged stalk ; they are slightly- indented, of a dark
<~reen colour above, and woolly or white below, having an eminent nerve running long-
ways. The flower branches are very long and slender, and disposed in the form of
spikes ai. the top. The flowers are sessile, and stand sometimes singly and sometimes
three or four together. It grows in dry savannas.

Q q 2 JldichrT/sum^

20fi IIOKTUS JAMAICENSI-S. rtEA

Ifelfchysutii, or golden cttdueed, golden tufts, or locks. — It hatW woolly stalk,
with many L:'.ig narrow leaves, green on the-upper side, and hoary and woolly on the
under side ; the flowers t^iuw on the tops of liie stalks, in tufts, without any foot-stalk ;
the ourwiird k;ives, . or rff/;5J(/a, are like silver scales, inclosing the flowers, of a pale-
piirpli colour, with ycliuvv thrums as in daisies; then folknv many pappoiis seeds, as
ill others ol the kina. The whole plant is drying and restriisgent, which makes it good
against all surts of fluxes and catarrJiB. Jt is goud in cpinsies, and- all ulcers.— r^^'ar*
havt, p. 7-3.

'^ 3. ruuruRAscExs. purplb.

Cevyza Wfijor adorata, seu baccharis,Jiflribiis purpureis nudis. Sloane,
V. 1, p. 258, t. 152, f. i. Odoiata mnior ert'cta, purpurascens,
lorj/i/ibosa ; Joliis ovatis, villosa. Browne, p. 3 IS.

Leaves ovate-lanceolate, serrate, suh-tomentose ; stem sub-herbaceous, simple
at hotloiTj, cor^Liibed at top ; iiowers ovs-te.

The stem of this^jlant, which rises sixteen or twenty inches in height, is purple,
generally pretty siuijjie below the middle, but as it rises throws out a good many
branches. The lower ones have pear-shaped leaves, three inches long and one broad,
on short petioLs, rough, and notched about the edges. The leaves on the upper
branches are niucn uarrov.'er, and end in acute points. The flowers are purple, and
produced in round LL;nches at the eflds of the branches. Browne observes, that the
smejl of this plant is agreeable to most people, and that it is frequently kept among
clothes to preserve them from moths and other vermin. It is common in all low marshy
lands.

4. RIGIDA. PJGID.

Leaves petiolsd, obovate, entire, rugged, veined underneath ; spikes flexuose;
flowers in pairs, all directed the same way. — Sw.

PLEA-WORT. CINERARIA.

Cl. 19, OR. I.—Syngcnesia polygamia super fiua. Nat. OK.—Compositir.
This name is derived irum the Latin word cinis, as most of the species are gray Of
.ash-coloured.

Gen. char. — Calyx common, simple, many-leaved, leaflets equal; corolla com-
pound, radiaLcti ; coroilets hermaphrodite, eq\ial, nutiicrous m the disk ; the
stamens in tlie iiermaplirodite, live filaments, with cylindric tubuious anthers,
five-cleft at top ; the pistii in the hermaphrodite has an oblong germ, filiform
st^le, two stigmas ; female germ t>biong, style filiform, stigmas two; there is no
pericarp, the calyx unchanged ; seeds solitary, linear, quadrangular ; pappus
hairy, simple, copious, the receptacle naked, tlatlish. Two species of this genua
♦vas discovered in Jamaica by Swart?.

1. GLABRA. SMOOTH.

flowers corynibed ; calyxes cylindric; leaves oblong, acute, somewhat tooth*
letted, iiejvfcless, suiootli on holii sides, and a little succulent ; siem shrubby,

2. JDISCOLOR,

roiiK HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 301

2. DISCOLOR. PAUTV-COLOUllED,

Flowers covymbed ; leaves oblong, lanceolate-acuuiinate, somewhat tooths
letted, Miiooili, beneath white tomeiitose-; stem siivubbv.

Forbidden Fruit — Sec Shaddock,

'FORK FERN. ACROSTIGHUM.

Cl. 24, OR. 1. — Crypfoganua Jilici's.

Gen. c^tar. — The fructifications cover the whole under surface of the frond—
Eighteen species have been discovered in Jamaica.

With simp/d divided fro nda :

1. FERRL'GINEUM. IRON.

Fronds pinnatifid ; pianas linear-acute, spreading, quite entire, connate ;
stipe &mootii.

2. POLYPODIOIDES. POLYPODIUM-LIKE.

JPoIi/podium yninus piiundis raris subtus cincriis. Sloane, v. 1, p. 19.
Jicaule fronde piniiatija ad veniem divisu, loliis lincai ibus basi ad-
iiatis. Eiowne, p. 105.

•fronds pinnatifid ; pinna^ linear-obtuse, quite entire, spreading, crowned ;
^tipe scaly.

Browne calls this the smaller acrosticnm, with narrow lobed foliage, commonly found
In low, cool, and shady plac«f. It rises in tufts, and seldom exceeds ten or twelve
inches in length. Tlie bark of the frond is hoary and scaly, and has the fructifications
Tliore or less confluent, though, being sometimes distinct, this has the ap])earance of a,
foly podium. The footstalks are brownish, and the whole leaf and footstalk about four
■«WcUesiong, of a yellowish green colour above, whitish belo\y.

With pinnate fronds :

3. AOREUM. GOLDEN.

Z'Onchitis paiustris maxima, Sloane, v. I, p. 76. Maximum uligi-
nosuin simplex^ casta crassiori, foliis oblongis disiinciis integris.~»
Browne, p. 105.

Pinnas alternate, tongue-shaped, quite entire, smooth.

Stipes or footstalks in bundles from the same root, which with the leaves rise nine
-feet high, tliey are the thickness of the little finger. The rib of the leaf is greenish,
cornered, eminent, irregularly shaped, having at every inch and a half distance tho
pinnas set alternated on small pedicels, about twenty in number; each pinna about
^a foot long and three incnos broad in the middle, where broadest, being narrow at the
"teginning, and ending obuiseiy. The leaf is green, smooth, sometimes half cevered
over witli rusty coioured moss, in which lies tlie seed. It grows in marshes near the
Black River going to Old Harbour, and by Salt River near Passage Fort. It is used
for thatcii, -uiid iim decoction of the root aiopa dysenteries, by being drank ; it is ako

excellent

302 aORTUS JAMAICENSrS. POrK

excellent in ol'structions of the spleen. A salt rmule of the leaves is an excellent; re-
jricd^ agauist ulcers and Ciirious. bones, being dryiiiL^-. — Sloane,

4. KUFUM. REDDISH.

Fillx minor, riiffa hnwgineiota obducla in pinnae tanfinn dixis'f, ra-^
ras, von cremttas, subnitundus. Sloane, v. i, p. 87, t. 45, f. l.
Simplex villosum, foliis laticeolato-ovnlis levissime crcnatls, lineis
JruitifcaUonis dcusissimt: silis. Browne, p. 93.
PInnas oblong-ovate, quiie entire, pubescent.

Tills grows eighteen or twenty inches in height ; stalk roand, covered with, ferru-
ginous liair, leafy alaioit from the root ; each pinna about an inch loag, -md an iHcii.
distant from each other, on small footstalks,, they are about half an inch broad at the
base, whence they decrease to the end, which is round, all covered over with a rusty
wooiiv hair. — Sloane. Browne calls it the simple hairy asj/leniutn, wiiich seems to like
a sandy soil ; he found it in Liguanea.

5. SORUlfOLlUM. SORBUS-I,EAVED.

F'ilix major scmtdcns in pinnas tanttnn divisa oblovgas lulasque non
creiKitas. Sloane, v. 1, p. 83, t. 38.

Pinnas oblong-ovate, entire, serrate,, acute ; stipes scaly.
This has a crooked stalk, of a dark brown colour, cornered, sometimes smooth, at
other times covered with a ferruginous hairy moss, as big as the little finger, sending-
out on each side many inch long clavicles or roots, sticking to the barks of tgces, by
which it rises twciity or thirty feet. These sralks, rooting all the wav, send out leaves
at about two inches distance, a foot and a half long, having alternate pinnas, set on the
middle rib at hnlf an inch distance from one another, they are three inches long and.
three quarters of an inch broad in the middle^ where broadest ; they are thin, smooth,,"
and of a pale green colour. The juice, mixed with oil, ginger, and pepper,^ is sai<v
to cure the choleric head-ach, when anointed with it. — Stoane.

6. M.\RGIN.\Ti/M. MARGINEDi • i-

jrilir major in jiinnas tantuvi divisa, oblongas, angusfasqtie, non
crenaias. Sloane, v. 1, p. 84, t. 40.

Pinnas oblongj quite entire, waved, acuminate ; stipe naked.

This is thought to be the same with ptcris grand iflora — s£e Female Ferns, p. £89.
Sloane describes it as follows :

Stalk sometimes blackish, sometimes brown, rising two feet high, and havinsr pinnje
at about nine inches from the ground, sometimes opposite, and sometimes alternate,
at plx)Ut three quarters of an inch distance from each other, four inches long and half
an inch broad in the middle, ending in a narrow point; dark green above, wholly co-
vered with ferrugitwus moss below. It grew very plentifully on the Rio d'Oio, in St,
Thomas in the Vale, and in St. Mary's. — Sloane.

7. SANCTUM. HOLY.

- Fiiicida non ramosaminima, surcvlis crebris, pinmdis angustissimi.-;,
raris. Sloane. v. 1, p. 91, t 4.9, f. 2. Ereciuni minivmm iim~
jilez, /oliolis angustis crcnaiis id lobatisi Browne, p. 105.

Fronds

yoaK

HORTUS JAMAICENSIS, 305

Fronds lanceolate ; pinnas linear-lanceolate, gash-serrate, the lower serratures

lai"gest.

This plant J^vvartz thought a pa/j/prtf/mw7, from the seed heing arranged indistinct

round spots. It does nrot grow ahove five or six inches high, having short twigs, set

alternately, on which grew the pinnas. It grows in the inland parts by shady rivuletp.

8, TRIFOLIATDM. THllEE-LEAVED.

PhyUitis ramosa tnfida. Sloane, v. 1, p. 8?, t 45, f. 2. Simplex',
J'oliis lanceolatis irregidariler dispositis, superioribus singidaribus,
niferioribus gemiiiatis vel ternat.is. Browne, p.

Leaves ternate, lanceolate.
This, from a blackish tuberous root, sends up five or six sialics aboiit a foot high,
Browne says two or three feet; the stalks are of a reddish colour, and cornered ; the
pinnffi arc set opposite to one another, three for the most part on a common reddish
footstalk, the middle one the longest, about an inch and a half long and a quar'er
tjroad in the middle, where broadest, .smooth, of a yellowish green colour, with reddish
ribs ; the bark of the frond is entirelj^ covered with ferruginous dust. It grows chiefly
in the mountains, and loves a moist rich soil ; and is comir;only found by the sides of
J^ivai€l^;. — Sloane K Browne.

With hipinnate fronds :

P. EBENEUM. EBONY.

'Filix nan ramosa wiviirta, caulc nigra, surculis raris, pinnitlis an-,
gustis, raris, hrcvii/us, aciiiis suhtus niveis. Sloane, v. I, p. 92,
t. 53, f. 1, and t. 7, f. 1. Fiisciim siwpliciter pinnatum, foliis
parvis iota basi adnatis, inferior ihus dtstinctis remntis hastatis aut-i-
tis vfl si'.hlobatiSf superioribus acuminatis contiguis integris. — •
Browne, p. 106.

■Pinnas sessile, oblong, sinuate, the uppermost shortest and quite entire.
Sloane and Browne made this a distinct plant. Swartz thought it only a young plant
of the following spesies ; which Sioane indeed observes it much resembled, butvtas
4)ujr time:* smaller.

10. CALOMELANOS. FIXE-BLACK.

J'ilix von ramosa major, canle nigro^ surculis raris, pinnvlis angv.f-
■lis, rariS, longis, denla'tis. Sloane, v. 1, p. 92, t. 30, f. 1. —
Erection rainusuiii, caule el raiiiis alro-nitcntihus, Jronde divisa.-~~
Browne, p. 107.
Tinnas alternate, lanceolate, acuminate, pinnatifid.

■"Browne calls this the black stalked acrosticinn, from the colour of its stem. TTie

pinnas are indented on tiie edges. It grows in moist, cool, shady places, in the lower

.Jands, with pretty much div-ided branches, rising to the height of twenty or thirty

iuches. The leaves are nimutely divided, and of a silver colour underneath. The

wlioie plant has much the appearance of a species of maiden hair.

11. SIMPLEX, SIMPLE.

Fronds entire, smooth, petioled ; the barren ones lanceulate-acnminate, the
fertile ones linear-lanceolate. — Sxv.,

FrondB

30* HORTUS JAMAICA NSrS. fuench

12. PF.TIOLATUM. rKTIOLFD.

Fronds entire, smooth, petioled ; the barren ones linear-lanceolate, the fertile
oni'.i linear. — .S'a^.

13. L.%T!FOLIUM. BRO.'iD-LE.WED*

AcaulCy folio ohlongo intep-o sapernc nitido petiolato. Browne^ p. 104.
Fronds petioled, broad-lanceolate,, very smooth, entire, margined; the fruit-
bearing ones ovate-lanceolate ; shoots creeping.
Bro'.vne calls this the \enf acipsticum, an.d says it is found in the cooler monn'tains of
Kevv Li"uanea; ilgtous upon the rocks, and rises in tufts tVom a spreading fibrons
loot; l)ut seldom exceeds tenor twc-lve incites in length, and is every vviieresuiroondeJ
withatbia membranous margin. — Browne.

14. VILLOSUM. HAIRV.

Fronds broad-lanceolate,, somewhat crenulatej villous on both sides. — Sw.

15. MUSCOSUM. MOSSY.

Fronds petioled, entire, scaly; the barren ones oblong-lanceolate, blunt; the
fertile ones linear-lanceolate. — Sw.

16. SERRUL.^TUM. SERRULATE.

FrondsKnear, toothed, fruit-bearing at the tip-; shoots very short, rooting. — Sw,

17. GRAMINOIDES. GRASS-LIKE.

Fronds naked, linear, sub-dichotomous, and fruit-bearing at the tip. — Sxv.

18. SULPHUREUM. SULPHUR.

Fronds bi-pinnate, pinnas alternate-orate, pinnatifid ; leaflets retuse-serrate*
— ,Sw.

See Ferns.

Four O'Clock Flower — See M.irvel of Peru.

FRENCH HONEYSUCKLE. HEDYSARU.M.

Cl. 17, OR. 't.-^Diadelpkia decandria. Nat. or. — Papilionticear,
This generic name is derived from two Greek words signifying sweet ointment.
Gen. C}1AR. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, half five-cleft, clefts subulate, upright^,
permanent; corolla papilionaceous, streaked, banner reflex-compressed, ovate-
oblong, emarginate, long; wings oblong, narrower than the other petals, .straight;
keel straight,, compressed, broadar outwardly, transversely blunt, from the base
to the swelling part bifid ; stamens diadelphous filaments, bent in at a right angle ;
anthers roundish, compressed; the pistil has a slender £[erm, compressed, linear;
s!yle subulate, bent in with the stamens ; stigma very simple ; the pericarp is a
roundish legume, with compressed joints, two-valved, one-seeded ; seed kidney-
shaped, solitary. Twelve species are natives yf Jamaica ; all with ternate leaves,
except the first, which has conjugate.

1. diphyllum.

'|«;NCiJ HORTUS JAMAICENSI5. • 505

1. DIPHYI.L-U.M. T\VO-I,EAVED.

Iledj/sanim minus diplnjUum, fiore luteo. Sloane, v. 1, p. 1S5. — •
lierhacemn, prociimhens ; fuliis gemimtis ; spicis foliolatis, ter^
^ minulibus. Browne, p. 301.

Leaves binate-petioled ; bracfes in pairs, ovate-acute, sessile.
The stems are herbaceous, of which it has tliree or four, trailincf on the p;round,
they are Eliform, round, smooth; leaves alternate, petioled, petioles stiff, horizontal,
distant, round, smooth ; leaflets on veiy short petioles, ohiong, sharp, entire, nerved,
smooth, pubescent underneath. Stipules opposite, on the side of tlie petioles at tho
base, obliquely ovate, acumitmte. To hincles a.xillary, terminating, !on.:^er than the
leaves, upright, stiff," many-llowered ; flowers alternate, On very short pedicels, be-
tween two opposite bractes, acuminate at both ends ; corolla yellow or purple. Calyx
unequal, the two hinder clefts converginpj, the two lateral ones smaller, rcunded, the
lowest sharp, lonjaer ; banner (;f the corolla roundish, scarcely opening, veined, pur-
plish; wings smaller than the banner; keel bowed in, acuminate; legiune a little
longer than the bractes, upriglit, (crooked like a half moon. — Sloane ) ; jointed, echi-
nate, with one roundish flatted -seed in each, -inclosed in a semicircular joint.-^>yK'.

■ This plant is very common in all the dry savannas about Spanish Town and Old Har-
bour, shooting plentifully after rain. It seldom tises above sixteen inches, bearing
numerous yellow flowers, in spikes, at the extreaiity of the branches. An apozem of
"this plant is said to be good in fevers.

2. .'IDSCENDENS. ASCENDmG.

■Lea\-es roundish, pubescent underneath; stem coluntnar ; branches (Jeclined^
ascending', hairy j racemes simple, erect, a.xillary. — Sw. Pf. 106,

3. SUPINUM. SUPINE.

Iledysanim trip/ij/llu»i/ruticosuin supiimm, Jlorepiirpureo. Sloane^
V. 1, p. 185, t. 118, f. 2.

Leaves ovate, bluntish, hairy, villose underneath ; stem branched, procunn-
bent ; racemes sinaple, erect, terminating.

Hoot long, small, woody ; stems a foot long, lying along the ground, rough, round,
Vvoody. Leaves at unequal distances, on petioles half au inch long, each having three
leaflets, pale underneatn, the middle one longest. Flowers in spikes, purple. Le-

- games crooked, forming a semi-circle, brown; the joints united by so small an isth-
mus that, when they adnere by their roughness to clothes, they seperate, whence th«
Portuguese name ejvfl rf'«H(0). Every joint contains one pale yellow seed. It grows
almost every where in the woods and savannas. Piso says, the decoction of this plant
is good in a cold flux of the b>-dly, and that the smoke or fume from the leaves, re-
ceived with a covered head, cures the liead-ach. Barham says all sorts oi kedr/sarum,
especially the seeds, are bitter, and therefore good stomachics andexpellers of .poisons;

-tiicy also, he says, open obstructions and kill worms.

4. CANUM. HOARY,

fcc ves ovate acuminate, hoary underneath ; stem columnar, branched, erect;
xacemea terminating, erect; legumes declined| rough with hairs,

Er ^'^m.

3C5 H CRT US JAMAICENS.I5. -PrenxjH

Stom snni])hy, about five feet high, dividing into several hfanclies ; (he middle leaf
niiuii larger llwiu the other two. The. staiks are terniiiiitted l)y loi'g spikes of small
purple ftjwers, which are succeeded hy narrow pojs, straight on. one sidf, but jointed
oi! t!ie other. Swariz rr.ade it /u-ff »?(//;,. wtiich being the name of another species, this
was shoitened Ibivthe sake of distinction.

5. TPvIGOXUM. THUEE-SIDED.

TnpJailhim,, vuuinimn, samdens; caule tyigono, hirtis un<inatis
Hvmulo ; spicis amp/is fernii/iaiibus.- Browne, p. 301.

teaves ovate- acute,, rough. with haii-s; stem climbirig, three-sided; racemes
verv Ijng, axillary ; legume* vMtlrhed, ,bent in.
This plant is pretty frcipiont in Jamaica, and_a native of the- mountains ; it is a
ciLrnber, and raises itself generally to the top of tlic tallest trees in the wood. Th.e
stein is triangular, and every where beset with small hooked bristles, or rough hairs. —
The leaves are oval, a)id much like those of the ki Iney-bean tribe.; and all the branches
terminate in so many large and beautiful flouer-spikes. The jDiant is most common
about Hope Iliver. — Bro-^ne.

6. Sr-OBPIURUS. SCORPION.

Triphyllnm, /nrsultati, minus, rcpens ; racemis strictis hirsiiiis.-^'
Browne, p. 301.
Leaves oblong, hirsute underneath •, stems proeunibent, three-cornered ; ra-
cjuies axillary ; legumes rounaish, upright.
Browne calls this the //arf's /bo/ Fi-ench horiey.suck!e; and says he found this rare
-and curious plant a little beyond Guy's Hill'. It grew in tufts, and seldom rose above
sixteen or seventeen inches from the root.

7; canescens. wniTE.
LeaA'es scabrous rmderneath ; stem hispid ; flowers racemed, conjugate.
This is an upright hairy plant, with ovate leaflets 3 awi-shap<;d sub-cordate.stipules^-
and white flowers.

S. TORTUOSUM; TWISTED.

Iledijsarum triphyllum fruticosum, flore purpurea, siliqua imu'c dis'

tovia. Sioane, v- 1, p. 184, t. ll'c, f. 9.

This is pretty frequent in the inland parts, growing erect to the height of two feet.

an.l a half; or better. . The stijjules of the leaves are roundish and broad, and the

leaves mo ieratcly large. Barham c^\-i\x.onobrychis, or cock's head, and describes it

"asfodows: "This has a woody brown-coloured stem, having several green rough

• branches, four feet high. The leaves come out on every side, without any order,

• three alwavs together upon a staik, smooth above, of a dark-green colour, and rough
,undcrneatii ; the ttips-are iong spikes of flowers, papilionaceotis, of a pale purple co-
lour ; after these follow several pods, slender, rough, jointed, and variously turned
and distorted. The plant purgeth a little ; for if an ounce of the dried leaves be put
in a purging decoction, it furihereth the purging property, causing not only watery
humours to be voided, but those that are tough and clammy ; also, it helps to digest.
told humours," — JJarham, p. 125. ,

J?RENC3 HORTUS JAMAICENSI&. 30?

S. SPIRAUK. SPIRAL.

Leaves ovate, obtuse, smooth ; stem very mndi branched, with cliffusecl bf-R?iches ;
•■ r<iccuies loose, divaricate; legumes -«pirally twisted.

Stem woxjay, trailing, a foot anda half long, sending out several branches on eacli
pile. 'Leati^;ts small, })ale green ; flowers smaii, of a paic purplish colour. Legumes
>pa.rro^', eiiv;li joint four-cornered, containiiig a single, small, compressed, seed.

. . 10. AXILl.ARE. AXUXAUV.

Trfpki;lhi))i mejiis i^epens ; scapis axillarihus, assurgcnUimSf infcrns
■ nudis, superne spicalis. Browne, p. 301.

. Leaves rhombed, roiindisii ; stem creeping, rooting; petioles upright ; scapes
axdlary, longer than the leaves.

"This runs n^any feet from the main roots ; but they commonly cast a few ratical
fibres from a'l the joints that touch the ground, which greatly forwards tlieir iuxuriatit
growtii. The leaves are marked with some prominent veins on the under si^ie, and
seldom under an mcii and half in length. Both the s.pecies.are pretty common in thet

diore shady iiilis of Jamaica. — Browne.

1!. TRirLOnUM. THREE-FLOWERED.

Leaves ob-cordate J stems procumbent ; peduncles one-fiowere!, seldom three

tu-efher.

Roots simple, long; stems filiform, crowded, when magnified appearing thi'ee-cor-
-inered, sub-divided, pubescent. Leaves alternate ; petioles short ; stipules < pposite,
-acuminate, membranaceous, at the base of the petioles ; leaflets rouniiish, ob-cordate,
^r slightly emarginate, small, nerved, netted, smooth above, glaucous underneath. — •
Peduncles opposite to the petioles, simple, solitary, two or at most thiee touether,
the length of the petioles, filiform, oiie-flowered ; flowers minute, scarlet. Calyx
'two-lipped ; the three hinder segments linear, contiguous, sharper, the two in front
distant lanceolato. Banner of the corolla roundish-cordate, spreading, reflex, pale;
wings and keel shorier than the banner, appro.simatjni;-, scarlet. Legume small, pe-
duncled, crenate in front, containing three or four seeds, which are roundish and nu-
oate. Itwakes at ten o'clock in the morning, and sleeps at four in the afternoon.— .S'a;.

12. BARBATUM. BEARDED.

Racemes oblong, somewitat branched ; legumes be'it in ; calyxes hairy.

Stem procumbent, from three to five inches in length, branched, round, somewhat
shrubby at the base, even ; branches procumbent, almost simple, short, round, pu-
=besceni. Leaves petioled ; petioles alternate, thicker at the base, filiform; short,
round, a little flatted, smooth; leaflets obovate, petioled, the middle one double tlie
size of tt;e two others, entire, somewhat glaucous above, iioary on the back. At the
tips of the Igaves are v&ry short little brist.es. Stipules opposite, at the base of the
petioles, sessile, lanceolate, sharp. T'lowtrs terminating in a sortof spike ; peduncles
long, two, apj.roxiniating, fihfoi'm; the flowers nodding, pale blue.' Calyx sub-bila-
biate, tiie two upper segments approximating, the tij)s iincir- Hirsute ; the' three lower
(mes di. uiut, parted to the base, lanceolate, iiirsute, whence-there is a broad hirsute
ipdie ; i> .iiier of the corolta spreaaing at top, roundish; \\ings lanceolate, blunt;
fciui ovdtc, bo»ved in, spreading. Legume lanceolate, bent variously, bowi d in ;
? J ' 11 r 3 ' ' ' " joints

303. HORTUS JAMAICENSIS.- nnfzn

joints, round! ;h, smooth j sce^s roimtUsh, compressed. Native of Jamaica in the dry
sarjt- > Tiarts. — S:r.

Bciidcs the above indigenous apeciesj the following exotics have been i-itroduceil, ,
anc' uo in tile Hurtus Eastcnsis ; the gt/rans,. or moving plant; tlie i^'cai^eticitm ; the.
triuuetriivi ; the graviintum i the onobrychis, whici) is-ciiiled »5'^. -Ft^/w; and is niucl>.,
cultivated m Europe for feeding cattle; and tlie vespertUion{s,xn.iicha\hi\nedior its,
beauty, as, in a gentle breeze, the leaves, a. liuy move, resemble so many variegated ,
butter flii'S r but tii.e most remarkable is tiie first or niovinff pLint, the singular motion ,
CI whlcii is described as foiJorts in Lmneus's Siippl''ment : "This is a woneierful plnnt, ,
on account of its voluntary motion, which is net occasioned by any to'jcli, irrit.aion, .
or moveni^ent.in the air, as in minicsa, oxalis, and dioncva ^ por is it so evanescent as ,.
in au;orplui. No sooner had the plants raised from seed acqnired thejr ternate leaves,
than they began to be in motion this way and that ; this movement ciid not cease during
the wliole coarse of their vegetation, nor were they observant of an\- time, order, or ■
direction ; one ieaiiet frequently revolved, while the. other on tlie same peiiide was .
quiescent ; sometimes a few leaflets only were in motion, then almo: t iiil of them would
be in movement at ORce ; the whole plant was \ery seldom agitateii, and that only dur-
intr the first year. It continued. to move in the stove during the second year of its .
growth, and was not at rest even in winter." It is a native of the East Indies, called .
there burram c/iandcl/',. imd grbvifs and flowers luxuriantly in Jamaica. Swartz ob-
served the motion sometimes cease entireh-. In a hot day it was imnioTeabie, being, -
agitated only in the. evening, and that slowly.

FRENCH MARYGOLD. PECTIS.

Cl. 10, OR. 2. — Syngc7icsia polT/gamia siiperflua. Nat. OR. — Covjposifce,

Gen. cilAR.^Calyx five-leaved, cylindric ; corolla rayed; corollets hermaphrodite
in the disk ; females live in the ray ; corolla of the iiermaphrodite funnel-form, .
five-cleft; of the female ligulate-ovate ; stamens, in the hermtiphvodites, five
short filaments, with cylindric tubular anthers ; the pistil in herraaphrodiles has a ,
linear germ, filiform style, bifid stigma ; in the females, a linear germ, filiform
style, and two revolute stigmas ; there is no pericarp, tlie calyx unchanged, spread-
intr ; seeds in the hermaphrodite solitary, linear; down with two or three spread-
ing awns ; in the females very like the other ; receptacle naked. One species is,
a. native of Jamaica.

LIKirOLIA. I,INEAR-LEAVED.

Ilieraciumfruticosum, angustissimis gramineisfoliis, rapitul;s pan-i's.
Sloane, v. 1, n. 255, t. 150, f. 1. Minor, cuule subdiviso ctiffuso^
foliis linearibusintegris.- Browne, p. 319.

Leaves linear, quite entire, even on both sides.

This plant is common in most of the sugar colonies. The common calyx is composed
of five, six, or seven narrow equal scales, joined together in a cylindric tube, contain-
ing so many female ligulate florets, disposed very orderly round the margin, ana a feil"

bermaphrodite*

FRENCH HOUTUS JAMAICENSia SC;^

IjcriTiaphrodites in the rentre. The plant is spreading and sLmtler, and seldom riiCj
above eighleen or twenty incliCs in liei^lit- — iSrozine-. <,

Two species of the tagetcs or ^^frican mangold, the patula and erecfa, were intro- .
dnc.'=4k'ng age, and have become very common, ornaiTients in Jamaica gardens; they^
k;;"/.' run rit,:) :■ ^r"-;..! manv varit;ties in colour, viz. pi.io yellow, dtx^p yellow^ orange
coli>ur ; iii'iQ with :.ingle, double, and fistuions flowers...

FRENCH OAK.- BTGXONIA.

Cr.. 1-i, OR. 2. — Didynaiiv'a angiospermi''. .- N.iT. or. — Fersomiar^'-
Ttlis was so named in honour of Abbe Bignon, librarian to Louis XIV.
Ges. chak.— Calyx a one-leafed perianth, erect, cup form, five-cleft ; corolla mo»
nopetaitras, campanulate ; tiiroat, bed-form, five-cleft, ventricose beneath, bor-
der five parted; the stamens are four subulate fjlaments, shorter than the corolla,
two longer than the other:, ; anther.s reflex, qblong, as it wer-e doubled; the pistil
has an oblong germ, z filitorm style^ and capitate stigma; the pericarp is a two-
cellett siiiqae, t\vo-vaive:l; partition membranaceous, parallel, thickened- at ta»
sutnres; seeds manv, imbrn ate, compres.^c d, mensbrane-vvingcd on both sides.
Four species are, natives of Jamaica, the Ibllcwing, and the leiuoxyhn, or white*
wood.

T. L0NGISSI5IA; lONG.

Ari'T-mfoliiji Tjatis xtrtxillito-tirnatlsj siliqiia gradli longissime.-^
Browne, p. 264.
Leaves simple, oblong, acuminate; stem erect; seeds woolly. •
This is an elegant upright tree, forty feet high, and upwards. Leaves quite entirPj
■T-'aved, shmmg, opposite or ternate, two inches long, on a slender petiole, an inch in.
}ength, mostly at the ends of the twigs ; racemes terminating, panicled, weak, witli.
•about forty flowers, smelling sweet, whitish, with two fertile and three i>arren stamens.
Siliqucs very. slender, roundish, t\\o feet long, frequently covering the whole head o£'
the tree : seeds linear, acuminate at both ends, clothed with wool. — Jacquin.

Tills beautiful tree is now cultivated in many parts-of .lain-aica, especially in the low-
lands and savannas, where it seems to thriv'e I'ery luxuriantly. It grows to a coiisider-
■ablesize, and is generally looked upon as an excellent timber tree. Its numerous
flowers and slender siliques add a peculiar grace to its growth. — Brozane.

It is known in Jamaica by the name of French oaji ; the French call it c/ie»e >ioir.-^
The.se trees are also known by the name of trumpet Jiowcr. There is anotiicr tree
fom-'times called French oak, the olive bark^ which is afterwards described ijnder that

Z. STANS. STANDIKO.

^.ocynoaffuic Gelseminwn Tndi'cum Itedemceiim frufie'-'m'm-mimix,^^
Sloane, v. 2, p. 63. F/uticcsa, Joliis pinnaiis scrrata ovatii, /lo-
rilnis luteis. Browne, p. 264.
Leaves pinnate, kaflcte serrate ; stem erect) firm i flowers racenied.

aiQ HORTUS JAMAlCF/KSf*!. yvmm

. This shnib is common in all the ^ugar islands, it grows'from fonf to eight feet in«
height, chietiy in a liiy rock_v ur gnivcily soil, witii a small linn and woody trunk,
little branched. Leaves ofjposite, petioled ; Jeail-eis sub-sessiicj, tiongate-ianceolate,
acuminate, A'cined; racfemos teruiiuating, ijpiii^ht ; -the flowej's jeilow, >vith Ved lines
on the insjda of" tire tube ; siiiques halt a foot in letigtii, witii H'ii)i;ed seeds. — Jaapiiiu
IM;i!ej- says he received the seed of this jjlunt'from Bermuda ixy the title wt candlc-rc'ood.;'
aiid iiii ki\o\\n'by ihe naiv^ of l>r(incking ti unipet-jiJicer. .

3. UNGUI.S-CATI. CAT-CLAW.

^poomo affine, Gi'lseminum Jndicum htderacev.m herbaceimi'ictra-'
phj/Uuiii, JoUo-.siibrolundo acuiiiinuto. -Sioane, \. 1, p. :;,08.

Leaves conjugate; tendril very short, bovvet^l, three-parted.

This has a woody stalk, about the bigness of a hen's quill, covered with a smooth
bark of an ash -colour, climbing trees and hedges; at every three or four inches dis-
tance putting forth leaves, which are small, ovate, euiire, shining, roundish, smooth,
rarely indented, and placed opposite at every i-jint ; at which place come also tendrils,
by wnich the plants fasten themselvi .■; to wliatever may be near tiicm. The flowers use
asiiilary, and shaped like those of fox-glove.

:^ee Whiie-\\ood«;?c? Clive Bark.

•French Piivsic Nut — S'er Piivsic Not.

7 No English Name. TUCHSIA.

Cl. 8, OR. \.—Ocl(ni']riamonogynia. Nat. OR. — Onagri.
"This was so named in honour of Leonara Fuchs, a famous German botanist.

>G EN. CHAR. — Calyx one-leiifed, coloured, bearing the corolla,' very large ; corqTIa
four small petals ; stamens four or eight, filifurm ; anthers twin ; the pistil has an
inferior germ, simple styie, an; i oi)tu3e stigma ; the. pericarp an ovate berry, in-
ferior, four-celied ; seeds nianj-, ovate, fixed in a double row to a columnar re-
.ceptacle. 'One species was discovered in this island by Swartz, another, the jco-
cinea, has been introduced.

1. INVOLUCRATA. INVOLUCRED.

J'lowers involucred.

2. COCINEA. SCARLET.

Leaves opposite,, ovate, tooth-letted ; petals obovate, obtuse.
This plant is a native of China, and was intj-oduced by Mr. East. It has an herbace-
bus stem, lanceolate-sessiie leaves, disposed in threes. Peduncles one-flowered.— _
Flowers large, verv fine, of a very bright scarlet, having eight stamens, not projecting
beyond the fovver; and the berry is little larger than an olive, fleshy, soft, reddish-
biack, somev; ha', pubescent, and of a pleasant taste ; the seeds are small and brown,
by wiiich it is propagated.

iFu^(Jus — See MusHRooais. x

T^Ep: HORTU^ JAMAICENS.I-«>. -SJl

FURZE. ULEX.

Cl, 17, on. 4. — Diadclphia decandrict. Nat. OR. — PapUiunacece^

Cf.I*. CHAR. — €al; x a two-!eaved perianth ; corolla has an ob--co!\late standard, ob-
long wings, and a two-petaled keel ; the stamens have simple fiiamcntr., all ton«
nc(le ', and simple aniiieis; the pistil has an oblong germ, a filiform st3'!e, arid
•AW obtuse small stigijria ; the pericarp is an obloiig legume, I'.irgid, scaicciv longer
than the calyx, strafght, one-celled, two-valved ; the seeds are tew, rouiKlU-li,_
emarginaie. Two species liave been introduced,

h EUROPEU3.- EITROPEAK.

This is the common whin, furze, or gorse, so common in Great Britain, which^
-since its introduction, has thriven very well in .Jamaica ; and perhaps should be more
genera'lv cultivntei than it hfis been.- An ingenious gentleman observes, that "Wit.
i^orster, in his ac. oimt of Captain Cooke's second voyago, sa3's,_-that, in th.e island of
St. Helena, wiiere tc.ey have Avqucntly droughts of many months continuance, tiii;i
plant was introduced inio t'leiu burnt pastures, where it throve well, and that, under
its shade, a sward of thick -weet pasture grass made its ajipearance, which withstood
tbe dry weather. . Admitting the' authority of this iLcr, which can hardly be doubted, ■
the ex^?ei'iment merits the most serioits attention of the inhabitants ot the dry flat parts
of this island. Should it be foujid to succeed upon triat, it would soon be seen cover-
ing oar and plairs^- instead of the useless and poisonous oppoponax." In addition to
the above observations, tliere are other great rconanendations to the cultivation of this
plant in Jamaica^ for furze makes good hedges, and is also an excellent fodder for cat-
tie properly prepared.. It is found i)igb!y useful in Scotland for that purpose, during
the winter season ; -where it !s citt young,' bruised, to break the thorns, chopped int©
small pieces, and given ro horses and cattle with great success. All grazing animals'
feed freely upon its tender la{)s. . Where fuel is scarce it wauld also be found higlil^-'
useful, as its wood burns very freely, and witii great heat.

2. CAPENSIS. CAPIi.

Leaves soliiary, obtuse ; spines simple, terminating.
Tills species is a nauve of the Cape of Good Hope, and has also been introdace<Ej^

FUSTIC. MORUS.

Cl. 2T, OR. 4. — Monoecia tetrandrla. Nat. or. — Scahridce.

Gen. char -Male flowers in an anient — Calyx a ibur-part;;d perianth; leaflet;?
ovate, concave; corolla, none; iiie stamens are four awl-si, aped filaments, erect,
longer than the calyx, one witlun each calycine leaf; anthers simple. The female
floners are heaped either on the same or a different individual frjm the males-
Calyx a four-leaved perianth ; leaflets roundish, blunt, permanent, the two op-
posite outer ones incumbent ; there is no corolla; the pistil has a cordate germ ;
•two awl-shaped styles, long, reflex, rugged; with simple stigmas; theie is no-
pericarp ; calyx very large, fleshy, becoming succulent, like a berry ; seed single, .
ovate, acute. One species is a native of Jitiuaica, and four of tiie mulberry kind
bave. been introducecC -

TlKCTORiii— .

^i'2 ^^H CRT us JAMAICENSTS. e^"%kc

TIXCTOUIA. DYING.

Morns frucluviridi, ligno sulphureo tinctorio. Sloanr, v'2, p. 3,'t.
J 53, f. 1. Lactcscens ; Joliis oblongis acutis, paginis cxUrioyibus
produciioribas, ligno citrino. ^Browne, p. 339.

Leaves oblong, more produced on one side ; spinesaxillarj^

This is a tall branching tree, growing forty cr fifty feet, higli, with a light bro^^
t)ark. It Hbounds wiih a slightly giutinous milk of a 3-ellGw colour. • The wood is firm,
solid, and of a yellow colour, an excellent timber-wood,: and used in dying, for which
purpose it furnishes an article of export. '.The branches spread on every iiand, some
cf ti)eni hiiving a le^v awl-shaped solitary spines, and some none. -The leaves are acu-
minate, serrate, veined, distich, on short petioles,- of various sizes, and of a dark
green colour Aments solitary, penduiousj axill;!.ry between the petiole and the spine,
two or three inches in length, cyliudric, and very close ; female flowers collected into
a ghjlie; their receptacles axUlary, glaucous green, solitary, \\\t\i short petioles;
among them are some chafty bodies, which perhaps were flowers suffocated by their
neighbours, and dried up -Fruit yellowish-green, as large as a nutmetc, roundish,
Contaming flat, brown, small, seeds, like linseed ; befoia it ripens niiiky and not

Eleasant ; but when come to maturity it, has a pleasant taste, and is chiefly eaten by
irds. Tliis tree is of a quick growth", Sl'>ane saysije saw trees thirtv or forty feet high
only seven or eight years old. ' It grows commonly in every part of Jamaica, and yields
a yellow and hritili jesin. Barham says the fruit is astringent and cooling, and makes
excellent gargles for sore mouths and tiiroata. It is said that the salt made out of the
ashes of us wood, ten grains with treacle or mithridate, given for three or four days
successively, gives immediate ease in the gout and rheumatism, for which purpose
Pommel asserts that no luediciiie is like it.

This.is one of the most valuable trees in tiie island, whether we consider its use ia
dying, or the excellence of its timber ; the latter quality, indeed, has proved fatal to
£0 many of them, that, unless care is taken to propagate from the seed, it is likely fa
become very scarce. The fruit in size, -colour, and shape, resembles the white mul-
berry ; it is ni perfection in March and April.

' It is painful to reflect on the vast number of these, and other valuable woods in the
..island, which have been annually cut down, for burning and other trifling purposes;
for which many other trees, of less worth, would have been equally fit. Tnis devas-
tation is so inconsiderably made, and so extensive, that the whole class might, by this
time, have been exterminated from Jamaica, if the birds and other animals had not re-
plenished it, in the less frequented parts, with young plants.

Thus much may be said for the settlers ; that, upon opening land for a plantation, it
is necessary to clear the whole wood away ; which is not the case in forming pasture
grounds ; but, when the consideration happens which trees shall be cut down, and
which spared, such a crowd is found of what are valuable and tiseful, for some or other
important purpose, that the choice is difHcult. Yet, as most estates are possessed of
waste land, what deserves to be recommended is, the planting nurseries of the most
useful trees on such lands ; which, if any number of persons were to do, the several
.species would soon be propagated, by birds and other means, in most parts of the
island, where, at present, they are scarce, or not to be met with ; and, at a small ex-
pence^ a sure foundatiaa laid of great future profit. — Long, f, 8i9.

iTke

a*tAPF.B'. IIORTUS JAMAICENSia 5\%

The following' exotic species have been introduced : 1, The a?h'i, nv white rmilherry.
tree, a native of China, which thrives very well iii Jnaiaica, but, .i^e tlis following
species, seidom produces much fi uit. This tree is principallv cultivated for its leaves
as food for silk-Morais, and perhaps those of the f'istic would answer equally well. — ■
2, The 7'ubra, or red mulberry tree, a native of Virginia, also cuitivatei as food for
S!ik-worms. 3, Nigra, the black n.iilberrv, a native of Pi^rsia, waiiri is a tr^e oflavger
size than the white, havin j; the fruit of a dark blackish-red colour, of which a plcasaiii^
wine is made. 4, Papi/nfertt, or paper inulberry, a native of Japan and the South
Sea islands. In Japan a kind of paper is made of its bark; by a process which is dcr
scribed at ;ome length by Koe npfer. Cloth is also made of its bark ia OtaheiUj as»-
well as of that of the bread-fruit tree.

GAhAcriA.—See Blue Pea Flower^

GALAPEE OR ANGELICA TREE. ARALTA.'

Cl. 5, Qii. 5. — Pentandr'a peiitagijnia, Nat. or. — Hederacex,

<&EN. cmR. — Galy X involucre, very small, of a globular umbellule ; perianth five—
toorhed, very smuH, superior; the corolla has five petals, ovate, acute, sessiioj,
reriex ; the stamens are five filaments, subulate, the length of the corolla, with
roundish anthers; the pistil has a roundish germ, inferior; styles very snort,
permanent ; stigmas simple ; the pericarp is a roundish striated berr,-, crowned^.-
£*e-ceiled J seeds soiuary, iiird, oblong. Three species are natives of Jamaica.

I. ARBOREA. TREE.

Lain- if olia arbor /{ore tetrapetalo, friicfii racemnso rofundo cannuIatO'
eLcoronato. Sloane, v. '2, p. -0, t. 16$, f 2. Jrborcafoliis niti- .
dis oblongo-ovatis, iimbellala.va, radiis singulis glandidctnotaUs.—^
Browne, p. 189.
Stem arhoreous ; leaves siini)le ; raj's of the general umbel with a singfe gland..

This tree seldom grows above fourteen or fifteen feet in height, with straight
branches, and moderately large leaves, which come out at the ends of the twigs without
order, on siiort footstalks ; they are narrow at the lieginniug, and augmenting to the
top, where they are blunt and round ; they are smooth, shining, aiul thick. The tops
of tlie Ijranches areadornel with a great 'lumber of flowers, disposed in an umheliated
but irregular order, having only four potais, oblong, of a pale yellow colour ; wjiich
MG succeeded by many small wliitis-h succulent berries, the small umbels )iaving eacli.

S s fvcEi..

31 J HORTUS JAMAICENSTS. galct!*

from ei^t to thrrtyradioli. -The fruit is coroiiatcd, aiid very elegant. — Sioa)ie.SC

2. CAriTATA. UK ADHD.

Leaves elliptical, entire ; racemes cGiupound, terniinating ; flowers sessile, in
little heads. " .

-.Stem arborescent, erect, cj-lindrlccJ, abruptly hraiiched; bark brown, a little,
cracked; branches. curvetl upwards, leafy, terminated by flowers. Leaves scattered,
ni'^'re crowded towards the tops ul the branches, on footstalks, wide-sjjreading, pointed,
Waved. on the margin, very smooth, obscurely thrt'e-ncrvcd, vein\-, bright green;
footstalks \ario\!s in length, nearly tyiindrical, smooth, fi.inily fixed to the branch by
an enlarged triangular base. Bniis consisting of several large, rounvii.-h, smooth, yel-
lowish, scales, soon falling off, which are often tipped with the rutliments of a leaf,
and api)car like abortive leaves .Racemes erect, branches geiicraby alternate, ending
in little round heads of many sessile flc.wers. Common footstalks obsoletely angular,
paie greea, sjjrinkled ifdiii-rusty coloured poy.-der; partial-ones cylindrical ; bracte;
solitary at the l«sc of tiiC latter, small, concave, pointed, entire, powdery. Flowers
nuni-nuus, white, so t.mall that the structure is not readily to be understood, each
stands on i.s proper involucre, resemijling a calyx of one leaf, in five divisions, exter-
nally powdery, permanent. Calyx pale green, smootli, permanent. Petals on the
Diargin of the calyx, ov^te, -eoiivewiiat pointed, v.hitp, datyiiious. Filaments oppo-
site to i]ie teeth of the calyx, and alternate with the petals, spreading, white •, anthers
roundish, two-lobed, yellow; germ below the flower, crowned witii the calyx, rourid-
isli, suiooiii. Styles short, erect, at first united into one body, then spontaneously
splitting into se^-eral, varying in number from thiee to ten; berry smooth, brown,
with five or m.ore cells, t^ach probably coniaining one seed. Jacquin, the first disco-
verer, long ago suspected that this species belonged to the genus hcdera, or ivy, but
later.'.r.uthors have kept it in that of «/■«//«. This hue plant was discovered in Martinico
by Professor Jacquin, aii4 in Jamaica by Dr. William Wright aiul Mr. Ftajicis Massoft-
—~Martj^n„

3. SCIODAPHYLLU.M.

jFvliis majorihus oblongis petiolis covimmiibus umbellatim affixis, fio*
7'ibus spicaiis. Browne, p. 190, t. 19, f. 1, 2.

Arborescent ; leaves digitate, with very numerous unequal leaflets j taceme
very long, simple, nodding ; peduncles mnbelled.

This plant is frequently found in New Liguanca mountains, and Browne's figures
are very correct. He says he only met one of the plants, the trunk of which was about
twelve or thirteen inches in diameter, and raised its branched top to the height of four-
teen or fifteen feet. The leaves ixre generally from sixteen to twenty- together, simple,
oblong, and supported by moderate footstalks, whereby they are fastened in an umbel-
lated form to the top of so many common supporters, generally longer than the leaves,
of a moderate thickness, and sustaining their burthen with great ease; while the others
spread themselves like an umbrella, and cast a.beautiful shade below them. The flowers
stand on simple robust spikes. — Brmme.

Gaumeta— -SVe Bastard Butiv Tree,

GARDEH

mT..:i, nORTUS JAMaTCK^'SIS, di*

» GARDF.N BALSAM. IMPATIEN'S.-

Cl. 19, on. 6. — Si/PgcnesHt monoga-niia. N.\T. or. — Cori/i!it!c.^,

Tiiis was so named on accoiiiit of its fruit being impatient, and bursting open on tkfi
least touch.

Genvchar. — Calyx a t'TO-i-eavcd perianrii ; errolla iive-petaled, irreirnlar, with a
cowled nectary, whose base ends in a rail or spur ; stamens short, antliers connate ;
the pistil has an ovate-acuminate germ, no style, and a simple; stigma ; the peii-
carp is one-celled, live-valved, superior, springing open ctastically, the vaivc3
rolling spirally ; seeds several, roundish, fixed to a columnar receptacle. One
species of-this gonus has been introduced, and grows plentifully in Jamaica.

BALSAMINA. BALSA.M.

Peduncles one- flowered, aggregate; leares lanceolate, tks upper onas alter.- -
nate ; nectary shorter than the tlawer.

Tt'hath a fibrous root, an upright,thick, succulent stalk, Irranching all around, a foot-
and a half or two feet high ; with long spear-shaped sawed leaves, the upper ones al-
ternate ; and fronx the joints of the stuik and branches clusters of short footstalks, each
sustaining one large irregular flower, of different colours in the varieties ; which are
succeeded hj capsules that hursfcopen and dart forth their seeds with gi'eat velocity,"
when touched, whence they are often called iour/i me not. The valves twist spirallj-,
and contain roundish seeds fixed to a column. It is easily propagated from the seedsj
and from its great variety of beautiful colours, if tastefully intermingled, forms a great
ornament to the garden. It is a native of the fJa^t Indies, and was brought to Jamaica
many years ago, where it thrives well, and has been generally cultivated on account o?
i<& beauty. The seeds grow very readily.

See JusTK'iA BalsaMj
Garden Cress — See Pepper Gbas3.

GAHLIC. ALLTU]\r.

Cl. S, or. 1. — Ilexandna monogynla. 'NaT. or^.—tSpathacea^
<Jen. char. — See Eschalot, p. 28+.

SATIVUJr, CULTIVATED.

"Bull) compound ; stamens three-cusped.

This well known plant thrives extremely well in Jamaica, thou^li a native ofEuropw*
It-.has a bulbous root, of an irregularly roundish shape, with several fibres at the bot--
tom ; each root is composed of a number of lesser bulbs, called cloves of garlic, in-
closed in one common membranous coat, and easily sepera!)le from one another. All'
the pans of the plant, but more especially the root?, have an acrimonious, and almost-'
caustic, taste, wivh a strong offensive smell.

This pungent root, warms and stimulates the solids, and attenuates tennciousjuire.': ;-
&* vviiicii it is well adapted, on account of its being very penetrating ; iiiso.JUch th t,

S i-2 kUhvt*

316 IIORTUS JAr.IAlCENSl-S. -a'-Rl.*?

t\hon applied to the feet, its scent is soon discovered in the breath ; and, when taken
iiiternaliv, its smell is communicated to the urine, or the matter ol'an issue, and per^
sj)ires through the pores of tl>eskin. Hence, in cold eucophiegmatic habits, it proves
a powerful expectorant, diuretic, and ennncnagoguc ; and, if the patient is^ kept warm,
sudorific. It is also of great service in humoral asthmas,. and catarrhous disorders of
the breast, and in other disorders proceeding frem a laxity of the solids, and cold slug-
gish indispositions of the fluids. It is also frequcntiy of service in the dropsy ; in the
beginning of which it is particularly reconimciidcd i)y Sydenham, as a warm sirengtii-
ennig medicine ; we have even many examples where it acts so pawerfuUy as a diuretic,
as to carry ofi all the water of dropsies. It mav be taken the length of a drachm or two
in substance for ji dose.— We have a syrup and oxymel made with it, which may be
employed for thesame. purposes as the garlic in substance ; but they are mostly used
in pulmonic disorders. fJxternally applied, it inflames and' ulcerates the skin, Tind is
sometimes employed for this use in sinapisms. It has also been recommended by Sy-
denham as a most powerful reveilent; for vvhich purpose he wps led to make use of it
in the confluent small-pox. His method was to cut the root in pieces, and apply it
tied in a linen cloth, to the soles of the feet, about the eighth day of the disease, aftef
the face began to swell, renewing it once a day till the danger was over. — When made
into an unguent with oils, and applied esternallv, .garhc is said to resolve and discuss
cold tumours, and has been by some greatly celebrated in cutaneous disorders. The
acrimonious qualities of this root, liowever, render it manifestly improper on many oc-
casions. --Its liberal use is apt to occasion head-achs, flatulencies, thirst, febrile heats,'
inflammatory distempers, and sometimes discharges of blood from the hasmorrhoidal
vessels. In hot bilious constitutions, where there is already a degree of irritation,

Avhere the juices areioo thin and acrimonious, or the viscera unsound, it never fails to

-ap'gravate the distemper.

A dose or two oi garlic, pounded v/ith honey, and taken two or three nights together,
is good in rheumatic cases ; a clove of it kept in the mouth is said also to be a good
preservation against infection. A quart of water, poured boiling hot upon a pound of
the fresh njot cut into slices, and suffiered to stand upon it in a close vessel, for twelve
hours, becomes strongly impregnated with the smell and taste of it ; and this infusion,
with a proper quantity of sugar, makes the syrup of srarlic of the shops. Vinegar and
honey excellenily coincide with and im;)rove this medicine, as a detergent and deob-
struent, in disorders of the breast : a composition of -this kind is prepared by infusing
an ounce and a half of the fresii root in half a pint of vinegar, and dissolving in the
strained liqaof, by thp heat of a water-bath, ten ounces of clarified honey : to cover ia
some degree the ill smell of the garlic, a little carraway and sweet fennel seed, bruised,
two drachms ot each, are boiled for a short time in the vinegar, before the garlic is put
in. The garlic itself should never be boiled, its essential oil, in which its virtue con-
sists, exhaling during thai process.

Sir William Temple, in his Treatise on Health and Long Life, says, " Garlic h^s,
of all plants, the greatest strength, affords most nourishment, and supplies most spirits
to those wiiO eat little flesh. It is of great virtue in colics, a great strengdiener of the
stomach upon decays or indigestion, uiid, I believe, (if there be any such) a specific
remedy in the gout. I have known great testimonies of this kind within my acquaint-
ance, and ha\ e never used it nijself, u^jon tiiis occiiiion, vvitliout ail Oipinion of some
success or advantage."

■CARfac IIORTUS JAMA-ICENSIS, 317

"Hughes, in his 'History of Earhadoes, gives the following methotl of destroying
Cuiney worms : Take an ouiKe of gurlic, one of blark pepper, pulverised, and an
ounce of the flour of brimstone ; mis: ttiese well together in a quart of rum ; and for
three or four mornings suecessiveiy give a wine glass full of this infusion to the person
afflicted ; and, if he hath a iliousand about him, each will contract itself into a coil,
and die, and then fall oliin the form of a boil trom the surface. cJf tlie skin. — liugkeSf
J). 42.

Besides the common -garlic, the g7'acll(', or African gariic, has also been introdticed
from Africa ; and has been erroneously termed Jamaica garlic, from the circumstance
of Hinlon East, Esc^. having sent the seeds from this island to Ensrland in the ycitr

See EscJhalot and 0>aoN,

GARLIC PEAR-TREE. CRATEVA.

Cl.11, or. 1. — Dodec<indria monogynia. Nat. or. — Puiaminece.

This generic name is said to be derived from Cratevas, a Greek botanist, mentionet^
^y Hippocrates.

Gen. THAR. — Calyx a one-leafed, four-cleft, deciduous, perianth, flat at the base -j
divisions spreading, ovate, unequal ; the corolla has four petals, which are ob-
long, bent dowB lo the same side, claws slender, length of the calyx, inserted
into the divisions ; stamens sixteen or more (twelve to fourteen), bristle-formj
declined to the side opposite the petals, shorter than the corolla ; anthers erect,
-oblong; the pi.-,iil is a germ on a ver\' long filiform pedicel, ovate; no stvle-;
stiga;a sessile, headed ; tne pericarp, a berry, fleshy, globose, verv large, pedi-
celled, one-celled, two-valved ; seeds many, roundish, emarginate, nestliiig.^-^
Tw o species are natives of Jamaica.

1. TAPIA,

/Inon^ trifdia, fiors sfamineo, friictii sphtericofemtg'nen scahra mi-
iwre, aim odorc. Sioane, v. 2, p'. 169. Arborea triphi/ila, Joliis
crassis ovalis. Browne, p. 247.

'-Unarmed ; leaflets ovate, acuminate ; petals ovate-roundish, blunt ; germs
globular.

This tree has a large trunk, and rises to the height of thirty feet, or more, coveied
with a dark green bark, sending out many branches, so as to form a large head. The
branches are garnished with trifoliate leaves, standing on pretty long footstalks ; the
riiiddle leaf, which is ilruch longer than the others, is oval, about five inches long, and
two and a hall' broad in the middle ;• the tv/o side leaves are oi)lique, those sides which
join the middle leaf being much narrower than the other, and turn at both ends toward
the middle, so tliat their midrib is not parallel to the sides ; these two end in acute
points : they are all smooth, of a light green on the upper side, and paler below, their
«dges entire, and standing on short footstalks. The flowers are produced at the ends
fti the branches, standing upon long peduncles. The fruit is about the size of an

orangffj

313- IIO-HTUS Jama ICE N 519. .6fcyi»-

©raiiiiP, perfectiv spherical, b.aving a hard-brown sliel), fx ccve.r, a mra'lly ■pulp. l*c-
that of a |xar, sweetish, spjclling iike giirhc, ('.vjience the namt-) ; and near its itntte
are placed many kidney-shaped seeds^ black, shiningv and largr. This tree g+'ows
•very commonly in the lowlands of Jaiuaica, , and its iVuit is edible, though not very
piea-sant. When hogs or other animals eat. of, them, lhe\' comnumiemte the smell of
frarlic to their flesh. Barbara sa}s tlie fruit is cooling aud resilrjngpnt,. and that ths
leaves are an excellent remedy, outwardly apjjlied, to take away all indammati(jns of
llie anus and haemoi'rhoids ^ and also to e^ise pains of the hcail and cars.

2. GVNAKDXA. GVNAKDROUS.

I

jirborea ti'iphj/Ua,foliis ovatis glabyisy racemu icrjniiiaiibu'^. ^ro^vnej

p. 2 to. " ' y. , .

Unarmed ; leaflets ovate^. qrite entire ; flowers gynandrous.

This is very like the other species, and is principally distinguished by having thinner
leaves, and the stamens elevatfcd on a column the height of the calyx. The trunk gro.ws
to twenty feet high. Ti'C Bovvers are of a purpiC colour. It is a native of Ja\T!aica,'_.
irrowin"- in dry copitices near the sea, flowering in ^lav. and Jcine. The plant has a
burninf taste and a nauseous smell. In Dr. Dancer's Medical Assistant,, the. bark cf .
vixe rootis said to vesicate or blister like caniharides.

GENIP-TREE. MEUCOCCA.

Gl. 8, OR. 1, — Octancln'a moyingynfa. NaT. OR. — Sapindi.

This was so named by Browne from two Greek words, signifying honey grain.

Gen. chau. — Calyx a four-parted perianth ; leaflets ovate, concave, blunt, spread-
ing ; the corolla has four petals, oblong, equal, bent back entirely among ihe^
leaflets of the calyx ; the stainens are eight awl-shaped filaments, upright, short ;
anthers oblong, upright; the pistil has an oviite germ, almost the length of the
corolla; style very short ; stigma large, sub-peltate, extended on both sides, ob-
lique ; the pericarp is a barked drupe, round, or ovate ; the seed a coriaceous nut,
roundish, smooth. Tliere is only one sptjcies, which was brought to Jamaicr.
^lauy years ago.

BIJUGA- T-l'/O-PAlRED.

Foliis ut pluriinum bijugatis ovatb, per pennas alatas dispo$it{s.—m-
Browne, p. 210.

This beautiful fruit tree has a strong Tinarmed trunk, and grow-s to a considerable
size, with thick spreading branches. The leaves are pinnate with two pairs of leaflets;
the common petiole elongated, round below, channelled above, somewhat compressed
betiveen the leaflets, which are sub-sessile, or on very short petioles, ovate, acumin-
ate at both ends, entire, nerved, smooth on both sides, bi-ight green. The racemes
are compound, ternnnating ; branclilets alternate, simple, upright.- Nectary 'and an-
thers yellow. The base of the ger.m is surrounded i>v a carnous umbilicus, made up of
■eight iii-ctarcous glands ; the cup is permanent. Drupe about an inch in diameter,
sometimes oval, sometimes round, having a thin green, brittle bark, grooved on tht?
iiskie; tiie sgcu. (there is rareljjnoie than ono) is covered .witja a dsliciousiy sweet*

aciol -

e^WA>«5«li KORTUS JAMArCENSIS. ■?V9

-aftiil gelatinous substance, like the yolk of an egg, mixeii with very fine fibres, adhere
■ing tenaciously to the seed, and is very agreeal)ie to the taste. It flowers in April and
May, and the fruit is in' perfection abou-t August. One tree bears hermalphrodite
flowers, and another male only, which therefore never produces any fruit. Of the last
kind is the large and beautiful tree fiow growii.g opposite the secretary's office, in
Spanish Town, which is at present nearly forty feet higii, having a trunk two feet and
a half in diameter, and about twenty-one yeai-s old. Browne says the first of these
trees was brought to Jamaica from Surinam, by one Guaf, a Jew. It has since been
generally propagated, and thriven remarkably well in the lowlands ; and a great num-
ber have been ptant-ed in the towns, where they not only afford ornament, but, from
their thick foliage, a very agreeable shade. , This tree sheds its leaves annually, if! tha
spring, when the new leaves and blossoms make their appearance together 5 and, ia
rainy weather, the progress of its vegetation is so rapid that the new leaves are coni"
pletely budded and unfolded in the short space of forty-eight hours, the old fohage,
yet in a green state, which ornamented the tree only yesterday, is forced off and strewed
withering on tl]£ ground. When the blossoms open thej- diffuse their agreo-ibie fra-
grance to a very considerable distance, and attract towards them, during that time,
swarms of bees and humming birds to feed upon their honey. It has been observed
that these trees, when young, bear blossoms two or three years without being succeeded
by any fruit; and it is also remarkable that the leaves of old trees lose the foliated mar-
gin upon the coinaiou middle nb, which is only to be seen in the leaves of the young
ones.

See Sea Side Plum.

t?EE,MANpER. TEUCRIUM.

Cl. H, or. 1. — Didynamia gymvospermia. Nat. or. — VeriiciUatoe.

This was so named from Teacer, son of Scamander, and father in law of Dardanu-j

?Sing of Troy.

•-Gen. char. — ^Calyx a one-leafed half five-cleft perianth ; corolla one-petaled, rin-

gent, upper lip two-parted, beyond the base, divaricating where the stamens are ;

stamens four filaments, with small anthers ; the pistil ha.s a four- parted germ, a.

"filiform style, and two slender stigmas ; there is no pericarp ; calyx unchanged,

fostering the seeds at the bottonj, which are four, roundish. One species is a \vi.<

tive of Jamaica,

INFLATUM. INFLATED.

Subhirmtinn ; foUis ovatis., denfalo serrad's ; spicis strictiorilus, cras-^
sis terminalibiis. Browne, p. 257.

Xeaves oblong-acuminate, unequally serrate, pubescent ; spikes sessile, ter«»
minating ; calj'xes inflated, villose.

?his is called thick spiked or hairi/ germander. Browne says it is pretty frequent in
the lower parts of St. Mary's, where it grows very luxuriantly, though it seldom rises
above two feet and a half in height. The flower-cup is a little inflated, and the spikes
€tifi^, straight, and thick.

- " • See Sea Side Gekmandeb.

320 HOKTUS JAMAICENSia ..oe3\8M4>

No English mme. GESNERIA.

Ci,. 14, 011.2. — Dldynamia angiospermic. Nat. or. — Persona(a\

This was so named by Plumier, in honour of»Coiirad Gesner of Zaricji, a famous-,
, botapist and natural historian.

Cen. THAR. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, superior, five-cleft, sharp, permanent;
corolla one-petaled, incurved and recurved, tube thickish, with a contracted neck
and tunnel-fonn throat; bor.ler five cleft, blunt; unper divisions concave, three
lower flat, spreading; the stanens are four fiiamant^, shorter tttan the corolla,
with simple anthers ; the pistil has an inferior germ, flatted ; a fi Vorm style, the
same in situation and lenp;th with the stamens ; stig.na capitate ; t e pericarp is a
roundish cajjsule, crowned with the patulous calyx, su!i-biloculai \ partition in
the middle longitudinally interrupted : (Swartz says, if cut transvei iely near the
top, it appears one-celled ; if through the middle two-celled) ; seeds extreinely
numerous, and very small ; peceptacles on each side fastened to the partition.——
Eleven species of tliis genus have been fouad in Jamaica.

1. PULCHELLA, BF.AUTIFUL.

Achimenes 2. — Minor, erecta, si'^-'ple.v ; f<'Uis crenatis, ovatis, op^
posit is vel ternatis ; Jloribiis petiolatis singularibiis ad alas. Browne^
p. 271, t. 30, f. 1.

Herbaceous; leaves ternate, ovate, acute, serrate, villous ; peduncles axillary, .
one-flowered.

This is an elegant little plant, seldom growing above fourteen inches high, and has
been found near the Hope lliver, and in other p.uTs of the low mountains in Liguaiiea.
The root is branched, fibrous, stoloniferous. The young shoots resemble aments or
catkins, are cyhndric, and closely imbricate, with ovate pubescent scales, thickened
at the base, emarginate, and red. Stems several, almost upright, branched, round,
covered thick widi a fine do>vn, dusky purple, herbaceous ; branches ternate, spread-
ing ; the stem leaves are in threes, on the branches usually opposite, ovate, or ovate-
lanceolate, sharp at both ends, loosely serrate, entire at the base, vvith nerves p'Omi-
nent below, .grooved above, villose en both sides, green, beneath paler, and frequently
blood-red: petioles round on one side, oa the other flattish and slightly chainelied,
one-third the length of the leaves.. Flowers resembling those of ruellia, axillary, so-
litary, peduncled, inclined, red; peduncles spreading very much, round, villose,
red, twice the length of the petioles ; calyx villose, ending in a turbinate germ, red
at the base : tube of the corolla pubescent, of a fine vermillion colour ; throat tricallous
at bottom, with oblong tubercles, hollowed outwards, each opposite to each segment;
tiie opening of the lime of a rich carmine colour. Besides the four fertile filaments,
there is a fifth superio-r to and shorter than the others, which has no anther. Tiiis
plant has been made a new genus, cyrilla, as it differs from the other species of gesne^
ria, by its funnel-form corolla, with a cylindric straight tube, and aflat almost equal,
border. Browne says it thrives best in a cool gravelly soil, well furnished with mois-
ture, and intermixed widi rich mould ; and that oa aecouut of its beauty and elegance,
it. should be cultivated iu flower gardens, .

3, ACAUH^>.

GRsNtRU HOnxUS JAMAICENS'IS, t<i

2. ACAULIS. STEMLESS.

Bcpuncido (iffviis anomala rasciilifera, folio ohloiXf^o, ^errato, florc
coccinco tubulmo, svmine viiniilo, ohloiigo, lultv. Sloane, v. I, p.
159, t. lO'J, f. 1. Juipcstrif: indivisa, foiiis oblongh rugosis sunvji-o
caule disposius, foiibus singularihus ad alas. Browne, p. 202.

Leaves lanceolate-ovate, serrate, sub-petioletl, crowded at the end ; peduncles
three- flowered, shorter than the leaf.

This has a woody rouni' strm, and a ciay-coloiired hark, with some furrows in i^,
'rising three or four inches high, having at the top very many oolong leaves, standing
very thick, without any order, on footstalks a quarter of an incii in length, covered
with a reddish wool, like moss. They are seven inches long, and an inch and a half
broad, near the farther end, whence they narrow to a point, and they also grow gra-
dually narrower to the footstalk. From tht; axils come out small peduncles, branched,
sustaining scarlet flowers an inch long, which are followed by a short, fungous, cor-
nered seed vessel, having no distinct cells, containing many small, fihlong, yellowish
seeds. — Sloaiir. Browne calls it small tuft-ed gcs?feria, with scarlet flower.s ; and ob-
serves, that the stem is always simple, creeping along the rocks, and bearmg
a pretr; large tuft of leaves, at the extremity, with single flowers springing from each
axil, S variz describes the stem as very short at first, but, as it advances, becoming
frequently a foot ui length, and in this state covered with leaves and calyxes. Tiic
Icaves are r'.igged and wrinkled. The calyx is five-parted ; the parts linear and very
long : the liaib of tiie corolla is contracted and five-notched ; the filamenls are nearly
equal ; the anthers roundish and connected ; the germ is ovate ; the style longer than
the corolla ; the capsule is covered with the calyx, is five-cornered, grooved, and two-
celled. It grov/s in the cranies of rocks going to Sixteen- Mile- Walk.

^. TOMENTOS.\. DOWNY.

DigiicUsy folio oblongo serrato, ad foliorura alas florida. Sloane, v.
1, p. 162, t. 104-, f. 2. Erecta, foliis lanceolatis rugosis kirsutis,
■pedur.culis laiigissimis I'amosis ex alls superioribxis. Brownfi, p. 26 1.

Lcdvtfs ovrite-lanceolate, crenate, hirsute j peduncles lateral, very long, co-
rymbife:ous.

This plant rises with a shrubby stalk the height of from four to six feet, and is de-
scribed as follows by Swartz : *' Stem upright, a yard in height, suffrutescent, round,
wrinkled, and hirsute. Leaves scattered towai-ds the end of tlie stalk, en very short
petioles, spreading, acuujinate, serrate, nerved, and netted-vemed, somewhat clammy,
softisli, tonientose-hirsute, hoary underneath ; stipule roundish, revolute, crenate-,
totnentose ; peduncles erect, round, hirsute, clammy, forming a sort of corymb at
top, with unequal sub-divided pedicels. Corolla irregular, sub-campanulate, gibbous
at the base and under the limb ; the two upper segments approximate, so as to form
one as it were that is bifid, arched in the middle, spotted on the inside with yellow and
dark purple ; tho three lateral ones are spreading, ovate, acute ; the lowest ventricose
^inderneath ; the tube is spotted within. The two anterior filaments are longer than
the two others, and bowed in towards the pistil ; anthers convex ; style longer than
the corolla ; stigma cut half way transversely ; capsule crowned with the calyx, two-
celled." Tiiis is called by Browne the hairy erect gcsneria, with open flowers, who

T t says

323 IIORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 'Ot^.-CES-

eays it is comninn on tlie river courses, espaciaily where the banks are dry an J roc.vy.
Sioaae says the whole plaut has a strong smell.

4. GRAK-DIS. GREAT.

Leaves broad-lanceolate, very long, tooth-lettecl, rongh-haifed above, rugged
beueatii ; peduncles terminating ; stem arborescent.
This and the foUomng species, with the exception of humilis, were disco\'nred by
Swarcz in .Taniaica ; ihey are all shrubby plants ; and, as well as the other species, ,
easily propagated from seeds.

5. SCABRA. KUOGED.

Leaves ovate-lanceolate, serrate, rugged ; peduncles axillarj' ; corollas cylin--
dric, recuived.

6. CORYMCOSA. CORYMBED.

Leaves ovate, acute, serrate, scariose, sharp; peduncles niany-parted ; Rowers
in corymbs.

7. EXSERTA. THRUSTING.

Leaves ovate-lanceolate, crenate, smooth ; peduncles three-flowered ; genitals,
twice the length of the corolla ; capsules ovate.

S.'CALYCINA. CALYXEB.

Leaves lanceolate-ovate, acuminate, serrate, smooth ; peduncles three-flowered i_
genitals longer than tiie corolla ; calyxes bell-shaped ; capsules cylindric.

9. VENTRICOSA. VENTRICOSE.

Leaves elliptic, acuminate, crenate, smooth; peduncles four-flowered, or ■
thereabouts; segments of the calyx awl-shaped, elongated; corollas ven»
tricose.

10. PUMILA. DWARF.

Stemless; leaves ovate-wedge-shaped, crenate, sub-sessile; peduncles sub-t-
biflorous, shorter than the leaves.

11. HUMILIS. HUMBLE.

Leaves lanceolate, serrate, sessile ; peduncles branched, many-flowered.
The root of this is diffused and creeping ; stem branched, naked at bottom; leaves-^
aggregate at top, deciduous.

GiiANDiROBA — See Antidote Cocoon.

GINGER. AIMOMUM.

Cl. 1, OR. 1. — Monandria monogynia. Nat. or. — Scitaminece.
Gen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, cylindraccous, unequally trifid ; corollamo"
Bopetalous, funnel-shaped ; tube cylindi-aceous ; border tlu'ee-parted, parts obloi^g^,

une{iual.

^.NGSR HORTUS JAMAICIENSIS; , 22'.S

unequal, spreading ; nectary two-}eave<l or two lipped ; lever lip inserted under
the iippt;r segment of tlie corolla, spreading, al-most erect, cntirti-or tLree-lobed ;
the stamen has no filament, except the upper lip of the noctary, smalier then the
lower, and opposite to it, acuminate, or three-lobed at the tip ; along the niiiidlo
or at tlie end of which grows longitudinallj' a large oblong anther, geminate, or
divided by a longitudinal furrow into two, which are one-valved ; the pistil ha^S an
inferior oblong germ, a filiform style, drav^n tin-ough the suture of tlie anllier';
stigma turbinate, obtuse, ciliate; the pcricar]) is a tleshj' capsule, ovate, three-
cornered, three-celled, three-valved; seeds several, covered with a sort of berried
aril. Obs. — The inflorescence is in a spike on a distinct scape. Two species
of this geuus grow plentifull}' in Jamaica.

1. ZINZIBER. GTNGER.

Foliis lunteolatisy floribus spicatis, scapo Jlorifero pariiali. Browne,
p. 119.
Scape middle sized ; spike oTate ; leaves linear-la'nceolate.

Hoot creeping, bjpaimate, compressed, flesh}', tubers, with age becoming fibrose.

■Cuiiii annual, two feet high, quite single, solid, upright. Leaves iialf a foot ni length,

smooth, alternate, on short embracing petioles. Scape scperate, eight inches high,

thick, round, straight, scaly, usually without leaves; spike upright, composed of

■ ]u'rge, ovat-', sub-acuminate, coloured scales, half closing the flowers ; calyx a small

<l)uble spaihe. Corolla yellowish green, witli a long slender tube; the segments of

the ijOrder conical,- and nearly equal. Nectary reddish brown, ovate, quite entire,

.peui-shajied, winged on each side at the base, somewhat shorter than the corolla,

fastened to it heiow the interior fissure of the segmeats. Filament (upper lip of the

nectary) fiiit'orm, placed on the corolla, and shorter than it; anther ovate, large, cloven

longitudinally, embracing the filiform style; stigma cylindraceous, ciliate at the tip;

capsule iJHi?jL>iiJ, witn many oblong seeds in it. — Loiireiro.

^. ""■ — '

'This plaivt is a native of the East Indies, and was introduced into New Spr.in by a
person named Francisco de Mendoza, from whence it most probably was brought to
Jamaica, where it now grows so plentifully, even in a wild state, as to induce a belief
that it was indigenous to the soil. Since its introduction, it has become an article of
considerable export, for which purpose it has been generally cidtivated. The foUovy-
ing manner of preparing it in .lamaica is extractetl from Long's History :

" It is propagated by the smaller pieces, prongs, or protuberances of the root, each
of which throws up two different steins; the first bears the leaves, and rises to the
height sometimes of three feet or upwards, 1)ut its usual growth seldom exceeds eigh-
teen inches. It thrives best in a rich cool soil, and, therefore, what has been recently
cleared fro«i wooil isvvell adapted to the culture of it, more especially as it is supposed
to be a great impos'erisher of land. In such a soil, it grows so luxuriantly, that a hand,
or large spreading- rout, will weigh near a pound. It is, however, remarked, that what
is produced from a clayey, tenacious soil, shrinks less in scalding, while such as is
raised in ricner, free, black moulds, loses considerably in that operation. The land
intended for the cultivation of it, is first v^ ell cleaned with the hoe, then slightly
trenched, and planted about the month of March or April. It attains its full height,
an d flowers about August or September ; and fades about the close of the year. \\ heu
iliO staik ii eatircly withered, the roots are in the proper state for digging. This is

• ' T 1 3 ^ generally

3'24 HO R T U S ■ J A I\I A I C E N S I S, qi.nge»

gcticrally perfirmod in ihe n)oritl)s of Jamuiry and Fchniarj'. After heiiifr dug, they
are iiickcd, rieansed, arulgradaaily suetht'd or !;c:i!dcd in boliiri;:; water, they are then
fcpruad out, and cxpii3fi(! every (iav to tiie s-uii, till sutlicicutly dried; mid, after beini^
tiivided into parad:; of about one hun;li'ed puunds each, tiiev are packed iit bai^s for tiie-
niai-ket: tkiih c<di<ii\tl\ii black ginger. 'Hie mann>::r*bf scalding, the roots is as-foU
Ir^'.vs: a lavoe pot or copper is fixed. in the field, or some convenient place, >vhicli is
kept fiiii of boiling water ; the pieke'd ginger, being divided in small p;.reels, is laid in
baiiccts, and plunged alternately in the waiter, where it is suTeied to stay for the spacie
of ten or fifteen minutes ; it is then spread on a platform for drying ; but care is taken,
during the process, to char.'ge the water so soon as it becomes much iinpr^egnated with
tiie jtiices of the root. ,

" The white sort differs but little from the black roots. The difference there is arises
T.bcily from tiie methods of curing them ; the white is never scalded, but, instead of
thi» easy process, they are picked, scraped, and washed, once at a time, and then
dried ; all which re<]>iires too nuich pains and time for any real advantage to be gained
in the properties ; though, being made more agreeable to the eye, the price of the
vhite is much liigher at market.

*' When the root is intended for a sugar-preserve, it is dug while tender and full of
Juice ; the stems at this time rarely exceed five or six inches m height ; the root is
rarefully picked, wasiied, and afterwards scalded, till it is sufficiently tender ; it is
then put in cold water, and peeled and scraped gradually. This operation may last
three or four days, during which it is cotnmonly kept ia water, and the water frequently
shifted, as well for cleanliness as to extract more of the native acrimony. After this
preparation, it is laid in unglazed jars, and covered with a tiiin syrup, which in two or
three days-is shifted, and a richer put in ; this is sometimes again removed, for a third,
or fourth ; but more than three are seldom requisite. 7'he shifted syrups are not lost,
for, in Jamaica, they are diluted with v/ater, and fermented into a pleasant liquor,
called cool drink, with some mixture of the chasv-stick, lignum vitse, and sugar.

" Whether in its natural state or candied, this root is esteemed a good remedy
against the cholir, loosenesses of the belly, and windy disorders. It sti-engthens the
stomach, helps digestion, and is often added as a corrector to purges ; its use in culi-
nary preparations is well known." — Long, p. 700.

The roots of ginger appear to be much less liable to heat the constitution than might
be expected from the penetrating warmth and pungency of its taste. It gives out tho
whole of its virtue to rectified spirit, and great part of it to water. The spirituous
tincture inspissated yields a fiery extract, smelling moderately of the ginger. A syrup
niade from an infusion of three or four ounces of the root, in three pmts of boiling
water, is kept in the shops. The cases in which ginger is more immediately servicea-
ble are, flatulent cholics, tlebility and laxity of the system, and in torpid and phleg-
matic constitutions, to excite a brisker action of the vessels. A limpid red transparent
oil, swimming on water is, by smiple distillation, got out of these roots, agreeing in
smell t:nd taste with ginger, only more mild. Dr. Wright says that ginger is good in
baths and fomentations, in complaints of the viscera, pleurisies, and obstinate conti-
-nued fevers. Infused in rum or wine, with filings of steel, it is also said to be useful
in obstructions.

Ginger tea has been recommended in gouty cases. The mode of taking it is by

powdering^

(it^:OE% r-rORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 5l.'5-

ro'.vd'.'rinj,' the drifu root rough in a ni/^rtar. BeL^in witlia heaped ten-spoonful, talcfu
in boiled niillc, eitlier fof supjier or breakfast. Tiie quantity may he increase:! to two
or even tUree drachms.. Tnt.se directions \vt;reals(> given by Dr. Wrig-ht; to wliom Sir
Joseph Banks gave the following account ot'its effects upon hiiHself, in 1781 : " I have
taken two tea-spoo.ifuls heaped up, of ginger powder^ in a pint of milk, boiled with
bre-; 1, and s\ve:;tened vvitii sugar, for brealifastj Hir liiore than a year past. The weight
'.>f the gini^er is between t.va and thc-ee drachms. At; first, this quantity was difficult to
swallow, if the ginger was good. I was guided in the qnaatitv by the effect it liad ou
ruy stomach ; if it made me hiccough tlje dose was too large. I found occasionally tiiar
it produced (;ri/cr i4)7';;.-f; but this went off without-any ill consequences whatever. I
iiave not j-et found it necessary to increase the dose; but I use rather a coarser pov%'der
than I did at first, which mixes more easily with the milk, and probably produces rather'
inoreeffect than the fine.

" The late Lord Rivers took ginger in large dosss for more than thirty years ; and
at eighty was an upright and healthy old man.

" I have, since I used the ginger, had one fit of the gout ; but it was confined en-
tirely to my e.xtremities, and never assailed eitfier my head, my loins, or mv stomach,
and lasted only seventeen or eighteen days ; hut the last fit I had, before I took thai
ginger, affected my head, my stomach, and my loins, and lasted, with intervals, from
the end of October to January." — Sinciair^s Code of HiSilth, v. 1, p. 233.

The root, preserved or ■candied, is an excellent stomachic, warming and comforting ;
boiled in wine, with a little cummin seed, it eases the pain of the stoinach, and causes
sweat; outwardly applied, mixed with cocoa-nut oil, draws out poisons in wounds ;
and rubbed upon the stomach, comtorts it, aad eases paius from a cold cause. — £ai'-
ham, p. 63,

2. SYLVESTRE. WOODy.

Zinziber sylwstrc majus, fructu in pediculo singulari. Sloane, v. I,
p. 166, t. 105, f. 2. Scapojiorifero partiali aphyllo, spica longiori,
Browne, p. 113.
Scape naked ; spike elongate, %yith oblong ventricose bractes ; leaves broad-
lanceolate.
This is called great wild ginger, and is freonent in the v/oods of .lamaica. The root
is larger than that of the common einsrer. The stalk cjrows from four to eight feet high,
quite simple, and round, furnished with oblong leaves that decrease towards the top.
The flowers grow on particular stalks, about twa or three feet high, immediately
springing from the root, jointed, and having each internode covered with a dry pur-
plish membrane, coming from the under joint, and on its top a spike of flowers, four
inches long, of a pal^ purple colour. Sloane says the juicy skin stains a brown colour,
and has been used for ink. The leaves, stalk, and unripe fruit, smell pleasantly, when
Tubbed. The root is warm, and stimulates very gently ; it is not much nsed, but may
be-very properly administered as a stomachic and alexipliarmic, in case of need.

See Wild Ginger.

Glass-Wort— A^fe Salt- Wort,

GGAT"

325 HORT.US JAMAICEKSI-S. »*goat

GOAT FRIEND. AEGIPHILA.

Cl. 4, OR. 1. — TetrandriamovosT/nia. N.-\t. OR. — Fit ices.

Tliis generic name is denved iVom the Greek words for the English name, goats
being fond of it.

■ Gen. char — ^The calyx is a one-leafed, bell-shaped, four-toothed, perianth, loose,
very shprt, permanent; forolla one-petaled, salver- shaped, border quadritid;
the stamens are capillary filaments, inserted into the mouth of the tube, erect,
wiih roundish anthers ; the pistil has a roundish superior germ ; sty'le capillary,
deeply bifid; stigma siniple ; the pericarp is a roundish two-celled berry, sur-.
rounded witii the permanent calyx ; seed either in pan's or solitary. Three species
have been found in Jamaica.

1. ELATA. LOFTY.

Knoxia 2. — Scandens, foliis cordatc-ovatis veJiesis, peduncidis midti-
partitis akiribus. Browne, p. HO, t. 3, f. 3.

Leaves elliptic, acuminate, membranaceous; panicles ter:;:inating: cal^'xes
pubescent. .

The segments of the calyx in this plant are coloured, and. being emarginnted, ap-
pear as if they wereoctotid. Dr. Browne's figure is not a good one, in uhicn the sta-
mens are too short by half. It is a cliiu-.,er, and rises to the height of six.or seven feet
ia the cooler naountains.

2. FCETIDA. STIXKIKG.

Leaves ovate- lanceolate, beneath hirsute, as are also the petioles; peduncles
axillary, solitary.

3. TRIFIDA. ■ TRIFID.

Leaves ovate-lanceolate, snaooth ; peduncles axillary, trifid, crowded.

GOAT RUE, "GALEGA.

Cl. 17, OR. 4. — Diadtlphia dccandria, Nat^ or. — Papllionaces.
Gf.N. CHAR. — Calvx a one-leafed perianth, tubular, short, half five-cleft; teeth SU"
bulate, nearly equal; corolla papilionaceous; stamens diadelphous filaments;
anthers oblong ; the pistil has an oblong slender germ ; style slender, shorter than
the germ, ascending ; the stigma a very small dot at the end ; the pericarp a very
long legume, compressed, acuminate, scored with oblong streaks, between the
seeds; seeds several, oblong, kidney-shaped.

CI.VEREA. ASH-COLOURED.

Herbacea sub-Ctuerea villom, joUolis oblojxgis pinnatis, spicis laxiori-
bus ad alas. Browne, p. 289
Legumes stiff, spreading ; racemes opposite to the leaves ; j^edicels solitary j
ieatlets villose underneath ; stipules lanctolate.

Thi«

€»^T- HORTU-S JAMAICENSIS.

This is a small herbaceous plant, somewhat of an ;ish-colour, selilom c^rrnvi-n^ ir:
eleven or twt'l ve inches high. It is common among the bushes in aii the savarr
Kingston. Browne calls it the i!)nall herbaceous goat-rue.

The purpurea, or pnrplo galega, a luitive of the East Indies ; the pev.taphytla, or
S?-8-!eaved ; and grandiflnra, or rose-coloured galega, a native of the Cape oi Good
2iope, have been iatro.:'aced. '

JSee R'£0 Bean-Tree and Surinam P6ison«.

GT)Ar-WEED. CAPRARTA.

C'L. 14, OR. 2. — Did^/nainia angiospermia. Nl-iT. OR.^-Personatce,

T&is name is derived from the Latin word for a goat.

Gen. CHAR. — Caiys a one-leafed, five-parted, perianth; corolla one-petaled, bell-
form, five-clett, nearU- equal, divisions acute ; the stamens are subulate lilaments,
with cordate anthers ; the pistil has a conical germ, a filiform style, and cordate
stigma; the pericarp aii oblong-conicarcapsulej bivalvej bilocular ; seeds man}',
roundish*!. Two tpecies are natives of Jamaica.

1. BIFLORA. TWO-FLOWERED.

Krecta ramoaa^ foliis alternis ad apicem serrafis, floHbus singular thus
filaribus, pedun-culis tenui^simis.' Browne, p. 268.

Leaves alternate ; flowers in pairs.

This is a shrub, seldom exceeling four feet in height ; the branches long", somewhat
woodv, erect,, roundish, souietimes shghtly hirsute ; leavers oblong, acuminate to both
enls, serrate above, smooth, sessile; an inch and half long, in the shade, near five
inches in length; on sandy coasts succulent, thick, and brittle, as are also the calyxes.
Peduncles one-flowered, slender, axillary, one or two, very seMom three, much
shorter than tln'ieaves. Flowers without scent ; calvx smooth, very deeply five-oarced ;.
corolla white, the divisions hirsute at the base ; anihers twin ; germ ovate, furrowed ;
stigma headed, acute ;, capsule furrowed on both sides, the length of the calvx ; seeds
very small. Browne calls this the shrubby capraria, or goat-weed. It is very common
in Jamaica, growing about most houses in the lower savannas, and thriving luxuriantly
every where.

2;-DirRANTIF0LTA. • LE-if-ENDURING. '

Veronica caule hexangulari, folii<; satureice fernis, serratis. Sloanre,
V. 1, p. 196, t. 124, f. 2. Phse'ypea. — Ererta ; foliis sessilibus,.
angustis, uuritis, ad apicem serratis. oppositis 'vel verticillMtis ;
floribus singutaribus alaribus, Browne, p. 269v.-

Leaves in three's, toothed j peduncles solitary ; branches alternate.
Stem about a foot high, obtusely hexangular. Leaves two, three, or four together,
in a verticiliated order, sessile, lanceolal ', serrate, quite entire towarls the base, but
toothed at the base itself. Branches shor 3r than the stem, simple. Flowers axillary,
whitish grey ;. peduncles the length of the flower; calyx five-parted, leaflets lanceo-
iate-acuaiiuate ; corolla ringentj tube the length of the calyx, upper lip erect, broader,

euiarginate^

238 jrORTUS JAMAICENPTS. 'GotDY

emarginate. lower tliree-partecl, equal. Stamens twin, the length of thn calyx ; stirfma
obtuse, two-lobed ; capsule ovate, acute, two-celled ; seeds many, roundish. Browne
sa\'s it is vi'ry common in the road between Passage Fort and Spanish Town, and grows
ciiiffly in those sloughs, where the mud has been worked up by carriages in die- rainy
seabons.

Golden Cc'DWEEd — See Flea-Eanes.
GoLDtN Rod — See Hai;eert Wkeo.

GOLDEN-ROD-TREE. BOSEA.

Cl. 5, OR. 2. — Pcntandria digynia. Nat. or. —

This was so named after Bose, a senator of Leipsic.

Gen. CHAR. — Calyx a five equal-leaved perianth, leaflets roundish, conca%'e, erect,
thinner at the edge; there is no corolla; tlie stamens five filaments, subulate,
longer than the calyx, wilh simple anthers ; the pistil has an ovate-obiong germ,
cuspidate, no style, two stigmas ; pericarp a globular berry, one-celled ; seed
one, round, acuminate. There is only one species, a native of Jamaica,

YERVAMORA.

Tilia forte arhor raceviosa, folio longiori stihfus<ilhicanle nevjis piiV'
pureis insignito, Jlore pentapetalo purpurea. Sloane, v. 2, p. 19,
t. 158, f. 3.

This is a pretty strong wood} shrub, with a stem as large as a middling person's leg ;
the branches come out very irregularly, covered witn a reddish brown, smooth bark ;
the wood white. Leaves two inches long, and one and a half broad, roundish, broader
at the base, blunt at the end, white underneath, on short petioles ; ribs purple. The
flowers come out at the ends of the twigs, on alternate pedicels, at the base of which is
a stipule. Calyx purplish, six-leaved; seed black. .This tree may be propagated by

GOLDY LOCKS. TRICHOMANES.

Cl. 24, OR. 2. — CryptogamiafUces. Nat. or. — Filices.

<CeN. char. — The fructifications are inserted into the margin of the frond, separate j
in\t)lucres urn-shaped, undivided, opening outwards ; columns extending be-
yond the involucres, like styles. The habit of these plants is membranaceous
;and semi-transparent. There are seventeen species natives of Jamaica.

The following have simple fronds :

1. membranaceum. ^ membranaceous.

Phyllitis scandens minima musci facie foliis memhranaceis sitbrofundis.
Sloane, v. 1, p. 74, t. 27, f. 1. Simplex^ repeiiSf foliis erectis iri'
cisiSf capsidis biphrjllis> Browne, p. 86,

Brovvne

«ou;r HORTUS JAMATCENST^: 259

Browie calls this the smaU creeping trichmnaiies, with dissected lenvc. Sloane
•dcsfi-ibes it as liaving a flat black stilk, covered witii hair, applyiiTT ir^rif to rocks,
stones, QiT trees, and rising seven or eitjkt feet high, putting out at more jr less li'?-
tance, small, i-uundish, meinhraiui' eous, yellowish-green leaves. Tn.n' grovv sono-
times longer, having incisures on their e Jgcs. The jvant looks soii.ewiiat like ,i mo-.s.
It: was found on the banks of tlie lUo -t'Oro aad Orange llucr, iuSisteen-RIile- .VaLk,
^;rowing on trunks oftrees.

2. PUSir.LUM. DWARF/

Frondi simple, linear, gashed; slioot creeping. — Sio,

3. REPTANS. CRIEPING.

Fronds cuneate-ovate ; g^wh pinnaufi 1 ; shoot creeping. — Sw.

4-. ASPLEXIOIDES. ASPLENRTM-LIKE.

fronds pendulous-lanceolate, pinnatiffd, very smooth; segments two-lobed;:
lobes obtuse; fructifications tvvo-valved. — Siji

ThefoUozcing ha-.e compound fronds :

5. CRINITUM. HAiay.

Fronds sub-pinnate, hairy; pi nnas ovate, pinnatifid ; segments bifid ; sub-di--
visions blunt ; fructificatiuBs bristle-bearing, on an upright rough-haired •
stipe. — S'W.

<. LUC ENS. SHINIJfO.

fVonds bipinnatifid, pendulous, lanceolate, hirsute, shining; pinnas parallel j
seg^oients roundish, sub-serrulate; stipe extremely hirsute. — Su.\

7. SERlCEtm. SHKYi

Fronds bipinnatifid, pendtilous, lanceolate, torn 'ntose ; pinnas alternate; seg-
ments linear-obtuse, entire, the lower ones bihd ; fructifications tennuiating,
hiisute.-^*$'w.

8. TUNBRIGEN'SE. "TUNBRIDGE.

3I.>!or, rcpcns, simplex Joliolis oblongis sinuatis. BrowTie,.-p. 86-
Fronds pinnate ; pinnas oblong, dichotomous, decurrent, toothed.

y. rucoiDEs.
Fronds bipinnatifid, ovate, smooth ; pinnas ovate ; segments two-pjnted ; sub-
divisions serrate-obtuse ; fructifications two-valved, inserted above tne base
of the pinnas.

la CILUTUM. CILIATE.

Sronds erect, Tiipinnatifid, deltoid; pinnas ovate ; segment:? -linear-obtuse, ci-
iiate ; fructifications terauiiating, two-valved, rough-haired ; istipe mar-
gined.— Sw.

1 1 .■ I.IKEARE. LINEAR.

Fronds sub-bipinnate, pendulous, lanceolate, smooth ; leaflets remote ; pin-
nules htiear, two-parted; fructifications terminating, two-vaived'^ £tipe "
capillary.

3J> HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. ooi,a»

TlicfoUo'ving have a super •dcoomponndyrond :
12. u>:dui.at(.!m. Waved.
Fronds tripinnatifid, orbipinnatifid, peaduloiifs, lanceolate; leaflets and pinnas
alternate, decurrent ; segments linear, retuse, crenulate-waved ; fruciiiica-
tions terminating, two-valved. — Sw.
This species, as well as the ninth, tenth, eleventh, foiuteemh, fifteenth; und six-
teenth, bclon^toDf.Simtii's genus /ij//acjioj)/iT/llum. '*

i3. SCANDENS. CUMBING.

Adiantum ramosiivi scandcns, phmidis sen fiAiis, ohlongis, profuyidt
laciniatis, pjcl/ucidis. Sloane, v. 1, p. 96, t. 58. Major scandcns
tt ramosissimus, fvondc ienuisiiinc divisa. Browne, p. 86.

Fronds super-decompound ; leaflets alternate ; pinnas alternate, oblong, serrate.

Browne calk this the larger climhing trichoinanes, and very common i'n the wjoods of
Jamaica; its numerous foliage often shoots above a foot from the climbing root or
trunk of the plant. Sloane describes it as follows : " This has a stalk not su big as a
goose-quill, roundith, black, covered towards its top with a ferrnginous mosSj and
havinT very many filaments or clavicles, bv which it takes firm hold of the barks of the
trees, and rises to fifteen or iwenty feet high, turning itself round. At every inches
distance it puts forth leaves about a foot long, having about two inches of their foot-
stalk naked. This footstalk afterwards divides itself into branches, sometimes set op-
posite to one another, but mostly alternatively : the branches have their twigs, on
which grows the pinnukc, or leaves, being long, deeply cut in on the edges, very thin,
pellucid, of a yellowish-green colour, having some dark ojjaque ribs running through
them, and a woolly hair on them, and the seed on the ends of their seginentsj in a Lit-
tle cup. It grew on trunks ef trees." — Sloane.

14. filGIDUM. RIGID.

Fronds four times pinnatifid, erect, deltoid ; leaflets spreading; pinnas lanceflr-
late; segments linear, gashed at the end ; fruit-bearing cups pedicelled, ax-
illary.— Sw. ■' ■■ '

15. POLYANTHOS. MANY-ANTHERED.

Fronds four times pinnatifid, deltoid, erect; pinnas and pinnules decurrent ;
segments linear-obtuse; fructifications- two-valved, numer-ousj siipe mar-
gined.—^i:^;.

16. CLAVATUM. CDUB-SIIAPED.

Fronds four times pinnatifid, oblong-lanceolate, loose; pinnas and pinnules
decurrent; segments linear, emarginate; froctifications terminating, twxj-
valved, roundish ; stipe roundish.— i'li".

17. ACULEATUai. ACULEATE.

Fili.v ramosa viajor, caule spuwsa, foliis seu pinyiidis rotimdis, pro-'
funde laciniatis, sen cercfolii foliis. Sloane, v. 1, p. 99, t. 61.

Frond super-decompound, scandent, very much bvanched > leaflets palmate;
segments lineai-- obtuse ; stipe priclily.— <S'k',

* *^ '' This

♦oosa. HORTUS JAMAICENSISi S3j

This has a long- root, towards the top covered with ferruginous hair or moss, at the
l)otti)ui of whicii are se\eral fil:inients cr Uireaas ot a dark brown coljnr. From tius
xoot ris.' several footstalks, cornered on oiie«ide, and round on the other, of the big-
Bess of a bwan-quill, of a grey colour. The sta k is thick set widi short >narp prickles,
as well as ttie branches, which are opposite to one an )tiiL:r, about six inches distant,
tlie St Ik rising 111 ree or four feet high. The twigs of the Lranches are alternate, on.
which stanJ the leaflets, which are roundish, aee[jly cut in on the edges, of a yellowish,
green colour, having the seed in httie spots ou Lie ends of the segineuLS gf the Ijaclj.
mdc of the iea.ves» — Hloane.

See Ferns,

• GooJriA — See Calaloe, hrancheil„

GOOSE foot: .AMARANTHUg.

f L. CO, OR. 5. — Monoecia pentandria. NaT. OR. — ^liscellanete^
^£N. CHAR. — See Calahie, prick/]/, p. 142.

POI.YGONOIDR?. . POLYGONUM-UKP:.

Slifum poly^nnoides viride, seu ex viridi ef alh'^ t'ar'e'^atiim, pnlyan-
thos. .'^loane, v. I, p. 144, t. 9'>, f. .?. ChenoDodimn. — Htnn^ler
mull idorum, foil s muculatis ov-Jisj fioribus raccinosis alaribus.—'
Browne, p. 1«4.

<51omem1cs three-leaved; female flaivers funnel-shapeJ; leaves rhomb-ovate,
emarginate,.

Stem decumbent or- ascen h"ng, branched at the base, round, strei'ked, red, and
Smooth; branches quite sinipl', diffuse 1 ; le.ives sni.).)ti), trreeii, glaucous beneath,
*vitii a short, gr'ei, lierba<'e:jus p >int. below the incisiir', m;)re conspicuous in the

J^oun^er than the ol.-er leaves ; petioles green, ciianueded, surroiin led at Dpuitha
eafy edge. Glonierules axiliarv, at the base of each petijie, -v/ith from- six to eight
flowers in each; bractcs nivnercms,- su'ml.te,. acuminate, ninciMnate, transparent-
.whitie,. v*ith a green nerve.- Cal x of the teaifde flower ono-ieat'ed, ventricose ; the
five segments spreading veri- ninch,. I>iinti,- Kransn;irent-white. Wnen the see i is ripe
llie capsules fall with the calyx, which is tht-n twice a., long as the nctes.- Calvx of
the nide ti,ree-leaved,. the length of. the bm-tes,. menihr.inaceous, transp xcnt ; tiie
ieaflets obion!i-obtuse; with a Ljreen nerve. K varies iirJiifrent sitiiatiins. Sioa le
says each of the petals have a purple streak, and are of a : ale green colour, and thrft
the leaves are so netini -s variegated with a I irire wJirte spfot; tfte see Is ire compressed,
biackiSil brown-, and snining. Tnis plant, iw frefjuent-y niet with ab'out K'niiston ^.nd'
Spanish row-i, where it rises from. iheee to. eight inclies in heij^nt, and is socnetime*
gathered and used as a green.

Goofe-fnof, oTsrxcbcme. — This herb is so < ailed for its Villi g {as it is sai.'y hog", or
Viakinii a sow cast her piL>s. the leaf .resembling the n enilirantnis part of a goose or
^uUJi i'uoU It^rows vcOpl<-"';}' i'^ •'^"^^''■"-■'''-' along the iiJca of hi^ihwajs, in yardv

U ^2, aud

^3J' HORTL'b JATVIAICENy-IS,: ewri&

cind in somo streets. It is a strong rank weed, of a very cold and moist quality, even;
tc jfOisor;, Ub :;otne affirm. Matlhiolus saitli, it works upwards anii cif v.iiward.s : Biit
Lyeus Neapolitaiius gave it against the btrijngur}-, and iufianiaKUion of canciiarides. —
lii^ better ouiwurdly tiiau inwardly.; for it niakei. a "ood ])oultice or cataplasm, witii.
hogs fat, agiiiiisl .Mveilings and intiauiniations. — Barham, p.<ol. ^

■ See CAi.ALUJi. pricUy.
Goose-Grass — See Cross-Wout.

GOURD. . , CUCUR^ITA.

Cl, 25> OR. 1. — Monoccia si/ngtmcsia. Nat. or. — •Cucurlllacccr.

Gun. CIIAP^.^-Iilalc fiower. — Calyx a one- leafed perianth, bell-shaped, the mar<jf?>.
terminated by' five subulate teeih ; corolla detpij- tlve-parted, growing to th'ji
calvx, bcll-yliaped ; divisiont, heart-shaped, veiny, laigose ; the nectary a gland
in the centre oftlie tlower, concave, triangular ; ttie stamens three fdatiients, con-
verging, connected above, di-^tinct below, growing ta the calyx; anthers creeping
upwards and c!o>vnwards, linear. Foiialtjiowcr. — Calyx a perianth as in the male,
superior, deciduous; corolla the same; nectariferous glandule raiicave, spread-
ing; stamens margin surroiuiding, ending in three very short cUbJ)s ; pistil has a
large inferior germ ; stvie conic, three or five cleli at the tiji ; stigma smijile, with
a thick convex margin, creejimg upwards and downwards, three-cleft; the peri-
carp a three to tive-celled pome, cells membranaceous, soft, distinct ; seeds very
niojiy, iiompressed, swollen on.the margm, obtuse, placed in double or<i«^. _

L.\GENARIA. BOTTLE.

Cucuibita tertia sen lagenaria, flore alba, folio ynolli. Sloanc, v. 1,
p. 225. Viliosa, fructti pi/rifornn mhiori, foiiis subangiitaris bail
biglaiidiiUs Browne, p. ^54.

Leaves somewhat angular, .tomentose, biglandular at the base underneath ;

fruits woody. j

The plants of this genus are very nearly allied to those oi ^cucumis, and are distini^
guishedfrom.it chiefly by the swelling rim of the seed. The stems of this species are
.thick, long, climbing, with .tendrils, branched, extending a great length, covered
with a fine soft hairy down. The leaves cordate, roundish, repand, tooth-letted, pe-
tioled, alternate, biglandular underneath, soft, large. A leaf, tendril, and flower^
come out at each joint, the joints six or eight inches distant. Flowers large, white^
on long peduncles, solitary, lateral ; corolla spreading, wrinkled, with acuminate di-
visions. Fruit of various shapes and sizes in tlie vaneties, some being near six feet
long, and two feet thick, having a ligneous shell, when ripe of a pale }'ellow colour.
Seeds quadrangular, oblong, cut oft' and emarginate at top, three-cornered and beaked
at bottom, edge keeled wiiii a double raised line, smoothish, of a pale colour. This
plant IS found euher cultivated or wild in most parts of Jamaica, where the shells of tJie
fr'Mt arc generally used for water cups, bottles, &c. Browne says the decoction of thfe
leaves is recommended much iii purging clysters, and the pulp oi tljc &uit often eia-

ployed

trsAXADif.LA EORTIIS JAMAI-CENSIS. SSS

jployecl in resohitlve pouhicos : ho adds, that, it is bitter and piirtrativp, and ma' ha
■used instead <»f the coiHiiKin cjloqiiiiitidii. I'liis plant is i.-uitivatca, however, chieHy
on account of its shells, w-iiicii-tire used by the negrin^-s for many douiestic purpo-cs^
ynd wlicre aloes is Hianksfattiu'ed, it is coiTiUionly pres\'rved in these shells. 8onie oi"
xheui are rijund, some crooked, some straight, Kome the shape of glass bottles, and ot"
all sizes, holding from one pint to many gallons. Barham speaks of enethat'lield iiitio
gallons, which, was perfectly round. I'he jiulp and seed of all these fruits are hitter,
Tlie shells are cleared of the pulp and seeds bv the negroes in the following manner ;
*iiey make a hole at owe end, iiUo which thej- pour hot water, in order to dissolve tha
pulp, which is afterwards extracted with a itick, and the inside frecjuently rinsed wit!*
;;aud ajKl vTate.', iu order to loosen and clear away the fibres that reuiyin, I'hey are
then dried unci fit for use, and contain water or other liquiil for any length of time.

Rarham and SJoane describe a s\veet gourd, which -the fm-mer says grows two or three
•4V'et long, as big as a niuu's thigh, is full of sweet pulp, that ruakes a pleasant sort of
sweetmeat or preserve ; he says the distilled water is good in fevers, and the jnilji aji-
plied to the eyes abates their inflainniation, and is gootl in other intlaniinations. Sloano
sujs the seeds are diuretic, and, made into emulsions, temper and take off the aeti-
iuonjuf urine. He mentions one of these gourds as large as the human bod\ .

&-f PoMPKIN — SC)U.\S1I — WaTEH MeLON.

GRANADILT.A, PASSIFLOHA.

Ck 20, Oil. 4. — Gijnamiria pentandria. Nat. ov..—Cucurbitacccc^
■Qg^^ cli^K.—Scc Bull Hoof, p. I2:J.

^y. aUABUANQULARIS. rO'JR-.\NGI.ED.

Foliis anipliorihus cordatis, pttiolis glandulis sex nvtdtis, caule qua-
drigouo alato. — Biv.cns, p. 327.

I^eaves oval, sub-cordate, smooth, many nerved ; ipetioles glandular ; stem
membranaceous, four-cornered ; stipules oval-oblong.

Stem almost simple, thick, membranaceous at the four corners. Leaves petioled,
fix to nine inches long, and from four to six broad, entire, somewhat rugged, but
without any pubescence. Tendrils very long, axillary, halfway spiral. Stipules ia

flairs, ovate, at the base of the petioks, which are from one to two inches long, hol-
ow above, having six glands, three on each side, two of them at the base of tjie leaf.
Peduncles opposite to the petioles, thicker. -Flowers very large, encompassed by a
threC'leaved involucre, the leaves of which are roundish, concave, entire, smooth,
pale. Calyx five-leaved ; leaflets broad-lanceolate, membranaceous at the edge, thick
in the middle, somewhat spungy, very white within ; petals of tlie same shape, but
thinner, blunter, red within, white on the outside ; crown five-fold ; outer rays m a
double row, longer than the petals, filiform, round, white and violet variegated ; twj
•inner also in a double-row, very short, erect ; inmost tlat near the column of the germ ;
-column straight, cylindrical, variegated; germ white; styles purple; stigmas black,
%ifid within ; fruit very large, oblong, fleshy ; the pulp purplish. — Sw.

Tiiis is the largest and most beautiful of tlie passion flowers, and frequently ^ulti-
\ vated

G31 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. cr.ih

vatcd in Jarrairn, of which it is a native, not only on account of its (?rltcious s«b-aci4
fniit, but ior the forn:ation ot arlxjurs;, uliitij ii is well takiilateci tor by its dense io«
liage, anci liighly oni;:m( nsai fiuwers. It spreads to a consii'.erahic extent, and is easily
jjiopagateci rrom slips. The frint is oi an ovai sijapo, and ol various sizes, from u;u*
ot'a <;oosc's ttg to a sniddlirig sized nuisk n.elon ; it is of a greenish yellow coi(;urj
liavHig a spungy rind, whicn becomes suit towards the end as the fruit ripens, about^
a finger in thicl.nes-, contiiiiiing a succulent pii p of a watery lolour and sweet smell, '
of a very agrectble pleasant sweet-acid t:\ste, containing a nmltituile ol f-lack seeds,,,
which are eaten along with tiiC pulp, h is a pleasant cooling fruit m fevers. Wiic*
Mie vine dies it is s.iid to have an excellent j am at its root.

Si'€ Bull-Hqof — Love in a Mist — 1^\s»ion Flowers — Water Lemon»

Grapf- Fruit — See Shaddock.
GiiArE. Jam ICA — .S'f<> Jamaica Grape.
Gkapk, Sea-.-ide — Sec Bay-Gkape.

GRAPE-VINE. VITIS.

Ct 5, OR. 1. — Peniandfia monogynia. Xat. or. — IleSeracece.
*rhis generic name is derived frooj vincire, to bind.

Cen. char. — Calyx a five-tootbed, very small perianth ; the corolla has five nuTe,
small, cadu-ous, petals, cohering at the top, ana snnv^:liing ; iiie stanuns aie
f,ve filaments, awi-.shaped,, from erect spreaciing, cadutous ; anihcrs simple ; llie
pistil has an ovate germ, no style, stign. a obtuse, headed; the pericarp is a g.o-
bular two-ctiled berry ; seeds two tu five, bony, lurbiuute- cordate, contratica at
the baie, seun-bilocular.

A'IMFER.i. WINE-MAKING..

Leaves lobed, sinimte, luiked.
The coiMnon grape-vine is universally Inovin to have a thicli twisted irregular vfPaS.
stem, coverea witu a brown cloven l)ark, and having very long t lugu lR.\ib»e branches,,
tiaihng and climbing by means ol tendrils. The leaves are iui ed indbinuated, serrate,
sniootli, and alternate, on long tootstaiks ;, the tenuriis are op|josile to a leaf, and are
attended bv the fiowers in a raceme, winch are wlntish or lierLacei us, ver\ small, but
Laving an agiteab.e smell ; the peta is cohere at tbe ti)), ai;u conceal the gei.itais -.ti;
manner of a veil,, but soon fail otf. The berry is gioLuiar, i:i som^- \arietie., ovale, be-
fore it is ripe regularly divided into five cells, but aiterwards om-.ebed, ;.ln■o.■^t pel-
lucid, coloured in some, co.ourk&sin oihers; in the middle is a shor; coumn,. spring-
ing from tiie woody fibres oi t;he pedicel ol the berry,, to the top ( fwfticn tue ste^s are
fastened by its peculiar nmbiiicai chord; tnis chord istiiiforui, running along tiie UKier
side of the seed to its very top, then re fleeted to the back, and rinaiiy eiutnng the
navel; seeds naturall} five, but for the must part, fewer:. Li iome btnie^ Uiiy are ali
abortive.

Tins plant is a native of most temperate parts of the worll, and both the common
and muscadine grape v\ere long ago intioe.uceU into Jamaica, wlu re they hi.ve been very
^•nesally' cultivated, tiiough «ot io anj^ verj touiiucraUe tAicat^ tiiwu^n Br.uvn©

GRAPE HORTUS JAMAICENSIS, Sg5

justly obsen'es, tliey thrive and ripen as well here, and would prLKUice as rich aud
mellow wine, as in any ])art ot'tjie world, and ihc inland afiRnds ;i n>imbi.;i- of other fruits
to enlarge the quantity, and enrich tiie flavour of the juice. The niusciidiue succeeds
the best, and, in the lower land^, ripens all its berries nearly at a time, having very
large clusters -of the fruit, frequently from eight to ten pounds weight; the pulp of
-w^hich has been found less watery, and more tieshy, than in the south of France. Of
grapes, there have been enumerated more than fifty varieties in Europe. Grape vines,
in a favourable situation, produce- niost abundaiitlv. There is a famous vine in a gr-ape
iiouse, on the south-side of Hani))ton Court palace, planted in the year \~tiJ, the stem
about thirteen inches in girth, and the principal branch one hundred and fourteen feet
in length, which pinxiuced in one year two thousand two hundred bunches of grapes,
weighing on an aver'agc a pound each.

Grape vines are propagated either from layers qr cuttings ; tlie latter is however
preferable. In choosing cuttings, they should be strong and well ripened, and cut
irom an old vine just below the place wiie're they were produced, taking a knot, or a
piece of two years wood, to each, which should be pruned smooth; then you should
cut oft" the upper part of the shoots, so as to leave the cutting about sixteen inches
long. When the young piece, or knot of old wood, is cut m both ends, near the
voung shoot, die cutting wdl resemble a little mallet; from whence Columella gives
the title of nuiUcolus to the vine cuttings. In making the cuttings after this manner,
there can be but one taken from each shoot; whereas most persons cut them into
lengths of about a foot, and plant them all ; which is very wrong, for various reasons.

The plants may be placed about six feet from each other, and laid with their tops
inclining to the vvalljNand put in so deep that the uppermost eye may be level with
the surface of the ground ; for when any part of the cutting is left above ground, most
■of the buds attempt to shoot, so that the strength of the cuttings is dh ided to nourish
^o many shoots, which must consequently be weaker than if only one of them grew ;
-whereas, by burying the whole cutting in the ground, the stip is all employed on one
single shoot, which consequently vvilTbe much stronger ; besides, the sun and air are
a|)t to dry that part of the cutting which remains above ground, and so often prevents
their buds from sliooting.

Having placed the cutting into the ground, fill up the hole, pressing down tlie
earth close about it. Nothing more is necessary but to keep the ground clear fiooi
weeds until the cuttings begin to shoot ; at which time you should look over them care-
fully, to rub oft" any small shoots, fastening the first main shoot to the wall, whicii
should be constantly trained up, as it is extended in length, to prevent its breaking of
•hanging down. I'hey must be frequently looked over, constantly rubbing oft" all late-
ral shoots which are produced ; and be sure to keep the ground clear from weeds,
which, if suft"ered to grow, will exhaust the goodness of the soil, and starve the cut-
tings. After this they will require no care till they begin to shoot, when you should
•rub off" all weak dangling shoots, leaving no more than the two protluced from the two
eyes of the last year's wood, which should be fastened to the wall or arbour.

When the fruit is all gathered, vines should be pruned, which forwards the succeed-
ing crop. Vines rarely produce bearing shoots from wood more than one year okl ;
•and great care should be taken in pruning to leave plenty of this wood. The bearing
•shoots should be left with four eyes each • if more are left the fruit will be poor. Tlie
-cut should be made just above the eye, and sloped backward from it, that, if it bleed,
«the juice may not lun upon the bud. When the vines are shooting, all the shoots
-: - '' * jtrooa

fvj HORTUS JAMAICF. NSTS. cr-f/IT-

fi- v.. t'ne r-1,1 wood should be rubbc'd oiT.. It h;is li€en obsened, tl;at, in J T.aTrn, grape
;'il>(.i!rs are, g^neriiliy raised too liigli iVuui tl;e gruii:.i-, and liiut '.hey shoulu r^jt (c
;' (Hi.- two or three: loot high. ;is tlie tVuit reqain's a cor.sidtrable dogn «; of rLflctttd'
1 . a; t J rip; n it regularly, tn" Madeira the best vines arc cm livated on sirpes vwtliire>
t\oi'iCtof tho earth. The grape thrives be:.t in a light sandy loam. It' 'he soil be-
st rong an J inclinable to wet,, they do not succeed so wtll. The leaves of tire g.rape arc •
t'at( n by goats. The follo\vii)g obserxationsou the iccnoniical ns^ .'■ to \il:irh tiie leaves-,
and sUiihs may be applied,, are taken trum a letter in the l*hiloMjj)hical IvlagaziiiCj No..
il9, j^n.-dJatues Wall :

" From eAperJments which I have n;ade, I find that, on lehig dried, which should'
be done in the shade, and infused in a tea-poi, the leaves of the vine make an excel-
lent substitute for tea. 1 ha\e also found, that on being cut small, bruised^ and put
ir^to a vat, or mushing tulv and boiling water poured on them in the same w-ay as is
ciune with malt, the pruiii! gs of the vine pvodiue a liqu',)r of a fine vinous qualitv,.
which, on being fernieni.f d. makes a ver fine beverage, either strong or weak, as you-
please ; and,, on fifing distilled, p-roduces an excellent spirit of the nature of bnindy.

" In the course of my exjieiimcnts, I found, that the fomented liquor from tlie pru—
nings, particularly tiie tendrils, when allowed to pass the vinous and to run into the
-acetous feriiientation, makes uncommonly fine vinegar. If not intended to be distilled-:
£ooi> after they are lopped oft, or if it shoidd not lie conveniei.t to do so atthe tinie^,
tfiey should be dried :a the .shade. When intended to be used, an extract sbotildtBe.:
■Ciajc wath liot watci-j as in, the tommon process for distilling from ^raiu."

Sue J.^.M.1ICA GK.VPE.,

G R A S s:.

Op this most useful and numerous tribe of plants, which Providence has so abun8--
antly scattered o\er the whole earth, Jamaica is blessed with as great a variety as any
country of the same extent in the world, as well indigenous as exotic. The dilTerent
fciiids are described under their familiar names, and mav be ref&rred to as follow :

Scf Bearpf.d, Bent, Burr, Cruciated, Dog's- Faii., Feather, Gi'inka, Hard^.
Kvi.LiNGTA, Leersia, Lemo.v, Meadow,. Mfiic, Millet, Mor.ea, Mountain-,,
Mountain - Rfed, Panic, Pepper, Rottboellia. Ru.nmng, Scotch, Silk^
T."REiiBU.NG, Ti'.iPSACU.M, Turtle, and Wouvi, Grasses.

ORE AT CORN, OR INDIAN MAIZ. "ZEA.

Tl. 21, OR. 3. — Mcjioecia triandria. Nat. OR. — Grammu.

Gen. char. — Male flower disposed in distinct spikes. — Calyx a two-flowered ginme,
two-valved ; valves ovate- oblong, •ventricose, awnlcss, acuminate, outer a little
longer; corolla a two-valved glume, valves oblong, awnless, almost the length of
tbe cal^x ; -outer ventricose, obtuse j inaer, two loothed-at the top. The neetai-v

*fto-leave;4

^C'BEAT HORTUS JAMAICENSIS, 537

two-leaved, leaflets fleshy, svider above, trmicate, grooved at the top, '.^fy short ;
tlie stamens are three capillary filamentji; with aRthers sub-prisriiaL:<-, bifid, open-
ing at the top. The leiisnlfs in a very close spike below the inales, on tiis same
plant, covered with leaves ; cal3'X a one-flowered gkime, two-valved, perinaneiii ;
Valves roundish, thick, membranaceous at tiie edge, ciliate, enter thicker; co-
rolla a foiir-valved glume, valves unequal, membranaceous, hyaline, wide, siioit,
permanent ; tiie pistil has a ver}- small germ ; style filitbru), longest of a!l,-)5cn-
ilulous; stii^ma iunple, pubescent towards the tip; there is no pericarp ; the com-
rnon receptacle is very large, lorVg, five-cornered, marked with i\\e rows of trans-
verse excavations, in each of which two fruits are immersed, surrounded wiib
their proj)er calyx and corolla; seeds solitary, roundish, angular at the base^
compressed, longer than the glumes, {jediceiied. There is ouly one species, ot"
which there are tliree varieties.

MAYS.

Frumentum imlunim mays dktuni. Sloane, v. 1, p, 105. Seminibhs
suh-compressis obovatis. Browne, p. 33o.

This has a very large strong stalk, growing frequently ten or twelve feet high. The
leaves are long, broad, hang downward, and have a broad midrib. The stalk is jointed.
The male flowers are in branching spikes at the tops of the stalks, eight or ten inches
long : the females come out from the bottom of the leaves, en the side of the stalk,
disposed in a close, long, thick, spike, and are covered closely with thin sp ithes or
■sheaths ; out of the end of these covers Isangs a small long bunch of threads. The ear
of tiie maiz yields a great quantity of grain. There arc commoidy from twelve to six-
teen rows of corn in the ear, containing from two hundred to two hundred and forty
grains, and, there being frequently three ears on one stem, it is a wonderful increase '
, irom one seed. The grains are usually of a vellow colour, but sometimes the ears are
variegated with some red, blue, black, or striped grains. It is generally planted by
making small holes in the ground with pegs, at about two feet distance each way, and
two or three grains are put into each hole, and from four to five months afterwards the
^corn is fit to be reaped. Though it may be planted at any time of the year, when thers
is rain, yet the spring is by far the best season.

It is commonly cultivated throughout Jamaica, but thrives most luxuriantly, and
"and bears the largest grain, in the richer soils, and where the seasons are favourable,
•li. is a heart}' wholesome food among the negroes, who make it into various messes,
according to their fancy. It is given to horses and mules, instead of oats, and to sheep
and poultry, in order to fatten them. It was probably brought from Guinea, where it
is said to require a hilly good soil, not subject to be overflown ; whereas the rice and
•millet thrive best in low moist grounds. It is generally jilantcd liere a little before the
usual periods of the rainy seasons, though some plant it indiiTorently at any time, and
frequently fail ; but it is usual to get two crops in the year. It is laid in rows, at the
depth of three or four inches. As soon as it appears six inches above the surface, it is
weeded; and, when grown to a tolerable height, the earth is moulded up about the
roots. The ears are often gathered before they are thoroughly ripe ; and, being
roasted, form a dish known here by the name of viutton. The stalks are full of a sac-
charine juice, from which a syrup- may be made as sweet as sugar. These stalks are an
'escclieiit hearty fodder for cattle, and mav be stacked like those of the Guinea corn,

X K fof

359 HORTUS JAMAICK NSIS. ^trhT

for provisTon .in times of drought. Thi-^ plant is thon!:^ht to impoverish Ta ml ; ami,
con-^iui'ring tkc rici) juices of rhe stalk, and greatness ot yielding, it undoubtedly re-
quires as goixl and strong a soil as tiie sugar cane : for this reason, those planters are
iTiuth l)lau:ed \i hu eultivate it on the banks between their voung canes ; for the use of
these banks being to be drawn dow!), and apply uourishmcsit to the canes in the course
Ot their growth, tliey are too much exhausted by the maiz, wiikh seems to absorb and
extract nutriment from the same vegetable principles as the sugar cane ; ^lul it must
consequently r.jb them of a great part of that food of which they are in want, especi-
ally ill tiie poorer well worked lantls; though the objection is so far from King against
ricii rVe^h soiis that it may be very serviceable to such, and assist to drain away tliat
■ejaptrtiuiiy uf the vegetative principles wiiich throws up too rank and luxuriant a cane.
"Tills opuiion is strt-ngthened by a con^mou observation, that the maiz corn will not
t'snve web ill soils where the sugar cane will not thrive. But I have seen ftne corn pro-
duced in a very poor exhausted piece of ground, by laying manure with every seed or
gn.in ; and, in North America, near the sea coast, the Indians used to put two or
three dead fis:ies under or adjacent to each corn hill ; and by this means gained double
t.;e crop they would otherwise have got. The English then learned the same husbandry
t.uriug the hs.iing-stages, where they could procure the heads and garbage of cod-fish,,
in abundance, at no charge but the fetching.

This corn does not make good bread by itself; but, if the flour of it is mixed in the-
prop.»rtion of one pint to three pints of wheat flour, it will answer for common use. —
Tiie dougii fija le with it is very heavy, and fermented with difficulty. The negroes-
}> r li ana grin.i it into powder, sometimes mi.sing a little sugar with it. They esteeai
it d dainty, and r)articularlv convenient in a long journey ; but the more common way
Oi using it IS lu puildings, after it has been well pounded in a wooden mortar.

All ere tures fed with this corn have firm fat flesh. The pork of corn-fed hogs is
esteemed toe finest in the world for flavour and goodness ; the horses, cattle, and
nr.iie.-, foddered on the leaves and husks, are hardy, and enabled to go through the
greatest aegree of labour ; and the j>eo!)!e, who make the gniin a principal part of
t..eir diet, are heaitliv, strong, and active.

The ears of it, whiie it is growing, are said to be greatly hurt by cutting off the pa-
nicles or beards too late. They ought to be cut before the hoods, or husks open ; and
by leaving a plant with its male ears at every twenty feet distance, all the female plants-
nviU be impregnated. — Long, p. 762.

This corn does not keep either on the ear or off it so well as Guinea comj being very
liable to oe attacked by ttie weevil. Mr. Beckles, of the Agricultural Society of Bar-
ba iOf^s, lately lai 1 before that body the following method of preserving it :

" I;i the month of October he put into two jars, several ears and pints of Indian
■corn; into one of the jars he sprinkled over the corn a mixture of camphor and black
pepper ; both the jars were tied down, in such a way as to exclude all air. I.i the May
fo lowing he opened the jars: the one without the composition was entirel}- destroyed;
t.ie one with perfectly good, and grew after being planted. The quantity of camphar
«BS about aix drachms, and a table spoonful of pepper."

«Greenheart— ^te Cogwood*

GREEH

^BEEi» HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 3'.3

GREEN WITHE. EPIDENDRUM.

Cl. 20, OR. 1. — G^/nandria diandria. Nat. ou. — Oichidrte.

This generic name is derived tVonfi two Greek words signifying growing upon trees.

Gen. char. — Calyx vagne spatlies ; spadix simple, no perianth ; the corolhi has
five petals, oHong, extremely long, very spreading, no spur ; the nectary is
turbinate, tubular at the base, top-shaped, ])laced downwards witli the petals,
with an oblique two-cleft mouth ; the superior lip very short, three-cleft ; the
inferior lengthened into a point ; the stamens are two filaments, very short, sitting
on the pistil 5 anthers covered by the upper Up of the nectary ; the pistil is a slen-
der germ, Jong, twisted, inferior ; style very short, fastened to the upper lip of
tlie nectary ; stigma obscure ; the pericarp is an extremely long silique, columnar,
tleshy ; seeds numerous, extremely small. There are a great many species of
this genus, fift3'-two of which have been discovered in Jamaica, most of them pa-
rasitic plants, growing on trees. The green withe is the

I. CLAVlCULATUM. TENDRILLED.

Cerio affinis scandcns planta aplnjlla caide rolimdo, articidatn, glabro
succulentB saturati viridi. Sloane, v. 2, p. 160, t. 224, f. 3, 4.

Stsm climbing, round, branching ; leaves sessile, half-stem clasping, acute,
concave, recurved, rigid.

This plant hangs down from the branches of trees, and creeps up others to the height
of fort^- feet, having many clavicles, jointed, or made up of leaves, going one out of
the other. The stalk is about three-fourths of an inch in diameter, very smooth with-
out, deep green, coloured, round, jomted or notched at every tive inches distance ;
from each jomt comes the clavicle, three or four inches long, catchnighold by its broad
viscid end of any thmg it comes near. Opposite to this comes another as long clavicle
or leaf, thin and membranaceous, from a broad beginning ending in a point. The
stem is solid, juicy, and sometimes branclied ; I never obsened leaves. The juice of
this plant, either alone, or mixed with proper ointments, rubbed on the part, relieves
from old pains and aches ; but occasions great pain and itching. — i/oane. Barham says
that persons who have lost the use of their limbs, by the nervous cholic, take its root
and roast or boil it over the fire, bruismg it, and applying it, which gives ease and
strengthens the limbs ; and that if you put a piece of the root into any licjuor, it sets
it a fermenting inuiiediatel}'; which is also the case with the chaw-stick. This plant
has also been used as sarsaparilla ; and boded and given to hogs is a fattening food. Its
juice, to the quantity of a pint, is an excellent purge for a horse, and makes him
Uirive beyond any other purge. The following observations are from Ur. W. Wright :
■" This plant is found on gravelly or rocky lands, it runs or creeps on the ground,
taking root here and there in its progress. The stem is as thick as a man's finger,
round, green, and succulent ; it is jointed at every twelve or fourteen inches, and is
several yards long, without leaves. The Howers are large and yellow ; the pot's two
inches long. On viewing the expressed juice with a glass, or the naked eye, we find
it full of long spiculae or hairs. Dr. Drummond, a learned and ingenious physician
end botanist in Westmorland, who first shewed me thii plant, assured me that he had
often given a table s|)oontul of the juice as a safe and eifectual vermifuge ; and that in

X X 3 iionie

S-iO HO RT us JAMAICENSIS, <s«een-

some species of dropsy it proniotes a fiovv of urine, and cures tlie disease. Tiie juice-
is 111 great esteem aiiioitgst tlie negroes for die cure of gonorrlicca and lues venerea."

The following species of this genus are also natives of Jamaica;

JVit/i upright leafy stems,

2. SECUNDUM.

Leaves on the stem oblong, eniarginate ; stem compressed; spike directed one
way; tube of the nectary length of tiie corolla.

Tills is parasitical, having fibrous white roots, stem round at bottom, gradually com-
pressed, leafy, penJuious; leaves sessile, sheathing, alternate, spreading in two rows,,
the outmost ti.p eniarginate, veinlcss; peduncle scape-fonn, isfceii two feet long, ter-
minating, compressed, jointed as it were by the deciduous sheaths ; llowers terminat-
ing in form of a corymb, noddmg one way, pale red or brown ; spathes minute; three
of tlK' petals ovalc-lanceolale, spreading, two linear, bent down ; nectary longer than
the petals; lip thrte-lobed, the middle lobe eniarginate, ascending, spreading, the
Mde ones smaller, eniarginate ; column short, bifid at liie tip, bearing two pediceiled
anthers under a two-celled lid, and coiuealed within the tube ot tiit nectary ; stigma
in front tunnel-form ; capsule obioiig, angular,, thrte-valved. It varies with a ronncer
and more compressed stem ; leaves broader or more acuminate ; flowers terminating or
breaking out on the side, and tuue of the nectary shorter or longer thi,n tlie pciaU. —
It grows in mouiuainous woods. — Sw.

3 UNEARE. LINEAR,

'.. Leaves on the stem distich, linear, obtuse, eraargiuate ; stem simple ; flowers

terminaluig, m a sort of spike, lip entire.

Parasiticab Roots filiform, creeping, strict, white; stems simple, heaped,, .tufted^,
fnmi one. to two feet long, erv ct, filiform, leafv, compressed a little, smootn ; sheaths-,
radical, withering, ^whence the stems ajipcar to be jointed ; leaves alternate, approxi-
mating, sessile,, sheathing, slightly streaked, smooth on both sides ; sheaths of the
leaves comiH'esseJ ; spike scarcely the length of the leaves ; flowers sessile, ahernate, .
imbricate, trorn s\k to ten, small and bioou-red ; spathes sheathing, lijidtr the houtis,.
coloured; coroila three-cornered, gibbous at the back; the thrte outer and the two
inner petals almost equal, oblong, concave, blunt, the two outer in front vaulted,
compressed at the tip. Nectary of the same shape as the inner petals, erect, embrac-
ing the column at the base, having two dark purple spots on the edge, concave, blunt
gt top, blood- red. Column shorter than the petals, gibbous at the back, v.ith tlireo-
teeth at the tip, bearing in a cavity four oblong pediceiled anthers, closed by a four-
celled hd, hollov\ed in front for the stigma ; capsule oblcng, three- valved, o])ening in
tlie middle ; seeds extremely minute, dusty, and bristly. Jt is a native of thick moun-
tain woods. — ■iw.

4. NOCTURNUM. NIGHT.

Leaves oblong, veinless ; lip of the nectary three-parted, quite entire,, the •
middle segment, linear ; stem many-leaved.

Roots li.und, thitk, filiform, whitish ; stem from one to two feet high, simple, erect^

round, leafy, smooth. Leaves sheathing, alternate, sub-distich, from two to three
inch.cs ]oi»y, oblong, eniue, tbickish, vgiiUess, shilling. iiowGfd terKiUiating, two

or

orsF.iT. HORTUS JAMAIC ENSI S. S4i.

or three, scs^le, large, whitish j-ellow ; spathes a few, ovate, compressed ~ petals al-
inost equal, iaiiceolate-linear, spreading', the two inner narrower and wliite. Tube
of the nectarv compressed, gibbous, shorter than the petals ; lip trifid, the lateral
segments entire, the middle longer, erect, sul>ulate-linear. Column inclosed withirii
the tube of the nectary, gibbous, having at the top four pedicelled, obovate, com-
pressed anthers, under a four-celled cover Capsule oblong, attenuated at the base»
three-cornered, three-valved, opening in the middle ; seeds resembling saw-dust, it
grows in mountain woods, and smells very sweet during the night. — Sw.

5. RAMOSUM. BRANCHY.

Stem very branching, suifrutescent ; leaves linear, emarginate ; racemes ter-
minating, compressed.

This grows a foot and a half high, leafy, parasitica!, with fibrous roots; branches
compressed a little, smooth, ash coloured; leaves oblong, olHuse, coriaceous, rigid,
vemiess, entuf, shining, slieathing at the base, dirty green, alternate, an inch and
half long. Spathes cordate-ovate, acute, converging; s))ikes loose, distich, an inch
and a half long, four-Howered or tlitreabouts ; iiowers suial!, inelegant, greenish;
petals somewhat rigiti, equal in length, the three outer lanceolate, the two inner hnear.
liovver lip of the nectary oblong-cordate, atiuninate, concave, rigid, tlie length of the*
petals, of which it occupies the place ot the third interior one ; anthers roundish j
germ a little longer than the corolla. The rest as in Imeare. — Jacquin,,

6. NUTANS. NODniNQ.

Stem simple ; leaves ovate-lanceolate, nerveless, stem-clasping ; spike ter+niir^
ating, nodding ; lip of the nectary three-lobed, the middle lobe three*
tootlied. — Sw..

7. UMBELl.ATUM, UMBELLED.'

Stem simple ; leaves ovate, eiuarginate, stem-ciasping, veiiiless; flowers tec-
niinating, umbelled. — Sxo

8. ANCEPS. DOireLE-EDGED.

Leaves cordate- lanceolate, stem-clasping, horizontal ; raceme terminating-,
compressed, ancipit.il, sub-flexuose; dowers distich, inner petals capillurj,
witli a threS-lobed lip. — Sw.

9. RlGlDUiM. EIGir>.

leaves oblong, obtuse, sheathing ; raceme terminating,, compressed, ancii)ital ;
tlovvers dibticii, larger than me spatlies, lip entire, eordate-ovate, acute,
— Su\
Parasitical, a foot high ; roots fibrous, ash-colonred, round, numerous ; stems
simple, round, leaty, ending in a very loose distich spike, four-tiowcred or tiicre-
abouts. Leaves coriaceous, rigid, shining; spatlies very large, c<jriaceou-i, rigid, al-
most the lengtti ol the flowers, wliich are inelegant, small, rigid, and thick ; jjetals
Spreadin'T very much, the three outer ovate, the two inner lanceolate, and a liitie
shorter. Lower lip of the nectary cordate-roundish, blunt, with a small ))oint. Hat,
wprioht, the iengtn of the petals, with a tootliiet on each side at the base; anthers
«j*ap.le i germ obiohg, iiicuiTed, tliree-cornefed*- l.'^ei:<iit3Sialineare.^^Jacifiirn.

10. oirrwu.M.

342 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. tJtxm

10. diffusuat. diffused.

Leaves oblon», stem-tlasping ; stem ancipital ; panicle terminating, very muck
brandied, diflubod, li]) eiuire, acuminate. — Sw.

1 1 . MONTANUM. aiOONT.AIN.

Leates lanceolate, fiat, recurved, spreading, sub-membranaceous ; raccmt
terminating, simple ; flowers pointing one way, lip tvifid. — Sw.

12. SF.RRULATUM. SERROL.vrE.

Stems aggregate, siib-diphyllous ; leaves lanceolate, keeled, serrulate; raceme
terminating ; flowers distich. — Sw.

13. TERRETIFOUUM. . ,^

Leaves semi-cylindric ; stem one-flowered^, lip three-sided at the tip. — Sw.

14. GLOBOSKM. GLOBULAR.

Leaves cylindric, channelled ; flowers terminating, sub-solitary, lip ovate,
acute ; capsules globular.

Roots fibrous, round, ash-coloured, numerous, parasitical ; stems cespitose, quite
simple, two or three inches liigh, round, smuotti, leaty, ending in a spadix bearing
one-flower, seldom two, very seldom three ; whence there are very few spaihes.—
Leaves awl-sliaped, acute, smooth, shining, somewhat rigid, sessile, alternate, aa
inch long. Flowers small, scarcel}- coloured, erect, of the same structure with the
Ihieare, except that the germ is twice as long as the petals ; capsule six- grooved, the
*ize of a small pea. — Jacquin.

The follozuing have creeping stems r

15. SEKTULARIOIDES.

Stem filiform, creeping, jointed; leaves lanceolate; peduncles one-flowered,
from radical sheaths. — Sw.

16. TESTiEFOLIUM. SHELL-LEAVED.

Stem creeping ; leaves incumbent, elliptic, concave, convex, keeled ; flowej;^
sessile under the leaves.

The foUozi)mg are sfemless, with radical leaves :

17. DNDULATOM. WAVED.

Viscum radice bulbosa majus et clatius, delphinii flore, ferrugineo
guttato. Sloane, v. 1, p. 250, t. 148, f. 1. Parasiticum, j'oliis
oblongis radicaiibus macu/atis, stapo assurgenti Intigo sarmentoso
nudo ad apicem ramoso, fioribus miscellis. Browne, p. 326.

Leaves elliptic, acute ; scape sarmentose, verj' much branched ; petals ovate,
clawed, obtuse ; lip dilated, emarginate, waved.

Tills is also parasitical, and the largest of the kind. Roots large ; leaves manj-, long,
.farrow, smooth, dark green, somewhat like those of the common white liliy. Stalk
found, tough, brown, crooked, six feet high, with joints at every eight or nine inches
distance, where are branches staudinj^ straight outf mth several flowers with peduncles

rntrs^ HOTlfuS JAMAICENSIS. Sn

an inch Ton;*. 7*eta!s fcrrutjinons, spottotl, sponn-shapf^d, one petal of a white eo'our ;
tiie stamens yellow.: — Slorinc, Browne calls this the larse sarinenlous satyriam \v\t\\
mottled flowers, which he savs is a heaiitiful species, with flowers like so manv little
patches of Dutch calicoes with a dark groSnd ; he adds that he found it pretty frequeut
Bear the Ferry, but could not observe it in any other part of the island.

18. UTItlCULARIOIDES.

Leaves lanceolate, marked v\-ith lines, flat; scape pan icled, lip large, hea.it*
shaped, horn ver\' short. — Sk\

19. TPIQOFTr.L'V. THItE'^-SIDFn.

Leaves three-sided, cultrate, compressed at the tip, lanceolate, acute \ scape
simple; lip heart-shaped, ovate ; sides emarginate.—j'i'.

20. SE.SSIl.E.

Leaves compressed at the base, broaJor at too, hnrr-ohf/^-linear, obtuse, vein*
less; peduncles raJical, very short, one- flowered. — !f.

21. FLABELLIFORME.

Leaver compressed at the base, dilated at top, ovate-lanceolate, acute, flat,
nerved; peduncles^ one-fiowered, elonfjated. — Stt.

22 SURULATL'M. StTBULATE.

Jleav<'<: awl-shaped, grooved; peduncles siieathcd, radical; many-flowerei
— Sw.

23. TRIBm.OIDFS. TRIBtrr.US-LlKE.

I^eaves pedicelled, lanceolate, obtus:', ernarginatc; peduncles very short; cap-
su.es globose, echinate. — Sw.

24 rORNICULATO\r. HORNED;

Leaves pe;licelled, wediie-shapeJ, oblong ; peduncles radical, one-flowered \
torollao acujninat':, curved. — S'sj'.

25. LANCIOI.A. LANCEOL.iTE, .

Lf^aves pedicelled, lanceolate, acute; pedaiicies, from radical sheaths, tw£>-'
iluwef»;d. — Sw.

J'he following have le.:ves gt'owing' on the hulhs:

26. ANGU^TIFOI.lUn. SMALL. LE.^V O.

Leaf linear, growiniT upon tlie buib ; scape panicle 1. — S-^,

IT PALMIFOLItTM. HANT)-',r AVRD.

J,eavPR broad-fencpolate, nerved, membranaceons, n^rowTTj-on the l>H^b : -f*<»«'-
c'nncles ri ical, sheathed, many-flowered ; nectary boat-shape J, entire, re-
flex.—Jo'.

V.%. Al.TrSSIMtTM. -HfOTT.

X^aves lanceolate, cowiaw on the Imibs ; srap" vor' much branched, sarmpri.
tose: petals oblong, Lttiibui»t4p«iM,uUr i iip iiJ WfOdte, ilAOiief tuan the

3!4 HT>IITUS JAMAICENSIfi. mrm

This is r,n elegant parasitical plant. Roots round, fibrousyash-coloffrecl, mimerous:;
leaves acute, eiisit'onii-oblong, vcinless, shinin'r^ quite entire, thickish, an inch \\'u\o^
and halt' a loot long, keelt-d at the base, in oiIk r parts flat, each springing from a jonit,

,or an ovate-compressed, sniooth, tuber, sofftetiines as big as a goose's ega;, whicti is
placed at the base of another root-leaf or two, like the others. Betueen this an4 the
joint arises a solitary, round, sniooth, scape, of a rust colour, slender, inclined, four
icet high, racemed at top, clothed at the peduncles and joints with membranaceous,

Janceoiate, ash-coloured spathes. Peduncles two or three-ilovvered, alternate in two
rows ; flowers without scent, yellwv with brown spots, numerous ; petals oblong, dis-
tinct, acute at both ends, waved, nearly equal. The middle segment of the lower lip
ef the nectary is squarish, and the whole is jellow, vpithout spots. — ■J&cquin.

29. FRA«E;VKS. FRAGRANT..

Leaves broad-lanceolate, neneless, growing on the bulb; scape many- flowered,
abbreviated ; lip heart-shaped.

30. SANGUINEUM. BLOOD-COLOURED.

Viscum radice liidbosa minus, delphinii flore ruhro specioso. Sloane^
^ V. 1, p. 250, t. 121, £ 2. Parusiticum ; foliis paiicioribus, radi-

calibus, scapo sinipllct, sub-squamoso, spieaio ; ncctariis adnatis. —
Browne, p. 324.

Leaves in pairs, oblong, growing on the bulb; scape many-flowere3, sub-
flexuose ; lip roundish, wa\"ed, emarginate, hornadnate.

This has manv thick white fibres, like those of leeks, or the tendrils of ivy, taking
firm hold of the bark of trees, and matted together : these send up one thick, greenish,
"rounotish, coinpressed, bulbous or tuberous leaf, of an inch diameter, covered with
some brown withered filaments. From the top of this come two smooth, striated, hol-
low, hard, pale green, leaves, three inches long and one broad, between which springs
.out a naked, brown, jointed, round, smooth, stalk, about a foot high, near-the top
of which stand several long reddish purple flowers, very beautiful. It grows on ebonies
and other trees in the savanna woods plentifully: — Sloan-e. Browne calls it the parasi-
tical satyrium, with red flowers and bulbous roots, and observes that it is one of the
-most beaut!.ful species of this tribe, growing indifferently on trees and rocks in^ie low-
lands, seldom rising above twelve or fit-teen iiK;hes.

3I.POLYBULBON. MANY-BULBED.

Stem creeping, liulb-bearing ; bulbs two-leaved, one-flowered ; flower pedun*
cled ; lip neart-shaped. — Sw. '.

32. PROLIFEEUM.
Caulescent; leaves distich, sub-imbricate, ovate ; bulbs, from the sljeaths <rf
the leaves, two-leaved; flowers axillary, sessile. — Sw.

33. VKSTITUM. CLOTHED.

Stem leaflt i^s, imbricate all round with sheaths, roundish, bulb-bearing; bulbs
growing on the leaf} iiowers crowded Iroui tlie^lieallis of the stem -^Sw.

ii, VOMIfOBME.

#REEJ| , HORTUS JAMAICENSIS." 34S

34. VOMIFOUMF.

Caulescent; leaves growing on the hulhs, ovate-aruminate, convex, channelled,
three-sided beneath ; scapes irooi the bosom of ilie leaves. — S'w.

The following have creeping stems and imbricate leaves :

35. ECHINOCARPON.

Stem compressed, decumbent, one-flowered ; leaves imbricate all rotmd, dis..
tich, ovale ; capsules uuuicate.
■Roots small, branched, fibrous ; stemS pendant, simple ; leaves alternate, numerous,
small, reflex, quite entire, sub-tomentose, stem-clasping ; from the axils of the
leaves flowers solitary, on very short peduncles. Corolla of a coral red colour, the
upper and the two lower petals of the same size and figure ; the two lateral one's longer
andwidtr; nectary small, three-lobed, the two upper lobes rounded and concave, the
lower emarginate; capsule red, ovate, warted. It grows on the trunks of old trees,
<?hich are sometimes covered with it.

36. TRICHOCARPON.

Stem compressed, round, rooting ; leaves imbricate all round, distich, linear ;
capsules tomentose. — Sw.

37. GLAUCU.M.S. GLAUCOUS.

Stem compressed, almost upright, many-flowered ; leaves imbricate all round,
distich, broad-lanceolate, very smooth, glaucous beneath ; capsules naked.
— Sii>.

38. GRAMINOIDES. GRASS-LIKE.

^■^tein erect, compressed, many-flosvered ; leaves imbricate all round, distich,
MHiaotCf 'liuear ; peduncles longer. — S'za.

The following have one-leafed stems •

39. MICRANTH-UM.

Stem one-leafed, leaf broad-lanceolate ; raceme very long, filiform ; flowers
pointing one way, roundish, six cornered,

40. TRIGONIFLORUM. THREE-CORNERED FLOWERS.

Stem one-leafed, leaf oblong-lanceolate ; raceme the length of the leaves ;

flowers mostly pointing one vvay, three-cornered.

This little parasitical plant is only about four inches high ; roots fibrous, whitish,

JjumeroHs; leaf cauline, acute, quite entire, coriaceous, rigid, veinless, flat, shining,

/two or three inches long. From the sinus of this come out successively three or four

spadixes, racemed, simple, slender, erect, a little longer than the leaf, having about

-ten flowers, and closed at the base with a few spathes, and small floral ones. Flowers

small, directed all to the same side, without scent, oa short peduncles, ofadirtyyei*

iow colour. Native of the mountain woods. — Sw.

41. RACENHFLORUM. RACEME-FLOWERED.

-Stem one-leafed, leaf ovate ; raceme longer than the leaf; flowers pointing one
way ; inner petals ovate, — i'w.

y y 42. LfXUM,

346 HOllTUS JAMAICENSIS. GRSB»

42. LAXUM. LOOSE.

Slem one-leafed, leaf oblong; raceme the length of the leaf; inner petals awU
shap«;d ; lip ovale ; capsules naked. — Hw.

43. OVALE. OVATE.

Stem one-leafed, leaf ovate, acuminate; raceme pressed close, many-flowered;
petals roun<iihi), the inner. ones reinole ii) front at the base; capsules pedi«

celled. — iiw.

44. PULCIIELLUM. BEAUTIFUL.

Stem one-leafed, leaf roundish, acute; raceme loose,, few-flowered ; petals
acuiiiinale, ciliate, the iuner one crossed at tiie tip.

45. TRIDENTATUM. THREE-TOOTHED^

Stem one-leafed, leaf ovate-acute,, tliree-toothed at the tip ; raceme many-:-
flovvercd ; flowers three-sided, acuminate ; petals of the nectary erect, bowea
inwards.

46..COLnLEARIFOLIUM. SPOON-LEAVED.

Steal one-leafed, leaf orbiculate, concavo-convex; raceme few-flowea'ed.

47. FUNALE. CORDED.

Leafless, filiform, rooting,;, peduncle two-flowered ; lip two-lobed ; horn very
long,. awUshajjed.

48. KUSCIFOLIU.M. KUSCUS-LEAVED.

Stem one-leafed ; flowers, from the sinus of the leaf, aggregate.

Hoots numerous, filiform, rigid, whitish ; stems aggregate, often united at th% base,
filiform, a toot high, erect, slieathed, smooth ; leaf terminating, ovate-la'nceolate,
fealftiie length of the plant, acumiuate, entire, keeled, channelled at the base, com-
pressed, smooth, tliick, veined. Sheaths of the stem long, acuminate, streaked,
withering ; peduncles short, two-flowered. Common spathe ovate, acuminate, com-
pressed, gapmg, emitting peduncles that are bent down, with nodding flowers, of a
pale green colour. Corollas small, acuminate, four-petaled ; the two outer petals,
which are the upper and lower, opposite, lanceolate, acute, patulous ; the two inner
lateral, linear, shorter, ereit; nectary of the same shape with the inner petals, but
less, erect, channalletl, pale; lip obtuse, recurved. Column of the fructification
round; at the top, in a hollow, two roundisk anthers, covered with a two-celled lid.
Capsules ovate, small, acuminate, six-grooved, three-valved. Native of the hi<gh
mountains, on the trunks of old trees. — Sw.

The following have naked scapes and j^adical leaves :

49. guttatunl spotted.
Viscum delphmii Hore albo guttata minus, rad ice fibrosa . Sloane, v.
1, p. 251, t. !48, f. 2.
Leaves lanceolate, channelled ; petals wedge-shaped, retuse.
From a matted root this sends out several leaves, three inches long and not a.quarter
of an inch broad, almost triangular, aad of a yeiiowisli green colour. FroaUhe midst

OROONO HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. ^

of these conies the flowering stalk. Each flower is made up of four little white petals,
spotted witli brown, and one large one, wiih fewer spots, o-ii which is a small yelhjvv
hood, and opposite to it one like it of a olue colour, on pedicels an inch long, round
the top i>f the stalk. It grows on ebonies.

iO. KODOSUMi. KNOTTY.

Viacum delphinii jloi-e minimum. Sloanf, v. I, p. 251, t. 148, f. 3.
Parasiticum, Jolio sinsidari longo sinuato ; spica assurgenti, ab
infimo siuu orta. Browne^ p. 325,

Leaf single, sub-radical; spadix containing about four flowers. '

Roots thick, nunK'rous, filiform, strict, whitish, knee-jointed; stem one-leafeci,
thick, round, sheathed, afoot hi",h, thickened towards the roots, knotted. Sheaths
closed, alternate, closely surrounding the stem, keeled, streaked, membranaceous,
whitish. Leaf, in the middle of the stem, sessile, sheathing, from round awl-shaped,
deeply grooved, erect, spotted, thick, fleshy; spadix from the sinus of the base of the
leaf, and of the same length with it, erect, round; ^pathes minute, on the spadix and
below the flowers, which are from twelve tc fifteen, large, whitish, yellow, sessile. — ■
Petals, three outer lanceolate-linear, long, spreading ; two inner linear.- Nectary
somewhat funnel-shaped, embracing the column, erect, compressed, bellying at the
base, keeled, dilated at top ; lip ovate, with an awl-shaped, striated, veined, spread-
ing, whitish, point. Column minute, inclosed within the nectary, keeled, holloived
rri front, bearing at top four obhjng, bipartite, pediceiled, anthers, concealed by a
four-celled cover. Germ very long, round, filiform ; stigma moistened in front, undet
the cavity of the anthers; capsules an inch long, oblong, pendulous, six-grooved,
three-valved, many-seeded ; seeds dusty, bristly. This grows near the coast, and
flowers inspring.— 5'ii'. Browne calls it the lark-spur parasitical satyrium., growing
©n trees, and^eldoui rising above seven or nine inches in heiglH.

51. COCHtEATUM. SPOONED.

"Leaves oblong, double, smooth, streaked, growing on the bulb; scape many-
flowered ; nectary cordate.

Roots filiform, strict, whitish ; leaves broad-lanceolate, acuminate, keeled at the
base, compressed, growing on aij oblong, fleshy, smooth, fibrous, succulent, com-
pressed, bulb, involved in mem'.jranaceons sheaths ; spathe two-leaved, one less th tra
♦he other, acuminate, at the base of the scape a nong the leaves; soap.^, from the
middle of the bulb, solitary, round, erect, with a few minute spathes. Flowers ter-
minating, four or five, large, sub-sessile; petals linear, acn.ninale, reflex, yellowish,
Mectary lip heart-shaped, blunt, concave, dark blood red, streake i with uhite at the
base, yellow at the tip. Column three-cornered, spotted with red at the bi.-e, three-
horned at the tip, bearing two pediceiled bipartite anthers ; capsules oblong, acuniinale,
pendulous, Nuiive of the mountains. — Sro.

See Vanilla.

GROUND-TVy. GLE<^HOMA.

'Cl-14, OR. 1. — JJidjiiatnia gymn^spennia. Hai. OB..-^Vt:rlicillafr,

Y y2 CeNI»

343 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. •roun-d^

OtN. criAR. — Calyx a orvc-leafed five-cli'ft perianth ; corolla one-petaleJ, ringcnt ;
^l;llnens t'oiu- iilamcnts, two shorter; each pair of anthers convcri^iiig in t'orsn of a
crass; tiic |)istil has a i'our-clelt t^erm, a riiilorin style, and bilid stigma ; there is
310 p(Mic?.r])^ the caiyx cherishing the seecLs in its bosom, winch aie touj', ovate,
'i'here is only one species, long ago mtrodticcu iuto Jauiaica.

■HEDERACEA, IV^.

Leaves kidney-shaped, crenate or scalloped.

This well known plant now grows wild irijwany parts of Jamarca, thongh \t does not
ihrive in some places. The root its fibrous, ^ihe stiilks square, procumbent and jointej ;
the leaves are roundish, of a dusky green, liairy, ar^d crenated about the edges; the
flowers are moderately large, and of a beautiful blue.

Ground-ivy, which has a strong smell, and bitterish aromatic taste, is an attenuant
and dissolvent, and famous both tnternaily and externally as a vulnerary. It is much
■used by way of tea in disorders of the breast and lungsy antl is sometimes an ingredient
in the pectoral decoction. It is esteemed a specific in erosions and ulcerations of the
viscera, and particularly of the kidneys and lungs ; and its juice has been given in con-
snmptions. Lindanus praises it in empyema and vomica pulmonum, and recommends^
it to such as void blood and purulent mutter Ijy urine. Jt is also said to be good in
bruises, and to cure the head ach.

The infusion or decoction, taken inwardly, drires out the scorbutic itch. Dr.
fjuchan recommends it for the rheumatism and foul scorbutic eruptions; indeed, in
most rheumatic and scorbutic disorders, the internal use of bitters, with a little flour of
brimstone, to quicken the eruption and render it general, are highly beneficial, parti-
cularly in rheumatisms, which are combined with a scorbutic taint in the juices. In
cases of this kind, some eminent practitioners have had great success by trusting entirely
to bitters and flour of brimstone, with a free use of sarsaparilla, and totally rejecting,
gum-guaiactim. Ground-ivy and vervain tea are good in hectic fever. The expressed-
juice, mixed with a little wine, antl applied morning and evening, destroys the white-
specks ou horses eyes.

GKOUND-NUTS, OR PINDARS. * ARACHIS.

Cl. 17, OR. 4. — Diadelphia decandiia. Nat. or. — Papilionaceos.

Gen. char. — Calyx a two-parted gaping perianth ; corolla papilionaceous, rest!--
pine ; the stamens are ten filaments, all united at the bottom; anthers alternately
roundish and oblong ; the pistil has an oblong germ, a subulate ascending style^
and simple stigma ; the pericarp is an ovate-oblong legume, columnar, valveless,.
gibbous-torul(jse, veined, coriaceous, one-celled ; seeds two, oblong, obtuse,
gibbous, truncate at one end. There are two species, one of which has been in-
troduced.

; HYPOGOEA. SUBTERRANEAN,

Arachidna liidice iitriusque tetraphylla. Sloane, v. 1, p. 184. Te-
traphylla, silCquas in/) a terrain 7Xco7ide/is i sumniibus oblotigis. —
Browne, p. S&J,

Stea

•KOVNJJ HCRTUS JAMAICENSIS, 3«j9

Stem herbaceous, procumbent.
Stern round, hkiiry, sub-erect, with diffused procumbent branches. Leaves scat-
tered, petioleii, abriiptly pinniite ; leaflets two pau-s, ovate^ hairy, quite entire, oa
Tery siiort petioles ; stipules long, sharp-pointed, bifid, opposite, h;:!f-steni-clas])ing;
flowers gold coloured, axillary, growing singly, on very long slender peduncles. — -
Many of them male, mixed with tiie iiennaphrodites. Tlie !egu:nes contain two, three,
or tour seeds. The manner of its perfecting is very singular, for, as tiie lioivers fall
ofl", the young pods are forced into the ground by a natural motion of the stalks, wliere
they are entirely buried, and the pods are not to be discovered without digging for
thein, whence the name of ground-nutSi This plant thrives well in Jamaica in a freci
soil and warm situation, and propagates itself very fast, by creeping along the ground,
and sliooting roots from every joint. They are very agreeable nuts, and deserve to be
more generally cultivated than ihey are ; when roasted, ground, and boiled, they make
a good substitute for chocolate.

Pindalls. — The first F ever saw of these growing was in a negro's plantation, who
affirmed, that they grew in great plenty in their country' ; and they now grow verv well
in Jamaica.- Some call them p;ub-a-oubs ; and others ground-nuts, because the nut ot
them, or fruit that is to be eaten, grows in the ground : These arc of the bigness, co-
lour, and shape, of a filbert; they are covered over in the ground with a thin cistus or
skin, which contains two or thr^e of them, and many of the cistuses, with their nuts or
kernels, are to be found growing to the roots of one plant. When they ore ripe and
lit to dig up, the cistus that contiiins thetnis dry, like a withered leaf, which you take
off, and then have a kernel, reddish witliout-side and very white within, tasting like an
alniond, and accounted by some as good as a pistachio ; tliey are very nourisliing, and
accounted provocatives; Some say, if eaten much, they cause the head-ache; but I
never knew any such effect, even l)y those who chiefly lived upon them ; for masters
of ships often feed negroes with them all their voyage ; and I have very oftep eat of
tliem plentifully, and with pleasure, and never found that effect. Tliey may be eaten
nvw, roasted, or boiled. The oil drawn from them by expression is as gootl as oil of
almonds ; and the nut, beaten and applied as a poultice, takes away the sting of scor-
pions, wasps, or bees. — Barham, p. 145.

The plant, which produces these nuts, wasfii-st brought from Africa. In sonthern
climes vast crops of these nuts are said to be produced from light, sandy, and indilferent
soils. Dr. Brownrigg, of North Carolina, transmitted some account of the value of
these nuts to the Royal Society. From a quantity of them, first bruised, and put into
canvas bags, he expressed a pure, clear, well tasted od, useful for the same ^nirposes
as the oiis of olive or almonds;

From specimens both of the seeds and oil, produced before the society, it appeared,
that neither of them were subject to turn rancid by keeping. The oil in particular,
which had been sent from Carolina eight months before, without any extraordinary
care, and had undergone the heats of the summer, remained perfectly sweet and gootl.
A bushel of them yielded (in Carolina), without heat, one gallon of oil ; and, with
heat, a much larger quantity, but of inferior quaiit)'. It has been justly supposed,
tbat, from a successful prosecution yf this manufacture, the colonies may not only be

able

350' HORTUS JAMAICENSTS. OUAVJl

able to sunplv their own consumption, in liiii of the olive oil anmrally imported froiM
tuiope, buKivea make a considerable article of their export. — Long, p. ViiS.

Groundsel — Vr'p Indian Groundsel.

GUAIACUM — Hce LlUMUM VlTiB.

GUAVA. PSIDTUM.

Cl. 12, OR. 1. — Icosandria monosrynia. Nat. or. — Tfesperidx.
Gen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, bell-shaped, five-cleft, permanent, sego
nients ovate; corolla five petals, ovate, coi^cave, spreading-, inserted into the
calyx ; .tiie stame«s are numerous f.laments, scarcely shorter than the corolla, in-
serted into the calyx, with bmall antliers; ihe pistil has a roundish inferior germ,
an awl-shaped long style, and simple stigma ; the pericarp is an oval large berry,
crowned with the calyx, one or many ceiled ; seeds numerous, small, nestling.
Two species are natives of Jamaica.

1. PYRIFERUM. PEAR-BEA-RING.

Malo punicoe ajfiiu's poviifera, flore pevfapetalo dlho, fructu nuUisdis-
sepitnentis intcrstinclo, ex toto escultnlo, viajore albn. Sloane, v.
2, p. \6'i. Fiuticosum, foliis ovatis venosis, fructu majori.—
Browne, p. 238.

Leaves elliptic ; peduncles one-flowered.
"This tree is consmon iji most pastures of Jamaica, rising from eight to tw^elve feet
Tiigh. The bark is (jf a yellowish brown colour, smouthish, with ash-coloured spots. —
Tiie wood is very hard and tough, and- used for making bows and cattle yokes, as also
for fuel. The branc hes are numerous and irregular, the young ones four-cornered.^
Leaves elliptic, enti.-'e, on short petioles, four or five inches long, '>ppo.^ite, greer»
above, dull green below, with midribs and numerous harJ prominent veins The pe-
duncles come out from the wings of the leaves, opposite to each other, they are soli-
tary, half an incii long, sujiportuig a white sweet-smelling flower. The calvx is one-
peialed, in its early sta^e completely enveloping the corolla, like a rose-bud, above
tiic genij, and, as it ej^pan is, splits into four or five irregular-seginents. The fruit is
siTiJuth, crowned with the calyx, not unlike in shape and size to a pomegranate,.having
an agreeaide suit 11, and turnmg yelhjw, wnen ripe ; the rind is about one-eighth of an
Ini-h in tiiickii63-i, bri.itle, and fleshy, containing a firm pulp of white, red, or .yellow,
coi *ur, in ih? varieties, and of an agreeable taste; full of boav seeds. This fruit is
eaten with aviiity b* most people, a!id is of, a re.stringent quality, as well as all other
parts of the tree; tue bark of wliicli has been given, to c.ire fl ixs*;, B;>iied or stewe.l,
the fi,uit cats iikv Eiigiisn wardens. The rod kind is the most delicate, and has the
thinner rind. Tae rind, &<•. st-wed in milk, is very agreeable Fr )m the same pi'rt
is maJe luannala^ie, and froipthe whole fruit a very fine ieiiy is prep.ire 1. Tne seeds
are so hard as to resist the actijan of tne stomach, -so that when voided they will ve<ie-
,tate, and produce thriving trees. The buds, boiled with barley and liquorice, make,
an excellent ntis^m for diarriioeas, an I even the bloody flux, when not too inveterate.
A decoctioD of tae routs, young leaver, or fruit, is also recommeaded j as also flie

auiNEA HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 35-1

half-ripe fruit stewed, as binding and astringent ; and the marmalade of the ripe fruit
is excellent in fluxes. A batli oi a ;lecuciujn ci ciie leaves is said to cure the itch, and
otiier cutaiieuus enipiions. Tiie barli is said to tan leather as well as that of oak. Tiie
iieshy part or' tlie fruic, boiled anJ brought to asuiiicieiTt degree of t^Miderness, when
cool, aiui mixed with miik and cr; an*,, is- an agree^We desert, and served up in the
same manner as suawberries, in Europe. Horses, cattle, hogs, and other animals,
are very ibnd of llie fruit; and no food will fatten hogs sooner, or give their flesh a
better Mci\ our. In |ia^iures v\liei"e tiiey grow, cattle and horses are observed eagerly
seareiiing tor the fruic on the trees. The folkjwing is the inethod of preparing the
mariiialaae ;- " fiUie tne reddest guavas, and pare ail tiie outside rind as thin as you
can, and tiien grate iheni upon a, -large grater as fine as possilde ; then pulp thcin
ihrougii a coarse nair sieve, and to every pound of pulp put a pountl of sugary but the
guavi,, pulp must boil beiore tiie sugar is put in, and kept constantly stirring leasts it
sliouid burn. Let it boil till it is pretty thick, then drop a little upon a piece of paper,^
and vviien thii k put it i,,to plates or cups, saueezing into it a little juice of lemon, or?
two or three spuonluis of orange-flower water. Set it in the sun to dry for three or
four days,"

2. momtanum;" mountain:' .

Arbdreum waximum. Join's ovatis niiidis, ligno/tiscOf fibris undiitatiS'.
Browne, p. 239.

Leaves oblongracunnnate, crenulate, shining ;, peduncles maivy^-flovvered.
This is one of the iaigest trees in Jamaica,, growing frequently to the height of sixty-
or seventy feet, with a proportioneu Li.ickness ; and is an excellent timber- wood, hav-
m<^ a beauiiful darJi coloured curled grain ; it works easily, -and takes a fine pohsh ;
aud makes liandsome walking sticks. -^-i^joavif. The flowers of this tree, which come
out in litde clusters ot tour, five, or six, together at the entls of the twigs, are in every
respect tlie same as. that oi the otner, but rather snialLer. The leaves are more acu.-
minate, much smaller, seldom exceeding, three inches in length ; they are also smoother
on both sides, and their veins are not proiument.-. Tlie branches are o'ooked and irre-
gular ; the bark ^smooth, and very like that of the pyrifcxuia, having.frequently scales
dropping off. The foliage, and brandies do not spread much, but grow upwards. Tlie
fruit is also eatable, but smaller than the other, ot a green colour, and soft when ripe ;.
having a very pleasing smell, like that of strawberries, which the pulp also resemblcsi
in taste, leaving its rich flavcnir on the palate for some time after eaten. This fruit-
also makes excellent niaruialade. . .

GUINEA CORN, or MILLET. KOLCUS.

Cl. 23, OR. 1. — Polyg(iinia, monotcicu NaT. or. — Gramina,

Gen. CHaR. — Hermaphrodite flowers sessile. — Calyx a one-flowered, .twfx-valved
glume, sub-ovate, obtur^e, coriaceou.^, avvnless ; corolla a two valveJ glume, less
tlian the calyx, awn from me cleft of tne glume, long cw short, jointed, twisted^
sometimes none; nectary three-leaved ; stamens three, ca^iiilary, tender; anthers
oblong, bifid ; tlie pistil has an ovate germ, two styles, and oblong feaihered"'
stigmiis ;., there is uo peacaipi but the gluuies oi the coroila aud calyx are roiled

abou»

i3,2 HORTUS JAMATCENSIS. ■Cotnea

about the '*ee'i, which is solitary, ovate, covered, armed with the awn of the co-
rolla, winch iiowever easily falls otr". The male llowers are peduiicled, solitary, or
in jiciirs, accomoan}ing the hcraiaphrodite, smaller. — Calyx a two-valvtd glume;
corolla tvvo-vatvcd, smaiier; nectary as in the hennaphrodite ; the pistil has a
small angular, aborti\e, germ ; two styles, and no stigmas. There are two species
now cultivated in'Jamaica.

1. SORGHUM.

Aiilimn Tndicum aritndnuiaa, laule eranis flavescerttlhus. Sloane,
V. 1, p. 104. Panciuni 7. — Ertxtutn maximum, panicida stncta
cyt ndiiicea aristitta. Browne, p. 134.

Glumes villose ; seed compressed, awned.

Panicle contracted, ovate, upright, but as it ripens drooping ; calyx green, pube-
scent; awn I'rowu at bottom, smooth and whitish at top; seed naked, free, sub-glo-
bular, compressed a little on both sides, smooth without, shining, of a milky whiteness,
wth a black umbilical clot. This differs so little from the following as scarcely to make
therii a distinct species The stalks rise six or eight fet^t, or even more ; the leaves are
loi-g and broaci, embracing the stalks ; the flowers come out in large oval panicles at
the tops of the stalks, succeeded by roundish seeds, enveloped in chaff, and bristles,
wiiich defend it from the hirds. These plants were brought from Africa to this island,
and are now generally and very extensively cultivated, not only on account of the valu-
able qualities of the grain, but of its amazing productiveness. In the rich lowlands of
Jamaica, an acre is often known to produce from thirty to fifty bushels, in the moun-
tainous parts It does not succeed so well, as, from the superior quantity of moisture
and coolness, it runs into such a luxuriancy of stalk and leaves, as to produce little
or no fruit. Tlie gram, when ground, yields a most excellent fine white flour, very
nourish ing, and, under different modes of preparation, foruis an essential part
of food for the negroes. Poultry of all kinds are very fond of it ; and it is also a most
nourishing food for horse? and hogs, especially if given to the former on the spikes,
plucked from the main stalk of the ear, which they will eat, spikes and all. in this
state it is considert d by many as superior to great corn, as the trash surrounding the
grain is not only of itself good food, but assists in cleaning the animals intestines from
tjots and worms. The stalks are also an excellent food for stock, and, when dried,
may be kept for use a great length of time ; they contain an agreeable luscious juice>
which, pr;iperly prepared, i^ould yield very good sugar. This corn must be planteci
froii) September to November, and is ripe in January and February ; it is not produc-
tive at any other season of the year. The grain, if well dried, and stored upon the ear,
will kecp'for several vears, and is geneitally thus preserved on most plantations, where
it is cultivated, from crop to crop.

2. SACCHARATUS, SUGAR.

Erectumviaximum, paniculis flurimis decUnatis, Browoe, p. 135.
Glumes villose ; ail the seeds awned.
This is so like the foregoing in every respect, as hardly to be distinguished but by
its bearing successive panicles from all the upper joints. Browne calls it Guinea,
wheat.

See Guinea Grass*

GUINEA

«,fiNrrA ilORTUS JAMAICENSIS. ' Si?

GUINEA GRASS. HOLCUS.

Cl. 23, OR. 1. — Polygnmia vicr.oecia, Nat. ou. — Gramma.
Gek. char. — .S'i-'i? Guinea Corn, /;. 351.

POLVG.iiMUM. POLYGAMOUS,

Mujor asnirgcns, culnio comprcsso, spica la.ra spatiosa. Browne,.
p. 366.

Panicle compaund, capillary, spreading ; floscules polygamous ; cuira jointed,
inrsute. _ ,

This has been clashed as a paviann hy Svvartz andother authors, but later botanists^
as well as Browne, have made it a species o( liolcus. Brovvne observes that its rliarac-
ttrs agree pretty wed with those of the pnnirum in general ; bnt the flowers coininoniy
grow very luxuriant, and, tiiough often hermaphrodite, are generally observed to l;e
distinct males and females, surrounded by seperate involucres, and standing on distinct
pedicels within i he same calyx*. . This most valuable grass is a native of AInca, and was
introduced into this i.sland many yearo- ago by the merest accident. Mr. .John Ellis got
some bircis from. the cfjasl of Guinea, an'd with them some seeds for their snpjiort ; the
birds dying soon after, the se-eds were thrown out of doors as useless. From these seeds
grew some luxuriant grass, .v;l>ich attr.xted Mr. Ellis's notice, and he had a horse and
a. cow broughtvvh'ere it was, .when both of them greedily eat oPit. h. was then tru-iis-
plaiited iji-to a garden and graduaily cultivated, until it has become one of the most lu-
crative.and nselnl plants in Jamaica. If agrees with almost every soil and situation,
and has i'endered man3' rocky and othcrwi.-ie barren spots of Jamaica very valuable, as af-
fordiitg support to lierds of cattle and horses. The growth of this grass is very cpick,
for in wet weather, and in a favourable situation, it may be cut once in a fortnight. It
resists dry weather for a consiilerable time, and even, when parched up, tlnrslightesi:
showers will revive it. It rises from five to eight feet high. WIten of proper strength
it is a very excellent food for horses and cattle, which, when considerably lean andre-
tmced, will be restored to flesh and fatness in two or thiee montiis by feeding upon it.
This grass does not require so much moisture as the Scotch grass, but is justly esteemed
as a more hearty fodder, and makes a very nourishiiig hay. The manner of cultivating
it is to make the land intended for it perfectly clean by hoeing, and then to dig
holes from three to frve feet distance, accordmg to the quality of the soil. The holes
should be large and deep enough to bnry a fevv roots of the grass a good depth, which
are taken from a rijeighbouring nuiser}' or grasspiece, as it is of service to large roots
to separate half of them, and then mould up what remains in the ground. The plants
should be topped within a few inches of the root, yjut into the holes, well covered with
earth, and pressed dov^n v.'ith the foot ; and a stone laid upon ihe place is thought use-
ful, by occasioniiig the grass to spread more- Care sli(iuld be taken to-keep the young
plants free of weeds. The best time for planting is in April agd May, for the grass
will then perfect its seed in Sejjtember and October, the season when it seeds the most
abundantly. The ground should be ngite clean when the seed is ready to drop, and if
the spaces between the roots be then stirred with the hoe, it would be found very bene-
ficial. When the seed is all fallen stock may be turned in, to eat the grass and tread
the seed into the ground. In rich and new land the grass at first will grow so rank as
to produce very thick stalks, which, by running up the noses of tlie stock, prevent*.

Z z thsais

354 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. tyinNE*

them from eating It so close as ihcy otherwise woulil. When, however, it is eaten m
near tlie ground as pos. ible, tlu- rem;t.ning grass shoiiltl be cut (.low n or burned off;
{tiler tliis, if favourable rains i'all, it will grow from the roots and seed, anci, hy covlt-
jng the ground in May following, u ill' be perfectly established for several years, ac-
cording to the quality of the land. Wlienevarthe gruss feocoines thin, holes' may be
opened in such !)laces, and roots ag-aip planted to supply it; and bv tliis attention a
f e 1 uill scarcely ever be so totally worn out as to require the labour of being at any
one time repiau.ed. With very tittle care in its infancy, this grass vr.W overcome all
otiier grass and weeds ; and in ground full of stones and rocks, tiiougii planted at great
distances at random, as the soil a Imits, it wi.l s))read itself ab.mt them in a few months,
and at last cover them entirely. If the stalks be buried a few inches de(^, each joint
will take root and grow; or it may be propagated directly i>yso.4-ing tiie seed, the
ground being previju^ly prepared far that purpose ; but the seed will lie sometinjcs
many months in the ground before it niakcb its appearance. Some plafiters do not stock
up ll.e roots which arc jiLntci! \\lien the grass lias seedetl ; and others depend upon
^vlJat tliey aifortl, by c>ynti.iually feeding or cutting the grass, at a certain height, with-
O-it ever allowing it to seed ; but it is the surest way of establishing the grass ta allow
it to shed its first seed.

Sec Guinea Corn.

GUINEA-HEN-WEED. PETIVERTA.

Cl. 6, OR. 4. — Ilcxandria tetragijn'a. Nat. ort. — Holoracex.

This was so named in honour of James Pctiver, an apotliecary of London.

■ Cen. GUAR. — Calyx a four-leaved perianth, Iratiets linear, blunt, equal, spreading,
permanent ; there is no corolla, except the coloured calyx ; stamens six to ei"ht
(Svvartz observed mostly seven), unequal, awl-shaped, converging ; anthers
erect, linear-sagittate, i)ifid at top ; the pistil has an ovate, compres.sed, emar-
ijinate, germ; a very short lateral style, in the groove of the germ ; (Gartner
observed four styles, jiermanent, finally bent outwards, spiijcscent) ; stigma
pencil -shaped ; there is no pericarp, except the crust over the seed ; die seed is
single, oblong, jiarrower below, roundish, compressed, emarsinate, with four
barbed hooks, bent back outwards, rigid, acute, the middle ones longer ; (naked
according to Gcertncr, but armed above with reflex spines). One species is a na-
tive of Jamaica.

ALLI.'iCEA. GARLIC. ,

Verhente aut scovodonia affinis anomah, flore aibido, calyce aspcro
aiUi-odoie. Sioane, v. 1, p. 172.

Flowers six male.
This plant ijrows plentifully in .Jamaica ; the calyx is a monophyllons perianth, or
rather a sin pie glume of a lanceolated form, having a very short appi iidicle on each
side. The styles are not four in number ; what hitherto have been called styles are
only four reflected spines, placed on the top of the germ. The stvles, or what ought
to be called so, are placed on the hind part of the germ, next to the receptacle, and
consist of many sululate filaments, or else are one pensiliform style, div-ided into many
^arts. TLe root of this plant is strong, about the thickness of a thuoib, deeply fas-
tened

'^ '^ rv;^^ l-I O E T U 3 J A Tvl A T C E N S I S. :i.^ ■

. TeiiPvi in the rarth, nntl ot' ahrowf.ish vi^iiite rolour; the stem ']■> tfom hvn to thvrr foot
liigh, jointed, and becoming vroody at the bottom. The leaves spring; from the 'loiiit-*
and are oblong, three inches lonsr ;md half as broad, of a deep e;rcen and veined,'
plaeed altcrnaiel)" on short footstalks. The tops of the branches are fora foot in lengtli,
withont an}- leaves, but set close on every .s-ide with white tetrapetalous flowers, sessile,
very small, making no-fjgure; tke seed is cnneiform, oblong, with an obscnre ridge
on. one side, and a depressed line on tbeother, arnred at top with fonr pungent spines,
at first almost npright, but afterwards reflet ted to the baok, of a bay or paie green co-
lour. It grov.-s in sJiady woods and savannas in snc!> plenJy.as to bee* iie a tronldesomfi
■weed. Its root and all parts abonnd with verv volatile particles, like the- horse radJisiv-
root, and so remarkaidy acrid tliiit the smell qr taste can hardly be borne. On chewing
alittleof.it, itburns-the mouth and leaves the tongue dry, black,, and rough, as it
aj)pears in a malignant fvs^er. !t,as much caveted by Guinea hens, whence the name
is derived. Its. juice has been used in hysteriic fits instead of other fa-ird droyjs, with
succes.s ; and seems wxill adapted to the purpose when fresh scraped aiad bruised, and
might serve, instead of mustard, for atJplving to the feet in fevers. As this plant en-
dures niiirh droiTght, it remains green when oti>ers are burned up, when cattle will
feed upon it, and it has been o!)seivcd to give their nnik tiie taste of garlic, and to
communicate an intolerable rankhess to th^u" flesh, especially to their kidneys ; whicli,
however, goes ofi'tn aboiit a fortnight, oi> their being fed on good grass. Sloanc 53.3-3
that a piece of the root,, put into a hollow, tooth, cm'es its aching. Barhaui calls it
coal, ^nd speaks of it as follows : :

" This htrb is famous in the histories of Peru, the Tncliarrs fancying it adds much to
their strengih j- others affirm, that they use it for charms ; as for instance, when tho
min_e or ore is hard to work,' ttiey throw upon it a ha-ndful of tins herb chewed, and
immediately get out, the said ore with more ease and in greater. qivantity, as tliey lancy.
Fisliermen aiso put som.e of this he.rb chewed to their hook, when they can take no fish,
and the art; said to have better success thereupon. ; lii short, they apply it to so many
uses, most of them bad, that the Spaniiirds prohiiiit the use of it ; for they believe it
liatli none of those eftects, but that what the. attribute to it is done by the compact the
Indians have with the devil - The leaf is a little smooth,, and less nervous than that o£
the pear- tree ;. the shrub dnes.not grow above four or five feet high. The greatest
quantity erows about thirty leagues from Cicada^' among the Yiinnas, on the frontiers
of the iunghos. The taste of it is so har.sh', that it 3eas tiie tongues of such as are not
used to it ; it occasions the spitting of a loathsome froth, and makes the Indians who
chew It continually stink abominably. It is said to supply the want of food, and that,
by the h^lp oi it, a man may live several days without eating, and not be sensibly
weakened. It is thought to fasten the teeth, and take away their distempers ; and ifet
answers iu tdl respects liie purposes of tobacco." — Barham, p. 43.

GUINEA PEPPERS. CAPSICUM.

Cli. 5, OR. I. — Penlandriavionogi/nia. Nat. or. — Lurkla.

Some derive the generic name from a Greek word signifying to bite, on account of
the biting heat of its fruit ; others from capsa, a chest.

G^,,CHAR. — Calyx a onc-leafcd perianth, five-cleft, erect, permanent ; corol'hvr

2i z'Z nion9petaioir;j|^

256 ROKTLS JAMAICEN^IS. "GTyrw*

monnpetalous, rotated ; tube very short ; hordor half five-cleft, sprcaflinc^, plaited ;
divisions broad, acvUe ; the stimiens are five siibuiate, very small, fdainents, with
oblong converging antlicrs ; the pistil has a superior ovate genn, a filiform style,
longer than the stamens, and an obtuse stigina ; tiie pericarp is a berry without. i
pulp, approaching to an ovate figure, bilocuiur, hollow, coloured ; receptacles
growing to the dissepiment, exsuccous ; seeds very many, renifonn, compressed.
■Obs. — The figure of the \ pericarp is indeterminate; the genus differs from it%s
congeners, in having a baccated exsuccous pericarp. Five .sjoecies are reckoned
oi this genu^j seeuiing to be.only varieties, a great many of which are to be found
in Jamaica.

3ACCATU^f. Er.RTIIED,

Stem shruhijy, smooth, and even ; ]ier!uncles in pairs.

Of this herbaceous plant the island of Jamaica possesses a great variety, princiraiiy
distinguished by the size, colour, an ds^iape, of the fruit, \Vhich is a hollow two or three
•celled berry, containing kidney-shaped, round, or beaked, smoodi, seeds. The re-
ceptacle is at the bottoiv of the beny, intimately connecteil with the partitions, so that
some of the seeds are sometimes fixed to the jTartitioj**; themselves. ' From the rich and
varied colour of the fruit, which they bear in abundance, these plan;s are highly orna-
mental, as well as useful. They seldom rise above three feetfrom tiie ground. The
capsule and seeds of the whole tribe are full of a warm acrid oil, and used for seasoning
food, and other culinary purposes, as the heat they impart to the stomach is thought
very much to |M-omote digestion, assist the tonic motion of the bowels, invigorate the
blood, and correct the flatulency of vegetable aliment. The following are enumerated
as the most remarkable kintk :

1. BiKD Peppers. — These are the em all est kind of pepper, and have also the smallest
leaves ; there are twa varielies, one with a blue fruit, called sometimes hcn-pcppci\
which grows to a great heiglit in the woods ; the other with a red fruit, which is a hand-
some shrub, from the fruit of which is made Cayenne pepper ; they are reckoned the
strongest pepper, and received the namo^Vom birds and poultry being fond of them.
They are about the size of a field pea.

2. Bkll Peppers.— Of wiiich there are two l<mds : the largest purple bell peppoi",
^vhich seldom exceeds four feet in height ; its leaves are much longer than any of the
rest, and the fruit often as big as a large cashew. The plant seldom lasts more than
two years. ;/Tlie other i.ind hj.s a large heait-formed red fruit. TJiese are considered
the best for pickling.

3. Goat Peppers.— Of these there are .several varieties, which are very generally

onir

.•D »

•used: Tne greater round upright ; the broad crumpled ; the short round; the 1
and the hairy stalked. The smell of these, from which the name is derived, soa^e
tliuik rank, while others consider agreeable and reviving: they aie all of a beautiful
sliiiinig yellow colour.

4. Bonn tr Peppers. — These have a h.rge turbinated fruit, not furrowed like the
bell peppers, but very shining.

5. FinijEP. Peppehs.— These are called so from the shapebeing like a finger, larg^, ob-
"riong, and conical ; they are of a beautiful yellow colour.

6. Chf.rry pEPftRS. — Named sy from tlieir resemblance ia size, shape, an 1 colour,
-jodierries,

7. ConAii

♦uiNJi HOItTUS JAMAICENSIS. 5.'.'/

7. CoEAt Peppers. — These are called so from their long, slender, singularly twisted,
•shape aaJ shining red colour, reseaibling corals.

8. Rams-horn Pi-PPEKS. — These are tormed like the coral pepper, but are much
longer and more spiral, and somewhat flatted.

t». Olive Peppers. — ^The fruit is of a iDcauiiful j'ellow colour, and in shape like an
-olive, of which there is a pend\dous and an upright variety.

10. Forked, or double pointed pep))ers.

11. Nipple Peppers — The leaves of this como o^it in opposite tt-.fts, and the fruit
'is shaped like a cone or nipple, broad at bottom, and narrowing to a point.

Tlie above are the princip?<! varieties to be foun<] in .laniaica, but nature has sportetl
so much in the form of the fruit, that it is almost endless to trace the difierent shapes
•and figures they put on.

Capsicum has all the virtues of the oriental spices, r/ithout prodneing- those com-
plaints of the head which they often occasion. In f<jod\it jirevents ikitulcncy i'rom ve-
L,etab!es, but the abuse occasions visceral obstructions, especially of the liver, la
dropsical coniplaints, or others where chalybeatcs are indicated, a minute portion of
, powdered capsicum is an e:':cellent addition. lu lethargic affections this warm anJ
active stimulant might be of service. In tropical fevers acoma and delirium are com-
-nion attendants, and in such cases cataplasms of capsicum have a speedy and hapjjy
-effect; they redden the parts, but seldom blister unless kept on too long. "In ojuiial-
.miasj from relaxation of tiie membranes and coats of the eyes, the diluted juice of the
•capsicum is a sovereign remedy ; and I have often witnessed its virtues in many obsti-
nate cases of this sort. In some parts «f Sioutli America the Indians prick the loins and
bellies of liectic jiatients with thorns dipped in the juice of capsicum.

Of late capsicum has been snccessfullv used in pauicular cases of the yellow fever. — •
i'lt settles the stomach, abates bilious vomitings, and even miliMna, the morbus niger of
'^Hippocrates, or black vomit, has becH cured by it. The form it is given is eitlier from
the green pepper, or of the genuine powder capsicum. Three parts of tlie bottoni
part of ilie green boinict pep|5er, and two parts crumbs of bread, made into a large
pill, and given every two hours, or oftener, till the stomach is settled. Or three grains
genuine powder of C'aj"enne pepper, made into a firm pill, and completely CDated
with white wafer, to be given as above. This medicine has been given patients in the
end of the yellow fever, when debility and extreme weakness had taken place, and
with the liappiest effect. It warms and stimulates the stomach, brings r n a genial
warmtli and diaphoresis, and assists greutly in giving a iavourabie turn to this disorder.
— JVriglit,

In recent pleuritic stitches a poultice of bruised peppers, tippHed to the place af-
fected, frequently removes the complaint ; and the berries bruised, and mixed with
lard, is recommended to be rubbed on paralytic limbs.

The following recipe is the famous pepper medicine for the cure of malignant in-
fluenza and sore throats ; which has been found highly eihcacious, and is recouimended
-as a powerful diaphoretic, stimulant, and antiseptic : Take two Uible-spoonfuls of
€mall red pepper, or three of common Cayenne'pepper, add two of fine salt, and beaC
them into a paste ; add half a jjint of boiling water, strain off the liquor when cold, and
4idd tu it half a pint of very siiarp vinegar. Give a tuble spoonful every haif hour as a

duso

^ 35S H O R TU S J A M A^I G E N S 3^, gihk»*-

dose for ?n adult, and so In pro]iorlio!i for younger paticnls, . Pemaps thh; mediliiie
Kiiglii merit a trial in the vellow, lever.

Tiie general mode of preparing Cayenne pepper is by gtthetinc; llie. l)ird pepp.'U's.,
■Rhon ripe, drjing them in the sun, ])owdering i\rti\ mixing them with salt, which,
when well dried, i? put into close corked bottles, for the jMirpose of excluding the air,
vhieh disposes the salt to iiquify, and. therefore is thought !)y some an improper ingre-
dient in tlie composition. This is sometimes ealied- Cayefjn-e butter, ■ind is in general
esteem for the exeellenr relish it gives to differeiU dishes.

The niix-ture called wmi-di am is- made from these peppers in the fqliowing manner,
and seldom fjaiis4to provoke thenios-t languid appetite : t!ie ingredients are, sliced cu-
•Junibers,.. escltaiots ar- oni<jns cirt-vepy si»all, a- lit t la iifHe-juice and Madeira wine,
with a few pods of biccVor honiui pepper well mashed and mir-HKl with the liquor.

For the jjurpostf of pickling tiie bell and- goat kinds are considered the best : For
this pivv|K)se tlu:y are gatheivid Ix'fore they arr.Ve at their full si»e, while their skin is
tender : they are slii dowa on 0!>e, side, and the seeds- te.ken out, after which thfry
should hi" soaked i,n salt and vtater for twenty-four hours, and-thawiiter changed at tlie
end of ti!£ fi-rst twelve hours. When they are taken- out of thi?, they slioukl be drained,
put 'into. bottles or jars, and boiled vinegar,, after being rtilowed to cool, poured upon
them in suffi<ient quantity to cover thein^ Tiie vessels should then be closely stopped
for a feAV we.eks. They a-ie- esteemed the wholesomest pickle in the-v«)rld. The pep-
per viiiegar, with barley water and honey,, is a-good mouth or throat gargle;

The following is. a receipt for milking what is called <■(/?/■«« pepper-pot : "Take the
ripe bird peppers, dry thenn well iivthe sun ; tlien-jjut tliem into an earthen or stone
pot, mixing Hour between every stratum of pods ; and put them into an oven after the
baking of bread, that they may be thoroughly dried : after which they must be well
cleansed from the flour ; and if any of the stalks remain adlicring to the pods, tluy
should Ik» taken oiT, and the poibreduced to a fine powder : to every ounce of this add
a pound of wheat flour, and as much leaven as is sufficient f<jr tiie quantity intended.
After this has been properly mixed anil wrought, it should be made into small cakes,
and baked ill the same manner as comrHon cakes of the same size : tlien cut them into
small parts, and bake them again, that they may be as dry and hard as biscuit; which,
being powdered and sifted, is to be kept for use." ' This is prodigreusiy hot and acri-
monious, and bv some recommended as a nicdicine for flatulencies. If the ripe pods
of capsicum are thrown into the fire, tliey vAill raise strong and noisome vapours, which
occasion vehement si>eezing, coughing, and often vomiting, in those near the place
or in the room where-they are burned. Some persons have mixed the powder of the
pods with snuif, to give to others for diversion : hut where it is in quantity there may
be danger in using it ; for it will occasion such violent fits of sneezing as may break the
blood vessels of the head.

Tilt; VAtA peppers- are giten internally to cure the dry gripes in horses and mule^,
when occasioned by rank or L,our grass. They are likewise externally applied ia
cataplasms.

A small quantity of the capsicum powder has sometimes given almost immediate re-
lief in the tooth-.iche, when arising from caries.; it is to be applied to the part affected
by introducing it into the cavity of the carious tooth.

Capsicum Peppers. — Tliese arc all much of the same nature- The large hollow sort;,
• (sailed bell -pepper, pickled while green, is an excellent relishing picUe or sauce for-

lUtHt i-

««Rja HDRTUS JAMAICENSIS. 3';^

■meat ; the other small red peppers, v\hen ripe, tsken and dried in the sun, and thera
ground with salt and pepper, close stopped in a bottle, are an excellent relisher to
siiuce for tish or flesh, and commonly called kyun butter. All these sorts of pepper are
iijiicli more of a burning heat tiian wliiie or black pepper. Some pnnish tlieir slaves
by putting tiia juice of these peppers into their eyes, which is an unspeakable pain for
a little wliile ; and yet, it is said thatsomelndians wilLput it into their ey-ea before they
g<j to strike hsh, to make iheiu see clearer.

These peppeis stop voHiiting, create an appetite, and strengthen the stomach, if
rigbtiy prepared ; some I lurvc known to swallow a certain number of ibem whcjle, as
some do cudt^bs, for tlie"pain in the stomach and cholic ; theypowerfully provoke the
terms, facilitate birth and after-birth, and are good against -gravel, or tar arous slimy
matter that l)reeds the stone in the kitlnies or bladder. Bnt 1 u<uild not advise any
person tnat lal)ours uniler venereal symptoms, or those who aie hectieal, to meddle
with them. \Vhen infused or digested in spirits of wine, it tai<.es off much of theif
violent heating and inflaming quality, and they are then great provokers of urine, curb-
ing dropsies. -Infused in oi-l, they take away the nuajb pals\', or loss of the use of thu
limbs; and, mixed with goose grease, resolve impijsthumes that came from cold, &c.

Near St. Miciiael de Sapa, m the Vale of Arica, they cultivate the aai, that in
Guinea pepper ; where tbere-'are several farms which have no other product but this
pepper. The Spaniards of Peru are so generally addicted to that sort of spice, that
tliey can dress no meat without it, thougli so very hot and bituig, that thsrc ib no eu-
'dui'Ing it, unless well used to it. — Barliam, p. 30.

GUM ARABIC TREE. MIMOSA.

Cl. 23, OK. 1. — Poli/gamia monoecia. Nat. or. — Lomcntaccce.
■■Gen. char. — Sec Cacoon, p. 137.

NILOTICA. NILE.

Spines stipulary, spreading ; leaves bi-pinnate, the outer partial ones seperated
b}' a gland ; spikes globular, peduncled.

Th'y i^'ant is a native of Arabia and Egypt, and since its introduction has thriven
"very well in UjOsi parts oi this island, where, like many otlter plants, it deserves more at-
ttiiii . I h-.u it Uas niet with. It grows with an upright branching stem, armed with
spreading spines ; the bark of the trunk is smooth and of a grey colour, that of the
branches has coinmonly a purplish tinge. The leaves are delicate, bi-piimated, and
placed aiteruate.y ; the partial pinnas are opp.)site, fllrni^hed with a small gland be-
tween the OHtermost pair, and l)eset with numerous pairs of narrow ellijiHcal pinnuliP,
or leaflets. The spmes are long, white, spreading, anti proceed from each side of the
base of the leaves ; the flowers are hermaphrodite and male ; they assume a gifjbular
shape, are ,eliow, and stand four or five together upon slen-der peduncles, which arise
frou the axillte of the leaves.

The various uses of the gum of this tree are well known. It exudes in a liquid state
from the bar': of the trunk and brandies, and, by exposure to the air, soon acquires
hardness and consistency.

Tl»e luedicdl character of the gum arable is its glutinous quality, in consequence of

whidi

3S0 H'ORTUS JAMAICENSTS., cvfst

wliich it serves to inrrassate and obtiind thin acrid humours, so proves useful in tick-
ling coujjhs, alvine fluxes, hoarseness, influxes of, the belly with cjripos, and where
the mucus is aljradcd from the bowels or from the urethra. In a dv.suria the true guui ^
arat)ic is more coniinij tiKUi the other simple "ums, so should be prelerred.

It is said to be an useful mcdieiue as a gargle and ptisan to dia'.inish theclischarge
occasioned from, the raonili by excessive saiiviition. In Dr. Percival's Essavs, vol. I.
tiie following case is related : " A gentleman always easilv afi-ected by mercurials, hav- ,
ing taken about twenty-six grains. of calomel i a doses from; one, to three grains, not-
withstanding he was purged every third day, was suddenly sci7;ed with a, salivation. — -
H.e spat iilenfifiiiiy, his breath v,:as verv iiBtid, teeth loose, and his gums, fauces, and
the nuHgin of his tongue, greatly uJcerated and inflamed. Me \ias directed to use the
following ga'.-gle : Ji Gioii. arao- semiunc. solve in. aqua font, hullicnt. selib. et adde
^iiel, ro.wc.unc. iiiiam. M, ft, gargar. and to drink freely of a ptisan prepared with
«y. hord. HI), ij. gum .arable unc. y. nitr. par drachm ij. sacchar. cd-b. tine, ji His pur-
gative w:as repeated the sugceeding morning. I'he nextday his gums were less in-
flamed, but the sloughs on liis tgngue, &c. were still as foul ; his spitting was much
the sanie.j he had drank about a pint of the ptisan. Soroe spt. tit noli was added Xo
the gargle. From this da)' to the fourth he was purged every day witiiout efl'ect, his
salivation still continued, hisjnouth was no better, he had neglected the mucilaginous
drink. 'Vi\y^ evening he was persuaded to drink about a pint of it which remained, and
he had it repeated, and drank very freely of it that night. Or the 5th morning the
})urgative was again repeated. Thougiiit operated very little, yet the change was very
.surprising* his mouth was nearly well, and his ptyalism greatly decreased. The ptisan
was repeated ; and, on the sixth day, being cjuite well, he was permitted to go
abroad."

In JMr. Hasselquist's Travels v/^ have an instance of the ej;tra ordinary nutritive vir-
tues of this gum. " The Abyssinians," says he, "make a journey every year to
Cairo, to sell the products of their country. They must travel over terrible desaits,
and their journey depends as much on the weather as a voyage at sea ; consequently
t^ey know as little as a seaman how long they must, be on their journey ; and the ne-
cessaries of life may chance to fail them v-fhen the journey lasts too. long. This hap-
pened to the Ai^yssinian carravan in the year 1740, their pro\-isions being consumed
wlien they had still two montlrs to travel. They were then obliged to search for some-
thing among their merchan:ise wherev.'ith they might support nature, and found no-
thing more proper than gum arable, of which they had carried a considerable quantity
along with them. This served to support above one thousand persons for tv/o months ;
and the caravan at last arrived at Cairo without any great loss of people either by
hunger or diseases."

The mimosa senega!, or gum Senegal tree, has also b^en introduced into this island,
which produces a gum so similar to gum arable, though less transparent, that it was
long mistaken as the same.

S-ee Cacoo>-$~Casiiaw — Inga Tree — Nephritic Treh-»S£nsitive Plant— Wilui

Tamarind.

Cum Benj.imin— .$"c(? Benjamin.

cuy

HORTUS JAMAICENSI&.

GUM TREE. HIPPOMANE.

Cl. 21, OR. 8. — Monoecia mojudelphia. Nat. OR. — Tricoccx.

This generic name is derived from the Greek name Of a plant supposed ta. maks;
horses furious.

Gen. char. — Male flowers in a terminating; anient; the calyx one-leafed, roundish,
bellynig ; with the month couvergini^, emarginate ; there is no corolla; the sta-
men is a single filiform filament, twice as long as tiie calj's ; anthers four, round-
ish, fixed crosswise to the sides of the Slameat towards the tip. The female

' flower solitary, terminating, ia- the same plant ; calyx a three-leaved perianth,
withering ; leadets roundish, concave, blui^, converging ; there is no corolla ;
the pistil is an ovate large germ, style very short, stigma slightly seven-cleft,
sharp, reflex ; the pericarp a globular drupe, very large, one-celled, crowned
with the permanent stigmas, or a tricoccous capsule ; the seed a woody irregular
nut, acuminate, excavated with little pits, seven-celled, seven-valved ; kernels
solitary, roundisli. Tiiere are three species, two of which are natives of Jairiaica.

BIQLANDULOSA.

BIGLANDULAR.

Arbor cum, foliis elHpticis glabris^ petiolis biglandidis^ Jloribus spica-'
tis. Browne, p. 338^ .

Leaves o-rate-oblong, big'andular at the "base.
This tree grove's from twenty to fifty feet high, with an even brownish ash-coloured
bavji. Leaves on young trees frequently a foot long, but on older ones shorter ; they
are blunt, ere n ate -serrate, of a firm substance and bright green ; spikes terminating
and lateral, clustered, rather to be called aments. A single amcnt of male flowers, at
the beginning of the flowering time springs among other small ones, flowers, and falls ;
thick scales like glands cover the ameat, commonly- a pair opposite to another pair,
ovate, thick, pressed close, adnate; perianth from the sinus of two scales, tubular,
irregularly four-vleft, blood-red : filaments two, connate at the base, reflex, longer
than the calyx, blood-red ; anthers twiir, open i.t the upper edge ; pollen yellow,
with the atoms oblong, when -viewed with a glass appearing to have two pellucid streaks.
After almost a month, the first araent falling aUd leaving a scar, the snnatler aments of
the base are elongated and flower, producing male flowers at the top, and female
flowers below. The females have two scales to each flower, embracing the germ. —
Calyx trifid, two segments-above the scales at the sides, the other behind ; germ ovate,
.fastened to the ament behind ;. style three-parted ; stigmas thick, simple ; capsule ob-
long, slightly three-cornered, at length tricoccous, small, -three-cejled, three- vatved j
seeds orfaiculate, smooth, solitary. — Sk'.

All the parts of this tree abouivd with a caustic lac or milk, of a liirht green transpa-
rent colour, which issues plentifully from a wound or fractuie, of a dirty opake colour,
and of little smell ; which Browne observes was generally used in boiiing-house lamps
in ever}' part of the country where it grew ; and that it was also used for bird-lime,
which purpose it answered exttemely well. It blossoms in the latter end of January
and beginning of February, and is in some places called parrot-gum tree, wiiich has
been thought a different plant, owing to the difference in the leaves and appearance
ef (Jie trees in its different stages, the smallness of the- leaves being the effect of age j
'« A a d iuid

5r'» fiORTU^ JAMAICENSIS. ovmnantxim

and in the ol 1 trees too the gum is more tenacious. These trees were or'-e found in
f real abundance in the eastern and north-easterti parts of Jamui('a. The wood is soft
a:id coarse, but supplies tolecablc staves for sugar casks. Long mentioiis one tree
from whTch Uiree thousand staves were obtained, which were sufficient for one hundred
bogsiicaJs.

Jfe M.vNCHiNEEi, Tree.

Ko English Xame. 'GYMNANTKES.

Cl. 21, OR. 8. — HtlomeciamjTiaclehhia. N.^T. OR. —

This name is derived from a Greek word signifying naked flowers,

■Gen. char. — Male flowers. — Calyx a compound ament, with pedicels tripartite or
trichotonious, aniher-bearing ; there is no corolla; the stamens are naked fila-
rnents, or pedicels tripartite or trichotomous, scattered, placed on every side of
the ament, very short,- deciduous; anthers oblong, minute, three-celled. Female
fiOwers o:i tne same or a different shrub, solitary, or amentaceous; the calyx no
perianth, hut one or two scales at tlie base of the germ ; no corolla ; the pistil has
a roundish, superior germ, scarcely any style, or very short, three-cornered ;
the stigmas three, linear, acute, channelled, reflex ; the pericarp a tricoccous
capsule, three-celled, three- vaived ; seeds solitary, roundish. There -are two
. species, one of which is a native of Jamaica.

ELLIPTICA. ELLIPTIC.

Z)ioicous J stamens three-parted ; females amentaceous.— i'aJ.

SALBKRT

\

Ualbert: H out us JAMAICENSI3, i5.65

IIALBKRT ^VEED. GALEA.

Cl. 19, OR. 1. — Sj/ngeiiesiu poli/gamia tp^ualis: Nat. or. — Composifee.
Gen. char.— Common calyx, imbiicate ; scales oblong,. loosish ; compound corolla,
uniform ; coiollules hernuiphrodite, very many, equal ; jjroper calyx funuel-ibnix,
with a five-cleft border; tiie stamens are five filaments, tajiillary, very short, «i'li
tylindnc tubular anthers ; the pistil has an oblong germ, a filiforni.stylc, the length
ot the corollule ; stigmas two, reeurved, acute ; there is no ])ericarp, the caly.'C
tmchanged ; seeds solitary, oblong ; down hairy, the length of the calyx ; recep-
tacle chatfy ; chaiis a little longer than the calyx, eminent between the floscules.
iive species arc natives of Jamaica.

I'.LUirATA. LOBEO.-

Virga aurea vwjor, sive herbadoria, folio sinuato ^lirsufo. Sloane^
V. 1, p. 260, t. 152, f. 4. El ccta subhirsuta ; fuliis serratis, Itas-
latis, ix'l sinipiicibus et utrinque porrectis; Jloribus cornosis. — •
Browne, \). 315.

Con-mbs heaped ; leaves alternate, the npper ones ovate-lanceolate, the lower
ones -tooth-hastate, sinuate- serrate.

Gohkn-Rod. — American golden-rod hath a strong striated green stalk, as high as a
man, with rough, dark-green leaves^ .four inches long, and sinuated about the edges;
towards the top of the stalk are many branches and twigs, sustaining a great many naked
yellow flowers, like those of St. John's wort or rag- wort. It is called virga aurea.
major. It is a most noble wound-herb, restringent, and healing all sores and ulcers
in the mouth, or in any part of the body. It stops all sorts of fluxes, inwardly taken ;
und yet it provokes urine in abundance, forcing away that tartaieous matter which
breeds the stone. — Barliam, p. 66,

From the shape of the leaves, Browne called this plant ,^fl/if;Y-:^ref^, and says it is
an excellent bitter, and much used in America; where a spirituous infusion of the tops
is generally kept in most plantations, and often adaiinislered as aa active warm sto-
machic.

2. JAMAICENSIS. ' JAMAICA.

Cmiysa frnticosa, cistiodore, floiibus pallide purpureis sinmnitatibus ■
rumidorum iiisideutibus, capitutis et iemine majoribvs. Sloane, v.
1,. p. 257,. t. 151, f. 3. Subhirsuta; foliis o^ato-acuminutis, op-
fositis ; capitulis a.villaribus, pedunculatis teniatis siJigulari i:essile
associatis. Browne, p. 315.

Flovrers subternate-peduncled ; leaves ovate oblong, sub-serrate, petioled. '

Browne calls this the larger downy santolina, and says it grows chiefly in the woods
and inland parts of the island, growing generally to the height of six or .-even feet, or
better. Stems shrubby, narrow, round, oiiscurely tomentose ; leaves hairy, rugged,,
tliree- nerved. Flowers terminating, frequently three together j the pedicels ot Uife
sactte length with the flowers j calyx coloured.

A a a 2 3. OPPOSiTiroiJA..

»5+: H OUT US JAMA I C EN SI 91 HAMtLUi

3. OPPOSITirOLIA. OPPOSITE-LEAVED.

Srecta ; foliis litiearibus opposilis, qimndoque ierr.atis ; florihus re*
metis terminatricibus. Browne, p. 315.

Corymbs heaped ; peduncles very long ; Jein'es lanceolate ; stem herbaceous.

Stem herbaceous, two feet high, bi-anched, upriglit, round, puliescent ; branches
opposiie, long, spreading, stiff, hoary with down ; leaves sub-sessile, opposite,
siiiihtlv- toothed;' the upper ones entire, sharp, nerved, pubescent, soft; petioles
broadisii, very short, or none. The stem at top is as it were trichotomous, with three
long terminating ])eciuncles, at the end of which are three sub-sessile, conical, white
flowers; ihe coroliuies are very small; seeds oblong, compn^ssed, with three or four
very minute awns; chatfs ip iceolatc, the inner ones longer than the outer. It grows
Oil liedj^es in tae mountains.— ^Sa?.

See MuyNTAiN Broomweed and Star- Wort.

No EngUsh'Nd'int. HAMELLIA.

Cl. 5, on. 1. — Peniaudria monogT/nia. Nat. or. — Rubiacer.

This was so iiiair.ed from, Jean Baptiste du liamel du Monceau, author of several
fi)Ook.s upon trees.

Gen. char. — Calyx a five-parted perianth, acute, very small, superior, upright,
};crnianent ; corolla oiie-petaied, tube long, five-cornered, border five-parted ;
stamens sqbulate filaments, inserted at the midille of the corolla ; anthers oblong,
linear, the same length with the corolla ; the pistil an ovate germ, with a conical
tip, inferior ; 'style filiform, the same length with the corolla ; stigma linear,
blunt; the pericarp an oval berry, furrowed, five-celled, crowned; seeds very
oiaiiy, roundish, compressed, very small. Three species are natives of Jamaica.

1. VENTRICOSA. BELLIED.,

^7'borescens Joliis ovato acuminatis, verticillafem ternatis, stipulis
aiuminatis interpositis ; capsults quinque locularibus. Browne, p.
lt)6.

Racemes terminating and axillary ; leaves ternate,. levigated ; tube of the co-
rolla bellying.
This plant grows to the height of nine or J;en feet, with yellow flowers and entire
f(t;aves.

2. CHRYSANTHA.

IiTjvor frutescenSf foliis ovatis oppositts, stipulis acutis interpositis f
Lapsulii qui'nque locularibus. Browne, p. 166, t. 14, f. 1.

Racemes ternanating ; leaves oblong, wedge-shaped, acuminate, verj' smooth;
tiowers peuicelied. ^

TbisbtKom txceeds four feet in height; the flowers and leaves like those of the
fornier, tne uiiiereni uisposition of the leaves making the principal distinction between
fthem.

3. AXILLARIS*

«ARO t HOUTUS JAMAICENSIS. SGS

3. AXILLARIS. AXILLARY,

Su1)-herbaceous, racemes axillary; flowers mostly directeil one way, sessile;
leaves ovate-lanceolate.

This shrub grows about four feet high; the branches, middle ribs, veins of the
ieaves, peduncles, and i'ruit, are of a })urple colour ; the flowers snsall and yellow, the
anthers on tlie inside of-the stumens, and the-gtamens fixed to ihfc base of the tube;
the cups longer than those of t-lie two foregoing species. .The fruit is o\Tite, five-celled,
each containing many'small, depressed, angular seeds, adhering to a carnous receptacle.
The leaves have a bitter disagreeable taste, and are much broader, and terminate in a
narrower point, thanlhe other species. The pednncles are patent and dichotomous
for the most part, and the flowers stand in a long erect range, and are sessile. Tliere
is an acute stipule between eackleaf.

■IIKKD GRASS. SCLERIA.

Cl. 21, ou. 3. — Moncecia trkndria, Nat. or. — Calamarite.

i?EN. CHAR. — Male cah'x a glume from two to six-valved, many-flowered, awnless j
glumes of the corolla awnless ; filaments one to three. Female calyx from two to
six-valved, one-flowered, awnless; stigmas two to three ; tlie seed a sub-globular
jsut, somewhat bony, coloured. Five species are natives of Jamaica.

1. FJ AGELLUM. WHIP.

Gramen njperoides sylvaticum maximum gemculatimi asperhts, semi?ie
milii soil's. Sloane, v. 1, p. 118, t. 77, f. I.

'Culm three-sided, scant'ent, very rugged; leaves prickly backwards, thi-ce
ways; flowers panicled ; rachis villose.

Culm climbing very high, flaccid, sub-divided, striated, hisped with very minute
T)ristles, aed the angles rugged with very short re-curved prickles ; leaves sheathed,
a foot long, linear, acute, striated, keeled, smooth above, with a longitudinalhispid
line, hispid beneath, with the keel and edges prickly backwards ; sheaths strict, short,
with a truncate hairy ligule ; panicles axiiUiry, on compressed prickly peduncles from
the sheaths of the leaves ; ovate with single spreading sub-villose branches. Floral
' leaflets bristle-shaped, short, at the base of the branches and pedicels of the panicle ;
pedicels alterraate, surrounded at the base by a little sheath. Males mixed with the
females In the males the calycine glume is six-valved, with the upper valves larger,
all compressed at the top ; glumes of the corolla membranaceous, lanceolate; filaments
three, or fewer, setaceous, length of the coroUine glumes. In the female, glumes
from four to six-valved ; the inner valves shorter ; germ oblong, bluntly three-cor-
nered ; stigma simple, acute. Nut placed on the base of the permanent calyx, glo-
bular, brown and white variegated, with a tubercled whitish top. — Sw.

Sloane says it runs fifteen feet high among the bwshes, supported by, but not turning
round, them. Tlie stalk is triangular, having three sharp rough edges, with hollowa
l)etween them, as in a three-cornered sword blade ; that the culm and leaves are of a
•very dark green ; and that the seed, whicl\ comes out between two black glumes, is
•«oundisb, Urge, whitish like that of grom^feU or pearl parley.

S. MITiSj

Sii HOllTUS JAMAIGENT^IS. » i!^M>

2. MITIS. SOFT.

Tcnuidr,.aUissimescaTi(l(ns. Browjie, p. 3:?^^.
Culm thiee-iided, scandent, even; leaves even; flowers pariicll'd ; racliis
smooth.
Culm erect, scandent, without knots, sniooth, with (he ann;les even ; leaves Ian ea-
late-Huear, slightly keeled, widish, striated, pal'jr, smooth on hoih sides ; sheaths
long, close, smooth,' with a lance<j'ate hlnnt li^iule. Piniclos fjrom the sheytlis of the
tipper leaves, elongated, contracted ; with the braiv'-hes simple, alternate, three-si. led,
t-mooth ; flowers smaller, on very short pedicels. GUmies of the calyx and corolla in
the males a little more ovate than in the precedmg. Filaments three. In the female,
gfumcs one-fiowered, the inner ones larger. Nut placed on the calyx, glohnlar, sno\y-
white, hlack, and tubcrclfcd at the top, girt at the base by a little ciiiate memb'ranc.—
Swartz suspectsthis to be the same as the climbing carex of Browne, the stalk of which
he savs is slender, and rises to a, considerable heiglit when supported by bushes.

3. FIUFORMIS. riilFORAK

Culm simple, filiform, even; leaves subulate ; spike almost simple; flosculcs-
smooth, having a filiform, leaflet under them.

This is a tufted grass.. Culm from one to two feet Irigh, erect, loose, sharply, three-
sided, smooth. Leaves linear, keeled, acute, altermae, sessile, not sheathing, hispid
at the edge, and (when examined with a magnifier) cartilaginous, serrate, smooth. —
Spikes terminating, simple; peduncles from two to four, alternate, few- flowered ;
on wiiich are fioscules from three to six, male and t'emale mixed, sessile, approximat-
ing with a capillajry leaflet under them at the base; under the valves are a few very
small scales. In the male, glume of the calyx four- valved ;■ outer valves, smaller,
keeled, acute, often purplish at the lip, closed. Glumes of the corolla many interior,
pniail, linear, acute, imbricate, whitish. Filaments one, between the valves, length,
of the'glumes of the males, by the side of the coroUine glumes; germ roundish, whit-
ish ; style filiform, length of the glumes, three-parted to the middle ; stigmas capil-
lary, reflexed ; nut ossified, oblong or roundish, bluntly three-cornered, white, very
bard, inclosing the seed. It grows in very dry rocky places. — Sw.

■ 4. HIRTELL.l. ROUGH-H.\IRED.

Culm simple, filiform,, pubescent ; leaves lineajr ; spike simple; fioscules rough'*-
baired.

This grass is scarcely a foot high ; the roots small, filiform, black ; culm erect, three-
sided, striated, loose ; leaves slightly sheathing at the base, distant, very narrow,
slightly keeled, rough-haired. Spike terminating, composed of three or four clustered
fioscules, which are sessile^ alternate, rough-haired. In the males, the glumes of the
calyx are from two to four-valved, two-flowered, avk'nless ; valves lanceolate, acute,
ciiiate at the edge with ferruginous hairs ; one or two glumes interior, more tender,
.'^mailer, coroliine ; filaments solitary ; females in the same bundle, solitary ; glume
two-valved, one-flowered ; valves broad-lanceolate, ciliate ; st\'le bifid or trifid ; stig-
mas villose, reflexed j nut ossified, globular, shining) nliite ; very dilTerent hovafii-
fovrtiis at first si^iit.. ^

5. LATIFOUiL.

-HEART . . HOIITUS JAM. VICE NSIS, 3§7

5. LATIFOI.IA. BUOAD-LKAVr'I),.

* Culm tiiree-sidcd, leafy, erect, even; kavcs '.jroau-lunccjlate, nerved ; ,flo\\'--
ers panicled. > . . "

This grass is a faihoifPin height ; culm uudiviJed ; leaves frotii one to two feet in
length, sheathing at the base, often au inch wide, fi/ldin^ biigitudinallv, rigid ;
slieaths acuminate in front. Panicles terminating, or from the axils of the upper
leaves erect, strict, somewhat branched ; hraucbleis aiteriKitc, with male an 1 female
flowers scattered, distinct, sub-sessile or pedicclled, having- a small leaf aUvays nndcr
the Boscules. Males terminating; ghime of the calyx throe or four-valved, twu yr
three-flowered; valves ovate, acute, keeled, permantnt, smooth; inner corcliine
glumes smaller, irarriiwer; filaments three, very minute. Females more numerous,
below the others ; glume four-valved, one-flovvereJ ; the two outer valves lanceolate,
the two inner broad-ovate, acuminate, permanent ; germ roundish ; style tnfid at the
top and permanent; stigmas refle.xed, villose, whitish; seed globular, somewhat
bony, marked with a whitish point standing out. It grows in raountsin woods. — Sx,

Hauts Tongues — See Spi.eenwort.
H.AZLE-NuT — Si'c Cob-Nbt.

IIEAD-ACHE-WEED. HEDYOSMUM.

Ci.. 21, OH. 7. — Monoecia poljjandria. . Nat. or. —

Gen. char. — Male calyx an ament without scales, covered on every side with sta-
mens ; there is no perianth, nor corolla, nor filaments ; the anthers are very
many, imbricately heaped together, upright, oblong, acuminate at the tip, con-
verging at the base into an oblong ament, and placed on a linear receptacle. Thfi
females solitary, on the same tree — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, covering the
germ, three-toothed at the tip, teeth minute, upright; there is no corolla; the
pistil has an oblong germ, three-cornered ; a very short three-cornered style ;
stigma siiiijile, obtuse ; the pericarp is a berry, roundish, three-cornered, small,
superior; seed single, hard, three-sided, shining. Two species were discovered
by Svvartz in Jamaica.

1. NUTANS. NODDIN«.

Stem shrubby ; branches loose ; leaves lanceplate-acuminate.

The leaves of this plant have an aromatic odour, and, when bruised and smelled, arQ
-good for relieving pains in die head, whence the English name has been derived.

2. ARBORESCENS. TREE-LIKE.

Stem arborescent ; branches stiff, upright ; leaves ovate-lanceolate.

- HEART PEAS. CARDIOSPERMUM.

Cl. 8, OR. 5. — Pcntandria trigynia. Nat. or. — Trihilutx,

Tbif

368 H O R. T L' S J A.M A I C E N S 1:9. . BEAfta'

Tins name is derived from two Greek words signifjnng seed. and heart, from the seed
being iiiaikod with a heart-shaped spot. •

Gen, CHAR. — Calyx a four- leaved prrimitii ; kaflets obtuse, concave, the alternate
interior ones the size of the coroll^a, fuirinanent; tlie cor'Jjtahas four-petals, wiiich
are obtuse, alternate with tlie larger leaflets of the calyx; nectary four-pctaled,
coloured, inclosing the germ; leaHcts obtuse, grosving upon the petals, two upon
the erect lip, callous at the tip, hooked at the side ; the rest upon the closed lip ;
with equal sides ; the stamens are eight subulate fila;noiits, equal with the nectar}',

' anthers small ; the pisul has a three-sided germ, three short styles, and simple
stigmas ; the pericarp is a roundish trilobate Ciipsule, inflated ttilocular, gaping
at the tip ; the seeds solitary, globular,, marked at the base yvitli a cordate scar.— -
Two species are natives of Jamaica.. ■ <»

1. IIAUCACABUM.

Pisinn decimuni sive vcsicarium fruciu 7}iffra alha macula nctato.-—
Sloane, v. 1, p: 23fr. Scandens, J'oliis iernato-teni<itis,:acuminatiSf
scrratis. Browne,' p. 213,.

Leaves smooth and even. •

This has a wood}', cornered, rough staik, talking hold of any tree or shmb it comes-
near witli its clavicles, and mounting to eight or nine feet ; the tops then falling down,
cover the tree or shrub it ciimbcth upon. At about every three, ii.-hes distance, it
puts forth leaves, clavicles, and flowers, at the same place. The leaves stand on two
and an half inch long foot-stalks ; they are veiy much divided or laciniated, cut always
into nine sections, standing three togctlier on the same common pcliolus, coming from
the end of the footstalk ; that division of the three opposite to the end of the petiohis,
or in the middle, is the biggest, being two inches long, and one broaJ where broadest,
deeply notched or cut in on the edges, of a dark-green colour, very smooth, s ift, and
thin; the other two at the l)ase being of the same shape, and onlj' smaller. The cla-
vicles stand opposite to tiie leaf, beingfive inches long. Ex alis'foltorum come the
flowers, several together, standing en three-inch long foot-stalks, being white, pen^
, tapetalous, and very.open. After the flowers follow three-cornered oblong bladders,
having in each of tiiem three distinct cells ; and in every one of these lies, fastened to
a irembrane, a round dark-brown or black seed, about the bigness of a small held-pea,
having three triangular lines meeting at the centre of a clay-coloured or whitish trian-
gular or cordated spot (and therefore called pisum corddtum), which is at the place
where it is joined to the bladder or its fiUus. Tlie seeds of this plant cause greater sleep
than opium ;, bruised with water and applied, they ease the gout, and coldness of the
joints with stiffness; the juice of the leaves, with black cummin seed, is good for heart-*
burning ; and mixed with sugar is good for a cough. — Barham, p. 142.

The leaves of this plant, which is very common in Jiimaica, are minutely divided,
and, from t,heir resemblance to those oi purshy, it is soaietimes called wild parsley. It
frequently climbs to the t&p of very high trees.

2. GRAKDIFLOROM. GREAT-FLOM^ERED.

Villosnm, stylo bifdo, staminibus subcoalitis opposito. Browne, p. 213.
Leaves pubescent j capsules acuminate, veiy large, smootli.and even.

This,..

^kMTP HORTUS JAMAICENSIS, 363

This, like the other species, is frequently found climlniig in the lower wootls ; it
-grows in the iowlaat'.s tij\v;irds the fout ui tiie Long Mountaii'i ; the leaTcs havo tiie ap-
.pearancc of parsley leaves. All the filaments of the flower are connected at the base,
• and tU^posed as it were in a tuft on one side, and opposite to the style. — Ji)o:ai£.

See Supple Jack.

IIELLEBORINE. SERAPIAS.

Cl. 20, on. 1. — Gi/nandria diamlria. Nat. or. — Orchidc<e.
Gen. c-!;ar.— Calj;?? wandering spathes, spjidix simple, no perianth; corolla five-
.petaled ; nectary length of petals, ovate, gihhous, with an ovate lip ; stamens
two filaments, with erect anthers, under the iip of the nectary ; the pistil has an
oblong germ, growing style, and obsolete stigma; the pericarp is an oh-ovate,
-three-keeled, three-valved, capsule, opening under the keels, one-ceiled ; seeds
-numerous, saw-dust form ; receptacle linear, adjoined to eacli valve of the peri-
'carp. Swartz discovered two species of this genus in Jamaica.

1. POLYSTACHA. MANY-SPIKED.

Roots fibrous; stem sub-divided, jointed ; leaves oblong-lanceolate; raceme
compound, terminating; lip of the nectary ovate, recurved.

C. f LAVA. YELLOW.

.'Roots fibrous ; stem sub-divided, jointed ; leaves oblong-lanceolate; racemes
couipound; axillary ; lip of the nectary erect, acuminate.

iHell-Weed— .yte Dodder.

HEMP AGRIMONY. 'EUPATORIUM.

Cl. 19, OR. 1. — Si/ngcncsia polygamia eequaiis. Nat. OR. — Composite.
'<J F.N. CHAR. — Common calyx, oblong, iml)ricate ; scales linear, lanceolate, upright,
unequal; compound corolla, uinform, tubular; corollets hermaphrodite, equal;
proper funnel-form ; border five-cleft, spreading. Stamens five capillary fila-
ments, very short.; anthers cyHndric, tubular; the pistil has a small germ ; a fiU-
•form style, very long, two-cleft almost to the germ, straight; stigmas slender;
there is no pericarp, calyx unchanged; seeds oblong; down plumose, long;
•receptacle naked. Twelve species are known tp be natives of Jamaica.

Whe following have four- ftowered calyxes :

1. DALEA.

Frulicosa ; folUs cppositis, ohtongis, angtistis, suh-serrafis, utrinquB
productis ; raccmls tcrminaUbus. Browne, p. 314, t. 34, f. 1,
Leaves lanceolate, veined, obscurely serrate, smooth ; stem shrubby.

'^hk rfllrub is a fatiiom ia height, with a branched even stem, and long smooth

B b b branches

3T9 HOJITUS JAMAICENSTS. . kem>-

lirnnches. I.enves opposite, and decussated, broad. lanceolaie, four or fife irfclics long,
shilling, on petioles ofa middling length. Coryoibs terminating ; branchlets opposite,
decussated, sub- lastigiate, divided again, two or three-pa.-ie.],' the last three or four-
flcnvcrcd; flowers whitrsli; calyx six'or eight-leaved,, coni-ai, small; coroUets com-
monly four, seldom three ; stigmas reflex,, cirrhcse ; seeds cunicai, eurdatc, croivned
with a feathered egret. This is remarkable for the very jilc;isiu,t odour of the whole
plant, which continues many years, even wheH dried. — Szv.

Browne calls this the shrubby dalca, and sajs it is frequent in the lower hills of ,
Liguanea, risinor tt) the heigVA of nine or ten feet,- having a niGaerate tlutk lig neouSv^
stem, which throws out tiie branches in a pretty open jiasitiyn.

2, PARVirLORUM. SMALL-FLOWERED, ..

Shrubby, leaves ovate-lanceolate, serrate, smooth; corymbs spreading^ ca-
lyxes tiiree-flowercd.

This much resembles the preceding^ "but the leaves are oblong, the flowers smaller;
the calyxes constantly three-flowered, and the plant almost void of scent. It grows ii> ,
.similar situations much more common than the former.

3. j!ousTONL Hous•ro^'s, .

Stem twining ; leaves ovate, quite entire.

Stalks slender, twining,, eight or ten feet high, sending out small opposite branches
at most of the upper joints ; lower leaves heart-shaped, ending in acute points ; upper
almost triangular, smooth, and of a lucid green. The upper part of the stalks has
long branching stalks of white flowers, which are small arid sessile. It was first disco=
vered in Jamaica by Dr. Houston.

4. HASTATUM. . HALBEaT.

Scandens ; foliis triangidarihuSy angulis acuiis. Browne, p. 316, _
t. 34, f. 3.

Leaves cordate-hastale„ somewhat toothed, nalied ; stem twining ; flowers in t
spikes.

Stem shrubby, branched, striated, pubescent ; leaves petioled, opposite, petioles :
also pubescent ; racemes axillary, opposite ; flowera spiked in whorls, four in a wriorl,
white. Calyx four-leaved, leafl^ets lanceolate-ovate, convex ; corollets four ; stamens
extremely rninute ; style longer; egret bristly, with the bristles very minutely serrate ;
the flowers smell like those of cacalia suuveolens ; the taste of the whole herb is bitter.

Sti'aifz. This is a climbing plant^ called by Browne the climbing kleinia, with tri-

ano-n'ar leaves, which is frequent, he says, in St. Thomas in the East and Manchioneal,
stretching a great way among the neighbouring bushes.- The leaves of a tiiaiigulas,*
iigure and very sharp cornered. .

The following have- eight-ftowered calyxes ' ■

5. NERVOSUM. NERVOUS.

Leaves elliptic, Ir.nceolate, attenuated, tootlied, triple-nerved, smooth on "botor:
sides,; calyxes niany-iiovvere.d.. ■ _.'

:.TOMP } H-ORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 17X

6. RIGIDUJr. RIGID.

■Leaves petblecl, ovate, acute, serrateaoothed, rigid, rugged luulerneaih 5
stem sub-herbixeous.

7. MOLLH. WOOLLY.

Leaves petioled, cordate, acute, sub-serrute, pubescent; stem herbaceous^
tonientose.

8. VILLOSU.U. HAIRV.

Co)ii/za friiticosa, cisti adore, florRius pallide fyrpureis summitaiihus
ramiilorum insidentibus, capituUs et scinine majorihus Sloanc, -v.
l,"p. 257, t. 15!, f. 2.
Leaves opposite, decussated, ovate, sub-serrate, beneath villose-tomentose^
calyxes eight to fiitecu- flowered ; stem shrubby. ' .

It rises six or seven feet high, has several stems a big as ones-'thnmb, covered witli a
reddish brown, ropy, or membranaceous, rough bark, and the branches go out one op-
posite to the oiber," or sometimes three together, thick set with leaves, standing on
short footstalks, about an inch long and half as broad, near the round base, where
broadest, the nerves running from the footstalk's end as from a cfjunnon centre, they
are somewhat rough, viscid, and smell like those of cistus. The tops are branched out
into several footstalks, sustaining several nSked headfi, like those dijacohea, of a pale
purple colour. After these follow -many small, light brown, oblong, canulaied pap-
_pous seeds. It grows in the Red Hills and Mount Diablo plentifully. — Sloane.

9. CORDIFOLIUM,. IIF.ART-LEAVED.

•^.eaves cordate, serrate, tomentose-hirsute underneath; petioles very shorty
corymbs sub-sessik ; calyxes squarrose; stem shrubby.

10. MONTANUM. MOUNTAIN.

'Fruticosum, assurgena, incaninn ; foUis ampUoribus, cordato acumiii"
atisy craiatisj fioribus conwsis. Browne, p. 313.
'"Leaves cordate, acute, tooth-letted, petioled, rugged, hirsute underneath j
corymbs much spreading ; stem shrubby.
The shrubby ash-coloured eupatoriinn, with opposite leaves and branches, is com-
i mon in most of the mountains of Jamaica, and rises generally to tlie height of seven or
•• eight feet. The flowers are'disposed pretty tiiick at the extremity of the branches.

. JVie folio-wing have fifteen or morejloscides in tlic ailj/r.

'II. ODORATUM. SM'EET-SCENTEn.

Odoratinn hirsvtuyn ; foliis ot-afo acuminatis, basim versus erenatis^

oppOiitis ; Jloribus eomosis. Browne, p. 313.

Stem a fathom in height, shrubby, branched, even ; leaves opposite, petioled,

three-nerved, dotted ; flowers terminating, sub-corymbed, white ; seeds

linear, slightly compressed, with a capillary egret.

This weakly shrul by plant (called (7)c/i</?7i?r/; is very frequent in the lower hills of

-Jamaica,' and "enerally observed to grow among other bushes, when it frequently casts

Bbb2 Hs

372 IIO.Jr.TUS J AM AI GENS IS,

HtLLlA

its long, slender, flexile, and opposite branches to a.moclcrate distance. The. flowers .
are soroelimes impregnated with a smell perfectly like that of Kuvopean meadow-sweet;
bill tliis is not observed in every plant of tiie same species, nor con^iunt even in the
saiii(i blossoms. — Bro-wm',

12. IVCEFOLR'M. IVY-LEArFD.

I.eaves narrow-lanceolate, three-nerved, f.ubserratc ; calyxes sq^arrose, many-
flowered,

Stem sub-he.rbaceoiis, two feet high, erect, strict, branched, hispid ; branches
piurple, elongated; leaves petioled, opposite, somewhat rugged ; lower ones lan<;co-
late, longer, spreiuliiig. Peduncles terminating, and in the axils of the upper leaves,
opposite, filifonn, mostly trichptoniouSj but the last one-flowered; flowers small, blue*-
This i:? couuuon in Jamaica. — S'w.

IlERCtJLEs—T^ei? Prickly Yrllow Wood. .

No E)is'ush Name. niLI.IA;

Cl. 6j on. 1. — Ileiandria monogyriia. Nai. oR. — Contorttc.

Thisrvcas so named by Jacquin in honour of Sir John Hill, author of many lar^s
books on, botany.

Gen. char.: — Calyx a double perianth ; lower six-leaved, leaflets opposite, unequal,
oidong, entire; the two inner smaller, coiliracing the germ, deciduous, coloured ;
upper two or four-leaved ; leaUfits .lanceolate-acute, erect, permaueni ; corolla
otic-petaled ; tube cylindric, vcj-y, long, striated, towards the border venlricose ;
bortiei" six-cleft, clefts long, reflex, contorted, revolute ; stamens six very short
iilauients, inserted below the border into the belly of the lube; andiers oblong,,
two-celled, witliin tiie throat of the corolla ; the pistil has an inferior oblong germ,
obscurely six.-cornereil ; style filiform, thick, the length of the tube; stigma
tliickened,. compressed, bifid; the pericarp an elongated capsule, angular, two-
celled,, opening, longitudinally into two valves, crowned with the leaflets of the.-
upper calyx ; seeds numerou-^, pappose, round a linear receptacle ; dowiL.capil-
larv^ There ai=e two species, both natives of Jamaica.

1. LONGIFLORA. LONG-FLOWERED..

Corollas six-cleft, clefts lanceolate, .revolute ; leaves ovate, acute.-

Tliis is a shrub with an ascending stem, a fathom in height, branched, loose, smooth,
biittle, covered with an ash-coloured shining bark ; branches simple, leafy, round,
smooth, brittle. Leaves, opposite, decussated, . spreading, entire, scarcely nervedj^,
veinless, very smooth, somewiiat rigid, on round smooth petioles. Flowers terminat-
ing, sessile, solitary, very long, white, very sweet ; upper calyx two'-leaved, some-.
times but seldom four-leaved ; the lower has from four to six leaves ; tube of the co-
rolla three or four inches long, segments of the border an inch in length, anthers whit—
.h\\; stigma .clammy, dark green j capsule from one to two indies long, tlightly hexa-
gonal^

IflPPOCRATEA HORTUS JAMAICENSrS. ?73

gonal, grboved ; seeds small, obking, acuminate. It grows in tvet coppic*
mountains, is not parasitical, but ci-eeping among eld mossy wood j fiowerin

ippices 6n the
veriu'^ in sum-
mer.—i^'.

C. TETRAKDEA. rniTR-STAMENEI};>

Corollas four-cleft, four-slamciied, clefts ovate ; lefives oB-ovate.

This is a slir.ub, and has a sixth and a fiftJi part less in the fructjiicaiioii than the pr^^-
ceding sort.

Nb EiigUshNamer. HIPPO CHATEAV

Cl. 3, OR. 1. — Triandritf monogyma. Nat. Ori. — Jcera.. >
This is named after the celebrated Hippoci ates. .

Gen. char. — Calyx a one-^leafed hve-parted perianth; corolla five-pe'^ated ; sta.>
mens three filanienis, >v;rii roundish antliers; tie pisiiJ has a roijudish gerin^ ■
three-sided style, anii blunt stigir.ii i the }>ericarp is Liiree capsules,, ob-cordate,
or elliptic, compresed, large, with two-valved cells; valves keeled and com-
pressed ; seeds in fives or sixes, oblong, with a mtmbranaceons wing, at first soft,
tut hardcjiing like-nuts, witli oblong kiirccls. . Oiie.sptxiei is a native of Jamaica,

VOLUBILIS.-. TWINING. ..

TJaccmes cor}-nibed ; leaves ovate-Isn-ceolate, serrate.

Branches sub-divided, bent down,- with opposite, rigid, arched, Spreading bran^b-
lets; leaves petioled, opposite, blunt, stifiish, «mooili ; )uce;ii.-s tiirminatmp- ,,:ux
opposite racemeiets ; .flo'^ era terminating, sub-se.ssile, crowded, greenish vviiite, mi-
nute; capsules an inch i'jog ; seeds cc'-'upressel, dry — Sw.

The following descripuou of this plant is eitractc-I from the manuscript of Mr. An-
thony Roi>inson : .

" 111 going.dov/n Cabaritta River, on the right hand, I met with this rare shrub ;
the stem .was round, scanuent, and iigmousj of a reddish brown colour, with a \-bitisii-
cast ; it was brittle, smooth, and jointed ; from tiie joints it sent forth side branches,
on which grew the leaves by pans, and the capsules by three's for the most part, andl
sometimes one oy two in a place ; by the manner of their growing',, I judge tiiat three
of these capsules succeed each flower ; the largest were' about un inch and a bu'f in
length, and one andiwo-lenths in breadth; they vere comj)rcssed,, ovate, thinnesfe
on their sides,^ and sometimes emarg'.nated, of a thin- foliaccous substance, and deco-
rated wdth many branched veins> rising from the base, and ruiTning in an oblique man--
ner to the margins of soiue,.. and in others to the summit of the c ipsule. Tlis capsule
splits lengthwHVs into two valves, in the manner of the logwootl capsule, and ougiit to
}StHercneO.(i. depressed, rather than a row/)? wica', capsule. It contams only one cell,
in which are, for the most part, two ovate seeds, each adhering to ll.- base of the
valve to a small receptacle, and have a margin running down their interior parts end-
ing in a narrow tail or appendicle at the base. The longest leaves are four inches, and
one and three-quarters broad, not unlike a bay-leaf in form, of a thin tough substancej
'^iaia edged, deep green,, and pciibitej above; pale yellowish green beucath, sup-

pwtc'i

374 IIORTUS .J-AT\IAICENSIS, nomiANiA

ported by crhoked very short pedicels, and decorated by a promincnt^small<K-.iddle rib,
beneath from v.liich jMOceed oblique alternate fine veins to tlie margins. The seeds
are excessively bitter, as are the leaves, but not so much.. It was in seed, about. the
middle of April."

No English Xamc. ' HIRTELLA.

Cl. .5, on. 1. — Pentandria monogijnia. K.vr. or. — Bosacde.

This was so named from the hairiness of the branches.

, Gen. char. — CalyN a one-leafed five-parted perianth ; corolla-five roundish conca:%'e
petals; filaments -liirce to five, Jong, permanent, anthers roundish ; the pistil ha« a
roundish germ, a filiform style, .and simple stigma ; pericarp an oval one-seeJed
berry ; seed large. One species is a: nittive of Jamaica.

, • TRIAI^DRA. THREE-STAMENED.

Leaves obloiig-ocute ; racen^es compound, loose -^ flowers threc-stamened.
This is a branching tree, twenty feet high, frequently less. Leaves quite eatire,
*sliining, on short petioles, alternate, five inches long ; racemes terminating, villose,
"half a foot in length. ■ TheJlowers have no scent; the stamens' aiid style are placed
crosswise; the calycine segments are cvate-toundish, concave, equal, rc'fiex ; petals
spreading, equal, deciduous, white; filaments three, filiform, flatted at the base, up-
right, very long, pcrnianenr, finally rolled in spiralij* ; anthers roundish ; germ round-
ish, villose, compressed on the side, v.'ithout any stamen close to it ; style filiform,
•hirsute at tlie bottom, almost the l©<igth of the stamens. — Jaciiuin. It flowers in Ajjrii
and May ; the ripe fruit is of a-deep purple colour, a!x)ut three-quarters of an inch in
diameter, covered with down or fine hairs; pulp sweetish, smelling and tasting not
■unlike the coco plum. Within the pulp is an oblong, sub-quadrated, compressed,
nut, with longitudinal furrows on it, pointed at the base, including a kernel of the
,iji{s\iiC form, also resembling in taste that of the coco j^lum,

^ No EnglUli Name. ' HOFFMANNIA.

Cl. 4, OR. 1. — Tetrarulrla monogynia. Nat. on. — Sidlatx.

This was so named by Svvartz in memory of Maurice Hoflmann, professor of botany

, atAltorff.

Gen. char, — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, four-toothed, superior ; teeth upright,
sharp ; corolla monopetalous, salver-shaped ; tube so short' as to !)e next to none ;
border four-parted, parts lanceolate, spreading; the stamens have no filaments ;
anthers four, fixed to the base of the tube, linear-subulate, upright,, pressed close
to the st)-le ; the pistil has an inferior germ, oblong, four-cornered, a subulate
style, the length of the stamens, and a blunt scarcely emarginate stigma; the
pericarp is an oblong berry, sligluly four-cornered, crowned, two-celled, two-
valved ; seeds numerous, roundish, iised to receptacles in each cell. There is
only one species of tliis genus.

I>EDUNCUL.\TA.

eoe-euM H O R T U S J A M A I C E N S I S. «7^

PEDlfNCULATA. PEDUXCLED.

This was discovered hy Svvartz in Jamaica, but he has given no farther description
of tile plant limn its generic characters,

HOG-GUM TREE. . RHUS.

Cl; 5, OR. 3. — PentandriaJrigyniitr N.\T. or. — Dumos,e.

CrENv CH \R. — Criiyx a five-parted perianth, inferior, erect, permanent ; corolla five
avate petals,, from uprigh', spreading ; the stamens are five filaments, very short,
with small anihers.; the pistil has a superior roundish germ, the size of tiie ca-
To.ia ; styles scarcely any ; stigmas three, cordate, small; the pericarp is a round..
isli Que-celled berry ; seed one, roundisli, bony. .

IvIETOHUM.

Ter/iiuit/ius via.rima, pinnis pauciorilrjs vuijoribus alque rotundiovi^
buSy fntctu yuct'moso sparse. Sloane, v. 2, p. 90, t. 199, f. 3. —
Foiils subyotundis, pinnato-guinatis, racemis aiuriius. Browne,
p. 177, t. 13, f. 3. ..

Leso'cs pinnate-quinat^, quite entire, roundish, smooth. '
This. tree seldom risers to more than twenty-five or thirty-five feet, and is very
irprea.Ling towards the top. It is furnished with njund pinnated leaves, which are sel-
<iom above fi\e on every rib ; and the flowers which grow in clusters are succeeded by
so many reddish sucEulent capsules. . The root runs a great way on the surface of the
eartli. ^ It sheds its-leaves about the months of N'ovember and December, gettmg flow-
ers.and leaves jn. January and February, the flowers sprouting first at the ends of the
twigs, of a purplish brown. colour ; the lepves follow, which are winged, for the most
part made up of two pair of pinnas, set opposite to one another, -and a fifth at the end.
Tiie bark of the tree is whitish or grey, hawng on several places olack spots of shining
gum ; which, if wetted by the rain, sticks to the skin, and brings it oi^" wiih it. Pigeons
are.fond of the berries. On wounding the bark a pellucid juice issues out, vvhiclr, after
a sliort time, acquires a hard fragile, consistence, that is used with success in strength-
ening plaisters, in the room of Burgundy pitch. ■ Being of a warm discntient nature
it may be used with great propriety in all sweiimgs arising from colds, vveakress cf lite
vessels, or poverty of the juices, both externally and internally. It is thought to' i)e
an extraordinary diuretic, an.d an admirable vulnerary. INlade into pills, it acts like
balsam of capivi in stopping gleets. It is caMed hog-gum or /log-doctur I ree, because
it is asserted that wild hogs rub themselves with the juice when wounded, which cures
them. When tlie gum is dry it is a good substitute for shoemaker's wax. Boiled up
•with castor oil it makes a good salve, or if the salve is intended to dry up a sore, the
juice of the cats-claw may be added. When the tree dies- there is a great quantity of
the drj' gym found at the roots.

This gum and its uses are well known in Jamaica. It is so called because hogs, when
OTCunded by the hunters, run to the tree, lance the bark, and rub themselves with the
juice, which not only prevents flies coming to the wound, but also heals it. Tfce jaite,
wien it Srst comes outj is of a yellowisli white, and then turns wore yellaw, and after-

warcb

376 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. iiog-vveed,

wnrds black, lianl, anJ brilile, like rcsiii. I mustt^aufcss'I do not T».now the tree itself,
but iia\c niudi! grciH use ot its .gum ; .and kno.w;liy experience, tluxt, iuwurdly taken,
it is an excellent tijing in ilie belly-ache <jr diolic : Take the juice, when new an. I
fresli gathered, two sjiooiil'uJj ; mix it with ub much water, sweetened with sugar ;
drink it, it wdl give ease immediately, tuid, in four or five hours, give four or five
stools ; it is also good to {;a:t in a clyster. Vvlieii it is old, it is niore of a binding and
strengthening quuhty. IVIade into pills, ur.d given after purging, it stops a gonarrha:a.
Take hog's-lard, four ounces; the same of hog-gum ; bees-wax, two ounces ; yellow
resin, one ounce ; round birtiiwort-root in powiler, two ounces ; mix, and make a
balsLim : This is an universal balsam to cleanse old ulcers ; it heals them and all green
wounds. A plaistcr of the iiog-gunx alone crises tlie gout, .audstrengthcns tiie part. —
Bai-Ziam, p. 74.

Br^jwiie notices another. tpecies of : this gcrius, a -native of Jamaica, whi-Ji he calls
the villous rkus, wjlh teirandrous flowers. Foliis piniialis o-jato~a:uininatis subtus
til'osis, J/uribus racfwoits tct)'anibis tcnninatricibus. — Browne, p 186, t. 8, f. .2. — ■
Cahx a small monophyllous perianth, five-parted; the corolla fonr-petaled, petals
lanceolate, reflected; tiie stamens four erect filaments, longer than the petals; anthers
cordate-sagittate ; the pistd had a roundish germ, gently depressed, no style, stigmas
two small roundish glands, sitting on the top of the germ. Dr. Browne did not see the
fruit. He foiuid the pUuit on tiie road that leads from New Greenwich to Liguanea,
rising from ten to twelve feet high, plentifully furnished witii branches towards the top ;
the fl.ovvers very numerous, blowing generiilly before the shooting of the leaves, or very
soon after. "Mr. Anthony Robinson also met with this jilant in fruit the latter end of
Julv, which lie has described as follows : " The fruit grew very thick clustering at the
eiids of the branches, four generally arising from thesiune point ; the3/ were of an ir-
regular, compressed, ^lobous form, three-tenths of an inch in diameter, placed on a
pedicel two-tenths of an inch in length, the. cutside all over marked thick with small
tubercles, in tlie same manner as a young orange or lemon, vvhich I conjecture were
small vessels, filled with a balsamic oil, for in taste they resembled balsam-capivi very
much. These capsules split open at die top, and each contained oiie.kidney-shaped,
black, shining, but somewhat rugged, seed; the leaves arje winged, and resemiile those
of our common elder in form, consisting of five or six pairs of lightly serrated leaves,
placed on a middle rib, terminated by an odd one ; tiiese were studded, and, when
held to the light, seemed to be perforated with a thousand holes, in the same manner
as St. John's wort, and for the same reason."

•Several exotic species of this genus have been at different times introduced.

Hog-Plk.m — Sec Spanish. PX.UM.

HOG-WEED. BOERHAAVIA.

Cl. I, OR. 1. — Monandria moyiogynia. Nat. or. — Aggrcgata.

This was so named in honour of the famous Boerhaave, professor of botany, che«
•tnistry, and medicine, in the University of Leyden.

Gen. ci!.\R. — Calyx an oblong perianth, tubular and angular ; corolla one-petaled,
fceli-aiiaped, upright, bluntly five-cleft, platted, sealed ou tlie calyx; nectary

flcshj.

STOQ-v/EED HORTUS JAMAICENSiS. 377

fleshy, suL-cylindiic, with a tootli-lctted nicutb, surrounding the base of the germ ;
the stamen, one, two, or tliree filaments, inserted into the edge of the neclnry,
between the toothlets, capillar}', at bottom (within the calyx) more slender, up-
right, about the length of the corolla; anthers twin, globular; the pistil has a
roundish pedicelied germ ; the pedicel surrounded by the nectary ; style filiform, _
twisted, the heiaht of tlie stamens ; stigrna capitate. There is no pericarp, the '
, calyx enlarged, closed, incrusts the seed ; seed one, oblong, obtuse, angular. — •
This genus, of whi<jh there are three species, natives of Jamaica, is nearly related.
to ?nirabilis,

i; DIFFUSA. . Dlf FUSED.

Valerianella folio suhrofiindo, ftore purpurea, semine ohlongo, sfriafo,
aspero. Sloane, v. 1, p. 210. Diffusn, foliis suhrotundis siihlus
cinerc'is, fructa striato aspero. Browne, p. 123.
Stem diffused, pubescent ; leaves ovate, repand.
This grows very plentifully in the lowlands and savannas, rising two or three feet. —
The root is single, oblong, hara within, and a soft thin bark on the outside, of a dusJiy
colour; sending^ forth many branches, which are round, glossy, diffuse, succulent
like those of purslane, jointed. At every joint are two branches, and ovate or round-
ish leaves, set opposite to one another, "of a bright green, Rn<( reddish, and some-
titnes curled at the edges, on short reddish footstalks. The flowers grow very scat-
teringly, upon long branching peduncles, from the axils, and at the ends of the
branches, of a paie red on the outside, deeper within ; the stamen and style purple,
anther yellow; they are disposed in the form of an umbrella; and are succeeded by
brown, oblong, striated, and very rough, seeds. This weed :s frequendy gathered
for hogs, and thought to be very fattenmg and wholesome food ; but they seldom eai;
the root, which, scraped and made into decoction, is recommended in bloody fluxes
and dysenteries. Mr. A. Robinson says he knew it cure a negro v/hose Hfe was des-
paired of: The root was washed, and the skin scraped off to the size of two nutmegs,
ground upon a stone, and eaten with Jamaica bird peppers, and a little meat ; the
broth or decoction was also taken, and some laudanum administered. During the cure
nothing should be drank cold. This plant grows very commonly near Spanish Town,
by the river side* .

2-; SCANDENS.- CLIMBING.

Vnlerianella nlsines folio scandem, fioribus pallidc lutcis pyxidatis in
umbellce inodum dispositix, semine aspero. Sloane, v. 1, p. 210.—
S»rmentosa fionhus her-baceis diandris campanuhtlis, foliis succu-
leniis obtuse triangularibus, fructu ad upicem verucosa. Browne,
p. 123.
Stenverect; flowers two-stamened ; leaves cordate-acute.
This plant is common in the lowlands, and grows plentifully about Kingston and
Spanish Town. It sends out several stalks from the root, which divides into many
branches, and trail over whatever plants grow near them for three or four yards. The
leaves grow by pairs at each joint, on long footstalks ; are succulent, and of the colour
and consistence of the grafter duckweed. The flowers grow in loose umbels at the
extremity of the branches, of a dirty yellow colour, and ace. succeeded by small, oblong, .

C c c viscous^..

571 HORT'JS JAMAICENSIS. hoixiT

vfscoQS, seeds, echinated round the top, but snjootli below. Barlmm says this is a
cooling and uioistening lierb, which he calls valerian. It iias generally three slaiueni
in the tiowers.

3. HIR9UTA. SHAGGY,

Stem diffused, pubescent; leaves ovate, lepand. *
This sends out many trailing liaiiy stalks, which divides into smaller branches. At
the axils come out naked peduncles, sustaining small close' heads of scarlet flowers,
which are very hjaacious, seldom standing more thiin half a day before their petak
drop ; they are succeeded by short oblong seeds.

HOLLY OR SAGE-ROSE. TURNERA.

Cl. 5, OR. 3. — Penta^ulvia trigynia. Nat. or. — Cohimniferre.
This was so named i.i memory of William Turner, M. D. author of an Herbal, r.ia

1551.

Gen. CH»R. — Calyx a one-leafedperianth,funriel-forrii, deciduous, border erect,
fjve-'paited ;• the corolla fi^'e petals, ob-cordate, acuminate, fiat, -from upriglit
spreading, with narrow claws, inserted into the calyx ; the stamens are five fila-
ments, awl-shape I, shorter than thecorolla, inserted into the tube of the calyx,
wiin acuminate erect anthers ; the pistil has a conical germ ; three filiform styles,
the length of the stamens, with capiilaceous multifid stigmas; the pericarp is an
o^ate capsule, one-celled, three valved ; receptacles annexed to the valves longi-
tudinally, linear; seeds numerous, -oblong, obtuse. Three species are natives ,of
^.•Jamaica.

5. ULMIfOLU. ELM-LEAVED.

■^isfiia .urtic/e folio, flore lufeo, vnsrulis ttigonis. Sloane, v. 1, =p.
202, t. 127, f. 4, 5. E petiolis Jlorens, foliis serratis. Browive,
p 189.

Tiowers sessile, petiolary ; leaves biglandular at the base.

Stem shrubbi , eight or ten feet high, semling out branches on every side the whole
vlength. Leaves oyate-lanceolate, tvyo inches and a half long, and an inch p^nd a half
-broad, r- ugh on their upper side, and of a lucid green, their under side has many
strong veins, and of a lighter green, the edges are serrate ; the flowers sit close upon
■the footstalks .of .the leaves, navjjig two pretty large leafy appendices to the calyx ;
they are orange coloured, and very large. The capsule is superior, ovate, indistinctly
three-cornered, pubescent, opening from the top to the nnddle in three parts. Re-
ceptacle three raised hues, inscribed longitudinally on the inr<er wall of the capsule,
ac'ompanied by very numerons, short, umbiHcal chords ; seeds slightly curved inwards,
attenuated towards the nave!, scored with many minute excavations in rows, chesm.it
brown ; anl nalveJ, tongue-shaped, membranaceous, thin, whitish, lying on the con-
cave part of the seed, free on ali sides, inserted into the navel. — (iartncr. This grows
in great ahun lance in the Red Hills, and vicinity of Spanish Town, where it seldom
rises aoove four or five feet, with a shrubby weakly stalk, adorned ^vith a few serrated

oval

JbLiiT IIORTXrS J-AMAlCENSISr. 3^9-

oval leaves, aiKl bears large yellow flowers, that l^ave somtwliat the appearance of the
jnalvaceons tribe at first sight. — Broicrie. Sioanc's plant is tlioufzht to bo a v; iicty oi
this, the leaves of which emit a disagreeable smeH on being rubbed. Barliam observes
that the flowers opened wide just at eievcn in the forenoon.-

2. PUMJLEA. DWARF,

Chamoecisfus urlic^ folic, Jiore IiUco. Sioane, v. 1, p. 2(>2, t;127,
f. 6. Almima sub-hifiuta, foUoU^angustis- piojunde serratis. —
Browne, p. 188.
Elowcrs sessile, petiolary, without- glands.

Hoot annual, branchiiig, thready; stem, herbaceous, from three to six inches high,
branched, nearly upright, but ol'to:n dccuurbent, round, hirsute; branches simple,
erect. Leaves alternate, distant, broad lanceolate, short, deeply serrate, nerved, hir-
sute, clustered towards the ends of the branchlets, spreading; petioles round,- short,
hirsute, terminating, fLovver- bearing. Stipules two, linear, erect, at the base of the
leaves, .within which is a smijl yellow flower, Fcarceiy open ; flowers terminating, clus-
tered, in the centre of the leaves ; calyx corolliferous, connate with the corolla ; seg*
ments linear, acute, pressed to the corolla, erect, hirsute. Corolla deciduous ; claws
linear, long, roundish at top, veined, orange; border convoluted, so that the corolla
is scarcely open ; filaments of the same length with the petals, erect; anthers oblong,
blue, germ ovate ; valves of the capsule ovate, acute, revolute ; seeds roundish, com-
pressed, wrinkled. It grows in dry sandy fields; flowering towards the end of the
year. — S^carlz. Browne named this plant pamilea from its smallness ; he says it grew
aijout Old Harbour and the foot of Liguanca mountains, is always simple and upright,
and never rises more than two or three inches ; the flowers always solitary ,» from the
axila cf the upper leaves. It is to be found in most savannas after rain,

3. CISTIOIDr.S. . GJSTUS-LIKE.

GhhmoTcishis caule /lirsttfo, folio oblovgo, emguslo, simtaM, flore hifeo,
pcdiculo iiicidente. Sioane, v. 1, p. 202, t. 127, f. 7. Su!>-hir-
suta, simpler, foliis linearibus sub-otnatis. Browne, p. 189-,

Peduncles axillary, leafless; leaves serrate at the top. ,

Koot annual, undivided, long, erect, while, thready ; stem sub-divided, erect,
half a foot high, round, hirsute, with alternate sjH'eading branches. Leaves on short
petioles, linear-lanceolate, bluntish, spreading,- toothed or serrate, nerved, somewhat-
hKpid ■; bractes none ; flowers solitary in the axils, peduncled and not sessile on the--
petioles, yellow, smd.ll ; peduncles shorter than the leaves, round, filiform, hirsute;
calyx corolliferous ; segments lanceolate, acute; petals con.tign(3us, rounded.^ entire, .
slightly striated. Filaments shorter by half ti. an tJie petals from ilie base of the corolla;
anthers oblong, vertical, yeUo.v ; germ oMong, sub-irigonal, styles diverging, stigmas
pencilled; capsule roundish ; valves ov^tte-revolute; seeds luinule, roundish, ferru*
ginous. — Sw.

The stalks come up sometimes single and so n^fimes two or three together, covered
with a reddish coloured hair or prickles. Browne says it seldoni- nses- above four •
kiches.

C c c 2 ■ M'-

S5» HORTUS JAMAICTNSISJ. «oo£

No English Xaine. .HOMALIUM.

Cl. 1 3, OK. 3. — Poli/andvia trigi/nia. Nat. or. — Rosacecv.

Gen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, six or seven parted ; corolla six or sevett
petaled, peials longer than the calyx, very spreading; nectary six or seven glands,
liat, alurnate with the petals; stamens eighteen to iwenty-eight subulate fda-
ments, upright, the length of the cond la, of which three or four are inserted into
the receptacle among the glands belorc the base of the petals ; anthers roundish,
small; the pistil has a roundish germ, three upright styles, with simple stigmas;
the |): ricarji is a woody, ovate, one-celled capsule; seeds very many and vciy
siuali. Tiiere are Lsvy species,, one of which is a native of Jamaica.

RACEMOSUM. • BUNCHED.
Leaves serrate ; racemes axillary and terminating; flowers peduncled.

This is a loity branching tree, with the haljit and leaves of elm. Flowers racemd(Jy
flat ; stamens sometimes eighteen, so tiiat tJiere are three before each petal. — Sw.

Honevsuck;4£ — See French Honeysuckle «««/ Passion Flowers.
Hoop 1 RiiE — See Bead Tree.

HOOP-WITHE. TIIVINA.

Cl. 4, or. 1. — Tctvandria monogynia. ' Nat. or. — Holoracex.

So «amed in honour of Rivintis, professor of physiology and medicine at LeipsLc.

Gen. char. — Calyx a four-leaved cBloured perianth, permanent, leaflets oblong-
ovate, blunt ; there is no corolla ; the stamens four or eight filaments, shorter
than the calyx, approaching by pairs, permanent; anthers small ; the pistil has a
l,arge roundish germ, a very short style, and a simple blmitstigma ; the pericarp
is a globular berry, placed on the geim, reflex calyx, -one-celled, with a point
curved in ; seed one, roundish, lens-shaped, rugged. .Two species are natives
of Jamaica.

1. oCtandra. , eight-stamened.

Sarmcntosa, sarmentis crassioribus, foliis ovatis, fiorihus spicalis do-
dccandris. Browne, p. 149, t. 23, f. 2.

Racemes simple ; flowers eight or twelve. stamened ; leaves elliptic, smooth.
This plant is very common in the lowlands, and stretches a great way among the
iieighl)ouring shrubs and bushes ; the main stalk grows to a moderate thickness, being
seldom unuer an inch or two in- diameter, and throws out a few slender branches to-
wards the top, which are generally adorned with flowers at their extremities. The
berries make the principal part of the food of the American tlirush, or nightingale,
^viiile they are in season ; they contain a very oily seed, and, after that bird has swal-
lowed a good niuny of them, y >u may frequently observe it to fly to the next bird-pep-
per-bush, and pjck a few of these warm berries also ; nature doubtless lias taught it

what '

^ORN HORTUS JAMAICENSIS, SUf

what was necessary to promote the digestion of that oleaginous heavy food. The stalk
is very tough and Hexih , and often n>ade into hoops, when there is a sci'.rcity of those
iniportisd from Europe or America, but they are not so strong or durable, ;uid there-
fore used only in time of need. — ^Broxvne.

Coopers' Withe. — This withy plant is so called because coopers make hoops of its
■stalks or withes, being very tough and flexible ; and although this plant doth not climb
or twist round otlier plants, yet it cannot support it?elf, but, growing by the side of
any tree, it leans upon it, and, by its many branches, will overspread it. It hath a
leaf of the breadtli and t-hape of laurel leaf, but not so thick or glossy ; its flowers are
inodorous, mixed witli purple streaks ; and then follov/ small round berries, growing
all along the spikes or twigs of the shrub, in colour, shape, and bigness of elder ber-
ries, for which reason some call it Sjianish elder; but that is another plant. It hath
a» uncommon excrescence, that is found growing among the branches at one time ot
the year, which is in shape exactly like the stomach of a man, having a thin membr-auc
or skin over it, interwoven variously with innumerable small reddish veins ; it adheres
to a tender soft stalk, which runs through the upper part of the excrescence. This
plant is of divers pl^'sical uses. Bess Walker, who kept a tavern in Port Royal in Ja-
maica, before the great earthquake in 169'2, used to make a famous drink, reckoned
of use in venereal cases ; for which she boiled the young tender withe, sliced in water,
.•with a little Hgiimn vit<e bark, worked it up- with sugar or melasses, and then bottled it;
it drank brisk like bottled ale, only bitterish. It is a good stomachic, and opens ob-
structions. The Indians make a bath of this plant; tiiey strip naked, and place them-
selves so as to receive the fumes or steam of the liquor, being covered all over with a
blanket or pavdion, after which they are put to bed, and rubbed very well ; by this
method, the)^ recover the use of their weak and numbed limbs, and comfort llieic
l)owels. — Barham, p. 46.

2. HUMILIS. HUMBLE.

Dichofoma erecta, foliis Qvato acummalis, spiels Ici.vis lateraUhv.s aS"
surgentibus. Browne, p. 148.
Racemes simple^ flowers four-staijiened ; leaves pubescent.

This Browne calls the smaller I'ivinia, with scarlet berries, which grows very com-
mon in St. Ann's, and in most places in the mountains where the soil is sandy and well
shaded; it rises commonly to the height of three or four feet, or more, well furnished
with berries towards the top, which are succulent, and of a fine sciirlet colour, but the
juice is apt to change. — Brmcne. This plant is ihe piercia of Miller. The juice of the
'berries of this genus of plants are said to form -a beautiful stain, of a bright red colour,
4^or paper, lineD, or flowers.

Hops, Wild — See Wild Hops.

HORN FLOWER. ANTHOCEROS.

Cl. 24, ou. 3. — Cryplogamia hepatica. Nat. or. —
Csn. CUAR, — Male calyx six-paited, or entire ; anthers tliree to -eight, ob-ovate.

3$2 IIOIITUS JAMA I GEN SIS. iwvst

in the bottom of the calvx. Female calyx sessile, cylindrical, entire; cajjsule
subulate, long, tivo-valr-ed,

CRISPUS. CURLED.

Nivetis, ■varie lobatus ct corniridaliis, lobis ajigusiis inlegrh.-^-
Brpvyne, p. 86.
Frond sinuate and jagged,, undulate, curled on the margin, not doited<
This beautiful little plant isXrequent enCngb in the mountains of New Liguanea,.
and receives much additional elegance from those slender and hollow conic apjH'tidiccs
tltat r.ise from the margin of the leaves, or lobes, in every part. The seed capsules .
secta raised from the body 'of the leaf; they are of a compressed forai, and open into^
two receding spiral valves.' — Browne,

Horn Wokt — See Morass Weed*.

HORSE BEAN. DOLICHOS,.

Ci.. 17, OR. 4. — Diadelphia decandria. Isat._os. — Papilionacets..
Gen. CHAB,. — A^'t'd Cat-Claws, /7. 166.

ENSIFORMIS. SVVOr.D-SHAPED.'

Phaseohwi maximus, siliqua ensiformi jiervis insignita, et semine-
albo, viembroiido inchiso. " Sloane, v. 1, p. 177, t. 114, f. 1, 2, 3,'
Sub-ercctus major, siliqiiis ?7ia.z'vni.< ahlongis glahris, satura altera,
mrvo majori utrinque insignita. Browne, p. 291..

tegumes gladiate, three-keeled at the back ; seeds arilled.
The stem of this is between upright and cli'ml>ing, seldom rising above three or four
feet, though it emits slender, delicate shoots, which run much further. The leaves^,
which are always three together, and flowers, come o^it at every inch distance, stand-
ing on a two inches long footstalk, which has a swelling near the stem.- The flowers
stand several togethcT on tlie sam£ peduncle ; they are close, and of a blueish purple
coibur ; after which follows the large falcated legume, from ten to fourteen inclies in.
length, and generally containing ten or eleven seeds, which are white, with a salfron
coloured hile, and thought of a deleterious nature. The two upper teeth of the calyx,
large ovate, bent back by the banner; the three under very small, sharp pointed,^
tootk-like. Sloane says they fatten ho^gs.

-Stf Cat-Cl.\ws — CowiTcn — a?!(f Me following article.. ;

HORSE OR OX-EYE BEAN. DOLICHOS.

Cl. IX, OR. 4. — Diadelphia decaiidria. Nat. or. — Papilionacete^.
Gen. CHAR. — <y« Cat- Claws, //. IGO.

UlvEKS. STINGING.

Pliaseolus BrasilianKs/rufeseens, lobis villosis, pungentibus niaximui^

Sloaiiej,

'HoasE JHORTUS JAMATCENSI^T. S8g

Slonne, v. 1, p. 17^. Siif'/ids maior.'lnts //irtf.'; tran<n"'rse sul'-afi.f,
p.'Htmculis coinmunibus tenuibus longissiniis jlexilibusnue appensis,
Browne, p. 295.

- Legumes in racemes, vvitli-furrows traasverseiy lanceolate ; the see Is surroun.leJ
with a scar.

This has a round green stem, about the thickness cf a goose quill, which climbs to
ti^ie top of the highest trees. The leaves are tliree always together, snh-ovate, quite
entire, acuiuiuate, the upper surface smooth, the lower covered with a shining silvrry
down. Racemes simple, pendulous, scarcely ever longer than the leaves ; propef
peduncles one-flowered, in three's, placed closely at the end of the raceme, and hence
liormiiio: a very elegant pendulus wreath of about eighteen flowers, which have no scent,
are about two inches long, hare; a ferruginous calyx, and a yellow corolla, with tha
. lower edge of the wings red. The legume is from three to six inches long, the surface
has sharp small prickles, and contain round beans, about an inch diameter, flat, of a
light brown colour, with a black hiliis almost i-ound them, looking like a horse's eye;
whence the name. Plunder says they were eaten l)y the Caribs, and the juice of tiie
'^^aves used for dying a black colour. They are, however, of a poisonous (quality.—
'Snuffboxes and buttons are made of these beans.

»SVe Cat,.Claws — CowiTcii — Horse BjEan.

HORSE CASSIA. CASSIA.

Cl. 10, OR. 1. — Dccandria monogynia. Nat. or. — Lomentacea^
*Gen. CHAR. — ^ec Cane^PieceSensitive, p. 151.

J.WANICA. JAVA.

.Cassia nigra seu fislnlosa sccitnda sive cassia Jisfula Brasilianfr.—^
' Sloane, v. 3, p. 44. Foliis plurimis oblongis pinimlis, flare rubellOf
siliquis maximis, crassioribus trinerviis. Bnjwne, p. S23,
Leaflets twelve pairs, oblong, obtuse, smooth; no gland.
This tree grows to a moderate size, stretching frequently to the heiglit of eigh'"cen
-or twenty feet. Leaves very long, composed of twelve or fourteen pairs of smooth leaf-
lets, of a light green, placed near together. The flowers come out in loose spikes at
the ends of the branches, of a pale carnation colour, and succeeded by large cylindrical
p<ids, having each three considerable nerves, running the whole length of them, from
.-the footstalk to the top ; two of these are close together, and run along die back suture,
the otlier alone, and fixed opposite to them; it is divided into many cells by transverse
partitions, in wnich the seeds are lodged, surnnmded wiin a black purging pulp. —
This is called '/(orse cassia, because it is generally given to horses, but seklom used ky
the human species, on account of its griping quality. It grows in lowland woods by
the sides of rivulets Piso says before the fruit is ripe it is astringent, but after loosen-
in"' ; the tops of the leaves applied cure wounds.

iS't-e Cane-Piece Sensitive— CASsiA-STicK-TaEE—IliNGWOR.M-BusH — Senna Treps
—Stinking-Weed — Wild Indigo.

HORSE

S84 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. nmsH-

noRsr: purslane. trianthema.

Cl. 10, OR. 2. — Decandriu digyiila. Nat. or. — i"ucudtnt<e.

GenJ ciiArt. — Calyx a five-ieaved perianth, leaflets oblong, coloured within, mucro' ■
Date t)elow the tip ; no eorolla ; stainens from five to twelve fildments, with, round-
ish anthers ; the pistil has a retuse germ, one or two styles, with simple stigmas ;
the pericarp is an oblong truncate capsule, retuse, cut round, two-celled ; seeds
solitary or two, sub-ovate. One species is a native of .famaica.

MOMOG.YNA. ONE-STYLED.

P.ortulacte afjinis, folio suhrotundosueculento, Jlorepentapetalo dilute .
purpurco. Sloaiie, v. 1, p, 205.

Flowers fiiye-staniened, one-stj-led.

Stems depressed, sub-dichotomous, jointed, even, pubescent on the uppc? side;
leaves opposite, petioled, oval, obtuse, quite entire, with a red mai'gin ; one of the
leaves always less than the other ; petioles two -taotiied, shorter than the leaf; flowers
axillary, sessile, tivc-lcaved, oval, composed as it were of a calyx and corolla totrether ;
under thein two awl-shaped permanent bractes ; filaments six to ten, shorter thafi-the
calyx; anthers oval, twin; germ half-inferior, retuse, two-horiied; .style length of
the flower. — 'Liv.. Mant.

This has trailing, round, smooth, green, branches, three feet long, lying on the
surfiice of the ground, and having much the appearance of purslane, with fleshy suc-
culent leaves, almost oval ; it has a swell.at every joint, brancijed at every inch and a
half; branches opposite. The flowers come out from the joints, of a purple colour ;
the capsules have two horns ; the seeds are round and black. It, grows in several places-
in tlie streets of Spanish Town. — Sloarie^

HORSE RADDISH. COCHLEARIA.

Gl. 15, OR. 1. — Tetradi/namia siliculo^a.- Nat. or. — Siliquos<t.

This is so named from the form of the leaves, resembling an old-fashioned spoon.

Gen. char. — Calyx a four-leaved perianth ; corolla fotir-petaled, cruciform ; sta-
mens six filaments, two shorter, with -obtuse comjjressed anthers ; the pistil has a
heart-shaped germ, a simple style, and obtuse stigma ; the pericarp is a heart- -
shaped siiicle, gibbous, turgid-euiarginate, scabrous; valves gibbous-obtuse.

ARMORACIA-

Root leaves lanceolate-crenate ; stem leaves gashed."

This useful plant has been long introduced into Jamaica, where it thrives and seeds
luxuriantly, and frequently grows without cultivation or care, appealing almost
like a native.

Horse raddish root has a quick pungent smell, and a penetrating acrid taste; it
^levertheless contains, in certain vessels, a sweet juice, which sometimes exudes on
tiie surface. By drying it loses all, its acrimony, becoming first sweetish, and then

jdmost

H0R5S TfORTUS JAMAICE'.N'SIS, S«5

almost insipid ; if kept in a cool place in sand, it retains its qualities for a corvsicieraWe
time. The medical ertects of it are to st-imuiate the solids, jtttenuate the jnices, and
promote the fluid secretions ; it eeems to extend its action through the wliule habit,
and to affect the minutest glands. It has fieqiiently done scinicein some kinds of scur-
vies, and other chronic disorders proceeding from a viscidity of the juices, or obstruc-
tions of the excretory ducts. S}denham recommends if UkcAvise in dropsies, particu-
larly those which fcjllow intermittent fevers, it is also extolled in cases of thestono.—
Both water and rcctiiied s[)irit e.xtract the virtues of this root, by infusion, and elevate
them in distillations : along with the acqueous fluid an essential oil rises, possessinf
the wiiole tuste and pungeiic3-'- of the horse raddish. Dr.' Cullen says,' "The root ex—

■.ternallv applied readily .inflames the skin, and proves n rubifascient that maybe em-
ployed with advantage in palsy and rheumatism ; and, if its application be long conti-

-nued, it produces blisters. Taken internally, one drachm of tjie root, fr-ssh, scraped
down, was enough for four ounces of water, to be infused in a close vessel for two
hoars, and niada into a -syrup, with double its weight of sugar; a tea-spoenful of
which SiTallowed leisurely, or at least repeated two or three times, has often been
found very suddenly eli'ectual in relieving hoarsenesses. Received Into the stomach,

-this root promotes iligestion, and therefore is properly employed as a coiuliment with
animal food. K it be infused in water, and a portion of the infusion be taken with a
large draught of warm water, it readily proves emetic, -and may either bo employed to
ei;cite vomiting, or to assist the^)peratiQu of emetics."

■KORSK RADDISH TREE. GUILANDINA.

Cl.10, or. 1. — Dtcandriamouogynia. 'Nat. OK. — LomeniaceiP.

"This was so named in honour of Guilandinus, of Prussia, a great traveller,

. -Gen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth ; tube short, turbinate, permanent, \n\k.
an oblique- mouth ; border five- parted, nearly equal, spreading, deciduous; di-

■ visions oblong, broader on the outside and rounded ; the two upper ones a little
shorter, the lowest a little longer; the corolla five unequal petals, inserted into
the neck of the calyx ; the uppermost roundish, 'conca\"e, ascending, a little
shorter, (but broader, .resembling the vexillum of a papilionaceous 'flower) the
rest oblong, broader in front, rounded at the tip, reflex-cpreading, longer than
the calyx, and the two lowest a little longer than the middle ones. Stamens, eight,
nine, or ten,- subulate filaments, thicker at the base and villose, decumbent, in-
serted into the neck of the calyx, shorter than the corolla, unequal ; tiro lower
ones gradually longer ; anthers oblong, affixed to the back ; the pistil has an ob-

■ I'jng germ, a filiform permanent style, the length of tlie stamens, and a simple
stigma; tlie pericarp is a rhomboida,! legume,- the upper suture convex, from
swelling compressed, one-celled, with transverse partitions; seeds bon}-, globu-
lar-compressed, solitary between the partitions. Two species of this genus are
natives of Jamaica, for which — see nkkars. The moririga, or horse jadUish treCj
has been verj' erroneously referred to this genus,

" MORINGA.

~ L^iiarmed, leaves sub-bfpinnate ; lower leaflets ternate,

Ddd Tfa{4

335 liORTUS- JAMAIC'E-'NrS'-I.SJ. H«^'>.»

This plant i^ certainly. a different genus i'rom guUaiidina. ■ as will" af^ear Tij'tl^e fol-
lowing characters giveixot it by Svvaiiz. It is the kyiHivanilicra morhtixa of VaW. — •
The calyx is tive-leaved, tijrce upper, two lower, ait eciiiat, bent buck, kiiucolatey
obtuse^ coloured, whiiisfi or pale red, puucsce:vt ; corolla fivt'-petaied, four of tiiem
jinterior, equal, bent dpu;n,. pale; one {)osterior, erect, a little larger, whiiigh, the
!)asc nectareous ; the filarnents are five {nine, but only fv/: fertiifejjloi^gcr, being the
jength of the larger petal and uprigiit; anthers corilate, in:«mbenfe, jertile, yellow;
the live shorter onesbarrcii ; germ IcDLithencd out, thrao-cornered, aciuriiiiate, pu-
bescent; style subiil.itc, short; stigma. acHUe ; legume iwo feet loug, streaked, ihrce-
valved, one-celled ;i. seeds fifteen or sixteen, distinct, placed , longittKliiiatlyv objon"',
three-cornered, wjUr three membranaceoiis.-.ungs. -

Tlus tree is a naiLve of the East Inilies, ar.dwas introduced 'iiVlc?; this island in the
year. -1 784- by Mr,, East ; since which it has Ijcen- gcKierally cultivated ©n- account of its
beauty ^and quick growth, and Jias- thriven well iti almost every situation.- It has a tiiick
root of a soft substance, the j'cAingixirts.of which ^r« scraped, and used in tlie manner
of horse-raddi^h, for whi<'h it is a)rtsidered a very good substitute, having n^uch the
same sharp taste, as have also. tlie seeds.. It grows abc>i>t twent\- feet high, and has an
ash-cploured bark,. «ith numerous, rather ereci, bfarrches. The leaves are irregu-
larly triplicate, pinnate, with an..cu;kllcaf ; th& leaflets small and oval, standing on slen-
der purplish pedi^cels:,. waving beautifully. in the wind. The flowers grow on the wings
of tiie stalks, iiv long, asillarv, round, pHbeseent,, sr^.>-di glided, nian^'-flovverefl ra-
cemes, of a white cx>iour, tinged lioluly with yellow at the byse ; the sub-divisions
branched, directed one way, bent dowft; iia-viiig under them minute decuiuous scales.
Being of fjuick growtli, this jiretty little tree is frequently planted in Jamaica tor fences
and along garden walks, andis generally known by the name of vwringa. The wood
dyes a blue cok.ur, and slieep are said to be fond of the seeds ; from whicli- a fine oil
lUav be extracted, in the manner it is from oil nuts.

f)'cC NlCKAIiS.

HORSE-TAIL. , EQUISETUM.

Cl.-24, or. \.—Ciyptogamiufilices. N.at. OR. — Fillccs.
Gfx. CH.\R. — Fructifications disposed into a long ovate-olilong spike ; each orbicn-
lute, gaping at the base, with several valves, connected by a flat shield. sliaped
top. Brow ue notices two species, which hefound in Jamaica.

1. GICANTEUJf." Gi:VNT.

A3surge)ur,yijus,r<imisverticiUatissimpUcihi(s. Biowne, p. I OS.

Stems streaked, arborescentj fronds simple, strict, .spike-bearing.

Browne calls this. the Vdr^ex horse-tail, with simple branches, and says he observed
this and the follywing species in the parish of St .Mary, where they shoot very luxu-
riously. The dryed phlnts of both are used by cabinet makers to, polish their work, the
surface of every ]iart of thcrr being like a line file, and furnished with short delicate
denticles, that rub olf tlie smaller protuberances of tUe wood by degrees, and leave the
Siiiface smooth and shinij.ig^..

2..SYLVATICUJ^,

•

Tiyi*El.\Tj HORTUS J A M A I CEN SI S, 387

d. SVLVATICUM.

AssvA:gcns rmnosmn et verticillalum,' Browne, p. 108,
Stem spiked ; fronds conipoiind.

'Ko English Xame. HYP K LATE,

o

Ci.. 23, or^. ■] .—P()li/ga)iiia )iwnoccia, Nat. f):!.—
This was so named by Brounc tVoiii two Greek words signilVing lir-tree.
Gen. char.— Cal3"x of the iierniapiirodite flower a five-ieaved pej-iantli, leaflets
ovate, concave, spreading, decidnous, two less than the others ; the coroila has
five petals, ovate, a little less than the caU'x, decidnous, with a nectariferous urn-
bi'icus abont the germ ; the stamens are eight spreading filaments, round the base
of ihe germ, the length of the coroila, with ovate-cordate anthers ; the pistil iias
■ a globular sujierior germ ; a short upright style ; stigma ijcnt down, tiiree-sideJ,
three-grooved, acute ; the pericarp a puljiy roimdisli drupe ; seed an oval nut,
very smooth, uith a single kernel. The nude flu svcrs, on the -same tree but on u
distinct panicle, have the calyx and corolla as in the hermajihrodite ; the nectary
• also as in that, from the middle of this ; the st-amens are eightfdame;:ts, converg-
ing at the base, from erect reflex and ascending, broader at the base, with ovate-
cordate anthers ; the pistil a three-cornered rudiment of a germ ; Style awl-slniped,
•very saiail. There is only one species, a native of .lamaic-a.

TRIFOLIAT.l. THREE- LEAVED.

"fi/fisux arborcus, Joliis ohtusis glabris, folionim prcdiculis alafis. — •
Sloane, V. 2, p. S.'i, t. 176, f. 1. Fruticosa follis ob-ovatis, pinnaio
ternatis, peticlo marginaio ajjixis. Browne, p. 208.

•This shrubby tree has several trunks as big as the hmiian leg, which seldom ri?e
•above eight or nine feet, and is common in tlie lowlands. The bark is naturally of a
brown colour, but a])|icars of ditr'erent colours, from its Leing covered with ligneous
Crustacea, ^l'he trunk is divided a Httle abov-c the ground into many slender branches,
and these again into slender twigs, all round beset with lea^-es of the same texture and
grain as those of lignumvitcc, but rcroarkablv ddlerent in form and disposition, being"
in an alternate order; the pedicels an inch and a quarter in length, decorated on eacli
side by a foliaceous margin, supporting one ])air of ob-ovate lobes, with an odd-one at
the end, sessile and ternale, close to each other, having no proper petlicel ; they are
of a li\"ely green, and elegantly marked with slender di)lique veins, rising from the
mid-rib, shining, smooth, and of a firxn texture. The corolla and calyx are not easily
distinguished from each other, the two interior leaves of the cah'x appearing like two
jx;tals, 1^0 great is their similitude. The fruit is^i small drupe of an ovate form, and
splendid black colour, about three-eighths of an inch long. The pulp is sweet, re-
sembling a mixture of sugar and water; the kernel greenish, in which the seminal
leaves are obvious, and inclosed in an ovate, smooth, hard, ligneous, niouoeapsulaij
shell. The fruit ripens in September.

Ddd3 - JAA€K

^•» HORTUS JAMAICEKSr?^ iAACjfo-

JAACK-TREF. ARTOOARPUFi.

Cl. 21, eip. l.—Monoeciamenandvia, Nat, ok, — Urtic/e. .
Gfn. CHAR.— ;5'6i?Bread-Fiuit, /7, 111.

INTEGKIFOLIA. ENTIRE- LEAVED,

Leaves entire.

Tlic tnaie Houers are arrangei.! alang; the surface of. a thick fleshy oblong. receptacle ;
the uiuliors are sessile ami adliere, apjjcanng as yellow poiiit.s ; the female fluivers are
anaiigyd along the surface of a sunilai: recypt-^-iCj and appear as so niajiy clammy points
to catch the dust of the anthoi's. At the rtvot of its receptacle, where tlie footstalk en-
ters, is a protuberant ring, and tbereceptacle and young,.siioot together are at first in-
closed by a coloured sputhe, which quickly drops off. The iDule ilowers, having im-
pri'gnaled the female, that receptacle turn^ black, withers, and drops off. The female
receptacle or germ enlarges to the fniit, which contains a numluT of naked.seeds, oval,
aiid. smooth, whcii fresli, bat, when drv, tlie outer tikin shrivcis up. The seed has an
eye near the middle, and consists cf only oneJobe, or cotylidoii. Tlie root is perenial,
tlie stem. cylindj-icaU.

This beautiful and excellent fruit tree was brought, to Janiaica in his Majesty's ship
Providence, in th_e. jear 179 J, at the same time that the bread-fruit was introduced,
and has.been since ver}' generally cultivated, as it thrives well in almost every part of
the island. Its growth is rapiti, and it rises in a beautiful pyramidal form, branching
almost to, the ground, with a ve.'^y dense foliage, to a considerable size. A tree twelve
years (Ai\, from the seed, measured twejity-tive feet high, and the stem was full fifteen
inches in diameter; the branches extended fifteen feet. on each side. The bark of both
trunk and branches has many knotty protuberances. The branches are spreading, and
shoot out alternately ; the twigs have little brown excrescences, or prominent dots ;
the leaves are ovute-ohlong, smooth,, shining, dark green above, and pale green be-
low, from six to eight inches long, and three to four broad, in a luxuriant tree ; they
come out alternately from, the ends of the twigs, covered with, or wrapped in, stipules
in pairs, which speedily fall. off and expose the young leaves, .<=omewhat hirsute and
serrate, which disappcai; as they grow old. Tlic leaves Jiave a strong mid-rib and pro-
minent veins. TliQ peduncles are.frequently more than an inch thick, and a foot or
two long, having leaves, with two or three, or more, strong pedicels, all pendulous,
from the great weight of the fruit, which often weighs from twenty-five to thirty
pounds. The petluijcles shoot ft-om the sides of the branches and trunk of the tree. —
The fruit is very large and of an irregular figure, inclining to oval.,Jiaving a very rough
warted coat, which contains a multitude of seeds, enveloped in a thick gelatinous co-
vering, which, eaten either raw» or fried, is delicious ; the seeds are nearly round,
about half an inch in diameter, aiid, eaten roasted, have a .very raeally and agreeable
taste. Every part of this fruit, except the seeds, has a strong disagreeable smell,
which is removed b}: washing in salt and water. The tree bears almost all the year
round, containing at the same tinie fruit of all siae^. Every part of this plant.is full of
a milky clammy juice, of an insipid taste, and easily convertible into caoutchouc. — -
The wood is of a^oft brittle naturej And ot .no use in ..build in g ^ it is propagated from
^eds» which gJXiw very cjuicklj'.

" ■' <JwrtQeri

,VACH H CRT US JAMAICENSIS. . ^3

Gcrrtnor says that thi3 tree is not easily distinguished from the bread-fruit, which is '
a great niistal<c, for no t'.vo trees can be more unlike each other in their general ap-
pearance. One lobe of a bread-fruit leaf, of which H coiitarns ten or twelve, is much
larger than a wliole leaf ot the jaack-fruit ; and the folir.ge of the former is light green,
wiitie that of tne latter is a very dark green, colour. The pa-ts of fructification in
botii are very similar, but the fruit itself has- no resembhincc in nape ; tlu- bread-fruit
being almost circular, the jaack an irregular, crooked, oval, figare; both fruits are
warted all over their surfaces. The bread-froit has no smell,- the jaack a very strong
aaa dibu-^rccable ooew .

See Brf.ad-Fkuit.

JACK iiT'THE BOX. . HERNANDrA, '

Cl.21, or. 3. — Monot'cia triandria. ■ 'Nat. or.— T)icocc<Pi

This was named in honour of Francis Hernandez, author of a History of Mexico.

GfeN, CHAR. — Male calyx a four-leaved, partial, three-flowered, involucre; corolJa
six-petaled ; nectary six glands ; stamens three filrtmcatSj with ujiright antiiers.
Female calyx an involucre common with the males ; perianth inferior, one-leafed ;-
corolla eight-petaled ; nectary four glands j- the pistil has a roundish germ, a fili-
form style, and oblique stigma; the pericarp a dry ovate drupe, eight-furrowed,
one-celled, inclosed in a very large, inflated, fleshy, coloured, perianth, with the
mouth entire; seed a globular nut, slightly depressed. Thfcre are two species,
bi*t it is doubtful whether either of them is a native of Jamaica.

SONORA. WHISTLIN*.

Arboreafoliis fordato-peltatis, capsula temci aperta. Browne^'p. 375.-

Brbwne sawthis tree m Barbadoes- and Montserrat, but not in Jamaica ; but adds
that he was crediblv informed it grew in the parish of Portland.- The sonora, or com-
mon jack in a box, is a native of both the intlies. It grows twenty or thirty feet high ;
and is garnished with broad peltated leaves, and monoecious flowers, succeeded b}' a
large swollen hollow fruit, formed of the c:.iyx ; having a hole or open at the end,
and a hard nut within. The wind blowing into tJie cavity of this fruit makes a very -
whistling and rattling noise, whence comi;s the name. •

The sonora, in Java, affords a sure antidote against poison, if you either put its
small roots on tlie wounds or eat them ; as was discovered to Rnmphius by a captive
woman, in the war between the people of Macassar an i the Dutch, in the year 1667. —
The soldiers of the former always carry this root about them, as a remedy against
wounds with poisonuus arrows, .

This tree is common in the Windward Isles, and is said to be frequent in the woods
of Portland parisfi. The cups that sustain the nuts arc large, and t!;e wind, biowincr
into the cavity, causes a sonorous whistling noise, very often alarming to travellers.^
The seeds are very full of oil, and may be applicable probably to a variety of necessary
gjirposes,

imn. US' -THfe h-vsn-^See Wju>- Sage, ■

,2^

59© H OUT US JA MAI CENSUS. MACQiisih

Xo Fiiiiiish Xiimc. , JACQUIXIA.

Cl. ."i, on. \.— Pcnt(iinlria monnf^yTtia. Nat. or. — Ihimosic,
Tills was so named in honour of tlie celebrated Josepli de Jacqiiiii, professor of bo-
tuny at Vienna, and author oi' nuuiy splendid works.

Gkn. char. — Calyx a fi\e-leiived periaDth ; leaflets roundish, concave, permanent;
corolla oue-i3xnaled ; ^uhe bell-shaped, ventricose, Wiger than the caly.\ ; border
ten-cleft; divisions roundish, of \\hi<li the five interior ohcg arc shorter; the
stamens arc fixe filaments, awl-rLhaped, arising-.;i''-om the receptacle, with spear-
shaped anthers ; the pistil has an ovale germ, stvle the length of the stamens,
stigma heatled ; the pericarp is a^roundiiii berr}-, acuminate, one-celled; seed
single, roundish, cartilaginous. One species is a native of Jamaica.

■AR'iJUXARIS. BRACELET.

,'Ariioriiaccifera, laurijolia, fructii corallino rihium iusfar rticonoso,
. calyculato, x-cnenato. Sloane, v^-'i, .p. .S:>, t. 190, f. 2. Xyloceste.
Fvuiicosum : folhs elliptico otatls, swbtus cincreis ; pcdunculis ra~
mosis, alavibiis. Browne, p. 372.

Leaves oT^tuse, coriaceous ; fluwej's inx^cemes;: berries four-seeded, or there-
abouts.

'This is a very elegant shrub, seldom -more than four or five feet high. (Sloane saw
One tilteen feet high). The trunk nnmd, thicker and knobbed where the branches
come out, covered with-an ash-coloured bark; branches four or five from each joint
towards the top, in whorls, spreading, stiff', round, grooved, brittle, hoary, sub-di-
vided, and forming altogether a^r.eat globular head. Leaves scattered, alternate, pe-
tioled, clustered towards.jthernds of the twigs, wedge-shaped, ovate, obtusely mar-
gined, quite entire, veinless, smooth, pale underneath, with very minute black dols.-
According to Jacquin, they are of different shapes between oblong and roundish,
sometimes blunt, sometimes emarginate, but always with a little rigid point, narrow-
ing into a ver}' short petiole, and sometimes rolled back at the sides. Racemes ter-
minating, commonly- shorter than -the leaves, about two inches long, solitary, erect,
loose, simple, seven -ffowered or thereabouts; peduncles scattered, spreading, one-
flowered; flowers small, stiffish, white, smelling like jasmine, and retaining their
sweet scent several days. Tube of the corolla narrower at the base, dilated above ; the
five outer segments are sjireading and oblong, the five inner inserted into the throat
between the outer ones, roundish, crenulatc, erect. Filaments from the base of the
corolla, shorter than the tube ; anthers ovate, white ; germ superior ; style short,
permanent; stigma blunt, purple; berry roundish, smooth ; the size of a large pea,
of a reddish orange-colonr, .and containing .an orange-coloured pulp ; seeds four,
sometimes, but seklom, three or five, ovate, smooth, shining, cartilaginous, brownish
yellow. The berries are eaten by small birds, and the seeds are strung for bracelets by
the Caribs, whence the French name bois hracelels, and the trivial n-dme arniillaris.—
The Spaniards. call it iarAajco or we?fcn(Wi. Native of Jamaica on calcareous rock?,'
on the coast; flowering in February and March. — ^lartyifs Dkiionary. Sloane, from
the resemblance of the berries .to currants, called Jhis plajit cunrant-trce.

JAMAICA

M^uw:a ^IORTUS JAMAICENS-I3i SSr

JAMAICA BARK. CINCHONA.'

Ci.. 5, o«. 1. — Poitinitlria niGH0S:!;nn.'. Nat. or.- — Conforhr.
Tl.is vvns so named from the Countess tie! Cinchon, lady of a Spanish Vicerov, wliose*
eerc is said first to have brought. the Peruvian bark into reputation. ■■

Gen. char. — dilyx a one-leafed perianth, superior, shart, five-toothed, penti."!-
nem : corolla uionopetalous, fuiuiei-sha|jed, i>ve-,cleft.; tube long, obscurely
angular; segments lanceolate or linear, equalling the tube ; the stamens are five
fiiauients, in thejnidule of the tuije, with linear erect anthers ; the pistil has an
inferior germ, turl)inate, obscurely angular ;. style the length of the stamens j.
stigma thick-, bifid, or entire ; the pericarp is a ctipsule crowned with die calyx,.
bi-partite, ojiening into two parts inward!}', the partition ptvrailel ; seeds many,
oblong, compressed, sumjunded by a membranaceous wing. Tiiree spejios are
rjalii^es of Jamaica. -.

3. CARIBBEA. . CAiaBBE.\N.. .. ,

Peduncles axillary, one-flowered. .

This tree rises from fifteen to tvv(^nty feet, having, an ash-coloured bark, the trunl?
:iot thick in proportion to the heignt, but iiard, ti.'ugi:, and of a. yeHo^vish '.vluce c/:jur
in the inside. The leaves are ota rusty green, and the 3'oung bu^l.-. of a blueish-green
hue ; tiie flowers are of a dusky-">.elii)vv ,:oiour, and tne pods black : when ii;je iaey
s)jht in two, and aref with their Rat bfown seeds, .in e^'erv respect similar to those of
ciiiciwna officinalis.! The bark- in general is amoorli and gray on the outside, though in
.some rough and scabrous^; when v/ell dried the inside is of a dark brown colour. lis
tiavour at first is sweet, v.'itli a mixture nf (lie taste of li'irse-raddish, an;! of ciie, aroma-
tics of the East, but,' when swailoweii, ot that vry -bitterness and astringcncv which" •
characterises the Peruvian bark. ■ it grows nearthe sea-shore, and is called in Jamaica
sea-sick heevh.,.- The bark «f the large trunks is rongii, an i the ciiticle thick and inert;
the inner. bark is thinner than that of the young trees, bit more fibrous. I !iave made
use of this hark in a;U case&vvhere the Peruvian bark was indicated, and with the greatest
success. Half an ounce, infused in a bottle of wine or spirits, affords an elegant and'
grateful bitter. In" the beginning of typhus, I remove the sick in- > airy chambers,,
wash their hands and face often I'l cold water, and direct them to chew a iitlle of thiti'
batk, with very happy eiiects. — IVr.ight.- .

3. BRACHYCARPA^ '.

Panicle terminating ; capsitles ob- ov-i.e, ribbed ;>:eaveselK:!tie-o^fi!se.

The following account of this new species-'of Jesuit'a be -k, i Lindsav,

formerly a surgeon in Westmorland, and much d ■ .. i

botany, especially for the cx^ erjmenis he niad< i

plants :

" This tree was discovered in November, 17
tba'- overlooks the woris of Mblintain Spring
OB-some of tdie mountains, near riie Moreland

'• I iiave only met ivith it in threi. pla-jes, ;
par's of WestmOK'.'. '■ ''nd Han-.-er ^vifishe:;.
Should, aa>i rtifecting u aoitiivra aspecjt. . Tiv; .

55- HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. Jamaica

Iiigb., and icven or eight inches in diameter. The branches are few and spreading. —
Tlie le.ives stand in pairs, and are smooth and sliinii.g; very like tl;ose of the Port-
landia grandijlora. The flowers grow in pretty large clusters, on the extremities of
the branches, and have nearly the beauty and nppearance of the common honeysnckle*,
but are rather larger. The seed-j>od is larger tiian anv other of this genus. It is oval,
adorned with the calyx, oT a: firm consistence, somewliat striated, and black coloured ;
•when ripe, it splits in two, and discharges a number of small, flat, brown, seeds, witli
a membrane nearl}' round the edges. The trunk and branches are of a brownish-grey
colour, with a few superficial furrows and cross cracks, like the Peruvian bark. The
1 ark of the trunk is pretty thicli, and, when wounded, exadess a small quantity of a
milky juice. The bark, when dried, li of a purplish-brown colour on the inside. It
is itbrous, and more difficult to pulverise than the. Jesuit's bark in use. Th^ powder.is
ot a purplish-grey colour, and Uistes sweet, then bitter and astringent.

'■ No opportimitj- ought to be omitted that can in any v.ay make us more, acquainted
with this valuable genus cinchona, the sahitary effects of which give a security and com-
f(nt to the- lives of those in warm and unhealthv climates, beyond any other medicine"
we know of. This species might be used as a^uijstitute to the Peruvian bark; but it
is to be regretted that the U"ee is scarce and small, and that enough of ic cannot be had,
at least in these parts.*

" I do not pretend tofcoldup this new bark as snperior, or even equalj to the Rc-

ritvian. I have given it in the slighter cases of intermitting and remittmg fevers, with

good.effect ; and, in a few instances, it produced a cure, where the patients had taken

the common and red bark to no purpose. _ To people afflicted with intermittents,i I

pave the powder from twelve grains to thirty every hour, or every two hours, in the

absence of fever. By this means a stop was put to the fever, and the patients reco-

' vered. I have also administered this new bark in dyspepsia, both in powder and mfu-

sion. It sat easy on the stomach, promoted appetite, and was easy to take. • I had

"hewn this species of cinchona to my good friend Dr. V/iight, before he left the island,

nd gave him a little of the bark. He gave it in powder to a patient, but founds it

imetic, which could only happen from some peculiarity in the constitution. In his

letter to me, he intimates, that probably the same thing would happen with any other

of this genus, if given before it was completely dried."

The following observations, by the same gentleman, on the use of ihe red Peruvian
bark, may not be thought misplaced here :

" The red Peruvian bark, when genuine, and given briskly, it pretty large doses,
will, in particular cases, occasion a degree of anxiety, depression, .giddiness, and
faintness, that are alarming to the patient and his friends, and perhaps, if not timely
attended to, might be of serious consequence. This only happens in certain constitu-
tions, and in weakly habits, or those rendered so by disease. This effect of the red
bark, so far as I know, ha^ not been taken notice of by any writer, and when it occurs
is either not attended to, or imputed to some other cause. -The following extract of .a
letter from James Graham, Esq. a worthy and respectable gentleman of this island,
places this circumstance in a strong light;

" Mr. Graham had been afflicted with a fever and ague for several months, and, hav-
ing

* Tills loss may be compensated by the abundance of the preceding species, described by Dr. Wright
ia the sixty-seventh volume of the Philosophical Transactions, and which lias been found to answer all the
purposes of Jesuit's bark. All the Jamaica s{>ecies, being of an emetic nature, should be givea ia suaU dosa*
Hf iirat.

■SmMck HORTUS J/vMAICENSI^. Sr^5^

ing consulted an eminent plij-sician here, had the red hark prescrihcJ him, wliich ho
was to take in doses of thirty grains each. " On takhig the first," ^ays he, "I in-
stantly perceived an unusual pwngenc}' on my tongne. After the fiftii I feit an anxiety

- ahout my breast, with faiutishness ; antl had hardly done swallowii-.g the sixth, when
1 was seized with a giddiness, an universal tremor, and a profuse coht sweat. A little
wine, wliich was g-ivea me in th4s situation, relieved me consi<ierablv . In about at*
hour, all the alarming sympwms disappeared, but I remained weak and languid. — •
From that daVj however, the fever left me, and did not return till several months aftcV,
when it was brought on b}' a cold, ainl was removed by the bark administered iu the

iSarae manner, antl attended nearly by the same symptoms as before."

» , 3. TRin.ORA. TilREK- FLOWERED.

Peduncles three-flowered.

This species was discovered by 'Mr. "Roberts, a clergyman, inJamaica. 't'he leave*
are very like those of the hrst species, and the pods somewhat lartrer. At the axillas
Gome out three scarlet flowers. The bark is of the colour of Peruvian bark. It grows
in many parts of Jamaica.

JAMAICA BILBETfRY or WIIORTLE^BERRY. VACCINIUM.

Cl. 8, OR. 1. — Octandria monogynia. NxT.OR.—BiconiCS,

Gen. char. — Calyx a small perianth, superior, permanent ; corolla one-petaleil,
bell-shaped, four-cleft, segments revolute; stamens eight simple filaments, in-
serted into the receptacle, v.ith two-horned anthers; the "pistil has an inferior
germ, a simple style, and obtuse stigma; the pericarp is a globular umljilicai
"berry, four-celleil ; seeds few and small. One species is a native of Jamaica. .

MERIDIONALE.

Xeaves ovate-oblong, acnle, serrate, perennial, flat, lucid ; racemes terminat-
ing, erect ; corollas prismatical.

The corolla of this plant is seldom five-cleft. It grows in the Blue Mountains, and
about the morasses in Westmorland. Mr. A. Robinson mentions a plant he met with
-at Coldspring, fifteen feet high, and the stem as diick as a man's thigh. The berries
gre.w in clustei-s about two indies long, black as a sloe, and covereil widi farina ; they
•were tJie bigness of an Enghsh pea, crowned with the four-leaved cup, four-celled,
and containing many seeds. They had a very pleasant taste, being a mixture of sour
and sweet. The leaves grew alternate, ovate, slightly crenated, hardly an inch long,
of a firm hard consistence, and sub-astringent taste. It was in berry in July.

JAMAICA OR INDIAN GRAPE. VITIS.

Cl.. 5, OR. 1. — Pentandrifi monogjjniu. NaT. OU. — Ilcderacta:
G«N. CEiAn. — See Grape- Vine, j7. 334,

E e e fNDic j;

IS-^ K OUT us JAMAlCENSia>. ' JA^tAlCV.

INDICA. INDIAN.

f'itis, fiuctii miiiorf, rubi'o, accrho. /olio siibrohindo vu'nus hiciniafc,
si/h'iis alba lani(<ri)tc iecto. Sloane, y. 2, p. 104, t. •l\0, f. 4. — •
S'iJivf^tris, sdimcntis Lett: rtpentibus, , mis .viinoh'ibus 7iigris. —
Browne, p 178.
Leaves cor Jate, toothed, villose beneath ; teiidribraeemiferous...
This phtnt has a trunk frequently ns thick as a man's leg, woody, and scndinc:' out ■
Wanches, with liranching tendrils, by which it fastens iiself. to trce^^ Tiie leaves and
flowers ver^- nearly reseailile ti)ose of the common grape-vine ; the former have incin~
long footstalks, they are soii, green on the upper side, and .while and downy on tlie
under. The fruit, wiiich ripens in Septeniher, is in bunches of small grape^, oi a-
purplish colour, which have a lOugh acerb taste, and, it is thought, would make an
exoeilent wine imder proper nmnagemenl. It is someiitnes made into tails. This piimt
grows wild in most parts of Jamaica, and, when lu.\uriant, which it is in the higher
woodlands, ib so full of juice, that a junk of three feet in length will vield near a pint
of clear tasteless water ; which often affords great refreshment when no other water is-,
near. From this qualitv in the stem it is well known by"the name of nriter-withe ; and
it is worthy of remark, that the common gr-npe-vine, if vvouudeil in the spring, also,
emits a dear, hnipid, watery, juice.

Sec Grape-Vine* .

JAMAICA NETTLE.TREE. . CELTIS.

Cl. 23, OR, 1. — Polijgamia jnonoecia, NaT. OR. — Scabridtt'.

Oen. CHAR. — Hermaphrodite caij'x five-parted ; no corolla; stamina five filament?^
with oblong anthers ; pistil an ovate germ, with two styles, and simple stigmas;
the pericarp a globular one-celled drupe, containing a roundish nut. The male ■
flowers have a six-parted peiianth, and six stamens ; all the rest as in the henna-

- pbrodites. Twp species are natives of Jamaica.

1. MIGRANTHA.

4^rhorcscens foUis oblongo ovatis iiivsutis et leniter serratis, Jloinbiia^
minimis, ractmis alarihus', Browne, p. 173, t. 12, f. 2,

This shrubby tree, which is the rhamnus inicrMJitlius of Linneus, seldom rises above.
-t»r; or twelve feet, and throws out a great number of loose branches. It is frequent ia.
Clarendon and about the Ferry, and is known by the name of bastard fustic. It some-
times grows to the height of thirty feet The berries are of a deep purple semi-pellu-
■cid colour, of a sweet and not disagreeable taste, nearly the size of tlie locus-berry.

2, AMERICANA. AMERlCAtrj

Leaves oblong-ovate, . obtuse, nerved, smooth above, golden beneath.
This nses near twenty feet high, covered with a grey bark, and dividing at top into
gtiany biaadies;. leaves nearly four inches long, and two and -a half broad,, rounded at

tlicir

c^awAiCA HORTUS JAMAICENSI9, 3!»5

■their extremity, of a thick texture, very smooth on their upper surface, and on their
under of a lucid gold colour. The fiuit is round and red. It was found in Jamaica by
Dr. Houston,

See Nettles awtiJ N-ettle-Thee.

Jamaica Pepper — See Pimenta.
Jamaica Plum — Sec Spanish Plum.

JAMAICA SALOP. LIMODORUM.

Cl. 20, OR. 1. — Gynandria clianJria. Nat. OR. — 0)xhidc^.
Gen. char. — Calyx vague spathes, spadix simple, no perianth ; the corolla has ^ve
■petals, ovate-oblong, about equal, spreading, the superior ones converging ;
nectary one-leafed, concave, footstalked, within the lowest petal, the length of
■ the petals ; the stamens are two, bearing a filament with au oblong ascending body,
the length of the corolla ; with two anthers, ovate, looking forwards ; the pistil
has a columnar germ, the length of the corolla, inferior, with a funnel-forni
stigma ; the pericarp a colunniar three-valved capsule, one-celled, gaping at the
corners; seeds numerous, Uke saw-dust. Swartz observes tliat this genus i*
scarcely different from serapias, except in the intlGrescence or scape. Foiuf
species have been found in Jamaica.

1 . ALTUjr. TALL.

FoViis lira/ is lovgissiinis, scapo jlorlfero partiali, sub-sqiiamoso.—
Browne, p.. 325.

■Flowers beardless ; spikes sub-panlcled.
"Bulb tubercled, roundish, of a fleshy and fibrous siibstance, covered with a coriace-
•ous, shining skin, and having some tomentose white fibres underneath. Leaves from
. the bulb, vernal, two feet long, broad-lanceolate, longitudinally folded at the nerves,
even, very like those of a young plant of the cocoa-nut ; scape smiple, upright, some-
times divided at top, two feet high, even, round. It has little sheaths on it which are
yjfmote, priemorse, embracing, netted, pale. Flowers terminating, scattered, alter-
nate, large, purple, sometimes varying to white ; the three outer petals are uprigJit,
.spreading; the two inner bent in, forming a helmet with the middle upper one; all
:€qiiaJ, converging a little, the inner ones paler ; nectary ventricose, cordate, embrac-
ing the column with its base; Up recurved, two lobed, whitish, with longitudinal blood-
red grooves, and others sulphur-coloured ; the middle appendicled, with an ovate-
emarginate blood-red little jug ; column elongated, gibbous, boat-shaped, dilated at
. top, cordate, having the two anthers on very short pedicels in a case, stigma tubular
- in front ; germt)blong, attenuated; capsule large, oblong, pedicelled, attenuated at
-the base. — Sii\

The leaves of this species (which is found orfJy in the cooler parts of the mountains,)
•Cenerally run-froiK fifteen inches to two feet in length. The flower-stalks grow close
to tlicsc, but seperate, and rise commonly to the height of two or three feet. The
jpot is fleshy, somewhat transparent, its taste is bitterish^ and attended with a clam-

E e e 2 jiunes3

555 H CRT US JAMAICENSiSi ^\EiftM2-:

siiness tliat leaves a light prickly warmth beliind it ; but tins wears ofTsoon, leaving the-
palate tree Ironi every sensiUfon but that of tlie bitter.. As the root dries it acquires a,
great deal both of tiie colour and tiiste of rl;nlarb ; but it shouhl be sliceJ, and kept a-
iong time in tlie oj;eii air or s'.ui, to lie pjopitiy .cured. It m.i, be ui^eA uithgr.afe
proj/iieiy as a stoiuachjt, and is geneiaiiy observed to thioken the iaiiva wiien chewed.
■ — liro}i;/ie,

2. TUBEROSUM. TUBEROUS.,

Flowers sub-spikeu,- bearded.

Root tuberous: sti iri a fool and a half hi<jh ; the ni:mber of flowers not exeeeding
five, dark purple; in ;i more luxuriant situation, prc/bably all parts are iarger. Ti'is
was long confounded witii iht,' brst species.

3. UTRXUXATUM. EOTTLED.

Eoot , tuberous ;, root leaves twin-sheathed, radical sheath inflated, scap«,-
sheathed ; iiowers sessile. — Sia.

4. GENTIANOIDES. GENTIAN-LIXE.

Jioot tuberous j ..leafiess, stem sheathed •. flowers peduncled..

Jam Ai-CA Walnut — iSf^' Walnut.
JLAMBOLAN-^iS'ee Rose Apple;.

JASMINE-., JASMFNUM.

Ct. 2, or.. 1. — Diandyia monogynia. Nat. or. — Sepiarite.

C5en. char. — Calyx a onc-leaied 6ve-tootbed perianth ; corolla one-petaledj salver-
sii;;;icd, border five-]iarted ; the filaments have small anthers, within the tube j
the pistil has a roundish germ, a fildorni style, and bifid stigma; the pericarp ii
an oval smooth, 1 erry, two-ceiled; seeds tuo, large, ovate,...arLllated, convex, on
OJie side, flat on tlie other.

\. OFFICINAL&. OFFICINAL. j

Leaves opposite, pinnate; leaflets acuminate ; buds almost upright.

This shrubby, ciinibing, and fragrant plant, has becn-.very generally cultivated iii-
Jamaica, for the pujpost of framing arbours. Several other species have also been
introduced, which thrive n niarkabiy well. Browne notices a wild species, which l>e
calls the small, shrubby, </a'(2)yjVi,$?«/j?f, with siuall ovate, aoumiDate, rigid, opposite
leaves, which is a native of Jamaica, and, he says, grows plentifuliv in the jxirish of
Portland. It, .shoots in ^niall tuits, and seldom rises above a foot or .two from the
ground ; its leaves-are.-very smooth and shining.

2. SAMBAC.

Leaves opposite, simple,, c-.liiptic, ovate and sub-cordate, membranaceous,,,
op?.que; branchlti.-. and petioles pubescent; calycine segments awl-shaped.
This .plant is geuerally kuovvti by the name of 4?(?^/e« jasjuine) and .is .the vyc^.

jaSHTlNE

liaRTUS JAMAICENSIS. ^^f

fynthes of Vivowne. Tt has also been pretty geneialiy cultivatea in Jamaira, fornnir.g
])'. sunt t wet t- scented arbours. The tioueis are oi a 'Sue while, wii' n fuliy blown
tkey drop Iroui tiieir cups upon being shaken ; they foatinue thruut^h most ot tlie ytar^

Jasmine, Bast^\rd— .See Poisom Bekpjes,

Jasmin!., Cape — -Set InwjGO Berry • »

Jas-mixe, FRE.Nca— -.ytc S"vvallow-Wout.' -

jasmime-tree: plumkrt:!.

Cl. 5, OR. 1. — Pentandria 'monogynia: Nat. or. — Contorts.
Tliiswas so named in honour of the celebrated Charles Pluniier, of Marseilles, whV
Cravelled in South America.

Gen. char. — 'Caly-x a small, bibntiy ilve-parted, perianth ; corolla one petaled^
funnel form; tube long, border five-parted, from erec t spreading; segments
ovate-oblong, oblique; the stianens are five a\vUshai)ed fiianicnts, from the mid-
dle of the lube, (very short, scarcely nsing.above.the calyx) ; anthers converging,
large, triangular; the pistil has an- oblong bifid germ, scarcely any style ; stigma
double-acuminate; the pericarp is two long ^cumniaie follicles, ventricose, bent
downwards, nodding,, one-celled, one- valved ; seeds numerous, 6hlong, inserted
into a larger ovate membrane at the base, imbricate. Two species are natives of
■Jamaica, both growing wild in the woods.

!. RUBRA. RED-.'

Nerium arborcum, Jo/to maxima cbtusiore, flor: incarnato. Sloane,'
V. 2, p. 61, t. 185 and '-86, f. 1. AihortSi-ens rainnli.'i cuissis,
Joliis oblongo ovatis, petiolis biglancluiis, Jioribus geminatis per
spicas lerminalesi Browne, p. 181. •

Lfeaves ovate-oblong ; petioles biglandnlar.
This tree rises from fifteen to twenty feet in height, having a- isuceulfent trunk and
bruM' hes, full of a milky juice, as are all parts of ilie tree. The bark of the branches
is of a dark dirty green colour, with sundry protuberances or marks, where the leaves
or branches have tallen off, - The hark of tlie main stem, which is a toot m diam^ ter in
old ucxs, is rough, woody, and, on luin^ 'Aounded, yields but a very small quantity
of sap. Tlic leaves cume out in clusters ai the ends of the branches, having a large
l»id-rib and many veins; they are six or eight inches long, and four or five broad,
evenly spread out, and stand on round petioles about two iiicnes long, which, as well
as the leaf, are stiff and erect. I'lie howers come out from among the leaves, on
strong jround peduncles, five or six inches long, vvhicii branch into many pedicels,
contauiing'the flowers, something in the form of a trident; the main peduncle again
bhoots up from the middle some inches, aiK! again branches imo pedicels of flowers. —
They are of a pale red colour, and shapeu like tuose oi' oleander, or rose-bay, and have
ao agreeaWe odour. Every part n very succulent and brittle, and broken 'jra aches '
readily take root and grow. From the ie.st wound in the branches, leaves, >. r tlower-
s^glk»^ its mUixJuice tiows very abundanily, and is said to be of a purgative nature.

2. AUiA,-

«38 H0RTU3 JAMAICENSIS. JEKUSALEas

2. ALT3.^. WHITE.

Nei'inm arhorcum altissimum, folio angitsfo, fare albo. Sloane, v»
2, p. 62. Artwvfscens raceun's tcnuijiah'bus pcdiaicidis hngis jiudis
incidentihus. Browne, p. 181.

This can hardly be called a species, for in no respect does it differ from the other
feiit in the colour of the corolla. The flowers grow in a similar manner, iind have an
asreealile smell ; the leaves are exactly the same, and produced in the same manner;
and there is no possibility of distinguishing; the two trees but by the colour of tlie,
flower.

vJERUSALEM TH^RN. t PARKIN.SONIA.

Cl. 10, OR. 1. — Pentandria mono^^ijnia. Nat. or. — Lomentacete.

This was so named in memory of John Parkinson, apothecary of London, author, of
some botanical werks.

Gen. char.— Calyx aone-ieafed perianth, at thCtbase bpJlTtsaaped, fiattigh, perma-»
nent; border live-parted; segments lanceolate-o\ ate, acute, coloured, reflex,
almost equal, deciduous; the corolla lias five petals with claws, almost equal,
spreading very much, ovate; the lowest kidney-form, claw upright, very .long ;
the stamens are ten filaments, awl. shaped, villose below, declined; anthers ob-
■Jpng, incumbeKt, the pistil has a round, long, declined, germ; stjde filiform,
rising the length of the stamens ; stigma blunt ; the pericarp is a very long round
legume, swelling over i he seeds^ like a necklace, acuminate; seeds several, one
to each joint of the Jc^ume, oblong,, sub-cyliudric, blunt. .There is only one
species.

, ACULEATA. -PRICKLY.

Aculcafa, foliaiis minutissiinis, pinnatis, penna longiori compressa — •
Browne, p. 222.

This is a smalLtree, with a trunk ten or twelve feet high, nnarmedj even ; branches
long, sub-divided, 'fiexuose, prickly, strict. Prickles two opposite, at the sides of

. the petioles, one. between them three times as long as the others, awl-shaped, upright.
Leaves alternate, in.fours from the same bud, pinnate, very long, linear. General
petioles linear, thicker at the base, flat, somewhat convex, spreading, very smooth ;
leaflets extremely small, on very short petioles, ovate, smooth. Racemes terminatmg
and axillary, solitary, shorter than the leaves, erect, (eight or ten) many-flowered ;
flowers alternate, scattered, yellow, on long peduncles ; the largest petal as it were
pedicelled, roundish, with blood-red streaks at the base; all the petals waved and
curled; filaments shorter by half than the petals, equal; anthers purple ; style ^hortJ
awl-shaped, a little ascending ; legume compressed a little ; seeds brown, smooth. — ■

..S'rt". The wood is white, leaves shinrng, racemes of flowers loose, simple, beautiful,
and smelling ver}' sweet. It is worth notice, that the leaflets or lobes drop from i\yi

. middle ribs, leaving them bare ; and that the flower spikes, depending from the tree,
cause the standard-like petal to be lowest, which would be reversed were the spikfs
upright. The peviantli has its base permanent, forming a kind of nectarium, but the

divisioni

>rw.i^ IIOHTUS JAMAICENSIS. -^9

(^visions of the petjaiith are reflected and deciduous. Browne says, " this shrub was
first iniiodiiied into .lamaica from the Maiuj but uow throws wild ia many parti. Itk-
seiUom rises above eigbt feet in lieight."

Jews Wallow — Sie Broom-Wf.ed.
Indian Ai(Row-RooT— .Vce Arrow-Root,

INDIAN creeper: ipomoea,.

Cl. 5, OR. X.-^Pentctndria menasynta. ' NaT. or. — Campanacea.

(S-EV. li.-iR. — Calyx a five-toothed oblong ]oeriaiith, very small, pennanent ; corolla
on -iK'taled, funnel-form;' tube siub-cyiindrjc, very long; border iivc-clefr,
spreading.;, divi.sions oblong, tiat ; ■ the stamens are five filaments, awl -shaped,
almo,st the length of ilie corolla, with roundish anthers; tjje pistil has a ronnlisii
germ, -a fililuvm. style, the length of the corolla, stigma headed, globose; the
pericarp a roundish capsule, three-celled, containing sub-ovate seeds. This geiuiS'
is nearly ;ill'.oJ to comoivulus, but dilTers from it in the lengthened tube of th*
torotiarand the heeided stigma. Eight species grow in Jamaica, as follow :

1. GUAMOCLir.

Foliis capiUaceis pinnatis, floribus ruheliis solitariis. Browne, p. ISSs?
Leaves pinnatifi J, linear; flowers sub^solitary. •

This is an annual plant, rising* vi-ith two oblong,' pretty broad, forked, two-nerved,'
seed-leaves, which remain a considerable time before they fall off; stems slender,'
twining and rising by support sevenos'oight feet,- sending out several side-branches,:
which twine about each other and the principal stem, or any neighbouring body. Th6
leaves are composed of several pairs of very fine narrow lobes, not thicker than seuing'
thread, having a fine mid-nb, tlie lowest lobe generally double, or having a leafv spur
rjnnexed to it ; the lobes are about an inch long, of a deep green, either opposite of
alternate. The flowe»-s come out singly (sometimes doubly) from the side of the stalks,
on slender peduncles, about an inch long; the tube of ths corolla is about the same
length, narrow at bottom, bat graduailywidening towards the top, where it spreads
open flat, with five angles ; it is of a most beautiful scarlet colour, and makes a fine
appearance. It is known by the name of Ba)i>adoes sweet-wiUiam. Browne calls it
tlie American jessamine, which is cultivated in mosfgard ns of Jamaica on account of
its beautiful flowers, and delicate, thick, minutely-dissected, foliage. It is also called
Indian pink, m- red bell-fiowercf America^ The root is said to be a strong pufge, in
(Jscoctjjn. This is a variety with beautiful white flowers.

2.<:occiNEa. ^ SOaHLET. "

Foliis cordatis pvoductioribus, tubo floris arvimfo, limbo crenato-^
Browne, p. 155.

Leaves cordate-acnminate, angular at the base ; peduncles many-flowered.
Slem herbaceous, twining, quadrangular, smooth, flexuoso ; leaves petioled, pen^-
i^^ular, smootli on both sides. - Peduncles verj' long, ajilkiry, upright, round, two. -

jyatcdj^

454 H OUT US JAMAICENSl-S. mcuV-

partod, bi fill, on one-fiowereii pedicels; flowers lon;^, scarlet, le'rgcr than those of
tlie first soil ; i;t!yx five-clei'i, uirli ianceolato segiiu'iits ; borvler of the corolla )i!aite(t',
sianiens loiitver than the corolla, anthers whitish ; germ superior, stigma marked with,
four lines; capsule four-ccllod, four-deeded; seeds solitar}', roundish-aiignlar, black.
— S'w. This is also an annual plant, growing to the same height. Tiie corolla is not
so deep colonrcdas that of the quainoclit -, and there is a variety with orange-coloured
flowers. Browne obsefvesj that it is reiisarkable for the curved ot arched figure, of the
tube of the corolla.

3. TUB EROS A. TUBEROUS.

'GotKolvfilus major hepiaphyUos, flore sulphiirco, odorato, apeciosis'
si.iiio. Sloane, v. 1, p. 152, t. 96, f. 2. Heptadactyla major scan-
dai^', flore mrjori campanulatp, calice, mcniibranaceo, seminibus
.Vhy'orihusvillofis. Browne, p. 155.

"Leaves palmate ; lobe§.in sey^n's, lanceolate,, acut^, qqite eritire ;^peduncles
" three-flowered.

This plant is chilled the seten-i^ear, m'Spunis/i arbour vine, and is thonght to have
been introduced from the continent. ' It is naturally a climber, and spreads to such an.
extent as to be carried over an arbour of three hundred feet in length from one root.
Tiie root is tuberous, »■< iai^ge as the human head, and sends forth a brown cornered
stem, which mounts the highest trees ; tiie branches are -numerous, as are the leaves,
which are as large as a hand, .smooth, and standing on long petioles ; they have seven
lobes, from whence it may probably have been called scvcn-curcd, instead of seven-
ycared, vine. The lobes at the base are shortest and narrowest, growing larger to the
iiist. Tlie pecUmcks are about three inches long, round, and green, many-flowered;
. the flowers are of a fine yellow ccloar,. and agieeable smell. Tiie capsule is about a.?
big as a Aval mil, aviembranaceoua,. shinmg-brown, with the capsular leaves sticking to
its base ;. it is two-celled, and iu each cell two black or dark brown seeds, one some-
times abortive ; tliey ^.re villose, triangular, with a roundish side. This plant is won-
derfully beautiful and fragrant when in flower, and very fit for arbours, as its thick
fuliage completely excludes tlie rays of the sun. Every part of it is purgative, ai^d
abounds with milk. . Biiiham supposes scammony might be njade from it.

4. BONA KOX. . GOOD NIGHT.

■ Corivolvulus viaximus, caule spimdis obtusis obsilo, flore albo, folio
hederaceo, aiiguioso._ Sbane, v. 1, p. 151, t. 96, f. 1. Siiiestris
foliis et Jloribus amplissimis, tubis jHoruni subteretibus. Bro\\ne,
p. 155.

Leave.^ cordate, acute, quite entire ; stem prickly ; flowers in threes ; corollas
undivided.

This is an annual plant, growing to a very great length, covering sometimes many
.trees, or the banks of rivers for many paces, having a round and reddish stalk, armed
vviih bbuit, herbaceous, short, variously shaped, prickles, winding: itself about any
thing it comes near, or creeping along tlie surface of the ground. At unequal distances
x;omo out, on petioles six inches long, smooth petioled leaves, four inches long, and
.as broad from ear to ear at the base, there being a sinus or hollow from the ears to the
point. Th^ Ljw^'fs are axillary, many, on peckiDcles an inch long j the tube of the
., " coiolfa

•^>-D?AH IIORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 40l

corolla is seldom less than fiom three to fonr inches in lenglii ; the bonier is white, five
inclies ui diameter, a little sinu.ited, and iias five green streaks On the outside. — Sloitiie.
Browne observes that this plant grows in great aljundance about the Ft-rrj^, Spanish
Town, and Sixteen Mile Walk, running- among bashes, and adorned witii large white
flowers. He also remarks, that the leaves, like those, indeed, of ail the species ol'co??-
•volrulas and. iponioea, are vers variable, l)eing sometimes of the form of a heart, and at
other limes lobed ; sometimes also the stem onl_y is prickly, at others hoth tiie stem
and peti, lies. The fruit is a juiceless berry, giobnb.r, one-celled; rind leathery, se-
perating' from the puip when ripe; within covered by a fine while memhiane, niarked
witri six longitudinal streaks ; the ptdp is fungous and snowy white, adhering to the
seeds, whieli are three or four, ovate, on one side convex with a groove, on the other
angular, perforated nerir toe base witli a large umbilical aperture ; they are smooth, olf
a pale testai^eous cold'ur. — -S^oant R Gfcj/iur.

5. VIOLACEA. VIOLET.

Convvlvului mujor, jotio -ubrofundo, jioi c aviplo, purpurea. Sloaue,,
V. I, |). io4, t. ys, 1. 1.

■ Leaves cordate, quite entire; fiowei's crowded ; corollas undivided.

The round grtten ^armu; Its or stalks of tins [)iant mount about any tree, shrub, or

■lieoge, to a great iieight, clothing them green with tlieir many branches ami leaves;
these are two lucnes aiida half long, and two inches broad at the round l)ase, from one
ear to me other, smooth, yellowish green, on petioles an inch and a quarter in length.
Tne flowers are of a p:;ie purple colour, very large, beli-shap.;d ; capsule brown, hav-
ing above five valves, four round protuberances, and in each oi tiiem a large iriangular,
smooth, solid, wimish-br-)wn, seed. It grt)ws every wuere on liedges and dilclics in
moist lands. Hernandez says the decoction is purgative, made of the green heri), and

■ taken in the morning. — Sloane.

6. TlilLOBA. T 11 RF,.F.- LOBED.

Convolvulus folio hederaceo, anguloso, /tore dilute purpiinv. -doanc,
v. 1, p. 155.

Leaves three- lobed, cordate; peduncles three-flowered.

This s liJs forth several stems from the same root, which is oblong, deep, and laiye;
the stalks are roun ., reddish, three or four feet long, trailing on the surface of the
.ground. The leaves are on two inches long petioles ; an inch and a half or two inches
lo;)g from the centre of the petioleto the opposite point, and as much from end to end
of the sections at the base ; being three-lobed, the lobe oppositi- the footstalk longer
-an i s, warper than tiie otiit-rs. The flower has a half-inch long footstalk, and of a purple
Goiour. It grows m great quantities in the Red Hills.

7. PES TIGRIDIS. TIGER'S-FOOT.

Convolvulus pentaphyllos, finre pallidc flavesceiife, caule hirsuto, pun^
gm'-e. Sloane, v. 1, p. 15.'. 1 irsufa repens minor pentaphylla,
loliis ohlon^is leviler crenatis. Browne, p. 155.

Leaves jralmate ; flowers aggregate.

The root is oldon- and tuberous, of an ash-colour, from which rises a purple stem,
"■fcranched out into others, very tough, and purple, taking hold and climbing upon any

Fff plant

402 HORTUS J A'M AI C EX S I S.- »d;a».

plant it camcs noar. The stems are covered with lonsr hairy prickles, which arclrouhle-
some, like tliosc of cow itch. At about two indies distiince come out tlie flowers and
leaves; th'e latter on three-fourths of" ai> inch long petioles,. :md -are di\iilcd into five '
sections from the centre: the section opposite the petiole is ul>oiit-an inch long ; the
rest are shorter, in proportion to their being near the l;asc; they are all smooth, aid
of a pale green colour. The flowers are axillary, on two-inch IcHig footstalks ; thev are
sm'aK, of a pale yellow colour, having a green calyx. The capsules are round, fonr-
celiec!', haviiig one brown hairy seed in each, triangnlar, round on one side, and flat ,
on the others. It gn;\vs in savannas and river sides jjlentifully. — Sleane.

8. PARVIFLORA. SMALL-FLOWERED.-

C-onvohuhiS' pentaphylios minor, fiore purpi/reo.. Sloane, v.- 1, p.
153, t. 97, f. 1.

Leaves cordate, fivc-lobwl, palmate ; Umbels airiUar^', peduncled ; calyxes anJ
capsules h.airy.

This has a small stringy root, which •'ends -up a round purple stalk, winding about '
unv thing near it, and rising two feet high. The leaves are purplish-green, five-lobcd,
almost to the petioles, looking like papaw leaves. The flowers are axil'ary, and oi -^
'pleasant purple colour j the capsules are round, brovvn, membranaceous. — Slojne.

INDIAN CRESS.. TROPA;OLU.\r.-

Cl. 8, OR 1. — Octandriatnonogynia. Nat. or. — Tripelat^p.

Gen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed, five-cleft, perianth, from upright spreading, acute,
coloured, deciduous; tiie two lower segments narrower : horned at the back v\)tti
an awl-sliaped, straight,, longer nectary; the corolla has five petals, roundish,
inserted mto the divi.'iions of tlie calyx ; two upper sessile, the others lower, with
oblong-ciiiate claws; stamens eight awl-shapea filajneivts, short, declining, un-
txjual ; anthers erect, oblong, rising ; the pistil has a roundish germ-, three-iobed,
striated ; a simple erect style, the length of the stamens, and a trifid acute stigma^
the pericarp is chree nuts or berries* somevvhat solid, on one side convex, grooved,
and striateii, on the otiier angular ; seeds three, gibbous on one side, angular on
tije otlier, roundish^ grooved, and striated. Two species have been introduced,

1. MAJus. large.
' Faliis sub-quinquelohis pe/fafis, petalis ohtush. Browne, p. 207.'
Leaves peltate, repLind ; petals obtuse.

The root is small, oblong, and divaricated ; the stem slender and weak, trailing on
the ground, . unlass supported. The leaves stand siugiy at the joints, on long pedicels,
which are reddish, slender, and tortile, and inserted into the middle of the leaf, in a
]ieliate manner. The form of the leaf inclines to round, but slightly sinuated into five
lubes. 7'he fl)wer |)edicels are axillary, long, slender, contorted ; the flower is large,,
of a very beautiful yellow colour, intermixed with red streaks. There is a variety of
both sj>ecies, with yellow flowers. The fruit consists of three berries or nuts, becom-
ing jmcelcas wiieu ripe,, fungous, deeply grooved, and v.riuUed, gibbous on one sidcj-

angulas

vlWuiAM HORTUS JAMAICENST?. 403

■ angular on the other, naiTOwing- upwards, of a dirty white colour. Seeds soljlary, of
an o'Dloiig spiieroidal form, but wrinkled by age, shaped us tiie' berry is externally, rii-

■ fescent, terminated at top by the umbilical chard. The ilowers of this, as well as the
other species, are frequenily eaien in Fallads. isaving a warm spicv, agt-eeable taste
lik'j garden cress. B\ distillation with water they impregnate the Hui I with ttieir smell
and Havour; anj are considered as an agreeable warm antiscorbutic Being very beau-
tiful, til.' fluwers and leaves are often used for the ]3urpose of garnishing dishes. Tho
plant itself is a great ornament, when trained to run on walls or fences, which it will
do CO a considerable distance. The seeds are said to make a good pickle, resembling
capers. The flowers ha-.e been observed to emit electric sparks towards evening. Tlio

' Frencli call it le grandc cupucme.

2. MINUS. SMAIX.

Leaves peltate, sub-re;pand, mucronate; petals acute.

This plant is smaller than the other, which distinguishes it, as well as, the points a<)
tlit cop of the petals, and at the en is of the nerves in the leaves It is also a trailing
and ornamental plant; the leaves almost circular, smooth, greyish ; flowers axillary,
on long peduncles, the same colour and half the size of the former.

INDIAN CURRANT-BUSH. MELASTOMA

0,1.. 10, OR. 1. — Dccandria monogi/nia. Nat. or. — Calijcanthemcp.

This was so named from two Greek words signifying black and a mouth, as the pulp
«f the fruit blackens the mouth on eating it.

Gen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, bell-shaped, ventricose at the base, four
or five-cleft, permanent; the corolla has four or five petals, roundish, inserted
into the throat of the calyx ; stamens eight or ten, inserted into'the calyx, short;
anthers long, somewhat curved, upright, one-celled, gaping at the top, with aa
oblique hole; scalelets two, very small, diverging, annexed to each filament below

•the anther, the ruchment of another cell ; the pistil has a roundish germ, in the
belly of the caljTv ; style filiform, straight-, stigma bluirt, or headed; the peri-
carp a berr}', two, three, four, or five-celled, wra]3ped up in tlie calyx, roundish,

■ crouned with a cylindric rim; seeds very manj-, nestling. No less than thirty-two

.species of tins numerous family of plants have been discovered in Jamaica, and it

^s supposed many more may be found.

STheJoUowingMre ten-itamencd, with three-nerved leaves :

1. HOLOSF.RICEA. VELVET.

'Crossuhin'ir Ji ucru arbor viaxiina non spinosa malahathri folio integr^
minore suh/usjerrugiiieo. Sloane, v. 2, p. 85, t. I;i6', f. 2. ./Ir-
torescens, Joliis ovatis subtus cino'^is, racemis ttrminatricitus, fio-
ribiu majcribus. Browne, p. 219.

Leaves entire, three-nerved, sessile, ovate-acute, villose- silky ; racemes bra-
ciuate ; branches two-parted ; stem acutely-quadrangular.
Stem shrubby, rough-haired, with membranaceous corners. Leaves cordate at the
"■Qaase, acuminate, whuish underneath, nine-nerved, with three thicker;, racemes op-

F f f 2 posite,

404 IIORTUS JAMAICENSl^ Jr^B*SM»

posite, siib-divule.l, w'nh a r.essileflower in the foilsings,_the last pedicels three- flovv-
ertd. Corollas iaa.»r large; c;'.l>x oblong, five-clctc ; segments lanceolate-ai-nie ;
pi tals five, oh-ovate, roiimliih, blunt, spri-ading, longer thnn the seume.iUs of the
■calyx, violet purple ; filaments ten, the length of the corolla, filiform, purple; authors
very long, sickle-shaped; germ oblong ; stvleloug, curved; stigma tbickish ; fruit a
a berrv. — Su;.

2. , SCANDENS. . CLlMBIXn.

Minima scandevs, santieiJo tauii, foliis guinquenerviis ovatis ciliatis-
oppositis. Browne, p. 2'_'0.

I eaves three-nerved, toothletted, ovate, acute, smooth; raceme terminating;
spikes mostly pointing one way ; stem flinil)ing._ — is'. ■
3. AClNODFXDllOX.

FoL'is ampi'ssimi.s suh/us ferrui^ineis, racein>s terminatricibus.—^
Browne, p. 219..
Leaves tooihlt tied, Vvith three nenes or tliereaboutSj ovate-acute.
Browne calls this the large leafed foxy mclastoma^.

4. SESSILIFOLIA. LEAVES SESSILE* .

' J^oliis amplicrihus, per petivlum rtcurn niitnis ct contractis ; /ascicidts ■
J/oiuin spursii. Browne, . p. 2 1 9, t. i;4, f. 1, 2,
Leaves quite entire, triple-nerved, spatulate, ses.->ue, tomentose underneath,

Browne cans this tiie large leaf id jnelastoi/ia, uiiji the flowers disposeU in scattered,
tufts.

5. QUASItANGULARl-. FOUR-A>-GLED.

Leaves thrr e-nervecl,. entire, ovate-lanceolate, smooth ; nerves coloured j
branches quadrangular ;. raceme straight, terminating. — Sit).

6. ORNATA. ADORNED.

Leaves three-nerved, entire, rigid, hispid above with close pairs, hoary white
below ; umbel four-parted, terminated by small flowers ; cajisule liispid^

1. TRINERVIA.. THREE-NERVED.

Leaves three-nerved, v^ithout any marginal nerve, oblong, atteniiated at the
base and tip, entire, smooth on both sides, thinner; racemes almost termin->
aiing ; flowers sessile. — Sxv..

8. RAMIFLORA.. FLOWEU-BRANCHED.
Leaves three-nerved, entire, ovate-lanceolate, somewhat mgged ; branches
flowcr-uearing; flov\ers jjeduncled, somewhat clustered. — i>-u).

9. PRASIiNA. GREEN.

Leaves triple- nerve -1, quite entire, bruad-lanceolate, smooth ; panicle termin-
ating, sprtai.ling very uuch. — Sw-
Trunk four inches in thanitter, a. id five or six feet high, with a whitish, soHd, com-
pact, wti;t.i LiuiicLta foud iwj^s froBm tiie top, long, foiu'-coruered; leares pale

green^

fKDUU SIORTUS- JAMAl-CENSIS. 46S"

green, slightly toothed at the edge, ending in a point, five-nerveJ, nerves red.—
tlo^ers \crv Kip.ali ; pcuus'the, v.liito; ten filumuuts j beny L)lue, smali, not vcry^
su«tuicntj Itiur or livc-ceiicd. — Aubttt^

10. PROCERA^ TALU *

Stem arl oreous ; leaves three-nerved, somewhat tooth-letterf, smooth ; racemes---
tfriiiuiatiiig ; spikes simple, erect ; cuiyxes truncate.— ia^

1 1. RIG'DA. •mow.

Leaves thne-ncrvr 1, senievvbat tooth-letted, smooth ;^ rateme terminating j-
spikes sir iple, erctt; calyxts truncated. — j'a',

3 2. MONTANA. arOtJNTAIK.

lieavcs tki-ee- nerved, tooth-letted, ohiong, acute, smoothish ; raceme tcrminw-
ati;ig with patulous' spikes ; petals retuse ; calyx truncated.

13; PATENT-, SPREAl>IKG.

Leaves three-nerved, somewhat tooth-lctteJ, cordate, hirp-ite; raceme termiHj*^
ating, patulous; fioAvrs distinct, iweivc-stamened. — Sw.

Thejollowing are 1tn-stai}!entd, 'sHtlifve -nerved leaves:

14. LEVIGATA. SMOOTH.

Fruf'ro'^a mivcr, fol'i^ ttnuihus ovalis, raccr.iis ferminalibus.~-=^
Browne, p 219.

EcaTCS quite entire, five-ncive:f, cvatc-oblong, k\2galcd, acuminated, ever?-
about the edge.

This is an u|>right%hruh, the height of a man, v/.th a sTiOv^th eyeh ' steni ; tranches "
trpriulit, troni round, angular, smooth, and tvcn. - L l^ms petioled, opposite, and
di'cusbated, ^anceobte-ovatc, snuoth on outi sides, very thin, sometirties wrmk.'ed a
Utile undcrnt-ati), somewhat sliining, deep grct n. Racemes tcrmmatiu •;, comj) )i:na,
ei'ect, panicled ; bra;iciies opposite', decussate!; hrar.ch'ets also opposite ; flowers
clustered, on short pcviicels, wliite, small ;.caiyxsuperi.ir, fi\'v -Uwthed, teeth blunt,
short; petals five, inserted below the teeth, si'b-sessile, rounui.A, entire; fi!j"ients
ten, fixed to the calyx below the petals, longer than tfte oroUa, knee-jointed ^ anthers
erect, pc-foi-ai-ed at the top ; germ lonn J.ish; .'ityle erect, longer than the siamei^s ;
stigma thickisli, truncate-, concave; berry rounlish, at fi' *i w'lite, tiien Miie, and at
ieii^t.i black, five-celled, witii a ver\ dark blue juice. — iw. lirowne cutis thisparti--
culariy tue Jndian.curi ant- tret. .

15. TAMONEA. '■

Orosaulariafrurtu arbor matiira non spivnsa v.alcbnlhrifiMo integr*-
nnnorc subtus ciibido, jruciu niijore. Sloane, v. 2, p. S-i.

Leaves five-n, rved, oblong, lanceolate, acute, enure, tomentose, hoprv nn-
derneaiu ; raceuK-s comj)JunU, termiuating ; raceuiciets brachiaie ; biacte&
ill jiairs, under the flo.vers.

This is a middle sized tree, with a trunk as thick as one's thigh, having a rus«et-
oiouced Liirk, auu wuitc brittle wood. JaiuutUes long, sub-Uiyicicd, jsquatf -. leayes

.4QQ HORTUS JAMAICENSIg. .VsTnii*

Jerussatcti, yellowish -green above, slighUy dpwny andt^iwjiy untlerneath, sis or swon
; inches long, and three wide.

16. ALBICANS. ■ WHITE.

Leaves five-ncived, entire, ovate, acute, smooth above, toms, ntose, nhnish,
ferruginous underneath; racemes terminating, erect; tiovjers clu^tcrt■d,
.isessile. — Sw.

17. ARGENTEA. GOLDEN.

Grossulari^e friictu arhor ■maxima non .tpinosa, inalahatjirifelio 'raxi-
:fno nwfloio, ort ruccnwao ulbo. Sloane, v.?, p- ''•+, t. IfS, t 1.

Xeaves five-nerved, somewhat tooth-ietted, ovate, smpotli, lomentose ;.nd
wiiite unuerntath ; panic les toniiinaiing, spreading.

This has a trunk as tiiick as the titiinan thign, with a russet-coloured, aliDpst smooth

^ark, very stn.ignt, an^i twenty feet higli. Branches ana twigs opposite, scjnare;

ileaves sessue, a toot and a nail' long, and hah as broad in tiie middle, ver^ greeji

above, ivnite tjencath, and Biuooin, haying five large ribs. The fiowers are in spikes,

jand white. — Sloane.

as. HIRTA. ROUGH-HAIRED.

.-Grossulari^c J ructu 7ion spinosa, ir.aiabathri foliis longa et rujfa lanu-
ginc hirsutis, Jriicfu majore ccetulco. Mo.me, v. 2, p. >-, t. 197,
i, 2. Uirsuta foliis cordatis rettculalis scabris, Jioribus laxe race-
mosis ad alas. Browne, p. 219.

Leaves tooth-letted, five-nerved, ovate-lanceolate; stem hispid.

i"Stem shrubby, a fathom in Jieight, covered with russet-coloured long hair;' branches
^ferruginous, hispid. Leaves ovate, or ovate-lanceolate, acuminated, tooth-letted,
.wrinkled, soft, vety iiairy ; petioles longish, rouiu!, hirsute • tiowers axillary and
termiiiiiting, largish; peduncles very short, aggregate, (three or four) idrsute ;, caly'x
five cleft, hirsute, with biooJ-red hairs; segments ovate, augmenteii l^ehindwith
linear, acute, erect, hirsute, segments; petals five, ovate, white ; filaments ten, in-
serted into the calyx within, short; auihers oblong, bifid; germ ovate; style tlrlck,
.round; stigma blunt, concave ; berry clothed antt crowned by the calyx', hirsute,
Jjlue, five-celled, almost as big as a natmeg. — Sw. Piso says that tl:e powder of the
Staves is goodfor nlcers,- and that soap is extracted from the beiTies.

^ 19. ELATA. , lUGII.

JLeaves five-nerved, serrate, tooth-letted, oblong, coriaceous, ferruginous ta-
mentose underneath ; panicles terminating, spreading ; dowers sessile. — Su:,

2,0 FRAGILIS. FH.iGILE.

Leaves serrate, five-nerved, netted; i-acemes with sessile flowers, all directed
one way.

This is a stiffish shrub ; leaves on short petioles, ovate-, five-nerved, even, serrate,
filiate, netted, very brittle ; raceme terminating, brachiace ; racemeiets trifid, flori-
4"er* 'US from the base ; dowers directed one way, upright; anthers in the iiottom ol the
^mOiiK us, ten ; iruiis larger, globular, like peas, smootii, with an excavated umbi-
Jijcus ; siiialle:- with the umbilicus closed by live scales*

JV

tW'lAU HORTUS JAl^lAICENSTS. 407

Thf/ollou-'ing are eight stamened, n'if/i thrct-ncrred leaves :

21. SCABROSA. RUGGRP.

Siib-hirsula, foliis cordu.is scabris, niint!*is''i)?ip denticuhtis ct pulchre
reticu/al^i ractiiu's vilnoribits akiribus. Ciowiie, p. 2 ID, t. 24,
f. 3.

Leaves triple- aorved, tooih-Iettcd, ovate, rugged, hirstite; ilowers axillary,
aggregate, sessile, eight stameiii.' 1.

Stem shrubby, scarcely a fathom in height, branched, hirsute; branches erect,
round, hirsute; leaves large, sub decussated, ovate, artenuuted, b'unt, toothleited,
triple-nerved, rng^^ed, with papiUas, whicli ttrminate in a hrair, and' are ex-avated
underneath, hirsnte-tonientose ; petioles l"ng, loose, round, tlrick, hirsute; (lowers
axillary, very much clustered, sessile, extremely minute, -whi,tisb-red ;,. calvx tbur-
cleft, pur|)le, hu-sute, with the hinder segments awi-slriped, minute; petals four,
scarcely iartJ,er than the caiyx, lanceolate, acute, spreading, white ; fiianients longer
than tne corolla, knee-j<Tinii >1 ; anthers liueai', acute, g>rm intVrior, covered by the
calyx; st.le columnar, thickish ; stigma blunt ; berry minute, ronn.'ish, surrounded
and crowned by the calyx, hirsuie, rufous, tour-celled. Nativa ol the colder mo ui^ •
taijis ; flowenii^.in November and December. — Sw.

22: liUBEKS. RtDPiSH,

Foliis ovaiix nitidis minalissime dcnticulatisy. tenis-et ramulis ptirput-
rusce/i/ihtis. Bruv\ne, p. i2iy.

Leaves three-nerved, tooth- etteu, ovate-Lnceolate, acuminate, very smooth;
branches anJ petioles coloured ; raceme terminating ; flowers clusteredy.-
dioecious- — SziK .

Browne calls tliis the smooth leav^^d melastoma, with purple' veins, which grovvs iij
file coUcst mountains oi' Liguanea..

J ;. FASC1CULARI3. BUNDLED.

Le-ives three-ner%'ed, entire, ovate-acute, I'uggei ; branches flawer-bcaxing j
dowers shortly peduncled, ciusiered. — Sw.

24; PORPUilASCEN'S, PURPLE.

Lo:'.vf?^ three-nerved, entire, obiong-, acute, striated, very s-nooth ; ntcemea-
lut£iul, patulous; flowers diaiinct. — Suk

25. niRTELLA, Pr.l'Ga-HAlRFn,

Leaves, three-nerved, hispid at the edge ; peduncles very short, axil!::.ry, tliree.
tlovvered. — Sw.

2(^. IIIRSUTA. S!IAGGY.

Ij2aves tbref-nerved, somewnat tooth-letted, broa i-lanceolpte, attenuatecTj .
uusme ; paduiicles axillary, tiiree-llowered, divaricated. — Sw.

27. GLABRATA. SMOOTM.

t^aves three-nerved, jomewhat tooth-letted, ovate-acute, sajoothj-coriaseous ;
aeuuacitfs-torajiiuicLigiL solitary, oiie-flv>rt'ered.—- -i'a'.

403 ■ H0RTU3 J AM A I C EN SI S. .Tdl^jt

28. MIGRANTHA.

Leaves three-nerved, tooth-lotted, oblong, acute, smooth ; raremes axillarj'.

reclining ; flowers acuminate — Ak',

29. VIRCATA. TWUiCV.

•ieaves tri pie- n erved, . entire, ovate-lanceolate, at'uminate, very smooth;
branches flower-bearing ; racemes decussate-.i, diffused, scattered. — -S'a\

30. TETRAXDRA. - TOUR-STAMENED.

'Leaves three-nerved, entire, ohlong, acunnnate, emarginate at tiie bas^, i
smooth, somewhat convex ;. raceme erect, terminating; tiowers four-sta-
ir.ened. — Szp.

The Jolloxolng are eight stamcned, with five-nerved lea-jct: •

31. DISCOLOR. TWO-CO U. D.

:Grossularia- fructu non sjn?iosa, rnalai)a/hn Joli.s subtus niveisfrue^t
.raceiiioso m innhcUa, moduui disposHo. Slo^me, v'. 2, p. 86, ,t.
198, f 1.

■This rises ten or fifteen feet high, having asii-coioure 1 bnmches ; leaves- peti(>Ied,
cpjiosite, six inches long, and one and a half broad, gret'n aiiovt", white below, aiVd
very pretty. Racemes br^ncbed, tcnnentose, tern. mating in pairs; tiower:> small, void
ot-cent, yellow. Tlie fruit stands in an umbel at top, flat,_aud somewhat like eld,er

,J*erries. ' , '' "' ■ ,

32. riLOSA. HAIRY.

** Leaves flve-nervecJ, tooth-letted, oblong, acute, hirsuteunderneath \ racemes
lateral, hirsute.

'This large genus of planfs has not yet undergone, sufHcient examination ; there are
-(Sixiy-seven species known, «hich perhaps further discoveries may distinguish into
seperate genera; it is disting-uishe! from rhc.ria principally !)y the fruit, wbich. ui the
fonrer, is a. berry, in the liiit r a cajisuie- -J/a//y«. Tiii^ above enumerated species
g^re )'.)und scattered in different places over thu uiiole of Jamaica. Bnyvvn^^ ob-crves,
that i :.e leaves of all the species he knew were furnished ivith from tiiree v> five veins,
that run in an arclied form from tiie footstalk to the top ; and the spaces between these
,^re beautifully neirved or areolated.

INDIAN FIG, OR PRICKLY PEAR. . €ACTUS.

Cl. 12, OR. 1. — Icosandrianionogynia. ^at. on.-r-.VucculentiV.

jGen. char.— Calyx a one-leafed perianth, imbricate, hollow-tnbniur, with- sa^

leaflets scattered over it, superior, deciduous; the ror:)lla iias Juiivierous petals,

rather obtuse, broad, the outer ones shorier,^ the iiiin r longer, converging: the

st^initns are numerous subulate filanifrit^, r.tserted i no the < ai) .\,^ mth -j; long'

,.i^fict anthers ; the pistil has an inferior germ, a cyiindric style, tlie length oi the

.statiieo^

tKDiAN HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. ^ 409

stamens, and a headed nniltifid stigma; the pericarp is a rather ohlong berry,
one-celled, nmbiiiciite, rough-eared as the calyx is ; t.i'e.'is miiaerous, roundish,
smull, nestling. Eleven species are indigenous to Jamaicj.

I. OPliNTIA.

Opuntia major, folio ohioiigo, rahtndo, spinis lougissimis ct valulisat-
7nis confcrtim nascent ibiis,ob.iito, Jiore lutco. Sloane, v. •_', p. 14!',
t. 224, f. 1. Brachiatus et articulatus, ar/iculis hvalis couipnssis,
aculeis longissimis confertis. Browne, p. 237.

Proliferous-jointed, loose; joints ovate; spines setaceotis.

The roots are two or three feet long, tapering, and white. Above ground there ir?
no stalks, but leaves growing out of the sides or tops of one another, six or seven feet
high. Each leaf is about a foot in length, nine inches broad, an inch thick, of a lively
sea-green colour, very full of a mucilaginous or viscid juice, of an oblong nnindish
shape, and beset very thick on both sides with tufts of inch-long, white, crooked, and
slender, prickles, four of them usually in the same tuft. With these prickles come
out small leaves in knots, which fall off in a short time. At the bottom there is also
much prickly down, which, on being handled, enters the skin, and is very difficult to
be got rid oil'. The leaves frequently trail upon the ground, shooting out fresh roots,
and extendmg to a considerable distance. As the tree rises in height the under leaves
become more round, lose their prickles, become of an ash colour, and put on the ap-
pearance of a trunk. The leaves when fallen off, and cleared of their outward mem-
brane, and pulp, shew a delicate reticulated texture, made by the nerves and fila-
ments, variously branched, like the racquette used by tennis players, whence the
plant received the name of ra(]uette from the Frendi. The flowers come out at the
upper edges, and sometimes the sides, of the leaves, which are broad, consisting of
jnany leaves, like those of the rose, of a yellow colour; the fruit augments till it attains
•the size of an ordinary fig, when it turns from green to purple, heart-shaped, and
prickly, the prickles scarce perceptiijle; at its top there is a cavity where the flower
-stood. The small prickles are also thickly set round that part of the leaf on which the
flower stands, like a cup.- Under the skin of the cavity at top is a round substance, '
like the rowel of,a spur, which must be taken out before it be eaten. Und'.T succulent
jnembranes lie the seed and pulp. The Seeds are very many, roundish, .flat, sinuated,
-v'lth several impn-Ksions on them irregularly figured, and white, lying in a purjile, in-
.odorous, sv.'eet, pulp, which dyes whatever it touches of the same colour ; and, when
eaten, communicates a bloody colour to the forces and urine. This plant sometimes
/Sweats out a mucilaginous gum, recommended by the Spaniards as good for the s-tone.
— It may be propagated from the seed or leaf, and grows plentifully in almost
.every part of Jamaica; growing on the barrenest soils, and on the tops of decaying
walls. It is sometmies used for making fences, which, from the nature of its prickles,
it is well adapted for, as no animal will attempt to break through them. The leaf
ofthisphmt, cleared of its prickles, and baked under embers, in wet paper or a thin
leaf, is reckoned better tiian any other maturative cataplasm in cleaning ulcers, or in
.aposihu.nes, swellings, or fresh wounds ; or they may be ap]ilietl pounded ami boiled
with hogs. lard. The clear juice of the rtT-asted leaf is also very detersive and cle.msing
for sores. When siplit, beaten soft, and applied, the leaves are said to cure the crab
yavKS. The young leaves art sometimes used by tlie negroes instead of ochras, for
^whicii they are 110 bad substitute. The fruit i.s of an astringent nature, and not nn-

G g g pleasant

410 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. m7>uw

])<o?^aiU taste, Imt should be eaten sparingly, as it is apt to I)incr tlie body. If one of
UK- tiift:; of prickles be cut off, and the largest licld by llie point before the inoutli,
with :! sufldcn blast of brealb, the small downy ])ricldes about its root will be sent off,.
r, 'j lighting (Ml any one jie;;:-; will even work their way through the elothes to the-
suil;, toi'meating tieavly as iiuich as cowitch. — Sloaiic, isc.

2. COeilRXIUFIT.R. COCHINEAIj.

Opinilia viaxima, folio ohlongo rotundo majore, sjiiiuilis ohfusis, i)tol~
libiis (7 ill jioct'u films ohsilo, fiore striis nihris varfci^iifo. Sloane,
V. 2, p. 152. Bracifialiis at articutatus suhiitermis major, articidls
ohlmtiiis ct Icnifer roDipressin. Browne, p. 237.
Proliforoiis-jcinteil ; joints ovate-oblong, almost unarmed..

This, which i.s supposed to be the sort on which the cochineal insect feeds, i . in all.
respects similar to the former; but it grows higher, eight cr nine feet from the ground,
and all its i)ar;s pro[)ortionately larger. This lias no jirickles, but, instead of them,,
small oblong protulK'i'aiices. The llowcrs are streaked wiih red or purpje. Tlie fol--
lowing observations^ on the abo^e twospecies of I'actus, are from Long's History of
Janjaica :

" There are several varieties of this ])lant in .Tamaica; but the s])ecies I shall parti-
cularly refer to, are ^vhat is called the prickly/ pear, vvitli broad fleshy leaves, dotted
vith spikes; and the cochineal ('(.-(//w, whose ie;'.ves- are larger, more succulent, and-
fVi e from spikes. The former sort is abundant in all the south-side ]>arts of the island,
growing in dry, hot, rocky, situations, and in very sleiile soils ; the other seems not
to be a native, and requires a better soil ; but although this is probably the INIexicaa
plant, called bv some opuntia maxima,^- it is certain that the cochineal is found upoi>.
l)oth species indiil'erentl}-. It is well known that diese plants bear a succulent fruit or.
beny at the extremities of their leaves, filled with a j aice of a delicate red colour, and.
agreeable taste. This juice is the natural food of the cochineal insect, which owes to
it tlie value aad property it possesses as a dye in some ol our principal nianufacrures.—
The cxuvire and animal salts of the insect are, from the minuteness of its [nu'ts^ inse-
perable from J;he essential principles of the dye ; whence it fodows, that such a hete--
rogeneous mixture mtist necessarily destroy the brilliancy of cohnir inherent to the-
^uice of this I'niit; and that die juice itselt, which alone contains the dying principle,
must, if unmixed and brought to consistence, yield a ti'ue jxirfect colour, lively and
brilliant, as we find it m its natural stale.

" Upon this hypothesis, Mr. David lliz, an ingenious gentlsman of Kingston, in.
this island, proceeded in several experiments,, to obtain fnjin die ])lant- artificiallv,
what nature acci)mi)lished. in the insect, and at lengdi happily succi>eded by inspissat-
ing the juice ; but the means he used are not yet communicated to the public. En-
coiu'agetl b\- this discovery, he wi'nt to England with seventy-six processes, diticrentlv
iiKuiufactured, to try which would answer best as a substitute to die cochineal. Aiter

" X<itliov tlic Iciif nor fiiiit of tliis spcrits li;ivr any p^o^^Ip. Tlic flowers aie of a very boantifiil tc\ or
crinisiiii. Tlii.s is pciiiM-.illy ciillici tlie true cncli'ti:—'. phiiif. Tlie insert that fecil* upos it Is of ;i silvery e»-
Innr, larger, more p!innj>. iiU'I yit'Uls a irrrater qn^ntity of the <lye. Tlie <!it]'ei-cnee in point of "goodness, ob-
servable ill tlie eoeliiiieisl, .is entirely owiii;; to tlic plant it fcoil.s upon. The priekly plants, so ahiniilant in
Juniaiea, arc eovereil with the same species ot* insect; l)nt, not bcin;; the proper foo.l for it, ^ve iiml it iu.
general iliminiitive, liavinu %eiv lit<tle red ti letiire in its hoiiy. I have scca sevctil of tlie true COcUiiieal
plauts, growing iu Lungville Gaideu, in the parisU at" Claifudon. .

•xouN HORTUS JAMAICENStv«!. All

a giciit nvjniber of experiments, lie found one process Mliirli (■•I'.-.r.iur.caU'd ;i ci-iin^j;!
Tolour t( tiik and wool, siijJOfior to lliiit given hy cochineal ; lri,.l> c.f v. hicu weiv nia-U?
before a Tuimber of tlie principal dyers in and about London, at li;e nuiseiun of u-.i'
Ko^-al i?oeiety, invited there for tliat jnirpose. Hc-also fonnd two other proeessv.-,
wiuci; jM'dmised, with very little alteration in their nianufac'ujiv, to allbrd the colour-
inakini^ d ,cs of scarlet and purple. lj[)on a moderate calculaii^Mi it was found, that lus
colour would go further than three times the ijuantity of cOchineal, which he aecoinited
for by remarking, that there is a great part of the insect, as its skin, &c. which alYor»ls
lia dye, but that the whole of his process was genuine colour, wiihhttio or no im-
purity.

" Notwithstandinii- the aclvantaues that miirht he dei'i\'eil 'to the nation iVom this
gentleman's discovery, lu; met, upon the wh(jle, with very little encoin-agenunt tu
prosecute his manufacture further. It was said, that " our conuiieree with .Spain
would be liurt by it;" for tliis very reason it ought to have been encouraged. I am u
stranger to the annual importation of cochineal from the Sjxiniards, but the qnantky
must certainly be very considerable, as it is so largely consumed in our fabrics and me-
dical compositions ; but whatever the quantity may be, it is evident that the process
dihcove-red by JNir. Uiz gave [jromise of rendernig the imjjortatiijn of that article wholly
unnecessary; and as his colour, weight for weight, was found to gotuiiher in dying
fabrics, than tljrice the quantity- of c(jchineal, a great saving would be made by the
^ij-ers themselves, and then- fabrics would be atforded at a cheaper rate, all which
'makes in favour of the national balance of trade. There is no doubt but the inventor,
for a competent reward (of which be is well deserving), would have j)nblKlied the
secret of his process ; thousands of acres now waste in .Jamaica might be cultivated with
Mhis plant, with little trouble oi" expence 5 and a quantity obtained answerable to the
home demand.

"• The fruit of this plant (the opiiiitiaj, eaten when it is ripe, is said to chock fluxes
by its mild restringency ; it is also a powerful diuretic, and sometimes imparts a tinge
to the urine ; which furnishes a proof that the juice is not always altered with respect
tto the principles of its dye, by the animal salts and fluids with which it has to encouBtcr
in its secretion through tliu bod\ .

" Modern discoveries have shewn a chemical method of ordering tlie cochineal dye,
so as to retain a very great brilliancy of colour.

■" Drebel, a Dutch chemise, hrst invented the process of obtaining from cochineal,
by means of a solution of tin in aqua rcgia, a bright and solid scarlet, exceeding in
beauty and lustre any before produced. This, however, -answered only for woollen
stuffs. Monsieur Macquer discovered lately the method ofdyin^- silks, and cottons,
or linen, in ecpial perfection, by a slight variation in the common |)rocess. He first
dipped a piece of silk into a satiirated solution of tin in aqua regia, somewhat weakened
by tlie addition of a quantity oi water, so small as to produce no pre -i|)iiati(;ii of the
earth or the metal. Having expressed the liquor from the silk, luid afterwards wa-shod
■it in water, in order to free it from any superfluous part of tne solution, he dipped it
•into a decoction of tlie cochineal, quickened (as is usual in'the dyeing of woollen cloths)
V'iih a small quantity of cream of tartar. The silk immediately took a full bright colour,
which resisted all the tests ur proofs usually e.,ip!o3'ed on v\ool.

" The dyers are therefore, it ajjiK-ars frou this narrative, now possessed of the art
of giving tne cochineal Jye a brilliancy, periiaps sjmevviuii I'.ci.ier uj tint jf ta. eaclus
^uice; yet, in aiimauufdcturcs of tins sort, u is cdftaiu, tha the caeaper riiid simpler

G <r g 2 - the

412 HORTUS JAMAICENSfS, iuvtm

the dye is tbat is principally required, and the shorter and less laborious the process, .
the more useful and valuable it ought to be esteemed ; and therefore, without detract-
ing any thing from the merit of Mr. Macquer's'discovery^ we must presume that the
preparation of the jui'-e, invented by Mr. lliz, which strikes at once the perfect colour ■
with all the lustre that the dye naturally possesses, is, by reason of, its simplicity,,
cheapness, and facility of the process, very far superior, exclusive of its biui^ tie
production of a British colony, and obtainable, wiih a vast annual saving to the na-
tional stock of riches, and general balance of trade.

" The juice of the fruit is probably reducible to a consistence, by exposure to the
air and sun, like the juice of aloes ; but the difficulty was-to fix and render it undis-
chargeable (without injury to the colour), from the principles of the mixture witji.^
which it is combined for the dyer's purpose ; and a process to this effect constitutes
tlie chief merit of the discovery made by Mr. Riz." — Lo)ig; p. 731.

It is much to be regretted that Mr. Riz's ingenious discovery, noticed in the above
extract, still remains a secret, and is now, perhaps, for ever lost !

3. TUNA.

*" Opuntia viajor spinosu caulesctns, foliis atrovirentihus longis et an-

gust is paidiilis, Jlore rubra. Sloane, v. 2, p. 154, t. 224, f. 2,
N° lb&N° 12. Britchiatus tt articulatus, articulis oblongo ovatis
compressus, caudice tereto erecto ferocissimo, aculeis bracheorum
hievibus confertis. Browne, p. 237v

rroliferotjs-jointed ; joints ovate-oblong; spines subulate.

This grows a!x)ut nine feet high, and is called the great Indian fig, or upright
prickly pear \ it has a straight tapering stem, about six inches in diameter, very thick-
set with tufts, star- fashion, of whitish prickles. In trees nine feet high the stem is
eight feet long, and the leaves come out at top one out of another, hanging dowwards
towanls the ground ; they are like the leaves of the foregoing species, but of a deeper.
green, lonyer, and. narrower. The fruit and flowers are also similar, but smaller, and
of a red colour.

4. ALATUS. WI.VGEDi-

dpuntia non spinosa miriiina caulescens, foliis pilosis strictissimis, e
cr('nlsJolioriiinfrud.inn ct flonni proferens. Sloane, v. 2, p. 159.
Mitis minor, s-armentn Jlexili ivtundo ; Jrondibus longis compressis
crcvMtis, (id crenasfioridis. Browne, p. 237.
Stem npriiiht, compressed; branches opposite, bit'arious, compressed; spineg
bristle-shaped.
This has a round, ash-coloured, flexile stem, from which issue several leaves, which .
at (irst are very hairy, and grow to a foot in length, and an inch broad in the middle,
(iecreasing to both extremes;, liiey are of a pale green colour, have a nerve running-
thmugh tfieir midiilcs, and ronnd indentures on their edges, out of which proceed the
flower's, succeeded by small comircssed fruit. The stalk, when cleared of its succu-
lent parts, shewed the reticulated fibres common to plants of this kind. — Sloane.

5. PENDULUS. PENDiJLOUS.

Viscum ramalis et foliis longis densissimis striatis et ndiatis. Sloane,

V.

SNmN IIORTaS JAMAICENSIS, 4lJ •

~v. 2, p. 93. >> Parasiticus, inermis, aphylhis, ramosus, propendens j
raimdis gr<tcilibns, tcretibus, striatis. Browne, p. 238.
Pendulous, branches in whorls, round, smooth, without prickles.

This is Ciiiled by Browne the slender parasitical currant cactus, or Indian fig, which
grows pretcv ivcquent.in St. Mary's, chiefly on the largest trees in the wood, hanging
commoniy three or four feet from its fastening or root. The stem is roundish, green,
wood ,- striated, as big as a goose-quill, having a large pith, divided into several slen4
dcr, round, striated, branches, and they into twigs, at distances of one, two, and three'
Uiches ; at which divisions are set little twiga, an inch and a half long, in whorls, ap«
peanng bushy. — Sloane.

6. TRIANGULARfS. THREE- AN«LED. '

Ficus Indica folio trianguluri ensifonni (profunde canaliculato) stcl-
latiin iiculeato. Sloane, v. 2, p. 155. Dehiiis brachiatus, requalis,
triquctious, scandens vel repens ; spinis brevissiniis corifertis. — -
Browile, p. 238,
Creeping, triangidai.
Browne calls this the strawberry pear, an^ Sloane, who describes it as follows, the
priclxly-"'ii'itfu: : *' It hath several small roots, white, tapering, and very strong, stick-
ing to the barks of the trees it grows on ; from them comes several very green leaves,
protruiiing one another, triangular, furrowed between the angles verj' deep, the cavity
being round, very snKXjtli, and of a fresh greea colour, looking just like tiie shape cf
a three-cornered sword blade ; on the three angles stand tufts of small, short, white
prickles, in rows, very thick,, star-fashion. Every leaf is a foot and a half long ; they
creep up trees and stick close to them, rising. forty or fifty feet high. When the
prickle.s and succulent.part of the leaves full off, there remains the lomg, round, and
stroui;, inward parr, vvhieh is made use of for witbes. The flowers come out on the
leaves, as on others of this kind, at first appears a woolly nraiid knob, which afterwards
augments, and shews. on jts outside a great many long, scaly, red lish-grev-u, leaves.
one longer than another, enclosing, several very long white petala, in tiie middle of
which stand inai>y long stamina ; the whole looking like the flower of the white lily.-—
The under part of this'flower beginning to swell the pf;tala drop olT, and it grnws to
the bigness of an apple, with several protuberances on its siiri\ico, of a redJish-yeilow
colour when ripe, and contains, within a thin skin, a white, pleasantly sweet j)u!p,
inclosing a great many small black seeds..- Sometim-es it creeps on tiie ground, aiid
then it is much larger and fairer. . The fruit is ripe in Decemher and .lanuary, and,
when eaten, makes the urine red, as do prickly pears. It is much Uicd lor withes,
Tiie-iVuit is the pleasantest of any of this kind." — Sloane.

' T.FI.AGELLIFOnMIS. WHIP-FORM.

Ccvcus minima serpens Americana. Sloane, v. 2, p. 15? CijUn-
(Iracens, sulcaius, pusillus, rcpeiis i aculcis setaeeis confcriis. —
Browne, p. 238.

Creeping, .ten-angled.
This is called the pink-floivcred creeping cereus, and has furrows, ribs, and prickles,
like the other species, but is not above half an inch in diatuater. It chin'>s tra s, and
iticks closely to their bark, witli broad soft clavicles, mounting forty or tifty feet,, aivd-

abf-

at other times creeping- nn I'odis and the ground. Tlie (lowers are jirodiiced in abund*
ance, and are of a nore brilliant red than any of its kind. It is eai^ily iiiupagaicd from
cuttings, and is well worthy of cultivation for oituiuictit, as it is a mosijjeautifu! pljint.

S. PF.RR!-KIA.

Xjrossiilart.'P'fruclnfiKiJorc arbor spitiosa, friictu foUoso e viridi albi~
cante. Sloane, v. "2, -p. i5(i. ^iurvitittoyus folutiis et spiiiosuSf
spims geminatis rccvriis, J'otiis mclUhns ova/ is. Browne, p. 237.

Stem ailoreous, round; prickles double-recurved ; leaves Janceolate-ovatc.'
This is called, 6on)e times Barbadocs gooseberry. The stem hath many prickles in
tnfts, sorriC longer, s(;nie shorter; it grows about fifteen feet liigli, with well-spread
branches, having- prickle*; in the same manner. The leaves are roundish, very thick,
av-jd sn.ccclent : the fruit about the si«e pf^a wa.lnut, having tufts of small leaves on it,
a^d wiihin a whitish mucilaginous pulp, containing small seeds like gooseberries. —
'Mor.n. The fruit of niost of the above species is shaped like pears or fit^s, from which
'.M - uinstance the names are derived. They are ail succulent plants, antl grow ii* must
j.iirls of Jamaica.

Sec Melon and Torch Thistles.

INDIAN GEOUNDSEL. EEIGERON.

Cl. 19, on. 2. — Syngenesia polygaviia stiperjlna. Nat. or. — Composite.

This generic nanr is derived from two Greek words signifying spring and an oJ3
juan, beci'Aise the European species are hoary in the spring.

Gen. char* — Calyx common, oblong, cylindric, .imbricate; corolla compouncj,
ra3'ed ; s'-am. ns in tjie hfirn'.aphro(!ites,.-five, short, .v.ith cylijidric anthers ; pisyi
in same has a .small germ, crowued.ivkh a down longer than its corcUet, style fiti-.
form, stigmas two, slender; no .pericarp, ^ the <;alvx converging ;, seeds small,
oblong; down long, hairy; the seeds of the females similar ; receptacle naked,
..flat. . Two. species.arejiatives of Jamaica.

1. JAMAICENSE. JAMAICA.

Senecio wmor, belUdis majoris folio. Sloane, r. i, p. 2f^0j t. 1.53,
f. 3. Tomentosiis, (oliis oblongo ovatisy Icvissiine dcnticulatis ; pC'
^ tiolis brcvibus. jBro« ne, p. 320.

Stem ftjw-fi9»:ered, sub-vil'ose ; leaves wedge-form, lanceolate, yvitla twQsef-
raiurcs on each side.

l^oot alm.ost single, but sometimes sub-divided, descending; root-leaves lanceolate,
wedge-form, sub-sessile, rounded at the end, with two, seldom three, distant serra-
tHi'es at top on each side ; stems erect, or ascending, often a span high, filiform, pu-
bescent, almost single I stem- leaves alternate, distant, lanceolate, acute, small, nearly
entire. Flowers sub-^;olitary, terminating, peduncled, whitish; common calvx single,
.scarcely iu,bric;ite; scales membranaceous about the cilge; domi appearing serrate
when magnifioci, of a brown colour ; receptacle was'teJ ; calvx spreading. — Sw.

'Sloane observes that the roots are smooth, white, no bigger than threads, and an
iricli and a half loiig ; stem toiuidj hoary, five or six iiiche? higli, having, few leaves,

placed

l^^>IA^} SORT US JAMAICENSIS; HH

placed without orJer, sessile, with a narrow beginning, augmenting- to a round end,
about uii inch iong, rough, hoary, of a whitish-green colour, very often having two or
thr ;e nocclies. Flovvers on tiie top of the stem, and from the axils, resembiiu'g lliose
of g.oundsel, cou] posed of many yellow flo.rets close set together, encircled by in3.ny
wliitisii, . iong, narrow semi-florets. He found it on the baiiiis of the Rio Cobre.

2. RIVULARE. RIVER.

Leaves wedge-shaped, acute, rough. with hairs, toothed on both sides ,at the'
tip, ciliate at tiie edge, those oi the stem sessile } stem almost simple, erect,
few-flowered. — Su).

INDFAN KALE. ARUM.

Cl. 20, on. 9. — (hjuandria polj/andria. Nat. o.".^ — Piperititt
CiEN. CHAR.^— iSWt' Cocoes, p. 211.

1. ESCULENTUM.' E.tTABl.F..

jii'um minus, vymphed! fcliis esculoitum. Sloane, v. 1, p. 167, t.

i06, f. 1 Ac'aule mediuni, foliis cordiifo sa.:;iti(itis quaiiduquc auri'
tis, radice minovi carnosu. Browne, p. 332.

Leaves peltate, ovate, quite entire, emarginate, onsemi-liilad, at the base.
Tills has a small tuberous root, bigger than a walnut, and several leaves, ri .iiig from
♦k<; same root, about a foot high from the ground ; the leaf resembling those of cocoes,.
but much smaller, and of a ))ale green colour. Sloane says tlie roots are eaten as po-
tatoes, but the chief use of this vegetable is. as a green, and- a delicate, wnolesomc,
agreeable, and opening, one it is, as any in the world. In soud it is excellent, for
.such 1j the tenderness of the leaves that they in a manner dissolve, and afford a rich,
tileasing, and mucilaginous, ingredient. It is very generally cultivated in Jamaica ;
and Bro.v.'e justly observes, that a small bed of it is suflicient to sujinly one or two
f.iinllies chroughi)nt the year, for it grows luxuriant and rjuicl<, alter being frequently
C'Kxt ; but, as in time the leaves diminish in size, it should be occasionally transplanted,
which is easily done by seperating the routs.

2. SAOGITTIfOUUM. ARROW-LEAVED. -

Aruin. minus fsadcnfinn, Sagittarius foliis viridi nigricantihits.^-'
Sloane, v. 1, p. 167, t. 106, f. 2. Jcauk, foliis triangularihiU
sagiltatis, angiilis divdricatis acutis. Browne, p. 332.

Leaves sagittate, triangular, the angles divauicate-acute.

Tiiis is a kind of Indian kale, ccpially good, antl in everv wa' imch resembling tlie
£ormer; the '.Cdves are larger, uarrowor,- and not so ronn I, of i dark green colour, and
S'lmewhat cor'iii>;<te.! on tlie surface, with a welt round the edgi-;. Both species are
g;-;nerallv planted lor theuscf it the table, and in wholeso.nencss and deiicacv they arc
Far superior to spi:iage;4n these respects they may vie with a ly 'vjropcaa vegetable
**haiever.

Sec Cocoes — Dumb Cane — Five Finger — Wake Robixs.

INDIAN.

416. HORTUS JAMAI.CENSIS. iv^tm

INDIAN MALl-OW. URENA.

Cl. 16, OR. b.- — Monad^l])hia poJjjandria. NaT. ovi.. -Cchimnifera.

Gen. CHAR.— Calyx adouole perianth, outer five-ciclt, inner five-leuved ; coroHa
five-petaleei ;■ startiens numerous filaments, united at boUom, with roundish an-
thers; th*" pistil has a roundish germ, a simple :>t}je, aiid headed stigma; the pe-
ricarp is a rbiindish capsule, ^ehinatc, five-cornered, five-celled, with the cells
closed, and one seed in each. .Tvvo species are natives of Jamaica.

I. SIN LATA. CUT-LEAVED,

Maha vel alcea friiticaa, ribesii foiiis, seminiiiis •^isperis. Sloane,
V. 1, p. 37. I'vliis jirojuiide quingnclobis ; lobis infernc angustiori-
bus, dtnticiilatis ; 'fionbus confer (is- ad alas. ^Browne, p. 281.

Xeaves three-glanded underneath, sinuate-five-lobed ; lobes angular, tooth-
ietted, obtuse.

Stem shrubby, from one to two feet high, branched, upright, pubescent; brancljes
if.rly simple, erecr, round, pubescent; leaves petioled, alternate; lower- roundisb,
ve-oruered, sub-serrate ; middle cordate, five-cornered, with the corners blunt,
^rrate- toothed ; i.pper sinuate-five-lobed, tooth sinuate, ner-zed, hirsute, hoary un-
tierne;,th,- having r^ glandular pore in the middle nerve. Petioles longish, round,
erect, pubcscbnt. Flowers txillar), on very short peduncles, blood-red. ■ Outer calyx
five-leaved, linear, erect, blunt; inner five-parted, with erect, lanceolate -segments,
the length of the outer ; petals five, contiguous at the base, oblong, obtuse, entire;
capsules five, close, connected, echinate ; seeds oblong, compressed,- even. — Sw. —
Sloane s?ys the seeds have many little prickles. Browne says it, grows commonly, in
the IcAver hills, and is n mavkahie for the lobed form of its -leaves, and the compressed
inake of its rugged capsules.

2-. TYPHALEA.
Truticulosa, foliis serratis oblongis; Jlorihiis conglohatis.^ pedunculis
lorigisshnis iaminulihus incidcntibus. Browne, p. 281,

Leaves oblong- lanceolate, serrate ;- heads of flowesi's peduncled, terminal ; outer
calyx I'.ve-cleft ; capsules with three awns.

Browne calls this the shrubby erect vrcna, with bearded seeds, and says it is very
common in the woods, growing generally to the height of four or five feet, or more. —
The leaves are pretty large ; and the seed vessels, which are composed each of five
cells, loosely connected together, carry three long bearded bristles, or setae, on the
•top of each cell, whereby they adhere to every thing that touches \hQm.~--Broxi}ne.

Sue Mallows and Marsh. Mallows.

INDIAN MULBERRY. MORINDA.

Cl. S, or. 1. — Pentandriavionogynia. Nat. or. — Aggregate.
r^Ms name is derivcdfrom morus and mdtis, the Latin words for the English narae.

IKDUM HORTUS JAMAICENSIS, ' 41"?

• Gen. CHAR. — Common calvxronndish ; perianth five- toothed ; coro'la one-petaled,
funnel-ionn ; stamens hvt- very siiori filanu;nts, inserted into the tube; anthers
linear, erect; the pistil has an int'erioi germ, a simple style, and hifij sti(>nia ;
pericarp a sii'o-ovate l)eiry, one-etlied; seeds two, convex on one side, flat oil
the other. One specieo is a native of Jamaica.

noYOC.

1 Sub-fntticosa-, foliis ebiongis angustis utrinque aculis, radice crocea.
Broune, p. 159.

Procumhi'nt.

Steni shrubby, a ■foot high, procumbent at bottom, branched ; branches simple ;
leaves petioled, lanceolate, entire, smooth ; iKanchlets from the axils of the leaves,
opposite. Flowers teruiinatiii;?, ags^regatej in a globular receptacle, white; calyx
tubular, thick, nndiviJed; UiKe of the corolla villose within, uiih a nectariferous
base ; style bifid; stigmas reflex; berries aggregate, with two seeds in each. — Sw.
Browne notices four kinds of this plant, the smaller slirubbv, the narrow-leafed climb-
ing, the oval-leafed climbing, and the larger shrubby, morinda ; all, he says, common
about the lowlands, and frequently found climbing among the bushes in all the lower
hills; the roots colour linens of a dark hue, and be supposes may prove an useful in-
gredient among dyers. Long calls iti/aw-n-eed, but gives no reason why it is so called.

INDIAN SHOT. CANNA.

Cl. 10, OR. 1. — Monandria monogyma. "Nat. or. — Scitaminea.
Gen. CHAR —Calyx a three-leaved perianth; leaflets lanceolate, erect, small, co-
loured, permanent; corolla one- petaled, six-parted, divisions lanceolate, con-
joined at the base, the three outer ones erect, larger than the calyx; the three
inner ones larger than the outer, two erect, one reflected, and thus constituting
the upper lip ; nectary petal-like, two-parted, of the length and figure of the
petals'; the upper division ascending, the inferior revolute, imitating the lowec
lip of a corolla ; the stamen has no filament, anther linear, growing to the upper
margin of the division which bears the nectary ; the pistil has' a roundish, rugged,
inferior, gerna; style single, ensiform, growing to the anther-bearing nectary,
lanceolate, of the length and figure of a petal; stigma linear, growing to the
margin of the style; the pericarp is a roundish capsule, ruggc I, crowned, three-
grooved, three-celled, tliree-valved ; seeds few, globular. One species is a na-
tive of Jamaica.

INDICA. INDIAN.

'Canyia Tndica. Sioane, v. 1, p. 253. Capsulis verrucosis spatulis
bijloris. Browne, p. 113.

Leaves ovate, acuminate at both ends, nerved.

This plant has a thick, fleshy, tuberous root, which divides into many irregular
iinobs, spreading wide near the surface of the ground, sending out many large ovate
leaves without any order, which are twisted at their first appearance like a horn, but
afterwards expand, and are frequently from eighteen to twenty inches long, and seven

H h h or

'4ia TORTUS JATVIA7CEKSTS.- ikbias

or eight liroad in the midd)', lessening gradually to both ends, and terminating' in
points ; they have many tin;^ trvisverse veins ruiiniiig from the mid-rib to the sides,
and the leaf is fin 'ly c'lanneiled bciow every eighth veit), and prominent above, tiis
other veins runnnig iii-iine lines parallel to eacli other, hke music lines, an "i in number
seven, b'^twceo the tvvo lar<_^er ones; the leaves are l^eautffuiiy waved. Tiie. stalks are
ht-rbaceons, riving tour teec high, ennmpassed by the broad leafv footstalks of the
leaves; thev are compressed on two sides. At the upper piu-t of tiie stalks, many of
which rise frbmfthe sa-me rootj'<.he fl6.wers ai^e produced on loose spii^es, each bemg at
first covere i by a ioafv hood, which afterwards stainls. below the flower, and turns to a
brown colour. Eacti flower has one p'tal, cut almost to the boitom into six-sitiider
segments, the three-up-per Iwoadest, of a brij^ht scarlet colour, and v::ry elegant; en-
compassed by a three- leaved cai\x, which sLts upon a small, ! ,. anuish, rough, gem),
whicjh, after the flower 's fallen, swells to-a large fruit or capsule, oblong and rough,
having thj'fe longitudinal furrows, crowned--by the three -leaved cai.yx. When tiie
fruit is ripe, the capsule opens lengthways into. three cells, filled with round, hard,
l-'ack, shilling seeds, six in each celF, about the size of English peas. Tiiis plant
flowers all the year, but principally in June, July, and Afigust, The lutea, an East
Indian. variety, or species, Learhig a yellow flower, has beeii introduced.

This is- so called from its seed being round, black, and so hard, that, blown throngTi
a trunk or pith, it will kill small birds; they are drilled through, and strung lo make
beads and bracelets. It grows exactly like the Indian arrovv-root, only the flower of
this IS of a most beautiful scarlet colour. The leaves are cooling and cleansing^, ap-
plied to the hvpocnondresj. ;With water-lily and auinga-oil, they abate the iiardne^s of
the s])leen. The juice of the root corrects the corrosive poison of mercurysublimate;
dropped into the ear, eases pain ; and, mixed with sugar, and applied to the navel S3
acutaplasmj cutes a diabetes. — Barham, p. 76,

INDIAN SORREL; IHBISCUS.

Cl. is, or. 6. — Monadelphiapolyandria, Iv'^AT. OR, — Column [fcra:.-
©EN. CHAB. — iVe Changeable Rose, p. 175.

SUBDARIFFA.

Alcea acetosa, trifida folio Indite erie-iifali^. SteanCj t, 1, p. 224.—
Ihifescens acetosus, foliistrilobis. Browne, p. 285.

Leaves serrate, the lower ovate^ undivided, the upper seven-parted ; stem un-
armed ; flowers sessile.

Root annual, single, descending; stalk herbaceous, from one to three feet high (or
inoi-e), upright, sni)-!!vvided, round,' smooth, of a biood-red colour. (Stem and
branches hollow and pithj'). Leaves alternate, broad-ovate-acuminate, blunt at the
end, crenate, nerved, smooth on i)Oth sides, the upper ones three or five-parted, up-
right; petioles the length of the leaves, spreading, roun-d, smooth, coloured ; flowers
axillary, solitary, largish, on very short, round, thick, peduncles: the outer cahx
lias ten linear, awl-shaped, upright leaflets, of a dark purple colour^ inner cup-shaped,
lilic cletV Lroad-lanceolate, sliarp,.p,ale, .with three purple Lnes,_ciliate at the edgq;

petals

■INDIGO HORT'US JAMArCENSlS; Jtlft

petals connate at the base, o])-cordate, larger on one side, veined, of a very pale suT-
fihnr colour, with a darlv blooJ-recl bottom ; capsule closed liy tlie valyx, ov;,te , seeds
angular, black; soineiiines the leaves are entirely undivided. — -So.'. There is a varia-
tion ot tiiis species which it; thoroughly green. The former, commonly called 7'ed~
sorrel, is most generaiiy cultivated, as its acid is the sharpest of the two. The flower-
cups and capsules, freed from the seed, are the only pans used ; they make agreeable
tarts; anJ, a decoction of them sweetened, is wliat is commonh' called sorrel cool-
drink. It is a small diluting liquor, reckoned very refreshing and diuretic. The acid
of these plants k of a more lively and pleasant nature than that of common sorrel ; they
blossom about October, and the flowers and cups make very agreeable tarts, and ex-
cellent vinegar. A syrup is also made b)" taking the most juicy capsules, and adding
twice or tluice their quantity of double-refined sugar. Put this mixture, without any
water, into a glass vessel, and place it into a sand heat, the digestion maybe carried
on with a moderate heat, till the leaves are all dissolved. A drink may be made of the
preserved sorrel of a diuretic nature, tt* which a little nitre should be adtled. Her-
Tandez says the root, given to two drachms, is an easy purge. Tiie stalks afford a
tind of hemp, which makes good lines.

See Changeable Rose— Mahoe— Musk Ochea — Ochua.

INDIGO. INDIGOFERA.

Cl. 17, OR. 4. — Diadelphia decandria, Nat. or. — Papilionacca.

s^EN. CHAR. — Calyx a one-leafed, spreading, perianth, nearly flat, five-toothetlj
corolla papilionaceous, the keel having an awl-shaped spreading spur on each
side ; the stamens disposed in a cylinder, diadelphons, ascending at their tips,
with roundish anthers i the pistil has a cylindric germ, a short ascending styie,
and obtuse stigma; the pericarp a linear roundish legume, with kidney-shaped
> seeds. Three species are natives of Jamaica.

1. tinctoria. dying.
' Colutete affinis fruticosa, flvribus spicatis purpurascentibus, siliquis
inciirvis, e eitjus tinctura ind.go conficitur. Sloane, v. 2, p. 34,
t. 179, f. 2. DecomposiLa, dijj'usa, minor et humilior ; ramis gra-
cilibus. Browne, p. 302.
' Leaves pinnate, ob-ovate; j-acemes short; ste«i sufii-uticose.
The stem of this plant is filiform, sub-flexuose, angular, branched at top ; branches
■alternate ; leaflets in four pairs, or more, very blunt, pointed, smooth, finely villose
beneath ; the racemes from the axils of the leaves, when they begin to flower shorter
than the leaf, but becoming longer as they advance. Legumes droopiug, sub colum-
nar, sharp, suaigiit, very finely vidose. This plant is not so hardy, says Dr. Browne,
nor does it give so good a pulp as the following species ; but it yields a great deal more
:of the dye than either of them, and is, for that reason, generally preferred, though
subject to a great many more mischances. It seldom rises above two feet and a half in
■height, and seems to divide rather than to branch in its growth.

H h h 2 2. OUATiaULA.

429 BORTUS JAMAICENSIS#:. airoiGO

2. GUATIMALA.

As.ntr^n^cns vihiusqiie divisa, mmidis crasshrtlus striutls, spicis axil-
la rihus. Browne, p. 302.
"This is much hardier than the foregoini^, and affirds a finer pulp; hut it Goes not
■J'ield so grcai a quantity of it, and is only cultivated where the seasons are not certain,
or in uiixt fields. It grows commonly to tlie iicis^nt of iliree or lour ieet, and throws
out a good many sub-erect branches as it rises. — Browne,

3. AML. .

Cohitete ajpnisfrutki'saargeniea, flofihts spicatis, eviridi purpitreis,,
sitiquis .JaIcAt:s. 8!oane, v. 2, p. 37, t. 17(,, 1'. 3. ^JssurgenXy,
siib-vt'/losa et sub-cinerca; ranmli's crass'oribux ; siiiquis arcuatis,
brevioril'us, reftcxo patcntibus. Browne, p. 302.

Leaves pinnate, lanceolate ;. racemes short ; stem suflruticose.

This has the iia!>it and appearance of the first sort. Leaflets olilong, bluntish, the-
younger ones sharpish, nakeJ above, lioary underneath, all euual. liacemes lateral,
sub-sjjiked, shorter tliaii the leaves: legumes declining, r.-curved, inclmed to co-
lumnar, many seeded, more gibbous at each suture, mucronate. — Linneus. This is
very common in Jamaica, and grows wild in all the savannas, where, doubtless, it has
been cultivated in former tunes; althougli the manufacture is now altogether lost and
neglected, and must jjiobably never will be restored, from the baneful effects of op-
pressive taxation. Tills plant has a siuader leaf than the other, but a much larger
woody stem, growing to the height of eight or ten feet ; it is also much iiardier, and
tiie d}C extracted from it generally the best; of a fine cop]jerisn cast, a^.t close grain,.
All the species thrive best in a free rich soil and warm situation, frequently refreshed'
by moisture. The following is the mode in which it was generally cultivated and pre-
pared for market : ' '

It may be planted at any se.aso» of the year. (The best time is considered the month,
of March). The land is first hoed into little straight trenthcs, about two inches deep, and
from twelve to eighteen inches asunder ; the seed is sown in tl;ese trenches, not very
thick, and then lightly covered in with eartlx A bushel of seed is allowed for six or
eight acres. If the weather proves warm and serene, the plant will appear above
ground in a few daj-s, and, with moderate sliowers to bring it forward,, will be fit to cut-
in SIS or seven weeks. The ground must be hoed and cleaned as soon ,as the young
plants appear, to loosen the soil about them, and facilitate tiieir growth. In some
pares, they do not come to perfection under two or three months; and are generally
observed to answt r best wiien cut in full blossom, as the leaves are then thick, and full-
est of juice. The French distiiiguisli the time by squeezing a plant in the hand ; and,
if the leaf cracks, the v suppose it to have acquired the due maturrty. The vats for
map ufactu ring it are generally three, placed in a regular flight, like steps, one ascend-
ing to the oiuor. The highest, which is the largest, is caded the steeper, aiid the di-
mensions about sixteen feet square,, and two feet anJ a half in depth. This opens by
one or two holes, made tlirougii a junk of bard timber (built in the front wail towards
the bottom), into the .^econd, which is of greater depth ; and the second opens in the
like uianner into the third, or smallest, 'i'hese latter are called batteries, or beaters;
and some make them both of equal size, which, in proportion to the dimensions above
tjiven, ou^ht to be twelve feet length by ten breadth, and four and a half depth in the

clear.

RJD7G0 ' HORTUS JAMAICENSTS: 42 1

clear. They are built with masonry, and lined with a strong terraf^, like the steeper,
or ot close grained plank (not cedar) of t.vo inches and an half tuick, -.wiU fastened to
the frame wilh large spike nails, and cau.kcd to prevent leaking. Vats of these di- ■
nicnsioiis are pr()per for about seven acres of the pi iit.

When every thing is m readiness, the plant is * tit,* and rc2;idar!y laid in the steeper,,
with the stalk upwards (wnich hastens the- termentation), till this vat is thre'e-parts
full. A number of rails are tiien laid the'vvhole length of the v: t, at the distance of
about eighteen inches from one another ; these are strongly wedged down, by means
of timbers, waich are matie to press upon them, to prevent the plant fro. n buoying up
when water is put upon tiieiu. The softest watjr answers best for the purpose ; and as
much IS let in as the weea vdl invbi()e, covering it with a surface of four or five inches.
In this State it is left to ferment. I » iwenty-ioui' honrs it grows so hot, that no one
can bear the hand in it ; and, if tite process goes on well, it will bnbble like water in a
pot upon tilt hre, and shew a tinge of very dusky blue. Great nicety is required, as
well in not sufligrii-.g the tender tcps to run into putrefactiiJO,' which might spoil the
whole, a&in drawing off the water at the critical moment ; for if it is drawn two hours
too soon, great pan -i the pulp will be lost ; and if the fcrni.rntation is kept on as mucli ■
too long, the labour will be lost.

To avoid tiiese disasters, a handful of the weed is frequently taken" out; and, when
the lops are observed to lieconie very tender and pale, and the stronger leaves to chanije
their Colour to a less lively pale, this is known to be the proper point ;t and the liquor
must be speedily drawn oii" into the second vat, there to be thoroughly beaten and in-

corpor..ted ;

* Some persons are of opinion that tiie plants shouid not he cut nearcl- the ground than six inches, anJ tliat
a few branches should be Idt on the stem. This practice, they say, will draw up the sap better, au I pro- •
dnce a more Inxiiria-.it ratoon than when a naked slalli only is left. Burins; the tirst ciittins; it is Hsiial to
!eave soiae of the most Houri.hinij stalks for seed, whiih ouffht not to be satiiercd until it is well hardened in
the pod. It ijineraUy requires ten bushels of the pod to produce a single ijiisiiel of clean dry seed fit for sow-
ing. It may also be observed, that many in lisro planters have a notion th.at Ihe plant yields the greatest
quantity of the dye, when cnt at the full of tlie moon. Of this fact I can assert norMinj;. — Sdwards.

t To obtain a cer;ain knowledge of the proper degree of fciinentation lias hitherto been the mand deside-
ratum of the cultivaton Repeated experiments for this ^>uipose were made some years ago in the island of
Hispaniola, under the -anctiou ami encouragement of IheCliamber of Agiieulture, and insUuctions (vvhicli
■were said tii be practised with great success by Messrs. Dang »late and Mongol), indigo plantei-s in that island) ■
■were published l)y authority, 10 this efiect : ■

" After tlie indigo has been steeped in the cistern ei>;Utt)r nine hours, draw off a li't!" of the water, and,
with a pen dipped into it, mike a few strokes upon wiiite paper. The first will probabiy be high coloured,.,
in which case llie indigo is not sutl'.ciently fermented ; this operation is to be rcpe.tted eveiy quarter of aa
hour, ufitil it loses its colonr ; when it is arrived at the true pniiit of fernnntation.''

It is astonishing that an e;iaeriment so simp!e in itself, if it answers, shindl hiwc bccirfoi' so many years
imknovrrto tlie indigo piaiiter.- in general; ami I confess, ti^at, alth lugh I have had no opportunity of giving-
it a trill, I am myself somewhat Jjubtful of its etfieacy, Tlic f illowmg method, which 1 giv* on tlie autho-
rity of Mr Ledia"-!, is, I conceive, attended- with mncii greater cetai. ty •

, " Let a small hole be made in. the steeper, si. v or eight inches from the bottnn, exclns^e of the openin",
or ap'.rtine for drawing off the inipreeinited water; let this hole likewise be stopped v^itll a plug, yet not s»
fiinily hut that a small stream may ht permitted to ooze through it. After the plants have been stecpe;!
some hours, the Aiid ooziiit' o«t -will appear beautifully green, ard at- the lower edge of the cistern, from.
whence it drops, in't/j. the battery, it will turn of a cojiperish colour. T .is copperish hue, as the fermeiitatioa
eoi'tiuu*.', will gradually ascend upwards to the plug, and, when that circinnstanec is perceived, it is propel'
lo stop the fermentation.

" During the progress of this part of the business, particular attention should be paid to the smell of the
liquor whiih vieeps from the apertme; for, should it discover any sourness, it will be necessary to let the;
fermented liquor run immediately into the battery, a -d lime-water of sufrieient strength must he added to it, -
■icti! it has lo t its sourness. As it is ranniiif oif it will app ar green, mi.xed with a biigUt jeliow, or st»i,tj«
e^ioui-;^ but ia the battery it will be of a uiost btaulifiil green." — EUwarils' History,

ft22 .fipRTUS JAMAICENSr-S. iNBtao

.corpor^ed ; to perform which operatton, a variety, of machines have been invented.*
,l.j Jamaica they formerly suffered ihe hquor to stand twenty-four hours in this second
.vat, and tlien churned it for three or foia- hours with paddles or pieces of hoard, drilled
full ot iioles, and fastcnetl on the end of loiig j<oles. The French made use of a kind
,ct huckets, without any bottom, fixed to poles, which rested on pivots, and were pulled
-Tip anjilet fall again, alternately,, with a jerk. ^ But far more contenient machines are
now. constructed, with a cog-wheel,, which moves the levers or beater.svvith greater re-
.gularity, and saves the lahouroi' mar,y negroes ; the whole being ke^it in motion with
41 single horse or mule ; and one of them will perfoini more work in half an hour, than
.si.K negroes arc able to da in jjix hours ; so that ihey fully answer the expeuce of erect-
ing them, and frequently reduce an imperfect tincture into grain, which could hardly
■otiierwise be brougJic-abDUt. Wiien the liquor has, by means cf such a machine, or
,tuiy other method, beeavvell churneol for the space of fifteen or twenty minutes, a lit-
tle of it being taken up in a plate will appear urdled, or as if full of a small grain. A
quantity of clrar Jime- water, always kept ready for the occasionj is then gradually let
in, to augment and precipitate the yuTif/rt; the stirring and beating the indigo w.ater
,being stdl continued, and tiie colour and appearance of the yipcw/a being carelully ex-
amined from time to time, as the work advances; for the grain passes, by degrees,
from a greenish ca:jtto U'iine blue, which is tiie proper colour when the liquor has been
..sufHciently worked. Too small an agitation will leave the grain coarse and green,
whilst too long continued a beating causes it to turn almost black. By examining it,
therefore, re})eate^!!y duuing the precess-iii a, silver cup, or a soup-plate, the operator
,n;ay soon learn to distinguish whether to have iiis indigo of a deep copperish blue, or
of a paler complexion, as he chuses. When the liquor wherein the j'a'cula swim is
quite clear, he nmy l>e satisfied it has lime-water enough. Ihe lime-water must be
perfectly clean, or otlierwise.tiie indigo will be very niuch speckled; nor should too
large a quantity of it be let in, .which wojild render the indigo too hard, and of a grey-
ish cast. Wlien the indigo water has acquired a strong purple colour, and the grain
has become scarcely perceptible, it must be left to settle, which it will do in eight or
,ten hours. , Tlie clear. Vviacer is then very gently drawn off, out of the beating vat,
through the plug holes,- fixed for that purpose a few inclkcs above the floor at bottom ;
and me sediment remains behind, which is carefully strained through a horse-hair
sieve, to render the indigo perfectly clean, and then put into bags of osnaburg, or
.other coarse linen, eighteen inches long and twelve wide, which are suspended for
■about five or six hours in the shade, to drain out the water. Tiie mouths of the bags
are then well fastened, and put into a press, to be entu'ely freed from an}- remains of
.v.ater, which would huit the quality of the dye. ■ The press is a Iwx of five feet in
length, two and a half width, and two de]ith, having holes at one end, to let off die
drained water. In this box the bags are piled one ujiun another, until it is quite full;
a plank, fitted just to go into it, is laid at toj), and loaded with a sufficient number of
weights, which, by a gradual constant pressure, entirely squet:ze out the water, and
the indigo becomes a fine stiff paste. It is tlien taken out of the bags, spread upon a

plank,

* Some liave used the following simple contrivance on tliis occasion with success. A small square stick,
-painteii wlutc, and graduated with black lines, of si.x or tight to an inch (the inches being minierically
'marked from the hottimi), i.s fixed couveuieutly within the steeper in a perpendicular position. This is care-
•f'.Wy obsenid, tiimi time to time, to note with exactness the highest rise of the scum; and immediately^
\\hcn it begins to sv.b.^iiie, the plug i.s to be drawn out, and the lif|iior discharged into the next vat. A -'\mu

!ai nicthorl is practised in Egypt, to discover the ii)cie.ise or fall of the KUc by a graduated column, calljed

iUe mvkkias; frum wheace, perhaps, the hiht was taken.

^"i*-

l^**

RjtJiPOr ' n '0 R T U S' J A WA I C E N S I 3/ 43**"

pMiiTc, anrl cit into squares of two inches each, wliich are rallied, under cover, in a
free air, witliotit exposure to tlie siiii, which would be vory linitfui to the colour of ti)3>
•dye. Whilst it is in the drying house, it should l>e turned three or four times a day
t.T 'M-evenl Its rotting. The flies must likewise he driven from it. Care is taken to ha\0
it ti)orout',hlv dry hefore it is packed, because,, if it is put damp into the ca^lis for es-
portatioii, and headed up, it *ill sweat, and iuevitablybe spoiled. Ojod marketable
indigo should be of a fine, copperisli, biuc, colour, deep, and shinno,, with a sniootli-
o-rnin. It should break easily, swioi- lu wa<ter,- and Ixiru vjry iVeeiy, leaving some vviiit©
cjudeps behind. . ...

~ The fauics of indigo generally arise, first,^ ffonnf too dorr* a- p"utrefactibn, which gives
it a ciirtv hue ; so that it looks like black mould, or mud: secondly, -from too little
b^atino-; and then is ikii a coarse gram, and a greenish colour : thirdly, fron.i too muck
beatiii>'', whicii-always imbues it witti ;i black cast: tnurinly, from a mixture of the
pa. ticies-of iime, wii^n the imie-water has not bci.-.i sutEciently depi;rated, or wheR
toa large a quantity of tins water has beLa let in, which renders it greyish and hud :
frfthlv, for want of lime-water,^ or when none is-used ; by which neglect, it nevep
conxvs to a due o-ranulation, nor settles well, and deposits only an -inconsiderable part
of tUe substance. From ail whicii it appear.--,, that nu s-iiall degree of skiii and attentior* "
are required in conducting and perfecting tiiis manufacture ; aoJ hence we may easily,
eonceive, how the right management of it 'ame to be lost in Jianaicu, after the planters
had for M;:.my years disused it ; for mu-ti depends on the knowledge gained by a long
course of experience and obser'-ation, to direct the exact deL,iee of fermentation, of
bentiu"-, and application of clie hme-temper, as wuii as tne method of curing and dry-. "

insr for tae market.* -
^ This

* 1?he foUowing account of an essentia! improvenv-nt in the prepArati in of indieo, is a translation from tlic
French of Citiz< 11 Biillv ; It ought to bi' ^aiiiert . .-.itii great prcca.aiun, t'ur fa' o'l Kial;i<is; tiie faiii.i tliat
lit'S o.i the icavf.s, a'li is very valuahle, fill otf. Xr't. r iloscrihiiip t!ie tir«( prnrtss of oii^t iiT and ni.i'-f t iCng;
he thus nioceeils : " To hiiiig the mac< ration to it~ nifiniate point ri quires from'ffi^ en to thirty-six. h. urs,
according to the tempeiattire of the atiMosp; ei c, at the tune of the oceratios. It i- aiso necessury to take
into consideration, the quality of the indigo pla-it, the natvr.e of tne suii that has [.ro.iuced it, and that of the
water in which it is immersed. Thetiist ii;d: atiort '"rom ahic'iit is judfred that the process of maceration 8p-i
proai'hcs its ultimate poi^t, is the siid.ing of the .scum, which has e:evated ii.sclf-iuto the space oif aijout iialf
a foot which wa.s left unfiUed in the v^.t..- When tUis-soi'm ha.s Deconie a kind of cntst, ef a copper-bine co-
lour, it is then thouplit to be suffieif. tly niaeeraied. However, tiiis piau was often in.suihcieht, and there
v-as'anotlier nv.tiio I on which picatii reliance conM ue p-laSeif; this tc.nsi.stej M' drawing o^f a smalt quantity
of the water, by meaHs of a cook in tlie lo-.vev part of the vat; this being rccefved in a silvr!- cup,-iiotice is -^
taken whetlier the t'ecula ten !s to precipitate itself to the botwm of the cnp,;ffon(i whence the macej-ation ig
then supposed to be perfect.- Siieli was the process most generally piaco.«e!, but it often led iitji error ; To
avoid this, we have sten means, which consi.-ts in areuratcly observrnri; f.l.e rfater coutiinefrin the'-cup ; five
or six minutes after it nas been poured therein, it forms round fiie *iides a rin? 8» o<!*e, which.»is at first of ^
green colour, jfeut afterwards becomes i. hie. So Jon« as the maceration haiij HuC produce I its pi 0,11 r eftect,
this ling I. tachei itself with dirtieolty f«om tlu. sides of the cup, but at la.t it is seett to |necipitate and con-
C(;ntratentaelf at the bottom of the v'e mI, aiways towar I the centre, under tiie water, whicli is h( come lim-
pid, thounh with a yello vish tim;^. When thei^e appearances are observed, tlley infalMbly in licate tlie snc*
cess of this first operation. Tlie 'water is then drawn ort into a second basiai or tub; placeil beneath the first.
This second tub is termed the biUl.rk. as its use i- for beatrng tlie water, still charged with the fe.'iita. la
Ordrr tint it may separate quickK, 11 i agitate !,■ eiiher 1 , iiand laiiour or the p-.-.ver of a mill, taking Care
not to agitate ii tO', lo m_', in which ca e the feciil.i would be rcmi.'icd with the water, and, in-fead of indigo,
jHjthing more than mud ly water won! I be prodii.-rj , but, to avoid this, it onlyrc.-uires attention. It is
afterwards drawn otf from the AoHni.', to a third or smaller receiver called t]it: diulUntin ; we then tiud the
iatterie covere.-! with a vi ry liquid lihie pa.ste, which is put into bags of c»arse linen clotii, of tiie form of iii*
▼erted ccnes, which sulf r the watery parts to run otf; the bags are aftirw.ir Is c njitie 1 iipo i tables ir. the'i
4i7ing roam-, wlieid thi; bine paste is kiiealel, aaj, af > it i.is a-q.iiied a de iser consist-'.icp, it is sjireadS^^
"OuiiiuJ-Ctttiulo suull snuaresj iu order that xt maj drjr tiic soouerj after wUicli it ia ready for sale."

A&^ HORTUS JAMAICENSTS.

INDfOa-

This valuable commodity is .the principal ingredient known for dying a fine blue*
end no part of the world atibiiis better soil for the cuhure of indigo than the interior
parts of Jamaica. Add to which, that it is not bulky in the carriage: and that a few
barrels of small size, siicl) as a muie may convey through the most difficult roads, will
conlain a quantity of it cf great value.' Fifteen negroes are esteemed sufficientio ma-
nage and attend twenty acres; and twenty-five negrn*s aje, allowed to fiftv. ■ Four
negroes are therefore about eciual to five acres; which proves that, it may be entered
upon by men of exceedingly siriall capitals; and, it is also certain, that they will have
time for doing. other oc<asional work through the year. One acre of rich soil, well
])lanted, wifl,. with gooal seasons, and proper management, yield two hundred pounils
weight* in twelve months; for this plant gives ratoons, or re-producei., affordino- four
or five-crops in a year ; but m.u.st be rejjlanted afterwards. One negro's lord of good
plantswi!! produce one pound weight of good indigo; and, supposmg a mule-load six
times,:cis much, the latter v. ill be equal to six j>ounds weight. ■, A planter, possessed of
fournegroes, and two mules, with .five acres in this cultivation, may therefore be al-
lowed, by prudent management, to make one thousand pounds weight per annum.

.About the year 1620, the trade for indigo stood thus. Three hundred and fifty
thousand pounds weight was spent in a year in Europe ; which, at four shdlinos and
six pence per pound at Aleppo, cost seventy-five thousand eight hundred and thirty-
three pounds, six shillings, and eight,pence ; at one shilling, and two pence in the
East Indies, cost twenty ttiousand four hundred and sixteen pounds, twelve shillings,
and four pence. ; In later tiinec,- iJreat Britain, and Ireland ha.e consiuned eight hun-
tl red thousand ])ounds weight and upwards per annum; and were computed to pay
;■ France two hundred thousand pounds annually for what they bought from her. Jamaica
once furnished a Large, supply ; but the tax of three shillings and six pence per pound
being injudiciously imposed by parliament, the planters were obliged to drop it, and
went upon other commodities, in consequence, until the'pianters of South Carolina
undertook this article, the French islands (and principally Hispaniola) supplied not
only Great Britain but the greater part of Europe. About 1747, the Carolinians re-
uiitted^l^put two hundred thousand pounds weiglit to Britain ; which sold v.ell, though
of a quality inferior to the French; but they l>ave since improved it so as to be nearly
equal. %Such were the effects of this high duty, . which lost the nation many thousand
pounds yearly, and extirpated indigo from Jamaica, to the ruin of several indu.strious
families. A wiser parlinMient, after the manufacture began tc thrive in Carolina, in-
stead of laying on duties to prohibit, granted a bounty ef six pence per pound weight
ftn all indigo raised in the Air,erican colonies, atid imported into Great Britain directly
from the place of growth. The encouragement was politic ; yet this article does not
seem as yet to be cultivated in our colonies to such extent as to furnish the home de-
mand ; for the imponation of French indigo is still permitted. Whence, it seetns,
that, for want of employing more of our lands in this article, the market for sugar will
be glutted, and that ibr indigo not sufficiently slocked.

In 1672 Jamaica bad sixty indigo works, chiefly in \^ere, which produced fifty thou-
sand pounds weight per annum. If, therefore, it had not met with so fatal a check,

we

» Tliirty to eighty pounds wf ijrlit is allowed for tolerable yielding in South Carolina. But it is to be ol>»
.served, tint tliese lands are pour in comparison willi tlie fresli cleared wood-land of Jamaica, which requires
'to be cxliaiisted by this, or some other vcijetable of an imppverishin;; nature, before it will make sugar ; and

'jiorMicli soils two hundred pounds weight will not appear at all exaggerated; and fifty pounds weigUt per

■.jivcre, for the medium produce of indifttrcct soils. '■■■-'

©!r.-GO HORTU'S JAMATCRN^TS. #25

■ ■we may jnJgC, from this flourishrng stateof it at so earlv a p.v,io 1, tlnf-, in 'ih^ roiro
of twcr.iy or tliirty years, it-won! J have yieUieJ five or six tim-s as uiu'.'), an i ;rone on
ini-rt'asing, in propomoii to ti)e iioino-deniani!, to the present hciir, bv whirh the- na-
tion uiigiit ha\'o s.tved some millions of mo;iey. 'At present, it is enitivateJ hire hy
ahuut twenty dirt'erent sett,crs, moiicof vvhoiii reside in the parish oi" St. Thimas in th'tf
E,!St. The medium pro. luce in-J.iinaica of one cuTiinir. is fiftv ppnnrls weight per acre.
Few, who have cu.tivated it here in. tiie loulantis of late years, gained more than two
xuttings, the tirsL in July, the second in Angnst, for wwn. of seasons. 'In llie'^vet rid*
lands of the interior parts, it is prooahie four or tivc cuttin|.;s a year mii^ht be to', as

'in HispaTiiola; where thi^Freneh eidnvate it -on fresli woodlands, to sterihze and pre-
pare tliem for su<j;ar, repeating the cut every sjv wce!;s, five times, or even oftener, ipii
the yeai-. And tins i<iiid of s )d'seenis the best adapted, as4t iuu|nesti.«:-il>lv produces
an mdigo of tiie best quality, and wordi-severcd shiliini^s per pound weii;lit'more than
wtiat is made from poorer soils, or in situations whicii iiave not seasonable rains.—
Hence, it wdl not succeed well in tiie loner savannah liwuls of Jamaica, whose stapte
is rich encnigii, but not sufficiently watered. — Long.

, Mr. Edwards, after describing the cultivation and the proce.ss of making indigo,
lj( akes the following observations ;

" To what has been said aixive of the nature of the pln-tit, suiting itself to pverv soi!,
and producing four cuttings in the vear, if we add the chcajmess of th- buildmgs, ap-
.paratus, and labour, and the great value of the commodity, there will seem but little
cause tor womler atthesplendid accounts which are transmitted down to lis concerning
the great opuience of the first indigo planters. -Allowing the produce of an acre to b&
three hundred pounds, and the produce no more than four shillings sterling per pound,
the gross profits of twenty acres will be twelve hundred pounds produeed'hy the iab(jm'
of only sixteen negroe^s, am! on a capital in land and buildings -scarce deser\ini" con-
sideration.

"■.Such, witliout doubt, will be the readers first reflections. Unhappily, however,
ihe golden hopes whichspeculations like these have raised in the minds of thousands,
have vanished on actual experiment, like the visions of the morning. I t4iink I have
myself, in the course of eighteen years residence in the West Indies, known at least
twenty persons commence indigo planters, not one of whom has left a trace bv whidi I
can now point out vWiere his plantation vvas situated, except, perhaps, the remains of
a ruined cistern, covered by weeds, and defiled by reptiles. Many of them, too, were
men of knowledge, foresight, and property. Tliat they failed is certain, but of tht?
causes of their failure, I confess I can give no satisfactory account. I was told that
disappointment trod close at their h«els at every step. At one time the fermentation
was too long continued ; -at another, the liquor was drawn off too soon. Now the piilp
nas not duly granulated, and now it wa's worked too much.* To these inconveniences,
for which practice would doubtless have found a remedy, were added others of a much
greater magnitude: the mortality of the negroes^ from thcTapour of the fermented

I i i liquor,

* Mr. Eihvarils, in anotlier plare, obsprves, "that the snti, which improves and invigorntjs the plant,
prop-duates at the same time an insert destructive to it. This is a species ofa;iul) or worm, which becomes ».
tly, and preye on the leaves, and never fails, in the West Indies, to disappoint tlie planters expectations the
second year npon the same land ; the only remedy is to change the soil every yeur. The want of due atti-ntion
to this important circinnstance has probably been one of the causes that so many pcrs«ils have failiNi of late
y. years, io their attcmptj toreviye tiie culture of this valuable coinmodity,"

426 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. indigo

liquor, (an-alawning circumstance, that, as I am informed, both by the French and
Ent^lisli planters, constantly attends the process) the failure of the seasons, and the
ravages of the worm. These, or some of these evils, drove themat -length to other
pursuits, where industry nii2;ht find a surer recompense.

** Their history, however, I'urnishes a new illustration to a very trite but important
remark, that a manufacture, ojice destroyed, scarce ever takes root a[;ain in the same
country. Of the causes from which the general culture and manufacture of iiidigo was
relinquished in Jamaica, enough has been said by other writers : yet the same argu-
ments, whicli induced the British government to burthen this commodity with duties
under which it sunk, are still urged in the case of other colonial products, and wi!i.<]
continue to be urged, until the same fate attends many of tliem as attended indigo. — ■
Of the monstrous follv and imjiohcy of loading with iiigh duties an article so essentially
necessary to the British woollen uianufactory, (putting colonial considerations out of
the question) the mother country is, I believe, at length sufficiently convinced, the
quantity of indigo annually imported into Great Britain, from all parts of the world,
bein >■, I believe, one million and a.half of pounds, of which five parts, in sevea,- are r
j)urchiiscd with ready money from strangers and rivals 1"

The following is a negro secret, and superior to mercurial ointment, tor destroyirii^
the vermin wliich generally infeit their woolly heads, and without the danger which
attends tlie preparations of quicksilver, for that purpose: Half fill a bottle with the
clean roots of the indigo, which grows commonly in the pastures, roads^ and hedges,
first scraped in the manner of horse-raddish. On these pour so much strontj rum as
will cover tlve roots, but not fill the bottle. Let the bottk be close corked, frequently
sliaken, and exposed to the sun-shine for some days. This infusion, well rubbed on
the bead, tmtil the hair is thoroughly drenched, will as effectually and instantly de-
stroy the vermin, as if boiling water had been poured on the part. May not a strong'
decoction of the roots, boiled in water, prove efficacious in killing fleas in the fur of
dijns and cats — the lice in the feathers of domestic poultry — and the animalculi that
occasion and communicate the mange among sheep, goats, or other animals ? It is
said, that in North America the wild indigo bush is stuck iato the horses harness ta >
keep off flies.-

INDTGO BEKRY. GARDENIA.

Cl. 5, OR. I. — Pentandria monog^jnia. Nat. or. — Contorts.

*rhis was named in honour of Alcxanxlcr Garden, M.D. of Gharlestown, in Carolina;.

Gen. cn.\R.— Calyx a one-leafed, five-cleft, superior, perianth ; divisions upright,
permanent; corolla one-petaled, funnel-form, contorted, border five-parted,;
the stamens have no filaments ; anthers five, inserted into the mouth of the tube,
linear, streaked, half the length of the border ; the pistil has an inferior germ,
style filiform or club-shapetl, stigma standing out, ovate, obtuse, two-Iobed,
often furrowed ; the pericarp a dry berry, one, two, or four, celled; seeds very
man y, flatted, imbricate in rows. Two species are natives of Jamaica.

1. ACULEATA^

tNEaa© HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. . 427

1. JCULEATA. PRICKLY.

Lycium forte, foliis subroliindis intcgris, spinix e( foliis -cx advn'?o
sitis. !?lu;,nc, V. 1, p. 40, t. ll.f. 4. Folii^i siihrcifinidi.s rofifnils;
sinnviis ranndis bispiniftris, jioribus solitariis. Browne, p. 14;!,
t. 8, f. I.

Thorns opposite, both they and the flowers shorter than the leaves ; branches
smooth.

Spines of the branches decussated, leaves roundish, teeth of the calyx lanceolate-
subulate, corolla salver-shaped. The berr3- is two-celled and even, when ripe a very
thin partition remains. The form of the corolla varies estrenioly in this oeiuis. The
viitis (th^' tollowiPL';) or thornle.ss randia, seems to be the same in a more advanced age,
when it IS common tor trees and shrubs to lose their thorns. — Su'. This small shrub
rises by a branched stalk, and shoots conmionlv to the height of seven or eight feet ;
the main stem is tough and hard ; the branches somewhat prickly at the ends, and tiie
leaves of an oval form, and growing in tufts ; it is frer,uent in the lowlands, and grows
chiefly in the most barren clayey sods. The pulp of the berries, which generally are
Bumerous on the smaller branches, is very thick, and stains paper or linen of a fine
fixt blue colour I have ti-ied it on many occasions, and have always observed it to
stand though washed with-either soap or acids, but it docs not comnmnicate so line a
colour with heat. It would j^rove an excellent fixed blue in all manner of pamts and
prints, if it could be obtained in any quantity ; but the berry is not very succulent. — ■
- Browne,

2. MITIS. MILD.

'Cacao affinis, frutcx spinosus, It/cii facie jasmixi finre alhn, fructu in
dispares particulus inter se arctc hcerentes diviso. Sloane, v. 2, p.
18, t. 161, f. I.

■ This rises ten or twelve feet high, with a trunk as thick as the arm, having a reddish
' rough bark. The branches opposite, with oppjsite prickles ; the leaves are al.->o op-
posite, an inch long, and halt as broad, of a yellowish-green colour, smooth and shin-
ing, sessile. The flowers are asillary, white, star-form, after which f jIIovv a half-in<!'Ii
long, green, umbilicated, fruit, tapering to both. ends, containing within a thin gieen
skin and a hollow, a black substance appearing like cacao nuts, having several irregu-
larly sized parts close together. — Sloane. This is supposed to be only a variety, if
not the same as the first species, but in an older stage.

Two exotic species of this genns have been introduced: the fiorida, or Cape jas-

'iniine, which is a very beautiful flowering shrub, and has been pretiy generally and

successfully cultivated in our gardens ; the leaves are large, and of a luctd green ; the

-flowers are produced at the ends of the branches, sitting close to the leaves, and, when

fully blown, the double flower is almostas big as a rose, which has a very agreeaiile

odour. It is planted for hedges in Japaii, where the fruit and mucilage of the seeds

., are used as a yellow dye. I'he thunbergia, which grows to abuut six feet in height,

4.vi>ianching very much.

Iii2 • INGA

428 HORTUS JAMAlCENSISs. . job's

INGA-TREE. MIMOSA.

Ci.. 2i, on. 1. — Pdygavna monaycia^ K.vT. oK. — Lomcntaceoc..-
Gen. cuAB. — aS'c'c Cacoons, p. 137.

INGA,

jlj'bor stliqvxisa Bras.il icnsis foUis piiniattf, costa m-edia viembran!/7'»- '
tttrinq ; extiniti'ius aLili. Sionin-. v. 2, p. .5.S, t. 1S3, i'. i. J'oiiix
vuijorihus oiatis, po: pinnas alalas ct ^landulotas dUj ositis-i Jiunbus
st'junciis. Browne, p. 253. .

Unarmed ; leaves pinnate, five-paired ; petiole margined, jointed.
This tree is from ten to twenty feet in height; the trunk and branches unarmed-; -
ieaves pinnate, alternate ; leaflets five-paired, sesshe,.conneeted bv a margined sulm-
late conmiou petiole, ovate-lanceolate, generally entire, nerved, veined, smooth ;
gjands solitary, between each pan' of leaves ; peduncles terminating, many-flowered ;
ilowers in a short spike, large. Caly>. oue-leafed, five-tooihed ; coroiia twice as large
as ilie calyx, five-toothed ; greenish-white: filaments nionadclphous, verv long ; an-
thers nuuute ; germ oblong ; style filiform ; stigma blunt: legume long, angular-
compressed, with the sutures two-keeled, it grows on the banks of risers, flowering
early in the spring. — .SV. This tree has several crooked branches, covered witli a \\hite
sn.ooth bark, hanging down to the ground; the leaves have an odd leaflet at the end,
larger than the otiiers; each pod contains a great many quadrangular soft peas, lying
close together in a white sweet pulp, which is eaten by negroes. — Sloane. Browne
says this tree is pretty frequent in St. Mary's.

Hee Cacoons -~Oash.\w — Gu.m-Arabic — Nephritic-Tkee — Sensitive Plant— *-

AV'iLU Tamarind.

JOB'S TEARS. OLYRTA,

Cl, 21, OR. 3. — Monoecia triandna. fs^AT. or. — Gramma,
GF^f• CHAU. — Male flowers below the females. — Cal.x a two-valved, one-flowereflfe^
glume, valves equal, lanceolate ; outer sub-ventricose, terminating in a capillary,
.straight, even^ awn; inner narrower, acute, folded in on both sid'es ; there is ac
corolla ; but a two-leaved very small nectar}', with ob-ovate, sub-emar"-inate>
membranaceous, erect, leaflets ; the stamei.s are three capillacy very short fila=
iiients, with linear anthers, acute at botii ends, females solitary, terminating oa
the same panicle, much largei" than tlie males. — Calyx a glume, two-valved, one-
flowered, large, spreading; valves almost equal,^ ovate, concave, nerved; outer
terminating in a long awl-shaped, jsub-flexuose awn, vihose at battom ; inner nar-
rower, acuminate ; the corol!»a two-valved glume, much shorter than the calyx,
eoi'iaceous, shining,, awnless, blunt; outer much longer ;riectary three-leaved,
very small; leaflets ob-ovate, membranaceous, erect; the pistil has an oblon»
ggrm, a filitbrm style., ahuost the length of the calyx, and a capillary pubescent .^
stigma.; the pericarp a glume of the. corolla, involving, fuiiing; the seed ovatCs. '•
TJtterc are oivly two species, both natives of Jamaica^

I. PAKICtJLITA;

j5«J3Rfs- Tortus jamaicensisj. 455^-

1. PANUULATA. I»ANICLED.

6)'amen pa/iiceum mcjus, spicu ftmpluc /u-j>, grants petioUa inciihn-
ttbus, Sioaiie, v. 1, p. lu7, t. 64, i. 2. Antudinucca encut ii'~
(livisa, Joliis brcvionbus laiiuscuUs, spica ruccmo^d tcrrainiUi.—^
Browne, p. 3:35.

Panrcle terminauiig ; culm 1 ranchcJ,

This rises to liie lieinht of four feet, and grows v.-ikl in the w-jo.ls; tlie culm is erect,
jointed, rouiui, branciied at botiom ; jaiius sinij^ie. Leaves slieaiiiiiig, as it were
rhortly petioied at the end of the ii!tath,)Broad lanceolate, acuminate, horizontal,-
Spreading, smootii, s.triated, inarlied witii hnes below; siicaths pubescent. Panicle
teniiinatitig, erect, tiiree jncties long, spreading, luany-tlowered. Branches angular,
rugged, flexuose; male s-pikelets numerous, pressed close to fhe brandies of the pa-
iiRle, alternate, pedicelled, three toiimioniy contiguous •, pedictis llcxuDse, filiform,
«liort ; female flowers solitary, terminating the male spikes^ and tiiree times the size
ol tiie males. This plant, wliich has all tne appearance of a reeJ, is ileemed excelUnt.
fodder for cattle. The seeds liave a iranspaieiit glassy ajipearunce, und are freij^ueotly -
strung for beads,

2. PAUCIFLORA.-- TEW-FLOWEnED, ''■

Flowers axiflary. •

This is also a native of Jamaica, 6rst discovered and classed b\' Swartz. The fiowera--
axe uxillarv, the leaves ovale, --

Ko English Name^ - IRESINE/

Cl. 22, OR. 5. — Dioecia pentandria. Nat. or. — lioloracete^
CjEiib CHAR, — Male calyx. a two-leaved perianth, very small, acute, glossy; corolla
five sessile, lanceolate-erect petals ; nectary of five sciiles, the stamens being in-
terposed ; the stamens fue upright filaments, witli roundish anther.s. Female--
calyx and corolla as in tiie male ; pistil aJis an ovatt germ, no style, two roundish,
stigmas; the pericarj) an oblong-ovate Ci.psule; secas some, downy. Tiiere is. •
^aiy one species, a native of Jamaaa,

■CELOSFA. ■'
Aniarantirs, panfcida-jlavtcantey gracih', holhericea. Sloane, v. !,..<
p. 142, t. .fcO, f. 2. JCre^la herbacca, caule-iiodoso, panicida longe '
assurgctiti: Browne, p. ^358.

Brimie says this plant is frequent about Kingston, rising to tiie height of t«o or
ftjree feet; the leaves of an ova! form and entire; lie describes ii with maie und female
flowers sepeiate. Swartz, on the contrary, never fcjund ii but uitli liermaphrodite
flowers, and thinks itneariy allied to, if not aspecies of,- cclusia ■- f si e L'ockscomb, /?.
205). He describes it thus : Hoot annual; stem upright, irom ;t foot to a fathom in
heignt, divided at top, round, striated, smooth, loose, jointed ;;t tlie insertion of the
iiranches; joiius swelling; brandies opposite, sj;rrathng a little. Leaven ojiposite,
jgctioled, itiaceolme, or ovate-iaa<;eoiatej iic-umiijute, bmoyth. - PauKics ternunatmg,

lyanchcd j .-

V

490 HORTtJS ^AMAICENSrlS.^' -.^^rm

biarirhed ; Ininclics clifTuscd, alternate, spreading ; flowers in a sort of spike, on short
peduncles, sirall, cjvate, wLitioh; at the base of the flowers are extremely minute,
bhii'.inj;, yt!iov\it.h, imbricate, scaielcts.. Calyx or corolla .five cleft, with acute np-
ritiit bt; inents ; filaments shorter than the <oroI.la ; .srerm roundish, st^le very short,
trifiJ, iti J, mas reflex ; the calyx inst ad of a capsule incloses a bla<ik shining seed. A
white wool bursts out i'rom among the scales after the flowering is past.— 6'a-. Accord-
ing to Sioaiie the stems are cornered, yellowish-green, hollow, smooth, needing sup-
port, hut not tuining, as big as a goose ciuiil, having a few joints, and at them opjio-
6tteica\e<, an inch and a half long, and half as broad near Uie round base, ending iu
■S-poiiU, and of a yeliou'ish-green-colour.

^. Jrqn-Gr.vss — See Button-Weeb,

IRON-SHRUB. '-SAUVAGESIA,

Cl. 5, OR. 1. — Perttandria vio7wgynia. NaT. OR. — Gruinales.

Gen. char. — Calyx a flive-p^rted perianth, leaflets lanceolate, acute, coacarCs,
spreading, permanent ; the corolla has five petals, blunt, equal, rhomb-ovate,
length of tiie c;.iyx ; nectary five smaller leaflets, alternate with the petals, oblong,
.erect, sunounJed by niany shorter hairs ; stamens live awl-.shaped very short fila-
ments, with ob Long, acute, short, anthers; the pistil fias an ovate germ, a sim-
ple st^ ie, tlie length of the stamens, and a simple blunt stigma ; the pericarp is a
capsule, ovate, acuuiinate, one-celh?u, three- valved at the top ; seeds numerous,
ver\- small, fastened to the sutures in a longitudinal row. There is only on|;
species, a native ol Jauiuica.

ERECTA. -ERECT.

Ilerhaccus mh.or foliis oblongis levissime crenatis, stipulis tiliatis,
jioriUus singulat ibim ad ulas. Browne, p. 179, t. 12, f. 3.

' This beautiful little plant rises generally in an oblique direction, and seldom shoots
above ten or tv«ehe inches trom the root; the stalk is delicate, smooth, and round,
easting a few.slender branches on tvery-srde, without any certain order. Leaves small,
oblong, smooth on llie upper side, very lightly crenated, and disposed in an alternate
but irregular order ; til- y are on short tooisialks, and adorned with remarkably ciliated
cars or siipuies on each side, at their insertions. The, plant is rare : I found it between
Mount Diablo and St Ann's. — Btouiie. The peduncles are one-flowered; flow^
ivhite, without scent. It is easily distinguished by its ciliate stipules.

InoN-WooD — See SAViN-TREE-a«(/ Redwood.
Ikon- Wort — See Wild-Hops,

• No English Name. ITEA.

•Cl. 5, OR. 1. — Pentandria vwnogTjJiia^ ■ "^hj.^OKy—rJiododcnirat

■JTOTiciA HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 4Sl

Gen. char. — CaUx a one-leafed, fiVe-cleft, upright, perianth ; segments lanceo-
late, acute, permanent, coloured; the corolla has five petals, sessile, lanceolate,
a<'iiiTiinate, spreading, deciduous; the stamens five a.vl-shapeJ fiiamentsi up-
rioht, tlie lengtli of the corolla, inserted into the base of the calyx, with roundisU
incumbent anUiers ; the pistil has an ovate superior germ, a permanent cylindric
style, the length of the stamens, and two blunt stigmas ; the pericarp is an ovate
capsule, longer than the calyx, mticronated by tlie style, two-celled, two-valved,
many seeded ; seeds very small, oblong, .shiniag.. There are two species, one oS
which is a native of Jamaica.

CYRILLA, ^

Leaves lanceolate, entire, membranaceous.
This grows three feet in height; stem upright, somewTiat branched, round, .ish-
coloured ; branches alternate, or scattered, spr^-a ling, angular, ruf )us, smooth. —
Leaves alternate, bluntish, revolute, with the edges a little waved, one-nerved ; th»
mid-rib marked with lines above, prominent underr>eath, smooth, paler underneath,
dry, spreatling, fTat, permanent, three inches long, and an inch wide ; petioles very
short, cylindric below, fiat above, reddiih^ Racemes very many, lateral at the base
of the new shoots, one from eacli bud, orr short peduncles, spreading, from four to
six inches long, flowers scattered, pediceiled, spreading, white, two or three liti':*
in diameter: bracte linear, very siiarp, white, withering, under the pi' licels, than
which it is scarcely longer ; bracteoie tv.-o-leaved, opposite, linear, sharp, pressed
close, on the pedicel itself next the calyx, winch is white; petals longer than-tha
valyx ; anthers- two- celletl, peltate, very pale violet ; germ whitish, style short, couiA
pressetl, scarcely bifid, shorter than the stamens ; stigmn headed ; capsule sitting oa
'ihe calyXj resesnbling two united styles, by means of its double partitions^.

JUSTICI.\ BALSAM. JUSTICIA.

CI..-2, OR. 1. — Diandria monofrynia , ^at. on. -~-Persoi!af^e.

This was so named in honour of James Justice, Esq. F.ll.S. author of th© British
Jardeners Director.

Gem. cn.-iR. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, very small, five-parted, acute, upright,
narrow; corolla one-petaled, riiigent, tul>e gibbons, bor ler two-lipped, superior
lip'oblong-emarginate, l!^ferior, of the same length, reflex, trifid ; sriiiiiens two
a«l-shapcd filaments, hid uniler the iipptr lip, with uprigiit aMher's,' bifid at the
base; th» pistil has a top-shaped germ, a fiiif >r;u style, tlie -length aird situation
of the stamens, and a simple stigma ; the pericarp is an oblong capsuleVMiarrowed
at the base, tw-o-celled, two-valved; the paitituwi opposite to the valvo(!,- gaping
wiUi an elastic elaw ; seeds roundish. • Si.^ -species are iiativ^is of Jamaica.

I. ASSURGEVS. ARISIVG.

Flori cardinalls sive rapmifro affiti's anomala, caule qiuidratn, /lore cnc-
cineo, capfnihi pyraiiidali Sl.Mne, v. 1, p. 159. Jferbaca trs'tur-
gf}is, ad nl-!s a!ferni\ ii-i Ids- et sun nif-tfi's ihriUi ; filiis ihiM-ionbas''
ovatis pctiolhloiigis iiicidciitibas, Br^i.vne, p. 118, c. 2, f. l.

H'crbaceoasi

43*- HO^TUS JAMAICENS19. ,,-«a*»^

TL'.b.icoous ; branclics angular ;Jc"aves ovato-cUiptic ; spikes aNillnrv nnd tcr-
i!)iiiaiiiig, bi-andicd ; (l^iyers aliomato ; . bracles linear ; anthers parillel.

^ The root is six^rt, thick, anil i! i vide d ij;to llvcc or four lowrr reddish branche^!. Tiic
. ftem sq'.ia.e, .i;ieen, jointed. ..sieuder,; ri?uii<^ tlirce.or tour (cct, scarcely able to snp-
port Itself; it shoots into a great iinniber of opposite bfanchcs, rriowin^ gradually less
its they asc-end ; the leaves arc also opposite, two auhes long, and one broad near the
iootstulk, wauli is two jiojtjes long ; tiiey are rongh, and of a dirty green colour. The
flowers uro two-iipp-'d, lips uiu.ividei.1,. on axillary spikes, of a scarlet colour, three-
quarters of an inch long.*-- .The seeds arc round, flat, black, and have a defect in each.
'J'iiis beautiful plant is veryconimon about the Ferry, and flowers generally in July and
August. — Sloane K Broxvjie. ""

.-. 5. PECTOnALIS. PECTORAf..

. Foliis lanceolalis, fioribus spicatis, calicibus (hiplicati:, Bro^vne, p.

118.

Herbaceous, leaves lanceolate, petioled ; spikes p^nicled ; bractes minute, up-
per lip iniLiiviaed ;__ andiers biiiate.
This plant .seldom rises more than.ten ar twelve inches in height. Leaves'acuminate,
iwo inches long ; panicles teruiinating, dichotoinous, slender ; flowers numerous, red,
sessile ; bractes bristle-shaped ; the whole plant has dje smell of new hav, mist with a
reireshing aromatic scent ; it is made a syrup of, vyhich is thought of use in disorders
of the breast. The bruised leaves are also good in wounds and cuts, whence the Frenck
<;all it he) be a charpentiere. It is known bj the nanje of garden balsam.

S. ARMAT4. ..ARMED,

Shrubby; prickly; leaves oijlong, emarginatc, coriaceous, sliining. — S:i>.

4. ACICULARi.?. NEEDLE-SHAPED.

Shrubby, diffused, spiny; spiaes bristle-shaped ; flowers peduiiicled, ayillarj,
solitary. — Sxv.

5. HUMIFUSA. MOIST.

Stem herbaceous, decumbent ; leaves ovate at^d cordate; spikes umbcUed.

6. NEMOROSA, WOODY.

Stem herbaceous, four-cornered, somewhat upright ; leaves ovato-lanceolatej
spikes ovate. — Sw.
This genus is nearly allied to dianthera — fsee Balsam Herb, p. 40.) The following
exotic species have been miroAnceA -.Adhatoda, or Malabar nut ; picta, variegated
justicia ; 7titida, shining-leaved; A/art inicensis,, Marti n i co ; Cart/iagi'nieiisis, Cav-
thaoinian ; ana the spinosa, prickly. All the species arc propagated from seeds jwid
puttings.

IVY. • HEDERA.

^L. 5, OR. 1. — Pentandria monogynia^ Nat. Q^.—Hederacea^

^s>&h

I^BNiY HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 43|8.

Ceh. char. — Calj'x has an involucre of a simple umbel, very small, many-toothctl ;
a small five-toothed perianth; corolla five-petaled, oblong ; stamens subulate fila-
meate, with anthers trifid at the base; the pistil iia^ a turbinate get ni, and simple
style aod stigma ; the pericarp is a globular five-seeued berry, surrounded bv the
calyx ; seeds large, gibbous on one side, angular on the other. Swartz discovered
ivvu species in Jamaica.

l.PENDOLA. PEKDULOUS.

Leaves ovate-lanceolate, entire; peduncles very long, pendulous.

2. NUTANS. NODDING.

Leaves elliptic, coriaceous j umbels nodding, hemispherical.

Kelp — See Sea-Weeds.

ICIDNEY-BEANS. PHASEOLUS.

Cl. 17, OR. 4. — Diadelphia decandrla. NaT. or. — Papilionace^e.
CeN. char.— i'ee Black-Eyed Pea, p. 99.

VULGARIS. COMMON.

St*m twining ; flowers racemed, in pairs ; bractes smaller than the calyx ; le-
gumes pendulous.
This useful vegetable, of which there are numerous varieties, known by the name
of cocksiones, grows very plentifully in Jamaica. The stems are more or less twining,
but in the dwarf species, principally cultivated, scarce at all so. Leaves ternate, acu-
minate, rounded at the base, rough, on long petioles. Flowers axillary, on twin ra-
cemes, or else on twin petioles ; corolla white, yellow, purple, or red. There is a
*vhite nectariferous scale between the claw of the banner and the single stamen, bent
up.vards, and rowing to the filament ; besides this an obliquely bell-shaped, pellucid,
Striated, nectary surrounds the pedicel of the germ, within the connate filament. —
Legume oblong, swelling a little at the seeds, when ripe one-celled. Seeds several,
ovate or oblong, kidney-shaped, smooth, and shining ; they vary exceedingly in shape
and size, but particularly in colour, being white, black, blue, red, and variously
tpotted. Of this numerous family of plants the following are those most generally
cultiv:jited in Jamaica :

K k k Cockslones

4-54 HOKTUS JAMAICENSIS. kylungu

Cflc/:stcr.es^~TViSi po Js of which, in their yoimf^ stale, are served up by way of greens,
under the name oi' French beans. When dry the seeds are used in soups, and are aa*
excellent food for negroes.

Calavences, or red bean, 2X\A black-betty. — ^These are very productive, and maybe
gathered in six or seven weeks after sowinj]^ ; the flowers of both are of a pnrple colour,
but the bean of the former is red, that of the iaiier black. They are both wiiolesome
food, of wjiich negroes in general are very f(jnd. They are erect plants, with
slender pods, round, many-seeded. The former is described and figured by. Sloane,
V. 1, p. 183, t. 115, f. 2,'Z:

The Bonavist. — This is a climbing plant, with loose terminal spikes, compressed
pads, four-seeded, with a rough suture on both sides. This plant is said to thrive
better than any of the others, and the seeds are considered wholesome and palaleable.
Jt grows luxuriantly among rocks, and in the driest soils. There is a white and a red
variety. Both are figured by Sloane, t. 113, f. 1, 2, 3, 4.

Cuckold^s Increase. — This plant resembles the calavances very-much, both in th&
size and manner of its growth, and size and form of its pods. It is a good and produc-
tive pulse. This seems to be a species of dolickos, as does the bonavist; neither of their
stiimens are spirally twisted ; flowers white, with a yellow tinge at the base of the banner.

Jamaica Siigar^Bean. — This is a scandent plant, with smooth compressed pods,
three or four seeded. It is cultivated all over the island, and introtluced as a green at-
every table, and a very excellent one it is ; it ii)dee4 takes its name from its agieeable
sweet flivour. It continues to bear through a considerable part of the year, if tke vine
is trained to run upon a stick or arbour.

Broad Bean. — This is a large plant, with large compressed pods, three or four
seeded. The stalk is as big as one's finger, turning and winding on any thing seven
or eight feet high. It is sometimes cuitrvated for covering arbours. The beans are
very wholesome and agreeable, either in soup or as a green. — See SLoayie, t. \\\, f. 1.

Lima Bean. — This is perennial, and was long ago introduced into Jamaica, where it
lias thriven well, especially in the lowlands. This, in flavour and tenderness, far ex-
ceeds all the other kinds, but not so frequently to be met with. It requires a rich soil,
and continues to bear, if trained ui)on an arbour, for four or five years successively,
but does notprpduce so frequentlj' as the other kinds.

See Black-Eyed Pea and Horse Beans.

Kleinfa — See Hemp Acrimony.
I^NOTTED Gr.\ss — See Worm Grass,

No English Name: KYLLINGIA.

Cl. 3, OR. 1. — Triandria monogynia. Nat. or. — Gramina.
This was so named from Petrus Kylhng, a Dane.

Gen. CHAR. — Calyx an ovate oblong ament, imbricated, scales oblong ; glume un*
equal, compressed, bivalve; valves .lanceolate, channelled, acute, much shorter
than the corolla; the one shorter than the other ; corolla a glume, longer than the
calyx, coaipressed, bivalve; valves keeled, uiTcqual, divaricated at the tips, of
which one is larger, lanceolate, very sharp, complicated, embracing the margin

of

KVlXiNGiA HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 433

of the other; the other shorter, narrnwer; the stamens are three nwl-shape:!, fi;it
filaments, with lipfar, erect, anthers; the pistiHias an ob-ovate germ, tiatteiied,
gibbous on one edge ; style filiibrm ; stigmas two or three, capillary; there is no
pericarp, the jilimies of the corolla preserving the seed till ripe; seed oblong,
'three-sided, destitute of villi. Tiirce species are natives of Jania.ca.

1. MONOCEPHALA. ONE-HEADF.D.

Minimus pralen.tis panicido stricto singulari, foliis invohicri levnis. —
Browne, p. 127.

Culm filiform, three-sided ; head glohular sessile ; involucre thrce-Ieaved, very
long.

The stem rises a foot high, three-sided, strict, grooved ; leaves the length of the
culm, linear, keeled, even, sheathing at the base. Involucre three-leaved; upper
leaflet upright, long ; lateral ones Horizontal ; one of them three or four tnnes shorter
than the rest, ciliate at the edge. Head glomerate, roundish ; spikelets very many,
ovate, acuininaie, coiupress'id, greeiu Glumes one-flowered, only bivalve; valves
avmless, scarcely unequal, one a little larger, ovate-acute, keeled ; filaments one,
two, or three, ovate, thickish ; antuers linear, upright, not versatile, X^llow; genu
roundish, compressed; style cloven m the middle ; stigmas simple, reflex ; seed com-
pressed, involved in tlie permanent ylume. — Sw.

Browne calls this the smai; cj/perus, with a simple head ; found in the lowlands, and
seldom rising more than four or Ave inches from the root.

2. TRICEPS. THREE-HEADED.

'Gramen cyperoide.s minus, spica cowpacta suirohinda viridi, radice
odorata. Sloane, y. 1, p. 119, t. 78, f. 2. Humilior Joliis invo-
hicri atbo longitudinalitcr, fasciatis. Browne, p, 12«.
Heads terminating in threes, or thereahouts, glomerate, sessile.
Culm half a foot high, commonly decumbent at the base, naked, three-cornered;
leaves radical, shorter than the culm, sheathing, linear, keeled, smooth ; involucre
three-leaved, terminating; leaflets linear-lanceolate, keeled, minutely serrate; one

superior, shoit. Heads three or four, sessile, one in the middle, oblong, larger.

Spikelets clustered, not imbricate; glumes two, the outer ones very minute; two
inner larger, one-flowered; valves equal, ovate, acute, keeled, white at the edge;
two white bristles within the keel of the valves ; filaments three, very short, with yel-
low anthers ; germ compressed, style bifld, stigmas reflex ; seed compressed, shinin"-.
It is frequent in moist meadows in Jamaica. — Sw. Browne calls it ttie varicoatcd
grassy cyperus. Sloane says the under parts of the leaves are reddish, and that the
root is very odoriferous.

3. FILIFORMIS. FIUFORM.

.Umbel terminating, simple; spikes sessile and peduncled, ovate; spikeletS
,ovate-acute ; ii^volucre three-leaved, partial none.

K k k 2 LACE

•*l

43» HOIITUS JAMAICEiNSlS. lyvCR

LACE-BAllK-TREE. DAPHNE.

Cl. 8, OR. I.' — Octanilria moiwg^jnia, Nat. or. — VepteaiLe,
CCN. CHAR — No caljx; corolla oiie-))ttult;J, funnel-form, withering, including
the stamens; tube c) lindric, luiperi'oryte, longer tiian the border; border foni'-
cleft, ilivibious ovate, acute, tkit, sprcadnig; the stamens eight filamenis, short,
inserted into the tube; the alternate ones lower; anthers roundish, erect, two-
celled; the pisul lius an ovate germ, a ver^' short style, and a headed, flat-de-
pressed stio ma ; the pt ntarp is a roundish one-celled berry ; seed single, round-
ish fleshy. Three species of this genus are natives of Jamaica.

1. LAGETTO,

Laiirifolio arher folie latieie longo muerovato lavi splendenfi, cortice

interiove in telas pluiin as linearum o'mulasexteiisili. Sloane, v. 2,

p. 22, t. 168, f. I, 2, 3, & t. ley, f. 1. Fvliis majoribus, corda^

tis, nitidis, pet iolis sanipipollicaribus iucidentibus. Browne, p. 371^

*- t. 31, f. 5.

Spikes panicledj terminatiog ; loaves ovate-acute.

It has a lanrel-like leaf, and iherefurc called by Sloane arbor laurifoUa. The wood
is white ; leaves four inches long, and two and a half broad near the base, of a yellowish.
green colour, shining, thick, and smooth. It is common in the woods of Vere, Cla-
rendon, and St. Elizabeth. The inner bark is of a fine texture, very tough, and divi-
sible into a number of thin filamentous lamina, whicl>, being soaked in water, may be-
drawn out b) the fingers into a retiiuilum, resembling fine lace so nearly as to be scarcely
distinguished i'roin it. The la^lies of the island are extremely dexterous in making^
caps, ruffles, and complete suits of lace with it ; in order to bleach it, after being
drawn out as much as it will bear, they expose it stretched to the sunshine, and sprinkle
it frequently with water. It bears washmg extremely well, with common soap, or the
curatoe soap, and acquires a degree of whiteness equal to the best artificial lace. There
is no doubt but very fine clothes might be made with it, and perhaps paper. The wild
negroes have made apparel with it of a very durable nature. The common use to
which it is at present applied is rope-making. The Spaniards are said to work it into
cables, and the Indians employ it in a variety of different fabrics. It may, perhaps, be
of service to Great Britain as a manufacturing natron, that the inhabitants of these co»
lonies are very seldom disposed to improve what nature offers, or apply many produc-
tions here to the obviotis uses for which, they are intended. Necessity, that great spur
to such improvement, is wanting to stimulate; or otherwise they would soon find out
methods of turaing them to account. — Long. Sloane relates that Charles II. had a
cravat made of the bark of this tree, which was presented to him by Sir Thomas Lynch^-

The lace-bark-tree grows on high rocky hills twenty feet high. The trunks straight^
the wood soft, the bark thick, and may be separated into twenty oc thirty lamina, white
and fine, like gauze.

It has the sensible qualities of mezereon, but in a greater degree. A drachm of it,
to two pounds of sarsaparilla decoction, is useful in confirmed lues, chronic rheuma-
tisa\s, and pains of the bones froni lues of the yaws. — Wright,

2. TrNW<M4U,

lOxcewoo* HORTtrs JAMAlCENSIS. -A'^h

2. TlNIFOl,IA. TlNl'S-LEAVED.

Racenies compound, erect; flowers terminating, crowded; leaves oblonj.
This rises with a woody stalk to the height of twenty feet, dividing into many
tranches, which are covered with a grey rough bark ; at the extremity of the branches
are produced the peduncles, which are unequal in length, ami divide into several
smaller, each sustaining a cluster of small white flowers, which are collected into a head
cr small umbel, having one general involucre; they are male and hermaphrodite on
different trees. The latter are succeeded by oval berries, not quite so large as those
of the coramon bay. The leaves are about two inches long, and one inch broad,
sounded at the top and entire, on very short footstalks.

3. OCCIDENTAL13. WESTERN.

Peduncles axillarj-; flowers terminating, in unibellets, dioecious j leaves ahep-
nate, lanceolate, smooth, — Sw.

No English Name. LACISTEMA.

Cl. 1, OR. 2. — Moiiandria digTjnia. Nat. OR. —
^EN. CHAR. — Calyx a common ament, imbricated on all sides, columnar ; scales one-
flowered, ovate, concave; two small linear sc|uamules bemg placed at the sides
beneath the corolla within the scale ; corolla one-petaled, four-paited, no tube;
divisions lanceolate, sharp, sulj-erect ; nectary one- leafed, rotate, entire, smaller
than the corolla, concave ; the stamens are single filaments, situated in tiie middle
of the nectary with the germ, uprighi, incurved above the middle over the germ,
biiid at the top ; anthers minute, roundish; the pistil has a globose germ •„ two
very short styles, recurved; siigmas simple ; the pericarp is a footstalked berry,
ob-ovate, oblong, one-celled; seed single, solitary. There is only oue 'species^
which was discovered in this island by Swartz.

MYRICOIDES.. MYRICA-LIKE.

Stem arborescent ; branches round,, somewhat knotty, ash-coloured, naked, smooth-
!sh, spreading, branched ; branchlets greenish, leaty, smooth, somewhat wrinkled,
with very minute transverse veins, quite entire, four inches long, spreading, with a
longitudinal waving nerve ; petioles short, flattish, channelled. Spikes only two or
three lines in length, aggregate, round, straight, sessile, partly from the ai.ils of the'
leaves, partly lateral from the scars of the braoches.^— .Sa;.

LANCEWOOD. uvaria.

Cl. 13, OR. 7. — Polyandria polygyn'ict. NaT. or. — Coadunafx.
This has received its generic name from the figure of the fruit, being like a bunch
of grapes.

Gen. char. — Calyx a three-leaved perianth, flat; leaflets ovate, acute, permanent;
the corolla has six petals, lanceolate, sessile, spreading, longer than the calyx -^

tlie

4'.'8 JIORTUS JAMAICENSIS. iancfwood

the sismens have no filpmeBts; anthers numerous, trur.c;ito, oblong, covering tltc
•.;eriii on yvijich tliey are pluced ; the pistil lies an ovate germ, numerous suits,
tlie loiig'th «f tlie aniiicrs, Leiniinatiug the hc.id ; stignuis obtuse; tlu- jKnicarp
nuaieruus berries, distinct, globular, peduiieleJ, laauiied to an oblong receptu-^
.«ic } seeds liumerous.

TAMCEQI.ATA. lrA^■CFD.

T^oliis^i'afis gldbris utrin-quf acuminatis, Jlorilnis umbclhdalis, iim-
bdllulis .ypats:s. Browne, p. '-'ilO.

Leaves lanceolate, quite entire; fiouers asiHarj', solitary ; branches wand-like.

Neither the fruct:licalion, nor other parts of this tree, of which thrre are two kinds,
seein liitlierio accuriitcly described. Browne places it among those trees, whose flow-
ers he had not seen. The calyx is a perianth composed of three obtuse-pointed,
broad-based, or semicircidar-likc leaves, which are patent, short, and deciduous: the'
corolla has six petals, equal, ovate, concave, reflected, thick, and falling as soon al-
most as open ; they are more than f(jur times the length of the cup : the stamens are
from liiteen to twentv equal erect filaments, bent or arched upward, thick, adhering
to a ciicular gland ; the anthers oblong, and adherent to the exifrior sides of the sta-
mens, seeming double ; the germs are oblong, erect, ten or twelve in niitnber, some-
what shorter than the stamens, which arc shorter than the petals. The pericarp is a
drupe, containing, one seed or stone, of an ovate form, whose proper covering is inse-
perable from the kernel, somewhat of a ligneous texture, manv productions of which
penetrate into the kernel, as may be observed in the seeds of all the species of annona,
to which genus this approaches nearly. The fruit grew one, two, three, or four, upon
tiie receptacle, never more than four, and that but seldom, for the receptacle not in-
creasing in proportion to the growth of the germs, the latter {rush one another off;
tney are each ])etlunculated, and fixed to an oblong receptacle. The berries have a
longitudinal furrow running down one side. There are.two species, natives of Jaiiiai6%

l.ALBA. WHITE.

Flowers terminating.

The leaves of this are alternate, of an oblong-ovate form, acuminated at each extre«.
mitj', smooth and glossy on both sides, of a remarkably deep green above, and some-
what p<der beneath, placed upon black, short arcuated pedicels. The corolla is white,
the vruit reniform, carnose, somewhat compressed, rostrated at its origin, splitting
open on its gibbous side, and displaying a crimson unctuous pulp, in which are divers
transverse cells, each containing one kidney-shaped seed. This fruit is eaten by ne-
groes and odiers, when roasted, the pulp being reckoned very nutrimental, and is
known by the name of ■wliite-lancewood berries. From the flexibility of its smaller
branches, tliey are often used, as birch is in England, for the pumshQient of de^
linquenta.

2. NIGRA. BLACK.

Flowers lateral.

The leaves are entire in their margins, which are somewhat reflected ; from a pale

green n)id-nb, conspicuous below, arise a few alternate and oblique veins, which are

gradually lost in the margins. The ripe fruit are of a deep shinmg, blackish-purple

colour, acumiuated at the extremity. The flowers seem to be placed at the defoliated

parts

iAVENDER IIORTU3 JAMAICENSiS. *'y»

parts of the smaller branches, one at a place, between the leavasj not axillary. ,B(;fh.
these species are considered good timber, especially where elasticity i.-; required'; bat
they seldom ijrovv taany considerable size. They are used for makina; shafts for light
carriages. The negroes make lances of the wood, whence the name ; and from its
toughness k makes good rods. Pigeons feed on the fruit.

No English Name. LAUGERIA.

Cl. 5, OR. 1 — Pentandna monogynia. NaT. or. — Rubiacea.

This was so named from Robert Laugier, professor of chemistry and botany at
Vienna.

Gen. char — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, tubular, superior, v/ith unequal mouth,
small, deciduous ; corolla one-petaled, salver-form, tube very long, border five-
cleft, divisions ob-ovate; the stamens are five very shortfitaments, with linear
anthers, long, beneath the throat; the pistil has a sub-ovate inferior germ, a fili-
form style, rather longer than the tube, and a headed stigma ; the pericarp is a
roundish drupe, umbilicateil with a point ; seed a two or three-celled farrowed
nut. Two species were discovered in Jamaica by Swartz.

1. LUCID A. SHINJNG.

Leaves oblong, blunt, entire, membranaceous, shining; racemes dichotomous;
drupes with two-celled nuts.

Branches round, smooth, covered with an ash-coloured bark, scarred at top with the
fallen leaves. Leaves in clusters at the ends of the branchlets, petioled, opposite, two
or three inches long, very smooth and even, nerved, quite entire; racemes from the
axils of the terminating leaves, solitary, opposite, the length of the leaves, bifid, reflex
at the tip, a\mo&x. an '\n tournefortia. Flowers on short pedicels, distant, all directed
the same way, on the inner side of the peduncles; calyxes small, smooth, , five-cleft j
corolla smooth. — Fahl.

S. TOME^TOSA. DOWNY.

I Leaves ovate-acute, entire, tomentose underneath; racemes dichotomous;

drupes with a two- celled a-ut. — Sw.

Laurel, West Indl-^ — ^ff West India Laurel. .
Laurll Trees — See Bay Trees.

LAVENDER. LAVENDULA.

Cl. 14, OR. \.^~Didynamia gymnospermia. Nat. o^.—Verticillata.
Gen. CHAR. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, ovate, mouth obscurely toothed, short,
permanent, supported by a bracte; corolla onc-petaled, rmgent, resupine ; sta-
mens within the tube ; anthers small ; the pistji has a four-parted germ, a filiforrn

stylCj

n& HOUTUS JAMAICENSIS. lavenia

style, and two-lo1)ed stigma; there is no pericarp, calyx converging with the
month, aud guarding Uie seed ; seeds four, ob-ovate,

SMCA. SPIKED.

Leaves sessile, lanceolate-lineur, rolled back at the edge; spilic interrupted,
nuked.

Common lavender has a perennial, thick woody root; stem shrubbv, branched, fre-
t^uently rising five or six feet high, four-cornered, acute anglcLl, tomenlose ; leaves
numerous, blunt, hoary, the upper ones sessile, the lower petioled. The flowers are
produced ia terminating spikes, on long peduncles ; the spikes are composed of inter-
rupted whorls, in wliich the flowers are from six to ten, the lower, whorls more remote.
The common colour of the corolla is blue, but it varies with white flowers. The whole
plant is covered witii a down composed of forked hairs. This plant has long been cele-
brated for its virtues, atid fine aroma'^ic scent. Whether used externally or internally,
Dr Cullen thought it a powerful stimulant to the nervous system ; it is also in esteen»
for putting among clothes. The flowers are gathered by cutting the spikes close in a
dry day, and tying them in small bunches for use. They are given in palsies, vertigos,
lethargies, tremors, and s.uppression of menstrua. The compound spirit distilled from
them IS celebrated for destroying the pecliculi ungidnales, and other cutaneous insects.
If soft spungy paper, dipped in this oil, either alone, or mixed with oil of almonds, be
applieu at night to tlie parts infected, the insects will certainU', says Geofl"roy, be all
found dead in the morning. The lavender plant has been long and generally cultivated
in the gardens of Jamaica; and the following species hare also been introduOed :—
Stoechas, or French lavender; the dentata, or tooth-leaved; and the tnuliijida, or
f^intiry lavender. All the species are easily propagated by slips or cuttings.

No English Name. LAVENIA.

Cl. 19, OR. 1. — ^i/)igenesia polygamia tequaUs. Nat. or. — Compnsit/e.
Gen. char. — Calyx common, sub-imbricate; scales ten to fourteen, lanceolate,
equal, permanent; corolla compound, uniform; stamens five filiform filaments,
shorter than the tube ; anthers oblong, flattish, twin, slightly connate ; the pistil
has an oblong germ, a filiform two-parted style, and a flattish clubbed stigma;
there is no pericarp ; the calyx permanent, spreading ; seeds sub-clavate, a little
'wrinkled, viscid with glandules ; down with three awl-shaped awns, glanJulose at
the base ; receptacl* naked. One species is a native of Jamaica.

DECUMBENS. DEC OMBENT.

Chrysa'iithemum sylvaticw.n repens minus, chamwdryos folio, flore
iuteo imdo,semine i-ostrato. Sloane, v. 1, p. 262, t. 155, f 2. —
Jlcrbaceum, erectuvi ; foliis cordatis, crenatis, oppositis; capitulis
paucioribus, remoiis, terminalibus. Browne, p. 316.

Stem simple, decumbent; leaves sub^ordate, bluntly serrate.
Stem herbaceous ; leaves opposite, petioled, cordate, sometimes, but seldom, ovate,
tlunt, bluntly serrate i peduncles terminating, long, usually bifid, aad two-flowered ;

calyx

■calyx nmny-leaveJ, simple, ovate; pistil longer thn the cornllot ; seeds terminated
J)y two coloured bristles. Jt has tlie apj>earaiice oi' a verbesina. — Liitmns. S'loah-i
says this plant lays us-iial!y ylonijj the surface ut' tije earth, pinled, nine inches Ituj.— ^
Jirovvne made it a species of tanacetum, or tansev, and it is ihi; colulu vcrki.siji^ oi
1-iniieus, transt'erred to this genui; by Suartij.

Lead-Wort — Sic Toothwort.
Leeks — Sie Eschalot.

- 'No English Name. LFERSIA.

Cl. 3, OR. 2. — Triandria digynia^ Nat. or. — Gramlna.
•^o named from Joha Daniel Leers, author of a botanical work.

^EN. CHAR, — Calyx none; corolla a bivalve glume ; valves navicular, concave, coi'rt-
pressed, ciliate, prickly on the back, ncarlj- equal ; the exterior larger, oblont,',
mucronated; the interior twice as narrow, linear, acute; nectary two-leaA'ed;
leaflets lanceolate, acute ; stamens from one to six capillary filaments, with oblong
ssntliers ; the pistil has an ovate compressed germ, two capniary short styles, with
feathered stigmas ; there is no pericarp, the corolla includes .the seed, which is
single, ob-ovate, compressed. Two species are natives of Jamaica.

I. WONANDRA. ONE-sTAMENEn.

iPanicle -spreading ; spikes remote, loose ; spikelets directed all one wa}', rounds
ish, one-stamened ; glumes even. — Sw.

a. IIEXANDRA. SIX-STAMENEB.

panicle spreading ; spikelets alternate, six-stameaed ; plaraes almost even,
—Sw.

No English Name. LEGNOTIS.

Cl. is, or. 1. — Polyandria monogynia. Nat. or. —
This name is derived from a Greek word signifying fringed, the petals teing fringed,
•<Jen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, bell-shaped, half four or five-cleft, per-
manent ; corolla four or five petaled, longer than the calyx, border ovate, fringed;
■ claws slender, inserted into the receptacle ; stamens from sixteen to twenty fila-
jnents, or more, with oblong upright anthers; the pistil has a roundish germ, a
cylindric style, and headed stigma ; the pericarp is a large three-cornered cajisule,
three-cellecl, three- valved, elastic ; the seed solitary, on one side convex, oii the
.other cornered. One species is a native of Jamaica.

elliptica. elliptic,
Xeaves elliptic j flowers pedicelled. — Sw,

L 1 1 LESION

44S Wr>?.TUS JAMArCENSIS. llTTut*

LEMON GRASS. Gevus UnJaw-n^yi.

. This plant, which was.introdiijceJ about fifteen \'oaps atjo, has beei) pretty (rcnfrnlly
cultivated, and has thriven wfil, in most parts of Janiaica, but has never been observed
t.) produce any flower.^ or seed, ahhough carefully examined for several years rDuninn-.
Ic is thought toapproach nearJy to caiiiei's hay fiDidro/w^^'ui scheenanthus I . Tlie ro';t
jjj strong, woody, and tastes >omel.hing like lemon peel, but more bitter; it is about
half an mcli IP. diameter, and several inches lon;^, woody, and full of circular i)rotu-
berancesor leiiges, about a quarter of an inch distant from each other, of a yelloKV co-
lour, and sendmo- forth at its end and sides many white fibres, and fresh shoots, which
propagate the plant very fast, covering a large sarface of ground, the old leaves de-
taymg, while the new leaves shoot successively froni the centre of the stem, which 13
yound, and without joints, entirely formed of the stalks of the leaves circu-
larly enih-racing each other,, like tlie lamin.e of a cabbage-tree. The leaves are fre-
quently i'rom three to four feet in length, and three quarters ot an inch broad, striated,
and resembhng Guinea grass, as well as the plai.t generally, but they are of a h; rsher
nature,, and more coarse appearance, and no animal will eat them ; lo the touch they
arc rough and hard. Thes^e leaves have a very agreeable lemon-like smell, and the de-
coction of them, as well as of the root, is a very pleasant and cooling drink in fevers,
which has also been found very beneficial in nervous lucad -aches : they may be dried;
and kept for use for a great length of time, as they have been found not to lose th.ei«,
virtues after a voyage to England.

Le.mon Tree — See Lime and Lemon Trees..

LETTUCE. LACTTTCA.

Cl. 19, OR..1. — ^i/ngenesia pnlygamia aqualis. Nat. .OR. — Coqnpositee..
This name is derived irom lacte, on account of the milkiness of the plant.

Gen. char. — Calyx common, imbricated, cylindrical, with a membranaceous mar-
pin ; corolla imbricated, uniform; stamens five filaments, with cvlindric anthersj^
the pistil has a sub-ovate germ, a filiform syle, and two reflex stigmas ; there is-
no pericarp, calyx- converging, ovate- cyliudric ; seeds solitarv', ovafe-acuminnte,
even, compressed ; down capillajy, on along stipe, attenujited below; receptacle
iiaked.

s.vriVA.
Leaves rounded • stem-leaves ccvrdate ; stem corymhed.

This useful vegetable thrives well in .Jamaica, in several of its varieties. ThFs has
long been celebrated for its cooUng and wholesome properties, and, as it- contains a
t^antity of a milky juice, of an opiate nature, it promotes sleep ; which it proliabiy effects -
Ly abating heat, and relaxing the fibres. Lettuce is also in .some degree laxative and:
ajperientj and proper in hot bilious dispo. itioQs. The seeds are of an emollient nature.

WCCA ., HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. W^

LIGCA-TREE. SAPINDUS,

Cl, S, oa. 3. — Ociinidria tvigynia. Nat. or. — Trihlalx.

Uen. CH.iR. — CaKx a four-leaved perianth, spreading; leaflets oh-ovsle, almost
equal. Hut, spreading, coloured, deciduous; two ot tnem exienor; the corolla
Las tour ovate tlaweci petals; ; two of tliem more appro.Miiiating ; nectarv four ob-
long, coucave, erect, ieatlets, inserted into the base ot the petals; glands four,
rouiulisir, also iuserted at the base of the petals ; stamens eight filaments, with
coiilate, erect anihers ; the pistil a triangular germ, with three short styles, and,
Bimple obtuse "stigmas ; pericarp tiirec capsules, fieshj', globular, comialc, in-
iiattd \ seed a glouular nut.

SPINOSUS. THORNY.

Fruticosus caudice et rami's spitwsissimis, foliis ovat/'s piimatis.-^
Browne, p. 207, t. 20, f. 2.

Leaves abruptly pinnate ; stenm very thorny.

Dr. Browne, who has given a pretty good figure ef tiiis plant, both in leaves and
parts of fructification, has surely referred it to a wrong genus, as it ap])roaches
more nearly to the amyris, and in some places the smaller ligmim rorum. The sapin-
dus has four or five petals in the corolla, and eight stamens ; the licca tree only Llirce
iselals and three stametis ; the following are the characters of the latter : Calyx small,
one-leafed, three-dented; the corolla has three petals, whicli are oblong-ovate, con-
cave, erect; stamens three erect subulatcd lilaments, longer than the petals, with cor-
date anthers; the pistil has three ovate germs, an erect style, shorter than tlie corolla,
and a capitate sUgma; the pericarp a spherical capsule, one-celled, with a lateral
suture, opeoing from the apex to the base ; one-seeded. Some trees have been found
with female flowers only, the cup, petals, germ, and stigma, agreeing exactly with
tlie above, but destitute of stamens and anthers ; two of the germs always prove alior-
tive. Ill the parts of fructilication it agrees partly with the cwfj/z-w, viz in the form
of the calyx and corolla, but in its fruit it resembles fagara ,• 3Ct in the number of its
parts Jieitiier. The blossoms of this tree are very fi-agrant ; it blooms in the spring.

^I found this shrub in the borough in St. James's : it is very remarkable for the prick-
Ijness of its trunk, which seldom exceeds seven or eight feet in height, or two or three
inches in diameter. The fruit of this tree is much smaller than that of the other species
(see Soapberry-Tree) ; and though the eiv.brios are always trilocular, as in that, no
Biore than one of the cells or seeds ever grows to perfection; the capsula; are, how-
ever, marked with longitudinal sutures, that run down between the two abortive em-
Ijrios, which have been formed by the laceration of the style in the growth of one of the
loculaments ; for there is no more than one style in any of the flowers of .tkesu species.

See Soapberry.

Lignum Rorum— 6't'e Savin Tree.

,1,11 2 LIGNUM

4** nOHTUS JAMAICEN?rS. xiGNOSt

LiGNUM ViT.^ ORf OCKWOOD TREE. CUAIACUAr.

Ci.. 10, oji. 1. — JJt'candiui monosynia. Nat. or. — Griiinaks,

This generic n; nie is denveJ froni the In ia.a cm koa.iacan.

Gen. CHAN. — Calyx a five-loiived periantli ; loaflets ovate -olil on cj, concave, ohtTise,
t^ljreadinji, ileculucius ;. tiic two outer ones a little smaller; the corolla has five
jjctals, rijuiidisli-obovatfi, obtuse, concave, spreaiiinij-, thvice the ienjrth of tho
talyx, enduig 111 sliort <laws, inserted into the receptacle ; the stamens are snbti.
late filaments, broader at the base, n])right, shorter than the corolla, inserted into
the receptacle ; anthers deciduous, oblonjj, fiiialiy recurved ; the pistil has a germ
broader above, angular, pedicelled;. a siiiialate style, equal in length to the sta-
J^.iens; and a simple acute stignia; the pericarp two to five capsules, on very short
pedicels, compressed, membranaceous, covered witii a pidpy rind, gibbous on
the outside, united on the inside, sepecating when ripe, gaping; seeds solitary,,
bony, oblong. One species is a native of Jamaica.

OFFICINALE. OFFICINAL..

Priino rel e-'onynw aljinis arbor, lie. Sioane, v. 2, p. 133, t. ^12y f»-
3, 4, 5, 6. Fdiis fere hn pel inlatisy.bijv satis, oborahs et lenittr'
radiatis ; pinnisct ravndis diclioiomis. Browne, p. 225.

Leaflets two pairs, obtuse.

teaves pinnate ; leaflets two pairs, elliptic,, sessile^, entire, veined,, shining. Pe-^
^uncles terminating, round, shorter than the petioles, one-flowered; calycine leaflets
ovate, convex, pubesctut; jietals ovate, entire ; ft. aments ten, contiguous at the base ;
anthers incumbent, biHd at the base, yeitow; germ ob-cordate,. compressed ; style
permaneiH (.seeming double) ; caj)&iile ob-eordate, angular, on a shortpedicel, five-
cornered, witli very narrow winged iihs on the round back ot the angles, succulent,
smooth, t'erruginous or bright yellow, from two to five-celled, (five seeds sometimes
in each cell). Partitions quite simple, membranaceous, fixed to the middle of the
cover. Seeds large, thicker and bUuit above, attenuated below, convex on one side,:
angular on the otlier, rufescent. Two or three cells are frequently abortive, but the •
%estigesof them remain. The rind. of the capsule is continuous, and the partition^
indivisible.

This tree grows in great abundance on the south side of Jamaica, but is seldom or
ever found on the north. It is an ever green, of a dark gloomy cast, which continues-
its verdure through the driest seasons, h grows frequently to a very considerable size,i.
forty feet high, and fifteen to eighteen inches in diameter, but slowly, requiiing many"
years to bring it to periVcliou.- The roots are thick in proportion to thegrowth of the
tree, and run a great way into the ground, contrary to the ttsual growth of timber trees,
which general. y shoot tue largest prongs of their roots in a horizontal directior*. The
liark IS thick, smooth, brownish, and brittle. The wood is firm, solid, and ponderous,
appearing very resinous, of a blackish-yellow colour within, and of a hot aromatic
taste i It IS cross-grained, the strata running obliqiiely into one another in the form of
an X. As timber it answers where strength and cluration is required ; it is so heavy as
to sink in water ; it takes a fine polish, and is sometimes marbled with different colours.
It is so hard as often to break the tools employed upon it, and is of great use for mak-
yig wheels and cogs for mills, blocl^ for ships, bowls,, mortars, and oilier utensils : it

is

tfcvtrv HORTUS JAMAICENSI3. US

is also in ^jr^nt Jemand for various articles of titmerv ware. But however valuable the
biiiDer lit tins tree, it is much iiiure csteeiiieJ o;i account of the medicinal virtues of its
gu;ii, buik, H jn'crs aiul uaves. Tae woi)J lias little or no smell, ex^i-pt when heated,
tir iv nil i; rasping, an i their a slight arouatic o;ie is perceived. \Viicn clieived, it im-
presses a iinki acrimony, biting the palate aiul fauces. All parts of the tree liave an
acriii dis;igreeai>le taste, and are more or less purgative. Irs pungency resides in its
resiuijus matter, which it gives out in s i:tk; degree to water by b;)iling, but spirit ex-
tracts it wholly. Ill the choii-e of this wood those pieces should he jireierreJ which are.
freshest, largest, most ponderous, and of the darkest colon v; and the best method is
to rasp them ;ts wanted, for the finer parts are a)t to exhale uheir the raspings or chips
are kept a wiiile. Tiie fresh bark opens th<; body, and is deemed a swe. t ner of th«
blo'id. The ])ulp of the berries purges and vomits v.^ry violently, three or four of
them are a (lose. Tlie Mowers are also ina le int) a laxative syrup, resembling syrup of
violets. Tiie foaage of the tree is of a very detersive nature, and frequently used to
scoiir an 1 wtiiten fioors, which it perl'orm.s much better than soaji ; the infusion of them
is also used to wash painted linens and other stained garments, which it is said to do
very efl'ectualiy, without dimiiii9hii>g tlie lustre of the dyes.

The gum is obtained by jagging the bodv of the tree. It eiriides copiously from the
•"ouu-ls, thougii gradually, ami, when a quantity is found accumulated on the wounded
trees, hardeued by exposure to the weather, it is gathered and packed in small k&gs
or exportation. Tnc gum may also Ix; obtained in the following manner : The trunk
I nd larger limbs being sawn intobillets of about three feel long, an augre hole is bored
jngthways in eacli, and one end of the billet so placed on a fire, that a vessel may re-
*eive tiie melted resin which runs through the hole as the wood burns; the gum may
also be obtained in small quantities, bv boiling chips or sawings of the wood in water
and common salt, wnen tlie resin .swims at the to])j and may be skimmed off. Thi:?
resin is of a friable texture, ol a deep greenish colour, and souietimes has a reddish
hue; it has a pungent acrid taste, but littleor n-o sn>ell, unless heated. The gum fre-
quently exudes sjj.jutaueously fn>m the bark, which is called the native gum, and of a
bri"^lit semi-pellucid appearance, and much pttrer thai>tdie other. The guaiacum gum
has been suspecte i sometimes to be sophisticated with the manchroBeal-tree gum, to
which it bears some simihtn le ; but it is easily distinguished' by dissolving a little in
spirit?, to which li^e true gum imparts a whitish tinge, but the manchtoneal gives it a
trreenish cast : and liiis is strll fartner distinguished bv pouring a little of the same tinc-
ture into Welter, whuii takes, from the guaiacum, almost immediiitcly the complectioii
cf milk. In choosing the resin, those pieces which hav'e chips of the bark adhering to^
them should be preterred, and that easily seperate by a quick blow.

Guaiacum was first introduced into Europe for the venereal diseaw ; and appears to
have been used in Spain so early as 1 50*. The great success attending its administra-
tion, before the projier use of mercury was known, brought it into such repute, that
it is said to have been sold for seven old crowns a pound. It di 1 not, however, conti-
nue to maintain its reputation ; but was found generally to fail when the disease was
dee]j-rooted, and was at length sup-reeded by mercury, to which it now only serves
occasionally as an adjuvant hv the rft'cOf/wOT /rofnOr'^OT, of which guaiacum is the chief
ingredient.

Tiic general virtues of guaiacum are those of a warm stimulating medicine ; strength-
€n\i>g the stomach and other viscera, and remarkably promoting the urinary and cuti-
cuigir discliurges J Lcnce, in cutaneous defedations, and other disorders proceeding-

fioia

U6 tIGRTUS JAMAICENSIS. lignusi

from clistructions of the cxcretoi-y glands, and where s]u_G;t',iHh sOrous humowrs abound,
they circ euiineiuly useful ; rheuiimtic and other pains luive often been re'-ieved by
the:ii. They are also laxative, 'I'he resin is the most active of these drugs, and the
tlticacy ot tlie otliers depends upon the quantity of this part contained in them. Tlie
lesin is extracted from the wood in part Ijy watery liquors, hut much more perfccllv
by spu-ituous ones. The watery extract of this wood, kept in the shops, proves not
only less in quantity, but considerably weaker than one made with spirit. This last
extract is of the same quality widi die native resin, and differs only in being purer.—
The gum or extracts are given from a few grains to a scruple, or half a drachm, which
last close ))roves for the most part considerably purgative. 'Fhe officinal preparations
of guaiacum are, an extract of the wood, a solution of the gum in rectified spirits of
wine, and a solution in volatile spirit, and an empjreumatic oii distilled from tlie wood.
The resin, dissolved in rum,* or combined with water, by means of mucilage or the
yolk of an egg, or in form of the volatile tincture or elixir, is much employed in gout
and chronic riieumatism. The tincture or elixir has been given to the extent ot half
an ounce twice a day, and is sometimes usefully combined with laudanum. Dr. Browne
observes, that the tincture has been sometimes administered with success, as well as
the powder itself, in obstinate intermittent and remittent fevers ; in which case they
commonly procure a few stools, as well as promote a general discharge from the skiu.
Grainger says two or three of the pods, infused in warm water, often give a stool ; a
larger number in the same way act as an emetic, but is too surly. Barham says the fruit
is very purging, and for use excels the bark or wood, auu tliat he has cured the vene-
real diseases and yaws with the fruit, without salivation. .

The following recipes, in vvjiich tliis .valuable gum forms a principal ingredient, have
been recommended :

For the. goiit. — One and a half ounce of lignum vitse gum, half an ounce of powdered
salt nitre, "dissolved with a spoonful of spring water, to be put into one pint of brandy
or old run;. Put it into the sun tor three days, sliaking it often.

For the rheumatism. — Take two ounces of lignum vitse gum ; two ounces of sulphur ;
and two ounces of mustard seed bruised, all to be mixed in a quart of old proof rum,
taking half a wine-glass full, filled up with water, morning and evening, with a pint
of warm sarsaparilla drink each time.

For the gout or rheumatism .—Gv\\n guaiacum six ounces ; balsam-capivi two ounces ;
oil sassafras four scrui>les; balsam Peru one ounce; salt of tartar twenty-four grains.
Mix the whole in sixteen ounces of spirits of wine. Twenty-five drops of this mixture
to be taken in a glass of wine every morning, fasting, and in the evening. The doss
to be increased five drops every day until it amounts to forty, which quantity is to be
taken while the patient feels any pain.

For the }jarvs. — To a pint of good rum put fifty blue nickers, and one ounce of gum
guaiacum; let the bottle be put in the sun three days, shaking it frequently, then add
one pint of water. The patient to take a wine-glass full every morning and evening.

Another for the yaws — Take one quart of brandy, and dissolve in it sixteen grains
of corrosive sublimate, then add two ounces and a half of powdered gum guaiac, and
SIX drachms of the species of Edinburgh treacle. Let the ingredients be put in a large
boitle, well stopped, which is to be exposed in the sun, and frequently shaken, until

the

• Tliis appUed to a frcsli woand is equally bcne£ciat, ami serves every pnrpose of Turlington's baUam.

the gum gminc IS perfectly disso'-vcd. To r. ,Q;ro\vn person <xive one fa'j^-^-spo rfnl^
«ha!ving thfc l).)ttie\ ont of a little sarsnpariila deco< tiurij clrinktuEj aftcrvvar»is a pint of
the same decortion, lukewarm, in l>ecl, and let the same be repentei two or thr::e
hours, before the patient jj^ets up in the morninn;. This conr-e, continued for s.:x
week.s will carry off tlie disorck-T trom the sl.in, hnf, to eraJirate it perfectly, it srlnv.lj
be continued lor six vvi.t ks loii_.t .'. '1 ue quantity of the medicine is to be proportioiied
accord nu, to the age of the pi'ti' nt.

- For the ViUereriL—Oi' a'.i me preparations of mercury, the corrosire sublimate an-
pcars to nie to be the best for curing in\f terate venereal or yauy diseases, especiairy
Tfhen accoinparfied with such medicines as promote its nstural tendency to the skin.—
or this sort is guaiaruai anrl -.ar-aparilla. I nave found the following formula the best:
Gum guaiacu'm teil drachm.; Vir;riiiia snake-ro it three draitims ; pimenta two
drachms; opium one dnichin; corrosive suhlimate half a drachm; proof spirits two
poun Is. T>j be niixe'', and 'iii^este:! fir three days, and then strained. Two tea-spcjon-
fuls of tills tincture, given i.i half a nint of sursaparilla decortion, twice a day, will, in
general, remove every syniptoin of lues or uiws in four or five weeks. — JVivffhf.

For dropsy. — Tlie patient must plunge into the coldest water, e'ariy every mornincf,
and walk afterwards ; taking a large tea-spooitful of strong tiiicture of lignum vitae gnm^
,in a wine-glass of water, b^^fore lireakfasi, ilinner, and supper.

For putna cf the heart — As much gum giiaiacuin. fiiiely poivdered, as will lay on the
point of a table knitb, taken m svrup, castas jnun of the heart

For constipation of the bi>~xtls. — A- remarkable instance of the efficacy of lignum vitrr,
in removing a constipation of the bo.vels, fif seventeen lays continuance, in the dry
behy-ache, deserves to be generally know i : T.vo drachms (to the best of my recoUoc-
tio:i) of the powdered gum, in a wine-giass of brandy, was, in this case, taken in the
foreno ai ; which so powerfully stimulated the ciebilitated svstem, that, before ni'j;ht,
the collected faecos were discharj^eJ at once, ana die puuent recovered.— ' -S". Felstedi

tTGNUM VIT.i:, BAST\Ur>. POLYGALA.

Cl. ;7,c>R. i. — Diadetphia ocfun <'r^it. Nat. or.^ — Lomentaccte.
This generic name is derived from two Greek words, signifying much milk, some of
liie species being supposed to make cows yieid much milk.

Gen. chab. — Calyx flve-ieaved, with ts^o of the leaves shap-^d like wings, and co-
loured; legume ol)-cor iate, two celled. Two species are natives of Jamaica^
whose characters are described it length below.

1. DfVEKSiF- Ll.i. DIVERS-I.EAVED.

Cenistee (ilfinis a)wmjwa arbor, flore coltttia^, huri folio. Sloane, v.
2, p. 3i?, t. 170, f. 2. Fruticosci ; fo/iis siahri': otatis ; capitinr
suhrotundis, compres^is, cinargiiuitrs ; raeemis mitwrihus, luxis,
alartbus. Browne, p 287, t. 6,. f, 3.

Flowers in racemes ; stem arboreous ; older leaves oblong-ovate, )'ounger sub-
ovate.

Tliis is a small tree, with loose rod-like branches, snb-dividcd, even, round. — ■
Sisaites alternate, elliptic, acumiiwte, bliiiH at the tip, eutire, s«iooth on both tidesj^.

Ht HORTUS JAMAICENSIS, i-itY

on sliovlith petioks. Flowers nxillavv, cvfiwdtd; peiluncles nxillaiy, longer than tlie
petioles, scaly, inany-tlowertci ; corollas s^mall, jirci'iiisli-whiic; calyx llirce-leaveil,
leatlets ovate, green, permanent, one huperior; sumdarcl of two lower, reflex, wliit-
ish petals; uings large, ovate, on the outside of tin; standard and keel, simdrtr to the
Gaiyx kaves, piTaianeiit ; keel larger than the standard, concave, green. Filaments
open in IVar.t, free ac the top, veiy unnute; anihers minute; perm roundish, com-
pressed; style the ieni^th of the staiiiens; siignia obtuse; seed vessel a silicle, pedi-
celled, fouadish, eominessed, emari^inaie; seeds reiufonn, oblong. — S^ri). Browne
calls itiis plant the ba^urJ i^^iiiuni vit<e of the Red Hills, where this shrub grows very
plentifully, rising generally to iheiieight of seven or eight fe>^t, or better. It receives
its name because it tastes not unlike gum guaiacuni, and is sometimes used for the same
purposes. Swariz does not see why Lmneus named it dvvcrsifolia, all the leaves being
alike. Sioane says the wood is wliite, hard,, and solid; the hark smooth and grey.—
Long says that the seeds are impregnated with a finely aromatic oil.

2. PANICULAT.^. PANICLE©.

Herhacea, minor, erecta ; foliis linearibus ; sp.ka midtiplki, termi-
nali, folioso. Browne, p. 287.

This is called panidcd viiilrxort. The root is annual ; stem from half a foot to a foot
in height, round, smooth, divided above the middle; branches filiform, erect, leafy,
smooth. Leaves sub-sessile, alternate, acute, entire, dotted, smooth. Peduncles or
racemes terminating, filiform, erect, many-flowered. Flowers n^nute, purplish, nod-
ding, on very short pedicels ; calyx thi:ee-lea,ved, coloured, hinder leaflet larger, ovate,
the two anterior oblong, acuminate; the standard two oblong, obtuse, erect, petals,
covering the keel and wings, and converging in front at top; wi^gs less than the
standard, pale, lanceolate, converginji- above the keel, which is also less than the
standard, covered, gibbous at the base, four-cleft at the tip, deciduous. Filaments
shorter than the corolla, distinct in front, all united below, white, and pellucid; an-
thers oblong, yellow ; germ ovate, compressed a little, convex, twin ; style thick,
curved, like a cornucopia; stigma l\innel-form, oblique, bearded at , the interior tip,
pellucid. Seea vessel a siliclcj oDlong, emargiaate at the tip and base., compressed,
convex, two-celled, opening at the sides, two-seeded; seeds oblong, convex, brown,
hairy, appearing echinated in a magnifier.— ^w. This beautiful little plant is pretty
frequent in the drier hills of St. Catherine's. It has a great deal of the smell and taste
of the seneka, or snake-root, but is not so strong or disagreeable. It is a mild attenu-
ant and sudorific, and niay be administered in infusions and decoctions, with great
propriety, where such medicines are requisite. It grows generally to the height of six
or seven inches, and is seldom branched below the middle. — Browne. Barham says it
is called the blue Chili milkwort, and that a cold infusion all night in water, drank isi
iUe morning, proves a strong diuretic, and eases pleuritic pains.

Lignum ViTiE Timberwood— j'fc Buckthorn.

t

LILY. PANCRATIUM.

Ct. «, OR. 3. — Hexandria vionogynia. N.\T. oa. — Spathc^cea,

7m

^ftV HORTUS JAMAICENSTS. 449

This generic nritne is derived from two Greek v/ords, signifying all and power, or an
iierb of every virtue.

Gen. char. — Calyx an oblong spatiie, obtuse, compresseJ, openino- at the flat side,
drivelling; the corolla has six petals, laiic(!olate, flat, inserted nito-the tube of
the nectary, on the outside above the base ; nectary one- leafed, cyiiiKn-ic-funuei-
form, coloured at top, with the mouth sprcaduig, an:! tweive-clelt ; the stamens
six filaments, awl-shaped, inserted int.) the lips of tiie nectary, and longer than
they are; antlu rs oblon.r, incu.nbent; tlie pistii has a bluntly th.ree-cornercvl in-
ferior germ, a liliforni siyli', longer than the stamens, and a huint stii>!iM ; the
pericarj) a roundish capside, turec-sided, thret'-celied, three- vtUvba; seeds st;Ve-
jal, globular, One species is a native of Jamaica.

CARIB^UNL CARIRF.AN.

^^arcissus fotus alhus lutifolius poh/tinthos major odoraUis, stamiinhia
sex e tubi ampJi vwrginc e.itantibus. Sloan-e, v. !, p. 2t-i. Fcliis
compressis obtusis, scapo nialo, Jloribus urvhtllrJis. Browne, p. 194.

Spathe many-flowered ; leaves lanceolate; segments of the corolla linear, and
longer than the tube.

Tfe tube of the corolla, which throws its agreeable scent to a considerable distance,
bas six roundish corners, proceeding as it 'vere from the linear-lanceolate segments;
it is from three to four inches long, and more than a quarter of an inch in diameter,
greenish aijont half way, but becomes gradually whiter towards the segments, which
are longer than it, and about a third of an inch broad, concave, Ijluntly mucronate. —
The peduncle is always porfectlv erect, and is nearly an inch broad, and one-thir I of
an inch thick towarils the base, being of an oval shape. The nectary is pure white in
all its parfs, fnnnel-shaped at top, seeming like a tender membrane unitmg the sta»
rri-?Ms together for an inrh and a half, and proceeding as it were from the month of the
funnel, have a slight joint running vertically through its centre, by which it bends in-
tvaid, soniewliat in the manner of the membrane in a bat's wing, a little wrinkled, and
expan ling at the month from two and a half to liu'ce inches in diameter; the stamens
ar*» awl-shaped, and from two to three inches long, from the rim of the nectary. Germ
bright green, about half an inch from the bottom of the pedicel, bluntly three-cor-
n rr I. The leaves are seldom less than twelve, sometimes more, all proceeding from
tt'e top of tiie bulbous root; they are ovate-lanceolate, acuminate,

'This has a truncated hnlbous root, as large as a roan's fist, coate.'l like onions, with
many white fibres from its base. The leaves grow two feet, long, and are about three
jnciVes broad, channelled or concave in the inside, ve-"' green, jnicy, and smooth;
petioles sheathing at the base, spreading, half-rotmd. Fro n the centre of the leaves
.Ti^es the peduncle, three or four feet high, not hollow, of a fungou; consistence, and,
v.-hen cut, dropping water; it is about a third of an inch thick iii the centre, and
tipers toivards the e Iges, from the top of this issue six, seven, or more, very white
and beautiful flowers, standing on pedicels about six inches long. The flowers have a
Tery fragrant smeil. — Sloanc. This plant grows wild in most parts of .Jamaica; the
roois are of an acrid nature, emollient, maturating, and greatly suppurative ; they are
used externally in cataplasms for these purposes with success. The common form of
^plying them is boiled and bruised; hut some prefer the roasting of them until tender,

M m m and

4«Q- IIO-RTUS JAMAICENSIS; tit*

; nc! then bcatinp- tliom to a paste with oil, in whicli form tliey arc said to be excellent.
against imins. Tile bulbs in (iecociioii are a diuretic drink for liorses.

l\vr, csoiic species of this genus are cultivated iii East's GarUeu ; tlie CaroUnigiXjiun^.
OV. Caioiina;^and theliUoraief^ or tali pancratium.

LILY. AMARYLLIS.

Ci,. 6, OR. 1. — -ITexandria monogyyna. Nat. or. — Spafhaccp,

GF-^t. CHAR. — Calyx an oblong spathe, obtuse, compresse.l, emarfjinate, g.aping 06-
the flat side, nud withering-; corolla six lanceolate petals ; lu rtary six very short
scales, without the base of. the fdaoients ;. stamcns.six awl-shapel filaments, with,
oblong, incuailjcnt, rising anthers; the pistil has a lounJish germ, furrowed, in-
ferior; style filiform, almost of the length and in the situation of the stamens;
stigma trifid-, slender; tb.e pericarp a sub-ovate, three-celled, three-valved, cap-
sule; seeds several. One species is indigenous, the following ; besides which a
cuajhetcf exotic speciesx)f this lii-gW}' crnamental genus liave been introduced.

E«LLADONN.\.

^; ^ ' Lilio-narcissiis .polyaiilhos, fiore inc<irnato, /undo ex litteo albe'scenfe.,

Sloane, V. ], p. 244. I lore crocco nutanfi ; saipo nudo iinifloro^
Browne, p. 195.-

Corollas somew}iat erect, six~petaled; petals flat; scape coiapressed ; leave*
sharply channelled, bluntly keeled, very smooth.
The root of this is bulbous, coated, and about the size of a large onion, with many
•white fibres at bottom ; the leaves are a foot long, and an inch and a half broad, juicy,
tjf a fresh green colour, blunt, round or obtuse at their ends, ciiannelled inwards to-
wards the stem. The |>eduncle rises front among the leaves ; it is about eighteeninchfis
liigh, hollow, from which proceed several fioAers, grv>wing out of a membranaceous
sheath or follicle, bent back, or hanging down by two-inch long pedicels. The flowera
are of a yellowish-red colour within, and of a carnation or}>ale red outside. It grow*,
wild in many parts of Jamaica, and thrives best in a rich and shady place. ^

LILY THORN. CATESBEA.

Cl. 4, OR. 1. — 1 etramlria monogynia. Nat. or. — Luridce.

SoTiatned in honour of ]Vlai;k Ciitesby, author of a Natural History of Carolina.

Gen. CHAR. — Calyx a four-toothed, superior perianth, very small, acute, pernw*
nent; corolla monopetalous,. funnel-form ; tube extremely long, straight, gra-.
dual.y widenmg upwards; border semi-quadrifid, broad, erect, flat ; stamens fouc
filaments, growing within the neck of the tube; anthers oblong, .erect, almosfc
longer than the corolla ; the ])isiil has a roundish inferior germ, a filiform .st3-le,-
the length of the corolla, and a simple stigma; tlie pericarp is an oval bi'iry,
Cfowned, unilocular luilocular)j seeds many, angulate. One species isanativo
of JjiinaiGa.

I.JMP n'ORTUb' JAMAIC EN-SIS. 01

TAnVIPLORA. SM.\LL»Ft.O\VERKD.

. niiavinus joliis biixeis minimis conjertim nascenfii::s, sp/nis hmgis
armata. Sloane, \'.'2, p. 100, 1.207, f. I.

'Tube of the corolla fouivconiered, q.bbreviii,ted ; berries rounciibij.

This is a'vvGody shrub, covered with a smoQt'i greenish Iwrk ; leaves in rltisfera of
three ami four, -niaii, of the ounsistencc of bo.-:-leaves, smoolli, grcc;-;, narrow at the
beginning, Ijroati towards the end, where they are roundish. From among '.lie leaves
issue two spines, longer than them, green and sharp ; among them also comes tho
fiower, succeeded by u corouated berry. — Slcanc,

Lni-\-B.E.v-:— A'e K.s^v'ey-Beaxs.

LIME AND LEMON TREES. CITRUS.

Cl. 18, on. 3, — Poltjadclphia icosandria. 'NaT. ou. — Bicorv.cs,- *

"■S0Ey. CHAR.— j'ee Citron, p.^ 19C.

LIMOX. LEMON.

Livto aPbor, ejusq : fntctus limo. Sloanc, v. C, p. 173. Friicti,
ova'to acido, superfii'ie inequal. Browne, p. 303.

Leaves ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, sub-serrate.
This tree, in a wild state, grows ten to fifteen feet high, with a ci-ooked, knotty, ir-
cegular, stem, and many crooked, diffused, pricklj-, branches; the leaves are ovatc-
lanccolate, serrate, standing on winged petioles, from five to six inches long, and from
tis-o to two and a half broad. Flowers few together, on tcnninatiug peduncles, of a pure
white colour. The fruii is rough, oval, ami grows to a considerable size, with a pro-
minence at top. It is a hardy plant, and makes good fences, but far inferior for that
purpose to the lime, as being of a larger growth, the stems drop their leaves ami
branches, and, in old fences, leave many openings; the lime being of a more shrubby
nature, and having a denser foliage, if properly trimmed, makes so close a fence to the
very ground, that the smallest animals cannot pass through. Besides the common
lemon, the St. Helena lemon-tree has also been generally cultivated in Jamaica, on ac-
count of the largeness of its fruit, and great quantity of its juice ; which also seems to
be of a milder nature than that of the other.

LIMA. LLME.

Mains aurantia, fructu limonis pHsiilo, acicHssimo. Sloane, v. 2, p,

182. Fructu sp/ierico oialn, punctalo, Levi, viinorj, acido. — .

Browne, p. 308.

"This bushy tree does not grow to any greatiieight, and is generally used for making

■fences, for which it is admirably adapted, by its thick and beautiful foliage, as well as

tlie prickly nature of its stem and branches. The leaves are ovate-acuminate, serrate,

not so large hut of a much darker green than those of the lemon ; they stand on winged

petioles. The flowers grow three or four together, the petals white, anthers yellow;

Igteijiina twenty in several parcels. The berry is generally about an inch and a. half in

M 111 iH Z diametQy'^

.— v« ■

452 KORTUS JAMAICENSIS. umb

cii.Tineter, cor,tainin|r a ^wzt quaridty of juicr, wliich, in J;imaic;a, is prcftn-i-cd to lemoD
JKici" f)!' nuikir.g punch, and other joniestic pnrjioscs. The linci ot lliis, as uell as of
tl)fk;inon, is ola very odorous and aioinatic nature. They bulh bccom'e of a beautifuj
v<'!i()^\ colour vvhcn ripe. The root is hiUer.

7 tie French l/uie tree, as it is called, is to be found in many parts of Jamaica ; it is
nf a larger growth tiian the other, anil sFioots more into the regular form of a tree,
vliUli, from its beautitui dark green leaves, smaller, more acuminate, and more slig-htlv
serrate, than those of the connron, has a very jiretty appearance^ especially when in
iiower or fruit, which it bears most abundantly. The flower is similar in every respect
to the other, but the fruit is larger, more beautiful, being tinged witli fine shades of
red, and contains a greater proportion of juice, of a milder and more agreeable nature.
It is also distniguislied from the others by the petioles of the leaves being round and
vvidiout wings, though in very large luxuriant leaves they are sometimes perceptible.

The srcect Imle tree, another varietj-, puts on the appearance of a tree, and, as
Browne observes, bears a fiuit which, in size and form, seems to hold a mean between
the lime and the lemon. The juice is of an insipid sweetish taste, but the bark and
fibres of the root are bitter, like tliose of the common lime.

If limes are intentled for exportation, the\ sliouki be gathered when a yellowish tinn-e
first begins to ajipear on some part (jf the rind, and will keep well, hung up in an airy
part of the shqi in nets ; or, where aquantit}- is sent, they may be packed up in dry corn
husks, and stowed in a cask which lias some air holes matle in it. If a nietliod could be
fallen upon of drying the ripe fruit in Jamaica, until the coat grew perfectly hard ani-
tougli, it would bear the voyage mucli better so preserved, and go in excellent condi-
tion tor use ; and this, I apprehend, may be done b exposing it, spread out on a plat-
ionn, to the hot sun, after the manner of pimento, for a week or two before it is packed
for expoitation. The nnconcocted juice of the green truit is geiterally injurious to
■weak l)owels.

This iruit, as well as the lemon, makes an excellent sweet meat, cleared of the pulp,
and prepared with the best clarified sj rup.

The bark and fibres of the lime-tree root are excellent strengthening aperitives, and'
found frequently effectual in obstinate febrile cases, as well as in weaknesses and ob-
structions of the bowels. Barhain says the Indians use tiie root in venereal cases. A
decoction of them a good fomentation for sor^s. The leaves are generally used in dis-
cntient baths ; and the fruit in a variety of cases. The cruiie juice, mixed with salt of
wormwood, is given in the state of ebulhtion in fevers, and commonly used in the com-
position of saline draughts. The fruit is i-oasted, and the pulp applied to cleanse
ulcers. It answers all those intentions, where a livelier sub-acid than that of the lemon -
is required.

The negroes take the J'oung fruit, soon after it is formed, or when it is about the
size of a small hazel nut, pare oflF the rind, which they beat into a fine pulp, antl with
a hair pencil, apply it carefully to the lids of sore eyes for a cure. It is supposed, this
rawness of the eye-!id, accompanied with a humour, is generally caused by wormr.,
which lodge in it, and that this application destroys them. This hint is worth further
attention, since the animalcules, if they really lodge there, may be discoverable by
pro])er glasses ; and hence the knowledge obtained, whether the application would be
jropcr or otherwise. There are varieties of this fruit : The small round lime; tlie
nrge oval ; the bergamot ; the sweet lime.

The qflicacy of lemon or lime juice in preventing, the sea-scuny, has been com-

mendectr-

1

UMK IIOIITUS JAMA1CENSI9. 45J

Sncndcd bj* alt iToJern writers on tlic siil>jcct, and r.as »Gt unknown Vu (fhc rsriicr tiuicf*
of on r navigation. Sir Jiinits Lancaster, in l)is vo}\i<re, \vlicrc ho uas general in liie
East ladies, in the year ICOl, cavrieu with him sevei'ai bottles of lemon juice ; and iiy
giving three spoonfuls to each sailor in the nioniing, who then fasted till noon, kept
Iheni entirely free from, or cured them of, this terrible disorder. Tlie juice of limes
and lemons depurated, and mixed with goDcl rum, makes the liquor called shrub, and-
may he considered as an article of export — Long, p. 795.

In Captain Cook's voyages great benefit was derived irom lemon and or;inge juice;
and found in the sea- Scurvy to be very efficacious. Sir J(jhn Pringle approves more of
the juices themselves -depurated, than the extract of them, as ttiis cannot be prepared
Witiiout dissipating man\ of the finer parts. The yellow peel of the lemon is ^n agree-
able arou.aiic us well as of the orange ; and in cold phlegmatic constitutions they prove
excellent stomachics and carminatives, promoting appetite, wanning the habit, aii^J
Strengthening the tone of the viscera.

Lemons are cooling and grateful to tUe sumach, qtienching thirst and increasing
nppetiie ; useful in ievers, as well coiiimon as malignant and pestilential ; they also
prov ;ke urine. The juice, mixed vvitu salt ol wormwood, is an excellent medicine tO
slop vomiting and to strengthen tht stomach. In distillation it yields an essential, h^ht,
colourless, oil. Six drachms of the juice of lemons, saturated with about hall a dracinn
of fixed alkaline salt, wiiii the addition of a smiili quantity of so. i.e g'.le.ul aromiitic
Water, as tincture of suiiple cinnamon water, is given (Uosvs for acnlts i winc-gU. ull
ever*' t\^n, lour, or six. hours) ;ii Ciises of nausea, reathi gs, and generidly abate :■,, hi
a little time, the severe vomitings that happen in. fevers, when most ottier liquors and
medicines aic l rown up as soon as taken. It is also use;: as a saline aperient in icterical,
hydropical, iiitiammatory, and other disorders. A syrup made by dissolving forty-eight
or fifty ounces of tine sugar in a quart of depurated juice, is mixed occasi;>naily with
draug'.t-. and juleps, as a mild antiphlogistic, an. sometimes used in gargari.:ais ibr in-
fla.. ui..aon of tUt mouth and tonsils. — Lewis Mat. Med.

An iiuelhgent autlior asserts, tnat he has known a disonierod stomach entire!'- reco-
vered b} tiie use of lemon or oraiige peel, infused m tlie ^ame manner as tea. — Cle~
Ui:^d's Institutes of Health, p. 22.

In fluxes, with fever and symptoms of inflammation, bleed to eight ounces. Wiien
there is little or no fever, the following mixture has done much good : Lime-juice
three ounces ; as much sea or common suit as the acid will lake up; water twcive
ounces; sugar two ounces ; rum one ounce ; two table spoonfuls every three or four
hours, as tlie case may require. — Grainger.

The following recipe was communicutt U by the late Dr. Affleclf, of the pari.sh of
Portland, who said he had it from an old practitioner, and had himself freq i . ntly used
it in dropsical cases with success ;

" Take lemon juice-one quart ; spring water one pint; white lily root, bruised, en?-
pound; cowitch twelve pods; boil them to the consumption of one-third ;■ strain, and
add one pin i, of rum, one ounce of turmeric root, in powder: sliake them Uvi! toge-
ther, and give a small wine-glass full every morning, at the same tune Use tiie duaib-
cane ointment, as Ur. Barham directs, with the exception of me cataplasui to the
scrotum, as it frequi ntly brings on a mortificaiiou." llubbing; the torehead ai.u tern-
BJ.es wutli-tbe iuice removes tiie hcad-acUeo

*S.i KORTUa- JAxMAICEN.-lIS. urni

The juice of ]ime3 and lemons being m arlitlf not of luxury but of so tr.uch medical
i. iise, a good mode of puril'yinL; and preserving it iiiu.^t be a very desiiable object,
"By a late chendcal expciinient of fsclieele's the citric acid was obtained in a state of pu-
ricy in chrjstals. He saturated lemon-juice with iinic, edulcorated the precipiiate,
Vhicn consisted of citvicacid and lime, seperated the hnie from it by diluted suipluiric.
acid, cleared, it from the sulphate of lime by rci)eated liltrations and evaporation ; then
evaporated it to the consistence of a syruii, an! set it b3' in a coul place : a quantity of
orjstais tcjrmed, winch were pure citric acid. In this stale it sulFers no alteration IVoni
t^xposure to air ; !nit an ounce of the 'disiilied water, at tlie tenijierature of the atnios-
j?!iere, dissOives one ounce and two drachms of it, Boilinjjj water dissolves twice its
MCigut. It lias a very acid taste, and turns vegetable blues red. ^V'itilln a few ycara
an important use has be.-n made of this powerful acid. It is said, in Di: Wiliich's
TrcrJu<; on Diet, p. 339, that the largest dose of opium may be checked in its narcoti-i
effects, if a proper quantity of citric aciil be taken with it ; and that, with this adjtuict,
it induces cheariulness instead of stupefaction, succeeded by gentle and refreshing-
sleep. It has also been found very useful to our manufacturers

We are enaiiied to preserve this juice in a more simple manner, for ordinary uses,
h) M. Bvugnateih, wiio, in the 2d volume of h\s ^-Innals of Chemistry, informs us,
tiiat he e.N pressed, in the common manner, the juice of perfectly rij)e lemons, ami
strained it liirongh a piece of linen. In half an hour he strained Jt again, to free
it Irom a little slimy matter which had settled at the bottom of the vessel. He then
added to the juice a certain (piantitv of the strongest spirit of wine (for which pure un-
adultertited rum is a good substitute), and preserved the mixture some da}s in a well
coiked bottle. During that tune there was a considerable deposit, which, to all ap-
pearance, was of a slimy nature, and which he seperated by filtering paper. If the
tlui was too thick to pass through the filter, he diluted it again with spirit of winei —
After this operation the deposit remained on ihe paper, which was entirely covered
witliit; and he obtained, in the vessel placed helow, the purest acid of lemons, com-
bined with spirit of wine. If it be required to obtain the acid perfectly pure, notiiingf
is uecessarv but to seperaie from it the spirit of wine, which is best elVected by evapora-
tion. The acid of lemons assumes, after it has been freed from the spirit of wine, ant?
the moisture combinOil with it, a yellowish colour, and becomes so strong, that by its
taste it might be considered as a mineral acid. It is not necessary to evaporate the
s])irit of wine in a close vessel, if the experiment is made only on a small scale ; p.or is
there any danger that in open vessels any of the acid will be lost, as it is too fixed to be
volatilised by the same degree of heat at which spirit of wine evaporates. This aci<.l haS'
peculiarly valuable properties, well worthy of farther examination.

See Citron — Orange — S]i.4DDOck.

L[on's-Ta!L — See Dandeuo.v„

No English Name. LIPPIA,

Cl. 14, OR. 1. — Didymmia gy7n'nospermia. Nat. or. — Siellatte.
^0 named from Augustine Lippi, who travelled in Egypt, and.died in Abyssinia,

^arel'OirieE- HORTUS JA MAIC EN ST S. 4^,$

Ge^. cjiar. — Calyx a oise- leafed, rompivssed, for.r-tootlifcl, penaTiffi, i)i-viiiveij
\vh<?n mature ; valves membranaceous, acuminite, keeled, iipright, jiormanent;
corolla one-petaled, unequal, borJer four-cleft, divisions rounded, the inferior
and gupeiior one lavt^er, the superior erect; the stamens four filaments, shorter:
than the corolla, two of them longer than the others; anthers simple; the pistil
^las an ovate, compressed, flat, germ, a filiform style, and oblique stigma ; no
peri'^arp, the valves of the calyx cov^^r the seeds, which are solitary, oblong. OhC
species is a native of Jamaica.

CYMOSA. CVMED.

SpirciP ronsii'ner spinosa, folio subrotuiido acimiinafo infe-^ro, p:rh'gii
adore, fniclu parvo oblongo, camdato, coronate. Sloane, v. 2.,
p. 30, t 174, f. 3, 4.
Rowers C3'med ; leaves ovate, almost entire.

This shrub has often several stems Irom the- same root, each no bic^ger than a goose-
quill, round, woody, brownish-black, from three to six feet in height, sleiuL-r, ai^d
requiring support : the twites are many, opposite, liaving sharp prickles, one-third of
an inch iong, and opposite leaves, half an inch in diameter, a little pointed at the ends,
iiimost round, yellowish-green, smooth, something like those of mimmularia, and
very strong scented, like pulcs^iinn ; petioles an ciL',hth of an inch in leiiiitii. The
fltnvers come out at the top, are small, many together, of the colour and soniewii t re-
sembling tliose of spiidir thccphrasti, though not so close set. nor so hand>ome. — ■
Seeds small, oblong, channelled, brown. It grew in the savannas about St. Jago.de la
\§&ga. — i>loane.

HQUOTIICE-WEFD or SWEET BROOM WEEI>. SCOPARIA.

Cl 4, OR. 1. — Tet rand nil inovogyma. N^T. oR. — Personatte.

This is derived from scopa, a besom, for wiiich use the plant is adapted.

G-EN. CHAR. — Calyx a one-leafed, four-parted perianth, concave; segments slender,
rugged; corolla one-petaled, wheel-shaped, spreading^ concave, four- parte! ;
segments tongue-shaped, obtuse, equal; tiiroat bearded ; stamens four filaments,
equal, awl-shaped, shorter than the corolla, with simple anthers ; tlie pistil has a.
conical germ, an awl- shaped style, the length of the corolla, permanent, and aa
acute stigma ; the pericarp is an oblong con'cal capsule, acuminate, one-celled,,
two-valved ; seeds very many, oblong. One species is a native of Jamaica,

DULCIS. SWEET.

Veronimfrut'icosa erectaduhis, hexavgulari eaule, flore dilute cxruleo.
Sloane, v. 1, p. 195, t. 108, f. 2. Krecta ramoio, foliis linear ibus
dcnticulatis verticillato-ternutis. Drowne, p. 145.

ILeaves in threes ; flowers ped uncled.

Tlie root is annual; the stalks woody and hcxangular, rising two feet high, and
Sending out many branches, which have three leaves placed round at each joint, sessile,
^.e uppermost the largest, being three-c|uartcrs of ao inch long, and half an inc'm

^i^ HORTUS JAMAICENSI* .|.j«iiorige

broad, smooth, serrate, anJ of a deep green oolour. The flo\ver>5 come out from tha
^ule of the stalk ;it each joint, on short peduncles ; tliey are small, v\hit". and the pe-
.tals have bearded threads on their edges; the capsule is h-ht brown, nuiribn-naceous,
CO bi'_cger tlian a pin's head, containing many tiar il y perccntibie seeds, stan iin-; roui!/!
a fungous substance. This plant is very c. nimoii ii; most oi the sugar couiies, and the
leaves have a sweet taste like liquorice." Browne says the whole plant, eipecialliy the
tender shoots at the top, are frequently used in diluting and pectoral infusions, uiul
may be deservedly considered as an f-x-ellent vulnerary. Buihar.i savs, that three
spoonfids of the exnressed juice of this plant, given morning and nightifor i! ree or
four days, is an infallible remedy for a eoujb. $.>aie plaatcrs use this as an uigreuicut
4,a diet drinks for vetiereal disorders.

XIQUORICE, WILD. ABRUS.

Cl. 17, oit. 4. — Diadelphia decandria. Nat. or. — Leguiiiinosa.
This takes its generic name from a Greek word sigiiifying soft, from the extreme
i-enderness of its leaves.

Gen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed, bell-siiaped perianth, obscurely fonr-lobed : teeth
blunt, the upper one broader than the rest; corolla papilionaceous; banner
roundish, entire, ascending, flatted at the sides, longt-r than the wings and keel ;
wings oblong, blunt ; keel oblong, sickle-shaped, gibbous, longer than th.-" wi;ig> ;
the stamens-are nine filaments, united into a sheath, cloven above, free at the en i,
unequal, rising; anthers ibl ng, erecc ; the pistil has a cyiindric hairy gcrii ;
style subulate, rising, shor:e, than the stamens ; stigma in form of a be^d, and
small; the pericarp a legume like a rhomb, compressed, cona-.eon^ ;va!vt '.,
four or five-ce'led, acuminate, with a little subuLte defl -s claw; seeds solitjvyj
(Sub-globose. Tiiere is only one species, a native ofjamaica.

PRF.CATOniUS. P'lAYlXG.

JPhcifeolus gli/cyrrhizitf"!. fcho altito piso cnccineo atra waada yu ' fo.

Sloane, V. I, p 180, t. 112, f. 4, 5, G. Scandens, Joliolis pinnatis,

spicis nodosis a.villuribus. Browne, p. 297.
This is a perennial plant, with slender, shrubby, branching, stalks, about the bigness
of a o^oose-quill, by winch it-rises to the height of eight or tt n teet, v\hen it meets with
support, and is common among the bushes in all the low lands. The leaves are pin-
nate, ending abruptly, and have from twelve to si.vteen pairs of small, smooth, obionir,
blunt, leaflets, set close together ; these have the taste of licjnorice, as has the whole
plant. The flowers are produced from the sides of the stalks in short spikes or bunches,
of a pale purple colour, and shaped like those of the kidney bean ; they are succeeded
by short smooth pods, each containing.three or four hard seeds, very smooth, of a bright
scarlet colour, with a black spot or eye on that side which is fastened to the pod. They
are frequently strung and worn as necklac&s and other ornaments ; and were used a«i
beads for rosaries, whence the trivial name prtcatonus.

It grows in both the Indies. In the East Indies they make necklaces of the fruit or

pCiis, which tliey say prevent the children tliat wear liiem from the fever, make thera

■'p breei

cisf.tsTuu3i HORTUS JAMAIC'ENSIS. 437

Breed thefr tectli eas)-, and prevent cramps and convulsion?. Tliey are of a mere
infauufiil red tliau red coral ; and, it' fit for nothing else, they n>ake beantifiit necklaces.
I knew a ^eiitieman in Jamaica that made a tea of the leaves, and drank of it many
years, which he said kept him ni good health. ] have often ordered a ptisan of the
leaves with good success in cholics. Tiic root of this jiLmt, aithouoh it nath not tlie
taste of liquorice,. ,yet it hath the colour, Ijoth ontside and inside, of" Englisli liquorice
root. I have observed sheep to feed greedily upon its leaves. — Baf/iam, p S8.

The infusion of the leaves and tops is much used in all our sugar colonies, and oh-
.sgrved to ojien both tlie body and skin \ ery unldly ; it helps expectoration ; relieves alt
loads of the breast, ]>roceeding j'roni temporary colds; and is frequently used as a di-
luent in fevers ; and the more generally liked as tlie taste is somewhat sweetish, but
does not leave any clamminess upon tlie palate. The 'seeds are of a very deleterious
nature, and. .cannot he t ken inwardly without great danger; though, if swallowed
whole, tiiey commonly pass entn-e, and arc seklom attended with any of those violent
pymptoms that follow, when taken in powder, which always- works both upwards and
downwards, with the tireatcst violence ; the operation being attendeil with anxiety and
convulsive spasms. Herman .says that three or four seeds is a mortal dose, but that he
has made an extract from the roots no wa}- inferior to that obtained from the roots of
liquorice. — Broxt.'ne.

'J'his plant was removed from the genus glycine by Linncus — for which see die articles
Hed-Bead Tree and Vine.

iYo EngUsFi Nawe. I.ISIANTHU5,

C'l.. 5, O.I.I. — Pentandria vionogynia. Nat. or. — Ro'acdP.

This name is derived from two Greek words signifying smooth and a (lower.

f*EN. CU.\R. — Calyx -a five-parted ])erianth ; leaflets lanceolate, keeled, mcmbrana-,
ceous on the margin, very .shoi't, permanent; corolla one-petaled, fnnncl-form ;
tube long, somev'.iiat ventricose, straitenetl at the ba.se within the caly.x ; bordct-
five-parted; divisions lanceolate, shorter than the tube, recurved; tiu! stamen'?
five filaments, filiform, .longer than-the tube, with ovate incumbent anthers ; the
pistil has an oblong .«barp-]5ointed germ, a filiform style, the length of the sta-
mens, permanent ; stigma headed, two-plated ; trie pericarp is an oblong capsule,
acuminate, two-celled; the margins of the valves intorted ; seeds numerous. —
Five specias are natives of Jamaica.

I. LQXCIFOLIUS. tONG-LEAVED.

Jiapuncuhis frulkosus linifoUus, Jlorc lutto fptcicxp, foliis ex ailrerso^
jf'fis. 81oane,.v. 1, p. 157^ t. 101, f. 1. £ rectus, foliis lanceolui^-
Jioribus singularibus tennuiidibus. Bvownc^, p. 157, t. 9, f l.

Leaves lanceolate ; segments of the corolla lanceolate, acute.

Tiiis elegant plant Browne says rises fourteen or si>;teen^ inches, Sloane four or fire
feet. The branches and twigs are woody ; tjie branches sho'-ting coilimonly to the
Same heitiht, and furnished with oblong-pointed, pctioled, opp iv,;e, leaves, each pair
abijutan inch distant ; thc\- are about an inch and a half long, and half as broad i'. the

Nniju middlcj .

.iM HOITTUS JAMAICENSI^. -tivcitwoRT

middle, smooth, and of a dark green colour. Tiie fops of the twigs nre generally
branciiS-i, and c:uTy several flowers of a ye'lovv colour, which are large in ]iroporiixjii
to the plant, and generally longer than the leaves. 'Jise capsule is |)yraniidai, oblong,
covered with a few small leaves, thi-ee-Cv>lled, with great plent\' of small brown seecU
in each cell. The whole ])laiit makes a beantifu! a]ipearanc:e, and is not uncommon in
the road to Si'xtpen INlile \V'a!k, about Guanaboa, and llic mouutaiusin St. Ann's. It
grows in a dr^'^andy bitt cool soil. — Shane ik Mrcwnc.

.2. CORDirOLlUS. .HEAUT-I.EAVED-.

\Frlti.i conlato-acuminaiis, pefu'lis br('vibus,Jioribus iemiinalihus quan-
dogue goninalis. Browne, p. lo7, t. 'J, f. 2.

Leaves cordate ; segments of th-e corolla lanceolate, acute.

Browne remarks that this plant maj- be deemed a variation of the foregoing, or that
they are at least so very hke m the general make and habit, that the form of the leaves
is almost the onlv ditfercnce : he fou-nd it on the banks of Mamee River, between the
hills above Bull-Bay. Swartz observes that the leaves are always heart-shaped, the
upper ones onl}' bcmg ovale and sessile j the corollas are also rather larger.

3. EXSERTUS. LONG.

Leaves ovate-lanceolate ; peduncles trichotomous ; genitals very long. — S-ui:

4. LATirOUUS. BRO.AD-LEAVED.

Leaves lanceolate-elliptic, acuminate; peduncles trichotomous; segments o^
the corolla erect ; genitals included.— *S'k'.

5. UMBELLATUS. UMBELLED.

Leaves elongated, oh-ovate ; flowers terminating, peduncled, umbelled; seg-
ments of the corolla very short, blunt, upright.

Lncm-pLUM — See Soapberry.

TJVERWORT. LICHEN.

Cl. 24, OR. 5.-^ Ciyptoga^niaalgte. Nat. OR. — Jlgi^.

Gen. char. — Male flo:vers. — Vesicles conglomerated, extremely small, crowded, or
scattered on the disk, margin, or tips of the fronds. The female flowers, on the
same or on a distinct plant : Receptacle roundish, flattish, convex, f tubercle ),
concave, (scuttella) ; sub-revolute, affixed to'the margin (pelta), often differing
from the frond in colour, within containmg the seeds, disposed in ro«vs. This is
an extremely numerous genus, twenty species of w'lich have been found ia
Jamaica.

1. leucomelus. black and white.
Cinerca, fibris lateralibus nigris crinita. Browne, p. 80.

Naked, glabrous, white on both sides, meally beneath; segments lincars
branched, fringed with black on the margin ; shields pedicelled, nearly ter-
minal, Hat, blueish black, with a white radiate margin. — Sw. Obs. t. 11, f. 3.

BroHTic

MVERVVORT HORTUS JAr,IAICENST9. iSQ

Biou'no calls this Che bearded platisma, frequent in the woods of Jamaica, of a w hitish
ash colour, and remarkable for its Ijiuck beard.

- 2. FLAVICANS. YEU.OW.

Lutea, fihris sub-tsquaUbiis subrigidis intfrtejitis. Browne, p. 80.
FoHaceoiis, glabrous, fulvnis, branched, linear, rouadis^;, saiooui ; shield
plane -margined, of the same colour.

Biowne calls tiiis the yellow rigid lisiifa, which is a little moss}' plant, growinp; com-
nipiil V ill every part of the woods ; its fibres seeui to be pretty even in every putt, and
generally connected in an irregular tufted form.

3. LURIDUS. I.URID.

Imbricate ; lobes orbicular, crenate, brown green, paler linderneath ; shields
hlack^ beconauig convex.

4. FUNGOIDES. rtJNGUS-LIKE.

Wliitish, leprous, tubercled," elevated, headed, of different forms, souewhat
fteslLy.

5. PANNOSUS. RAGGED.

Crustaceous, below black-hairy, above obsoicteiy manj'-lobed, shields convex,
reddish.

6. IMPRESSUS. MARKED.

Crustaceous, white, orbicular, concave, blueish, white margined.

7. GOSSYPIMUS. COTTONY.

Cfustaceous, capillary, wooUy-tomentose, white, orbicular, concave; sliield
black, white-margined.

8. PICTU3. PAINTED.

Imbricate ; leaves many, sinuated, the disk from the centre whitish ; shield
black, white- margined.

9. COCOES.

Imbricate; leaves adn ate, sinuated, whitish; shield partly black.

10. DAM.ECORNIS. BUCK-HORNED.

^oluiceous, many-parted, dicbetomo«9j smooth; summits bifi 1, belov/ tomen-i
tuse, with peltate margins.

11. LACIKIATUS, LACINIATED.

Foiiaceous, rigid, depressed, with irregular incisions, smooth, tonientose
below.

12. CERATOPIIYLLUS. WAX-LEAVED.

Foliaceous, upright, laciniated ; leaflets obtuse, horny.

13. DIAPHANOUS. CLEAR.

Folinre.^iis, mcmbranaceous-pellucid blue, tender, laciniated, undulate-piiited 5
jacisjcHS curved ; shields scattered, ferruginous,

N n a 2 14. MAR0UifiLLU3j-

4^<> 'iiotlTUS JAMAICENSSS. ^ -ifcOsto^tY

14, mahgikellus. maw/inf-D,
*-f oliaceous, mcitibiiiiiaceons-pellurici ; lol;C's midulntc-pIaltcJ ; sliicl Js marginal,
minute- leniigiiious, wbite-margincd.

J.T, VESICULOSUS. Tif..VDl)F.RV.

, Folinccous, mcmliraniiccoiis-pcllncid ; lol;cs un<!u!utc-l)lackle''y ; Lladdcrs tur«
binate, open bciovv, shiold-forui at top ; sliiclds convex., iieddisli.

J$. DISSECTl'S. DISSF-CTED.

FoJiaceous, depressed ; lobes laciniated, obtuse, saiooth luid white on both
sides, j)eitatc, cor.cjivc, scattered.

-17. TOMENTOSUS, DOWNY.

Foliaccous, doj^ressed, Dieuibraiiaceous, roundish, bind, smooth, lobes below
hairy- tonieniotie.

IS. AGGREGATUS. AGGRKGATE.

Shrnbby, linmcby, iuipeiforate at the axils; brandies erect; tubercles clus*
tered, tcniiinal, grained.

19. MELANOCARPrS. nLACK.

Shrubby, branches solid, whitish; branchlets leafy, compressed; tubercle?
globose, depressed, somewhat tomentose.

20. RAMULOSOS. BRANCIIV.

Shrubbj-, branches eolid. covered; leaflets thread-like; tubercles globose,
solid, terminal.

Alany of the species of :tbis genus are useful in d3-eing', and, it is supposed, that
proper trials would discover many ccconomical uses in them. Barham says, " Liver-
worts are so called from their great virtue in curing diseases of the liver, and conse-
f^uently are good in the jaundice. They gently purge choler ; bruised, and boiled in
beer, and drank plentifully of, they help in a gonorrhoea and female weakness ; out-
■wardlv applieti, arc said to cure malignant scabs, tetters, and ring-worms; uad lo
, <:leause and heal old ulcers." — Barham, p. 90.

See ^ftlossES and Sea- Weeds.

LOBLOLLY-WOOD. CUPANL\.

Cl. S, or. 1. — Octandria monogynia. Nat. or. — Trihilata:
This was so named from Francisco Cupani, of Sicily, a Fr;inciscan, and author of
come botanical works.

Gen. cuar. — Civlyx a five-leaved inferior perianth ; corolla five-petalcd, cowled at
the top ; stamens eight fdaments, with oblong anthers ; the pistil has an ovate
germ, a short style, trifid at the tip, and bluntstigma ; the pericarp is a coriace-
ous capsule, three-lobed, three-celled, three-valved ; the seed solitary, roundish,
with a bell-shaped, crenate, arilj embracing the seed like the calyx. One species
is a native of Jamaica.

CLABa*w

JloVysT nORTUS :^A?.IAICENSI-S, .4,6i

GLABRA. SMOOTH.

Jtrboi'ca foliis olrlougis crenato-srrratis disticln- ct aUcrmlm sitis, ra*
cemis htxis propcndcniibiis, Browne, p. 176,

Loaves pinnate-ovate, obtusp, crenr.tc, smooth.

"The leaflets of the calyx are ovate-acuminate, concave; the jictals tlaweJ, ciliate;
the nectary a flesliy ring, surrounding the germ and stamens ; the filaments, rise from
the base of the corolla, broader at bottom, villose, the saiiip length with the petals.;
the germ roundish, three-cornered ; style subulate, the length of tlie stamens, trifiii at
the tip; stigma small, almost upright; the pericarp is obiusely three-cornered ; the
seed spherical or oblong ; tlie aril coloured, fasteneil to the seed above the middle. —
Sw Capsule of a dusky ferruginous colour, opening into three parts at the tip,
scarcely to half its length, and quite entire at tlie bottom ; the sutures of the valves to-
ivards the top have a narrow groove, but the sides hiive,a deep one, to which the par-
titions correspond witliin. Heeds solitar)-, brov,'n_; aril incomplete, spongy-membra-
naceous, of a dirty-white colour, fuunel-shaj>ed, with a solid .beak, but the cup in-
•volviug the seed half way, and ending ui a rcpand, toothless, margin. — Gitrtner. —
This shrubby tree is pretty common in the lower hills of Jamaica, and rises generally to
-the height of twelve or fourteen feet; the leaves arc pretty large, and the wood soft
-and useless, from whence its name, liach of the seeds Jias. a proper cup witiiiu the
•capsule.- — Browne.

LOBLOLLY-BAY, GORDONIA.

Cl. 16, OR. C, — Monadclphia polyancb-ia. Nat. or. — Coiumnifei'te.

■fThis was so naqied after Mr. James Gordon, an eminent nurseryman in London.

Gf:N. CHAR. — Calyx Hve-leaved ; petals five, united at the base by means of the

nectary ; stamens numerous filaments, inserted into the nectary, by which they

. are united ; anthers oval, upright; the pistil has an ovate germ, a short styicj

and five sharp horizontal stigmas ; the pericarp a superior five-celied capsule;

seeds winged. One species was discovered in Jamaica by Swartz.

H/EMATOXYLOX.

Leaves ovate-pointed, serrate, recurved at the tip; peduncles very short;
flowers with five styles.
The plants of this genus differ in habit from the malvaceous tribe, and the filaments
not being united at bottom, but only inserted into the nectary, it more pxapeRly.be- _
iongs to the dass polyandria. t. btifi' ,Jn'rtiiJ;TO3

■ Loblolly Sweetwood— .Ytr Sweetwood. ^-.j^, j <T.[,cnci ■sii^sri&na''
Locus-Beruy-Tree— ^ce ^i^i^i^x^_^paf b:?^;.;;;'^^,,.,^ I i,;,j„Liq

s'-i. ;v oit'uvi'i'. ijoiifi-) ,ai3i:) o.) iitJJidlljs, Joe}!!

LOCUST-TREE. , |,,..!ir.. ,i ,.qmnl M^WA^lLo ai »!>;.!,.■ .b-.r

4« 2 WO n T U S J A M A I C E N SIS. tocas^,

Cen. char. — Oalvx a one-leafed, comc-' oiw pfcrianUi ; tube short, titvbinate, rom-
jiresscJ, peraianeiit, with an oblujpe Uiiutii; limb five- parted, alinost regular,
upright, deciduous';, segments. »vi\te, blunt, two opposite, fluttish, a little
broader; two others concave, with o.ne side narrower; corolla five-petakd. in-
serted ini,o t.be neck of the calyx, "sub-papiHonyceoLis, with the petals almost
ecfiial ; the two upper petals of the banner obliquely ovate, oi-;tusc, sessile, at t"he
upper concave segment of the calyx ; \vings t.vo petuU, inmilur, lateral, a little
narrower; keel the lowest petal, chanaeiled and excavated, appmximatiiig to the
wingSj within the lower h-ol low of the segment of the calyx ; the stamens arr. ten
filaments, distinct, avvl-sha]3ed, erect, bent down above the middle, very long,
between the keei and the v^'i^g^, inserted into the neck of th-e calyx, wit'li linear
itnthers, fixed by the back ; the pistil has a sabre-shajied germ, compressed, pe-
diceded; stv'.e very long, bnstle-shaped, bent down ; stigma thickened, obli(|uely
trini'.ate ; the pericarp is a woody legume, very large, ovate-oblong, obtuse,
one-celled, filled with farinaceous pulp ; seeds several (four to eight), large,
ovikte, vvrap]>ed up in poilen and fibres. There is only one species.

COUllBARII..

]le:una.pallide litt&a, odorata, giimmi.elcnii dic/a sunilis. Slcane, v.
2, p. 186. Folits gevimatis parallelis-, paginis i/itzquaiibus, racanin
tennvnairic'ibus. Browne, p. 221.

This is a very large spreading tree in the V/est Indies, where it grows plentifully ;
IX has a large stem, covered with a rtwset bark, which divides into many spreading
branches, garnished with smooth stiff leaves, which stand by? pairs, their base jointing-
at the footstalk, te which tJiey stand oblique, one side being much broader t.han the
other, tlie tuv outer sides being rounded, and their inside siraight, so , that- they re-
semble a pair of sheep -shears ; they arc pointed at the top, and stand alternate'lj^Bon
the stalk. The iiowers are produced in loose spike.; at the end of the branches, some
of the short ligneous footstalks supporting twoj and others three, flowers, which are
composed of five yellow petals, striped with purple ; the petals are short, and spread
open ; the stamens are much longer, and of a purplish colour : these flowers a-re sue-
c-eeded by diid^, flesh}-, brown, pods, shaped like those of the garden bean ; tiify ara
six mciies long, -and two.and a half broad, of a purplish-brown colour, and a ligneous
cor.sistence, with a large suture on. both edges ; they contain three or four roundish,
COBipresseJ, seecis,- divided by transverse jjariitions, and inclosed in a. whitish sub-
stance, as sweet as honey, which the Indians eat with great avidity, though it is apt to
pursie when fresh oatliered ; but loses this quality as it becoLues old.

^^'Tfefs'''frfefe''is not an iiidigcna ofthe island, but introduced j^robab'v from the southern
continent, and was first planted in Liguanea; the seeds obtained from it were after^
wards sown in other pans, so that it is now common. I have been informed, that it was
generally brought into •fiQP'feland; by the little colony removed fnjm Surinam ; who
planted a great varitfj^-W"^Anfi^%ltcf'(among others) of this tree-,, particularly at the
s-pot allotted to them, v&\\ei\ Su}-inain Suarters, in the parish of St Elizabeth, where
tlie species i; now groaing in vast afjuTiTtSTice. '

Bitween the prtncij) d t.iots ofthe tree exudes a. fine transparent. resin, yellowisli or
red, whirh is coiiprt3!vi1.I*:rf*fe Imips. is r-dh^' il;e '^^n^ niimi of the shops, and u-.-ikes
tlic finest'jatn'ishrtiial.-i&iaiD^MiV'^tipciiex^.e^RttQ the Chinese lacca -, for tlila latter -.•■ ;
^■H20» ' ' it; :

tocifST KGKTUS JAMAICENSIS. 4^3

it is dissolved in tlio hi^!>hest rectified spirits of wine. It burns readily with a t'car
fiiiiiie, emitting a grateful and fraprant smell, lor \\liicli reason it is sonietiiiics ordered
by way of fumigation in the chambers uf persons labouring with asdunas, orsufl'ocative
catarrhs. Its vapours not only strengthen the head, hut al! |.'arts <.A' tiie body affected
with cold. Some a]>jjly it outwardly, dissolved in oil or spii'itj or u'ine. to strcngtheii
the nerves. -An oil may be distil ied'frcm it, equally prevalent in all ccj'd diseases,
palsies, cramps, and contiTiCtiijiis of the siricws. I'he solution in spirits has been thonght
tiot inferior to guaiacuaiin venereal cases, given in a dose of half a s]03onful in wine,
find sweating after it. A decoction of the leaves expels flatidciu'ies, and gives ease i.i
tho'ickv pains, by gentlyopcning the bowels ; and the inward hurk is an excellent vcx-
niifuge in subslanca or decoction. The wild bees are fond of huilding their nests in
these trees ; so that if we agree with the Dutch in opinion, that St. .iohn the Baptist
fad upon tiie- fruit of .tiiem> we have no difliculty in supposing tiiat he fotind the
locust and wild honey, mentioncJ .in Scripture, on the.sam'e 'tree. — Lo^if^, p- 7.23.
■ — The first I ever saw of these trees was about twentv-seven years past, at one .James
Pinpock's, at Liguanea, in Jamaica, wJio told mo it was a Rarbadoes locust-tree. It
was a fine sprtadiug tree, in bigness and shape of the English beech-tree. The frui
is broad and thick, with a hard shell, and about six in<dies long, of a cinnamon colour;
wherein were three or four round, flat, blackish, beans or stones, bigger t'lsm those
of the tamarind, inclosed in a whitish substance of line filaments, as sweet as sugar or
honey. AVhen fresh gathered it is ^lid to purge; which quality it loseth as it grow;.
old. The juice or decoction of, the leaves ex[)els vvind, and eases the cholic pain, by
giving a stool or two. The inward bark destroys worms in young or old. — Barhavi^
fp. 91'. The wood is looked u-pon as an excellent tiniber, but it must be very old before
it is cut, otherwise tlic heart will be but small. It is a spreading shady tree, and found
in many parts of Liguanea. .\i is very common hi Antigua,, and there it grous natii-
jally. — Browne. This tree is in great request for wheel-work in sugar mills, particu-
larly for cogs to the wheels, being- extremely hard and tough; it is so heavy that a
cubic foot weighs about one hundred pounds, and it takes a fine polish. — Jacquui.

The following observations on the characters of this tree are from the manuscript of
-Mr. Anthony Robinson :

" On the 8th July, 1759, I had the pleasure of seeing the perfect flower of the
hymaiaoa of Linneus expanded, from which I took this description. The receptacle
of the cup was hell- shaped, permanent ; the perianth consisted of four ovate, coriace-
ous, thick, leaves, almost equal, placed scalevvise, which, for the most part, dropped
as soon as the petals were expanded. The leaves of the cup were placed on the margin
of the receptacle. Tiie petals were white, five in number, ovate, erect-j^atent, and
almost equal, as long as the cup : the stamina were ten subulated, erect-])atent, iila-
ments, one-fourth longer than the petals; the germen was placed on a receptacle,
arising. out of a hole in the centre of the receptacle, compressed aiul small ; the style
tubulated, and somewhat longer than the stamens ; the stigma coronated ; the anthers
were large, oblong, and the flower has nothin^g of a pyramid in its form. This descrip-
tion was taken from a tree raised from the seed, and ten years old. There was great
difficulty in getting a complete flower, though the tree abounded with them,- for the
leaves of the cup dropped off with the least motion. The petals were considerably
•permanent, but the siamena more so. LinnEcusluis described the blossom erroneously.

LOFTY.

.vf*5* IIORTUS JAMAICJENSia. LOCWQosi^

LOFTY-GRAS$, FUIREXA.

€i.. 3, OR. 1. — Tn\i)uln\T morinf^/nia. "i^AT.oii.—Culaynari.'e.
So named m merooiy of George Fuireu^ a leaj'ned Dane.

Gen. ciiAii. — Calyx aa imbricate anient, with awned scales ; corolla three pclaK
shaped, oU-cordatc, glumes, ending in a tendril ; stanieni tlu'ce Iniear iiiamcnts,
villi linear anthers ; the ))istil has a three-coniered germ, a fdiforin stvle, and two
revolnle stigmas ; no pericarp, excejit the withered corolla, iiKJosing the seed;
seed tlirec-c.(;rnc-red, naked, \\ith(;ut uny villoiie haii's. There is only one species,
Vi native of Jauiaica.

>ANICULATA, PANICLF.D.

This is called l«flij-grass on account of its height; the leaves are on the stem,, with
lioose, pitcher-shaped, hairy, sheaths; panicles terminating and axdlaiy, composed
ofcylindric, scain-ous, sjiikelets ; which are oblong, about throe lines in length, con-
glomerate, blackish, imbricate, with ob-ovate, concave, rigid, scales, having three-
iecls, tinitiug at top into an awn.. It has the appearance of a. scirpus.

IX)GWOOD on CAMPKACHY-WOOD. H^MATOXYLUM.

Cl. 10, on. 1. — J)ecandria vionosynia. Nat. OR.—Lomentacae.

Tliis, generic name is derived from two Greek words signifying blood ^ind wood, from,
the colour-'of its wood.

Gen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, coloiwed ; tube very shorb, pitcher-
shaped, iieshj', permanent ; border tive-parted, spreading, deciduous; paits
oblong, blunt ; the four upper ones equal, the lov.est a little longer than the rest;
the corolla has five petals, ianct-olatc, broadest at the top, blunt, veined, spread-
ing, nearly equal, inserted into tlie caiyx, and longer than its divisions; the
stamens ten subulate filaments, hairy at bottom en- the inside, -upright,. unt(jual,
scarcely longer than the corolla, inserted into the calyx ; with oval small anthers;
the pistil has an oblong, sabre-sliaped, compressed, germ, a capillary style, l)entr
at the tij"), longer than the stamens, and a fiwinel-shaped stigma ; the pericarp is
a lanceolate legume, flat, blunt, one-celled, edged on each side with a thickish
-suture that does not open, o':iening by the bursting of the valves in the middle
longitudinally, and dividing into two .unequal, lioat-shaped, parts; seeds few,
oblong, compressed, furrowed, fixed to one of the sutures. There is only one
.species.

CAMPECIIIANl'M, CAM*>EACHV.

Lignum Campechianum, species i;uerdem Brasil. Sloane, v. 2, p-.
183, t, 231, f., 1, 2. Spiiiosion, foliolis pinuatis, raccniis tennina-
libus. Browne, p. 221.

This tree grows naturally in the Bay of Campeaciiy, at Honduras, and oilier part* oT
ihe Spanish AVcst Indies, where it rises from sixteen to twenty-four feet high. The
stems are generally crooked, and very defprmed, and seldom thicker than a man's
Ihigb..

-tOG-nrooD HORTUS J'AMAlCJE NS^f^. +65

The inner bark is red, and the wood is hard; ijranchos suh-dividedjT^axtiose, round,
ash-colourc'd. Leaves pinnate ; peticlcs alternate, patulous, ronn J, sinooth ; leaflet:?
four pairs, on very sl)(iri. petiolules, generally ob-cordate, entire^ svini!!, very smooth

-am! sliiniiit^, spreading in the day time, Ijut at night upright, cMnxcrijinc;. Prickles
strong, miiklling in size, above the petioles. Racemes a^xillary, Mnijs'e, t^pright, the

• length of the leaves, solitary, many-Howered ; flowers pednncled, iiuuitroiis, small,
pale yellow, on short, scattered, siinple, coloured, peduncles: celys bell shaped at
the base, and very small, the parts lanceolate, convex-, reflex, purpie; the bottom
nectareous : [letals ovate, blunt, equal, with sliort claws ; -anthers -'.uunibent, revo-.
lute ; germ lanceolate, ' on a short pedicel ; stigma d.lated, perforated. -^It tlowcrs in
JMarch and April, and ripens its seeds in July. — -Stif,

This tree was introduced into Jamaica from Honduras by "Dr. Barharo, in 17 \5 ; and

is at this time too common, as it has over-run large tracts of land, and is very diflicult

to root out. It makes a beautiful and strong fence against cattle. If pruned from the

lower branches, it grows to a sizeable tree, and, when old, the wood is as good as that

-from Honduras. The trees are cut ug into billets or junks, the bark and white sap of

which are chipped oft', and the red part, or heart, is sent to England for sale. It is

, chosen in the largest thickest pieces, sound, and of a deep red colour.

Logwood is used in great quantities for dying purple, but especially black colours.
All the colours, however, which can be jirepared from it, are of a fading nature, and
cannot b}' any art be made equally durable vvith those prepared from some other mate-
rials. Of all the colours prepared from Logv/ood, the blaoic is the most durable. Dr.
■^Lewis recommends it as an ingredient in making ink. "In dyeing cloth' (says he)
vitriol and galls, in whatever proportions they are used, produce only browns of dif-
ferent shades : I have often been surprised that with these capital materials of the black
dje I never could obtain any true blackness in white cloth, and attributed the failure to
some unheeded mismanagement in the process, till I found it to be a known fact among
the dyers. Logwood is the material which adds blackness to the vitriol and gall-brown ;
and this black dye, thougii not of the most durable kind, is the most common. On
blue cloth a good black may be dyed by vitriol and galls alone ; but, even here, an ad-
dition of logwood contributes not a little to improve the colour." Mr. Delaval, how-
■ ever, in his Essay on Colours, informs us, that, with an infusion of galls and iron
/filings, he not only made an exceeding black and durable ink, but also dyed linen
. cloth of a. very deep black.

The seed is very perishable, soon losing its vegetative principle. The reason for
.sowing it should not be too wet, otherwise it will rot in the ground. In the neighbour-
'hoodof Savanna- la-Mar are such quantities of it growing wild as toincommftde the land-
holders extremely ; occupying' that district, as the oppoponax and cashaw have the
•southern parts of Middlesex county ; but the logwood is so luxuriant and hardy, after
it comes up, that it will over-run the other two, and starve their growth.

The smaller stems, if of good length, are made into hoops, where better materials
are wanting. The wood gives a purple tincture by infusion, which is easily chatiged
iDr heightened, by acid or alkalous mixtnres. The bark and gum are gentle sub-as-
tringents ; but the last excels, and adds a sweet^iess to its virtue, which renders it
more agreeable to the palate. It is found very efficacious in looseness ; for, if two
ounces of the chips are boiled in a quart of milk, and a quart of water, to one quart.

Goo wui

4^ SOItTUS JAMAICENSISi uwnCC^

i^\h\ a tcijrcup foUpf this decoction be given every three hours, it selclom fails to cure
» conujwu iliyrrhtta.

The grywtl; otthis tree is.so quick, that it will rise, ia proper soils, to the height of
tfii feet II) tjiree years. It' an advaiuage is iiroposed to be made by the wood, the see(fe.
aught to, be sown in swampy lands, sr.dj as those about Black Uiver, and all the
bjauches permitted to remain, which v/iii be of great use, in augmenting the bulii.cjf
Sbeir siepis,— Zo;i^» p. .7.54.

Love Apples — See Tomatoes.-

LOVE IN A MIST. PASSIFLORA.

Cl. 20, on. 4. — Gynayidria pentandrk. Nat. or. — Cucurbitace^.
■Gen. cma. — 5'ee Bull-IIfiof, p. I23.

ITT-TinA. STrSKIXG.

Flo!s passiimisjolio hederacco aiiguloso, fa-tido. Sloane, v. 1, p. 22^.
Fcsicaria ; Janim invalucris triphjjllis, muUifido-capillaribiis^—^
Browne, p. 327.
Leaves cordate-hairy ; involucres capillaiy-multifid-.
The stalks are reund, woolly, and rise five or six feet high, when supported, send^
tng forth pretty strong clavicles. The leaf is tluee-lobed,- like ivy leaves, downy an4-
soft, the middle lobe three iiiches long, and one and a half broad, the two side-lobes
short, but broad. The flowers are on strong hairy peduncles, two iiK;he3 long; calys
composed of slender hairy filaments, wrought like a net, {rcseml)ling those of nigdla ■
damasccna}- longer than the peta-ls, and turning up round them ; they are white, and
of short auration. The fruit is 3ellow, inclosed in the netted calyx, and has a pleasjirvt
smell, though all the other parts of the plant has a disagreeable one when touched. —
The fruit IS about the size of a golden pippin, oblong-sj)heroidal, pe iicelleJ, marked
■with three lines of a deeper colour, longitiKlmally ; within it is silky white, membra-
naceous, containing numerous seeds, involved in an -agreeable sweet-acid pulp. f^.
flowers in the spriug.

Se< BtJt.L-HooF—- Gjianadilla — Passion Flowers — ^WATEE-LtMON.

Ko English Name. LUDWIGIA.

Gli 4, OR. 1. — Tetrandvia momgynia. Nat. or. — Calycanthevta.
So named in honour of C. G. Ludvtrig, professor of medicine at Leipsic.
Gen. chae- — Calyx a one-leafed, four-parted, perianth, superior, with spreading
segments ;. corolla four-pctaled, petals ob-cordate, spreading ; stamens four awl-
shaped filaments, widi simple anthers ; the pistil has a four-cornered germ, a.
cylindric style, and an obsoletely four-cornered, capitate, stigma; the pericarp
-'^ 8. four-cornered capsule^ inferior, four-celled, fuur-vaUxd j,.seeds numerous^

>(IACAW H OUT US JAMAICENSIS. 4&f

small ; the receptacle columnar, membranaceous, four-winged ; wings in the
angles of the paititions, seed-bearing on each side. One species is a native of
Jamaica.

BEPENS. CREEPING.

Leaves opposit^, ovate; peduncles solitar}-, axillary; stem creeping.

This is an annual plant, and the isnardia palustris of Linneus, but by Swartz cleter>
jiiined to be a species of this genus. The flowers are axillary, opposite, sessile, anci
green. It is frequent in the rivers of Jamaica, with petals, though they are fugaceoua.

IMacaw-Busii — See Turkey BiiiRRiES.

MACAW.TREE. ^ COCOS.

Cl. 21, OR. 6. — Monoccia he.vandria. Nat. OR. — PalmiS.
■•Gen. Ciiar. — See Cocoa-Nut Tree, p. 206.

•ACULEATA PRICKLY.

Pahna t6tn spinosa inetjor, friictit. pruniformi. Sloane, v. 2, p. IIP.
Pinnis et caudicc ubiquc. aculcctissimis, fruetu majusculo. ■ BtxjwWE.
p. 344'.
Aculeate-spiny, trunk fusiform; fronds pinnate ; stripes and spathes spiny.

The n^reat maoaw-tree has a trunk as thick as the human "body, with a swelling at
foot nsino- thirty feet high, with an ash-coloured bark, and very thick set with sharp
black prickles, some longer some shorter, placed usually in rings. The pinnas of the
fronds are very long, and the wiiole diick set with jirickles. The fruit is as larg2 as a
crab-apple ; xmder a green skin it has a thin, sweetish, astringent, pulp, and under
that a nut full of white, sweet, edible, kernel. It is common in most savannas in Ja-
maica. The wood is of a black colour. — Sloane. The fruit is thus described by Gtert-
iver : It is globular, flatted a little, about an inch in diameter, terminated by three
acuminate, sessile, stigmas, and retaming the six-leaved calyx at the base ; skin thick,
coriaceous; pulp fil)rous, succulent, finely fungose, and coriaceous, adhering to the
rtit ; which is globular, sublenticular, of a stony substance, thick, one-celled, with
three holes on the side, two of which are blind, and the third pervious. Seed singl«^
sub-«lobular, flattish, or slightly depressed near the hole of the coll, netted all over
with arched streaks, of a brown-bay colour.

The small macaw tree Sloane says grows to the thickness of a man's leg, risino; abotrt

fifteen feet high, and is in every lUing similar to the large kind. 'Browne says the

. . O 0 o 2 husks

4£8- HORTtJS J.AMAICENS-It?; mnq^

buslis of rite fniit-of'both are full of oil,-, and the nut black arid sbinlrr^. The cil is uat
inferior to, axiii i)v sonic tbcjugliLto be, the rt'al p;ilni oil. The- trunk is use;! for Uitliincr, -
,and tiio bhick seeds, about the size of a walnut, bear a fini' poiishj and a'C frc<iuontly
made into beads. The small niaoaw tree is tlic caiidictacuhv/issiiiio, phinis ttd mar,-
gi7ics spino^is, fruciibus m<ijusctilisj of Browne, j>. 'Z-Vi ; ::ad iiwpt'hnu spuwsa minora
J'ructu pruiiijormi oi Slo>ir>e,.\. 2, p 12!.

•»

Macnx-Tfefr^SocsMcdfwmi, large bird that fecda upon the fruit of this tree,
wbicli is of the palm kind. There are tivo soi'ts of them, but they ditl'er in nothinji but
the fruit'; there is one. bigger tlian tiie other. Tiiis tree is full of sharp jiricklcs fr>)ra
jts bottom to the top, a)ui all the stalks of the braTulies, vvhiih are exictly like the coui-
mon palm. It hatli a bUuk, fiat, round, nut, in shape and bigness of what is called
liere the horse-eye bean, covered over when ripe with a yellow putp, like the coronioa.
small palm, which the macaw greedily swallows. The outside part r f the body of the
tree is excessive hard ; of whicli the Indians make their bows, and several otkcr useful
tilings; but the inside is full of "a soft pithy substauce,.. like the cabbage-tree.'-^
Samam,^p. 92-.

Mace, REED~.S*rt' Reed'Mace.-
MAD-AppLE^.S'fc Egg-Plant.
Madre de Cacao — See Cacao ' id Bean-Tree^'.
WAFOOTOO-WiTiiE — See Caccons, .
Maguey— ^fe Jmlk Grass.

BIAHOE. HIBISCUS.

Cl. 16, Ofi. G. — j\Ionade!p/iia poll/and ria, N.\T. or. — Column ife ra^i :.
,Gen..cuar. — .S"!;^ Changeable-Hose, p. 175.

1. ELATPS. HIGH.

Malva arborea, folio rotujido, cortice in fmies duct'di, flore mitu'afiHi
macivw liliaceo. Sloajie, v. 1, p. 215, t. 134, f. \, 2, .3. Arbo-^
reus. Join.'! angulato-cordatis, Jlore amplo croceo, Ugno violacco. — •-
Browne, p. 284.

Lsave&iCordate-roundish,. entire ; peJuncles very short, one-flowercd ; caiyX :
ten -toothed.

Browne calls this the 7?iO!^«/tfww7tf/;oc, whicli groves into a large tree, having beea
gpmetimes found sixty feet iiigh, and, eight in circumference. It is frequent in the -
woods. The leaves stand at the ends of the branches on long footstalks, corJated, or
almost round, about five inches in diameter, a little indented on the edges, soft, .
smooth, of a very dark green colour, having veins running from the footstalk as from a
GO imion centre. Tne Howers proceed from the ends of the branches, they are large,
open, yellow, not unlike the yellow lily, (there is a variety with red flowers, in every
respect resemljhng the tree with yellow). In some places it is known by the name of
iuUp-tree. Tiie hark makes excellent ropes, and it is also accounted -a- good timber
ape. The wood is of a dark glivc colour, the bark pretty smooth, ^and the trunk tall

pMic»5 TORTUS JAMAICENSIS^. 43fl9'

{ind straiglit. AU the tender parts of tJ»e tree abound \\itli a delicate ni\K-ilagP, an.l
might, no douht, he used instead of the vanglo or zezegary. The ac/iuma mail aviscitf-
i^n:Aicd by Hiowuc ihc s/ifiibbj/ vn>uutiiinm<i/uu',

3. TILIAtEOL'S. l.lME-TItF.E-LEAVEU.

Maha orhorca viaritinw, folio suhratinido mhtpre aciiwinalo suhfus"
caiuUdo, cortce in Junes duct Hi Jiore lutco. Sloane, v. I, p. 215,
t. I :!4, f. 4. I\I<u-itima, arhorcsccus, di/fusa ; foliis orbicu/ato-cor"
lUitis, Uniter crcnutis, mbtus cincrfis. Browne, p. 28K

L'eaves cordate, roundish, undivided, acuminate, creiiate; stem arboreous ;
outer-cal^x ten-toothed. .

This tree is frequent by the sea-side in many parts of Jamaica. Sloane calls it the
■sea-mahoe, ov mangrove, and Browne the «m/iw, or bay k-ti'ee. Ii has several stems,
and rises couinioniy to the height of sixteen or eighteen feet. The leaves are smaller'
than those of the foregoing species, of a whiter-green colour, and a little pointed. —
The flowers are. also the same, but yellow; in every other respect these plants bear a
great reseinblance. The bark- is also very tough, afld not much inferior to either hemp
or flax on many occasions', it is iiaturally white, and a fine, soft, filamentous, texture ;
which must undoubtedly render it extreinely fit for the paper mill. The negroes make
ropes of it, which, tarred and well-twisted, would probably not be inferior to those
made of hemp. All parts of the tree, especially the flowers, abound with a fine muci-
lage, and are both emollient and laxativ-e. — Sloane S( Bron'ne. Tiie flowers come in-
loose spikes at the ends of the branches, and are succeeded by short acuminated cap-
sules, opening in five-ceils, and filled with heart-shaped seeds. The inner bark ami
rind is very strong, and may be drawn off in flakes, and made into ropes. Dampier
wentions, .that privateers often made use of the bark of this tree for their rigging.

3. CI.YPEATUS.

Malva arhcrea, folio oblon go ^cuminato, reluio, dentalo et leviter si~
nuato, jiove ex rubrojiwvescente. Sloane, v. 1, p. 2 IS, t. 135, f. 1^

Leaves cordate-angular; capsules turbinate, truncate, hispid.

This plant is called the C'o?;,5'o ?7;c//(7C,- it rises from six to twelve feet high, having,
^ti woody, upright, trunk, round, pubescent; branches sub-divided, stiff, upright;,,
tomentose. Leavas alternate, acuminate, tooth-letted, nerved, hirsute, and some-
what scabrous, soft-tomentose unlerneath ; petioles longer, stiff, round, tometnose,
Eiiiuncies Irom the terminating axils, upright, thicker than the petioles, stiff, long-, .
i!oi!nd,..white-toinentose, one-flowered ; corollas pale, sometimes dusky j-ellow, or
yellowish-carnation colour, according to Sloane ; the outer' calyx is ten-cleft, at the
base; leaflets reflex, hirsute ; inner one unequal, thick, five-parted; the three hinder
parts upright, broad ovate, acumuiate, nerved, wrinkled,- rough with hairs: petal*
unequal, the three hinder ones more erect, the two front ones bent down, united at
•he base, iiroad-lanccolate, blunt, thick, tome iiose on the outside : filauicnts united
above tlie middle ; anthers oblong, small, fnlvou;. ; 'jerm hirsute, ovate, depressed j
stigmas red; capsule large, roundish, furrowed, extremely hirsute, with ten blunt
:ing|.es j^^eeeds roundish, J?,rge, wliiiish. It grows but rarely in the island of Jamaica, .

iff

iTO- HORTU« JAMAICENSia. MAHOGANlf,

in copf.ices nenr the coast. Its common name is Congo mahoe, the negroes affirming
UiHt ii ca.iie oriyiiialiy (Vom Africa. — Sii\ Sloaiic says it grew on the Red liills very
pleatiluiiy.

See Changeable-Rose — Indian Sorrel — IMusk-Ochra — Ochra.

MAHOGANY. SWIETENIA.

Cl. 10, OR. 1. — Decandria monogynia. Nat. or. — Trihilatoc.

Tliis generic name was given in honour of G. L. B. a Svvieten, at whose persuasion
the Empress Maria Teresa founded the botanic garden at V^ienna.
~Gen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, five-c!eft, (rotated) obtnse, ver}' small,
deciduous ; corolla five petals, nnich longer than the caly.x, ob-ovatc, obtuse,
concave, spreading ; nectary one-leafed, cylindric, somewhat shorter than the
))Ctals ; mouth ten-toot!ied ; the stamensten filaments, very small, inserted below
the teeth of the nectary ; with oblong, erect, anthers ; the pistil has an ovate
gertn ; style awl-shaped, erect, length of the nectary ; stigma headed, flat ; the
pericarp is an ovate capsule, large, woody, one-celled, at the top five-celled,
live-valved ; valves opening at the base ; seeds very many (more than fifty), im-
bricate, compressed, oblong, ob-ovate, having a Leafy wing ; receptacle large,
•^five-cpraered. One species is a native of Jamaica.

'• MAIIAGONI. MAHOGANY.

Fotiis pinnatis, fioribus sparsis, Ugno graviori. Browne, p. 15S.

Xeaves pinnate, aljoiit four-paired ; leaflets ovate- lanceolate, equal at the base;-
panicles axillary.

The mahogany is a loftv.and very branching -tree, with a wide handsome head ; leaves
reclining, alternate, siiining, eight inches long, numerous on the younger branches 4
leaflets for the most part four-pan-s, but often three, seldom five, without any odd one,
falcate-lanceolate, quite entire, acuminate, bent in backwards, petioled, opposite, eiu
inch and a half long ; racemes sub- cor\inbed, with about eight flowers in each, axU-
larj', solitary, two inches long ; flowers small, whitish — Jacquin. Capsule large,
(sometimes attaining the size of a child's head) wood^', ovate, of a smoaky-rufescenl'
colour (or ferruginous), towards the top five-celled, but in other parts widely one-
celled, five-valved ; valves thick, opening from the base, caducous, covered within by
a thick flexile, coriaceous, lamina, exactly equal to them in size. Receptacle central,
free, woody, five-cornered, from a narrower base widening mucli, and thickening up-
wards, but narrowing again at the point, and, on each side of the pyramid, having a'
double row of very small scars, into which tUe seeds are inserted. Seeds numerous,
collected into five bundles, nnbricate downwards, compressed, yellowish-rufescent, or
cinnamon-coloured, having a nucleus below, but ending above \n a long membranace-
ous wing. — G^ertner. Linneus remarks, that this tree has a great affinity with cddrela,
or the common cedar of Jamaica, and the capsules are nearly alike, but those of the
-cedar much smaller in every respect ; the germ and the fruit are also very similar. —
"The flov/cr agrees in many respects with that oimclia.

This

:^AHC<iA}rf HORTUS JAMAICENSI3. 471

Ttiis oraocfitl aa<] valu&l)Ic tree, which furnishes a constant share towards the annual
exports iroui tlie island, gsevv formerly in very great abundance alonsr the coast ; but
having l)etn almost estenuinated from those parts, in p recess of time, it is at present
found chiefly in the woodland mountainous recesses, where vast quantities of it still
remain, paiiicuiarly in the uncultivated districts of Clarendon, and tl»e leeward
parishes. '

It thrives in most soils, botvaries in its grain and texture. What grows in roc'.y
ground is of small diameter, but.pwiportionably of closer £;raiH. heavier weight, ami
more beautifully veined. V.'iiat is produced in low, ricl>, and moist, lands, is larger ia
dimeinions. more light and porous, and of a paler complexion. This constitutes the
(lifterence between, the Jamaica wood, and that whicli is collected from the coast of
Cuba and the Spmish Main ; the former is r.iostU found on rocky eminences; the lat-
ter is cut in swampy soib,. near the sea-eoasti The superior value of the Jamaica wood,
for beaotv of colouring, frriiuiess, and durability, may therefcu"e be easily accounted
for-' but,' as a large quantity of balks and |:)lank is brought from the Spanish American
coasts to this island, to be shipped from thence to Great Britain, the dealers- are apt to
confound all under the .name of Jamaica wood,, which, in some measure, hurts the
credit of this staple production. The tree grows tall and straight, rising often sixty
feet from the spi-.r»to thedimbs }• the foliage Is a beautiful deep green ; and the appear-
ance made by the whole tree, so elegant, that none would be more ornamental for an
ai-enue, or to-decorate a plantation* It generally bears a groat number of capsulce in
the season.- The flowers are ol a redJish or saffron colour ; and the fruit of an oval form,
about the size of a turkey's egg. It is easily jiropagated from the seeds, and grows ra-
pidly. Some of them have reached to a monstrous size, exceeding one hundred feet
inheio-ht, and (n'oportionably l)Hlkv One was cut a few years sinoe in St. Elizabeth's,
wliich measured twelve feet in diameter • and cleared to the proprietor above 500l. cur-
rency- The. value of it, cither for sale, for use, or beauty, being so great,. it is amaz-
ing tiiat it is not more cultiviited on waste lands, of wliich every proprietor has some
within his ran f^o. Those, particularly, who have families, might by tltismeans apply
t!ie worst part of their tracts to. produce a future fortune for their younger dtildren, — •
We mav imaTine the plentyof it in former times4iere, when it used to he cut up for
beams, ioists^ plank, iind even shingles. But-it is now grown scarce, within ten or
twelve miles from tlie sea-roa^t ; and must every year become still scarcer, and cons-ew,
quentlv dearer, unless nurseries, or plantations, are formed of it in places where the
carriage is more convenient fov the market.

In fellino- these trees, the most beautiful ]iart is commonly left behind.- The negro
workmen raise a scaffolding, of* four or five feet elevation above the ground, and hack,
pff the trunk, which they cut up mlo balks.

The part below, extending to the roots, is not only of laive.;t diameter, but of a
closer texture than the other parts, most elegantly diversified with shades or clouds, or
dottetV, like e\nriine> with black spots; it takes the highest polish, with a singular
lustre, so firm as even to reflect objects like a mirror. Tfiis part is only to be come at
tfv disiQinf below the spur to t!vc depth of two or three feet, and cutting it through ;
«vjiich is so laborious an operation, that few attempt it, except they are u icommonly-
curious in theif choice of the wood, or to seiVe a particular order. Yet, I apprehend,
it mio-hthe found to answer tiio tmuble and'expeace, if sent for a trial to the British
jnarket; as it could not fail of being approved of beyond any other wood, or even
-|.5j:to»&-slidl,^^hich it niQst resembles. It seeds in May.— Zo«^.

AT2 HORTUS J AM AI C ENS IS. ■ .maidb»

/

I'lic fn'st nse to which mahogany was applied iu Englanil, was to malce a hox lor
hji.liiig laiuUes. Dr. Gibbons, an erninent physifiar. in the latter cud of the seven-
t;'oiitli and beginning ottiie eighteenth century, iiad a broiher, a West India Captain,
\vho brought over some planks of'tiiis wood as ballast. As the doctor was tlicn buiidit^g
iiim a house in King-street, Covcr.t-Garden, his brother tliought they might be of ser-
vice to him. But the carpenters, finding the wood tocj hard for their uuAs, they were
laid asitle for a time, as useless. Soon after, Mrs. ^Gibbons wanting a candle-box, the
doctor called on his cabinet-maker (^Vollaston, in Long-Acre) to make him one of
some wool! that lay in his garden. WoUaston also complained that it was too hard. —
The doctor said he must get stronger tools. The candle-box wa^- made and approved ;
iasomuch, that the doctor then insisted on having a bureau made of the same wood,
which was accordingly done ; and the fine colour, polish, &c. were so pleasing, that
he invited all his friends to come and seeit. Among them was the Duchess of Buck-
ingham. Her Grace begged some of the same wood of Dr. Gibbons, and employed
Wollaston to make her a bureau also ; on whicii the fame of mahogiinv and Mr. Wol-
laston was much raised, and things of this sort became general. This account was
given by Henry Mill, Esq. a gentleman of undoubted veracity.

The following preparation is quoted in Dancer's Medici I Assistant, as binding or
astringent:

Boil an ounce of the shavings of mahogany in two pints of water, till one half is
wasted. Dose from two to four table-spoonfuls frequently, in diarrh«;a or looseness,
Hughes's Medical Facts and Observations, vol. 6.

Dr. Wright observes, that tlie bark of the boughs of mahogany is very like the Peru-
vian bark in colour as well as in taste, but has more bitterness. Mahogany bark, in-
fused in wine or spirits, makes an elegant tincture, which resembles the tincture of the
'best Jesuits bark, for which it is often substituted ; and he saw the powder admi-
nistered in inteimittents with succiess, when the Peruvian bark could not be had-

Dr. Roxburgh, of Madras, has discovered a new species of mahogany, and has sent
home a good deal of the bark : he assures us it is superior in virtue to the Peruvian. — »
Jts sensible qualities are exactly the same as the bark gf ; the mahogany tree of Jamaica^
'^Wright.

MAIDEN HAIR. ADIANTIJM.

Cl. 24, OR. 1. — Cryptogamia filices. Nat. or. — Filices.
CeN. char. — Fructifications assembled in oval spots, at the end of the fronds, which
are turned back ; or at the reflex tip of the frond underneath. Of this fourteea
species have been discovered in Jamaica.

The following have compoimd fronds :

\. RADIATUM. RAYED.

liamosum, ramis simpUcibus, summo cattle radiatis, Btowtie, p."
88. Ad. 6.

frond cUgitate ; leaflets pinnate ; pinnas one»fl(?wered.

Srewae

CH.UDB* TICKET US JAMA!CEM?I§, 4n

Browne calls this the smaller viaiden-hair with raJlated l)ranclie.';. This eletyaat
little plant rises bv a simple stal'c to tlie height of six or eigtit iiiclies, and then tliviiles
into five or mofe simple braiitjjes, disposed in a radiated expanded f'oria; which are
sustained, as it were, by a few simple leaves, piacetl in the manner of an ureibrella or
common cup under their insertions.- The leaves are small, and disposed in a pinnatetl
prUer. — Hrvn'iic.

2. SERRULATUM. SERRATE-LEAVED,

Trichomanes majus, tiigrum pin-m's Icviter dcntatis trapczii figur'a.^—
Sloa.ie, V. 1, p. 81, t 25, f. 2.
Fronds hi-pii\nate, pinnules deltoid-oblong, serrate ; fructifications so,1itary«
superior.
This rises about eight inches ; the foetstailk black and shinmg, sometimes hairy, -nd
Jtiree inches long; the pinnides are alternate, very close, trapezium-shri])t-.l. (iari>-
•coloured, without prickles It has some small jags on the edges, wldi ii, on the iMjper
side, turns into a ferruginous welt of seed, wnen it does not apjiear serrated. It grcvf
©n the banks of the Rio D'Oro, and otht^r rocky, inland, woody, parts. — Hloane.

3. PlJMIl.OM. DWARF.

.'Minmum ercctum simpli.r, Joliis trapeziofdiius sub-imbricati's.—
Browne, p. 87. Ad. 1.
Frond pinnate ; stipe cajiillary ; piHoas alternate, roundish-serrulate, the up«
permost larger, trapezium-shaped ; -frucdficatious interrupted
The small, erect, undivided,- adiantiim, or maiden-hair, seldom rises above two or
■sthree inches from the root; its leaves and stalk are very delicate, aiid the fructifications
ijut iti\y- It grows chielly in dry and rocky places. — Browne.

4. MACROPIIYLLIJM. LARGE-LEAFE-D.

.Tricho)»anes majus nigrum, pmnis trapeziijigura lafis.<:imis fenuihits,

Bloane, v 1, [>. 81. Simplex adit vix divaiaii, cculc tcreti, foiiis

umplts triangidaribus inipetiolatis. Browne, p. 87. Ad. 2, t. 33^

f. 1.

The iar<Te-leafed undivided maiden-hair grows chic^.y in moist and shady places ;

its stalk is'seldom branched or divided, and its leaves are' commonly from «iie to twf

judies in length, and aoout one and a quarter in breadth. — Browne,

5. DELTOIDEUM. DELTOID- LEAVED.

Frond pinnate; pin nas alternate, dehoid-obtuse, tlie uppermost triangular;
fructifications continued abo%'e and in tront. — Sw.

Thefolloxeing have decompound f rends :

6. ViL'.OSUlf. HAIRY.

/ldia,nlum nigrum maximum, non ramomyn, ptnni.t crebris, mnjori-.
bus, crassis, et trapezii in modum .figuratis. Sloanc, v. 1, p. &3,
t. 55, f. I. Simplicitcr ramiiSum,Joliis majoribus, caule hirsuta-^
Browne, p. 87. Ad. 4.
Fronds bi-pinnute; pinnas rhombed, -fructifying befurc and without; stipe

villous.

P p p '^*S

*T-i nORTUS JAMATCENSIS,^ maideiI*

Thchaifv-stalkecfiff/wH/i^^J grows to tlie hciglit of two feet; the leaves large and
open. The stem biaek, strong, triangular, covered with a hairy fcrruninous mossy
suhscanre ; the fronds pioceed from. it about a foot from the ground ; the pitinas alter-
nite ; peckmcles an iiich long, and about Jialf as l)roa(i, the 6^nre of a trapezium. It
grew in a shady gully near bt. Jago de la Vega., Pjuso recommends tiiis plunt for ex-
pectorating- tough phlegm. — Sluane,

7. Mlv-:ROPUyi.LU'.'. SMAI.I.-I.F..\VFI>.

j4di(intum 72!STum raiiw.simi minus, raynuUs surculh et plnnidis rarh,
minimis, sub. otiindis. bIor;no, v. i, p. 98, t. 13, r. 2.

.Frond bi-pinnate; leaflctK alternate^ oblong-obtiise,. crenate, the lowest pin-
natifui.

This rises nine inches, having black stripes covered with a rusty moss. Pinnules
small, distinct, dark green. . Tnere is a considerable defect between some of the pin-
nules, being variously sinuated or cue in on the edges^ It grew among- rocks near the
fijer at St. Jago de la \cas..^-Sloane..

8. STRIATUM. STRIATED.

Frond bi-pinnate ; pinnules rigid, sickled-ovate ; fructifications superior, in—
terrupted; stipe round, rough. — Sw. J:*/'. t35, ,

9. STRICTUM. STIFF.

Ftond. hi pinnate; pinnas four-cornered, fastigiate-erect ; piimas alternatCj,
polished, entire ; fructitications superior, continued — S'a-. Pi: 135.

lO. DENTieULATU.W. TeOTHED. '

Fronds decompound ; pinnas alternate, trapczoicf, acuminate-crenate; notches
tooth-letted ; fructifications superior, interrupted. — Sw. Fr. 135.

Thefollowiiig^ have supey-dccQinpound fronds :-, ■

11. ACUI.EATUMs . raiCICLY.

Filix ranwsa major, caule spinoso, foUis sen pinnulis rotundis, pro^
funde laciniatis, sen ccrcfolii fcliis. Sloane, v. 1, p. 99, t. 6h — -
Flaxum rumossissiniuni, aculestum ; ranuiUs et frond ibus tenuissi'^
mis. Browne, p. S.9. Ad. 11.

Pmnas palmate, piany-flowcred ; stipe prickly.

Tins has a long, root, towards the top ferruginous- mossy; from which rise- several
footstalk-^, cornered on one side, i-ound on the other, of the bigness of a swan's qiifll,
of a grey colour. The plant is much divided, and the stalks and branches furnished
witb a great nuuiber of short recurved prickles. The branches are opposite and slender,
the pinnas alternate, the leatleti small, and deeply crenated, of a yellowish-green
colour. Th-is grows in tufts, and is found in great abundance in Above Rocks, and
many other parts of tlie island. ,

12. TRAPEZIFORME-. KIIOMB-LEAVED.

/idian/um nigrum, ramosum, maximuvi, foliis majoribus trapezii in
vxodmnfig\iratis, Sloane, v. l, p. 9S, t, 53, Ercctum mejus in- .

ordinate^

mm^ HORTUS ja:>iaicenjis, «7i>

ordinalc ramosum, foliis umpaorihus trupczwidihus cum anmiinc;
caiilc, raviis et pcIloIs atmnitentihus. Erowiii-, p. 88. Atl. 8.

Leaflets alternate; pinnas rhombecl, gashed, fruit-bearing o'n each side.
This plant resembles the following f/enerumj in botii form anil appearance, but
throws to a more considerable size, and is often observed to be half an inch or more
round the stalk, vvliich is black, shinniy, and rises four or five feet iiigh, rliaking a
beautifnl appearance. — Sloaiie i( Browne. The syrup of this plant is like the syrnp of
maiden-hair in liurope, — Dancer^ s Med. ^Is.

13. TENEUUM. TE.VDEK.

Ercxlum inordinate ramo.'iiiiii, caiile icrcti, rarduUs ct pctiolis, atro-
niieiiiibus. Browne, p. SS. Ati. 7.

The samller-branched maiden-hair rises by a shining, black, branched, footstalk,
to u.e height of fourteen or eighteen inches. It grows in shady places, and is plenti-
fully supplied with leaves, which fall off with great ease when the plant is dried. — -
.Browne.

14. FUAGiLK. BUITT;'.E.

Frond snper-decompound, hi-pinnate at top ; pinnas ob-ovate, wedge-shapedj-
entire; fructifications hiterrupted. — Sxu. Pr. 13 j.

Browne saj's all the species oi adianlum are hght sub-astringent vulneraries, and
niay be administered with great propriety in all relaxations and weaknesses of the
fi:.:es ; m ni'i-nl'^nt constin)[)t;ons, and in the ulceratetl or relaxed state of the glandj,
espcciallj -those of the breast, as '.veil as in most cutaneous diseases.

MAIDEN-PLUM TREE. COMOCLADIA.

Ci . 3, OR. I. — Triandria )7ionogj/m'a, Nat. or. — TerebiniacciS.

<G"EN. CHAR. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, three-parted, spreading, coloured, di-
visions rounlish ; the corolla has three petals, ovate, acute, flat, verv spreading;
the stamens three filaments, suljulate, shorter than the corolla, with roundish in-
cuiubeiit anthers ; the pistil has an ovate genu, no style, stigma obtuse, simple;
the ])ericarp an oblong drupe, crooked, marked above with three dots ; the seed
a membranaceous nut, the figure of the drupe. Two species are natives of
Jamaica.

1. INTEGRIFOLIA. ENTIRE-LEAVED.

Pru7ius racemosa, caudice nnn ramoso, alatcfraxini folio non crena'o-
fruclu rubro suhdulci. Sloane, v. 2, p. I^l, t. 222, f. I. Caudicj
simplici qiiiindogue brachialo, frondc comosa pinnata ; Jioribus con-,
fertis sessitibus, raccmis alaribus. Browne, p. I2t.

Leaflets entire.
This is sometimes called burnwood or papaxi)-u'cod, and grows very commonK' in
Jamaica, rising to the height of from twelve •) axteen feet, but never to any consi-
slai'able thickness. About the top it is furnished with many oval pinnated leaves, like

1* p p ^ ' a

4T<; IIORTUS JAMATCENSI!?, -majo«

a fronil, having rroquently ten pairs of leaflets, which are small nest the stem, and in-
crease in si2e as they approach the centre, whence tlicy again diminish towards the
point, and end in an odd one, the pairs of leaflets at hotli extremities being the smallest ;
the whole being from two to three feet long. The ]}air of leallets next the point arc
opposite, hut tlie rest alternate, gradually recetiir.g from each other as they approach
tlie stem, where they are about half an inch distant. The centre leaflets are about six
inches long and two and a half broad, those close to the stem not half the size. They
are ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, slightly wrinkled by the tran verse veins, the edges
aiittle revolnte, standing on ven\short ]H'tioles. From ti:e axillas hang loose panicied
racemes a foo.t and a half in length, , divided into man^' partial, lateral, alternate, ra-
cemes, the whole forming aai anij^le panicle. 'I he flowers are very numerous, small,
Sgssile, without scent, of a red colour ; many of them have the caly.i and corolla four-
parted.

On examining t!ie, blossoms of one of these trees they were found as follow: When
expanded they were not bigger than a common pin's head ; ths calyx three small round
leaves; corolla three triangular petals,, larger than the cup, and ere^to- patent ; sta-
mens three erect very short filaments, shorter than die calyx, and placed one between
each petal ; and tliere appeared asmaU nee tareous gland betu ecu each sti men ; anthers,
erect, tesiiculate •, germ very small and trigonal ; the styles very short, three in num-
ber, and capitated. In the ripe trust the vestiges of the style raay be perceived. A
tree examined was found to have ail the blossoms male ; the perianth, corolla, stamen:^,
and anthers, in form and number, exactly like those of the hermaphrodite flowers j
Lut, instead of a germ, v/as a trigpnal> short, concave, nectareous, gland, with un-
equal margins..

This tree is propagated by seeds or enttings ; stakes or posts of it put-intf) the gror.nu
si^eedily vegetate. 'I'he fruit is eatable, but not inviting ; and the wood hard, of a fine
grain, and reddish colour. This plant is so similar in liabit to the spatkclia simpler,
fsee mountain pride) that it is difficult to distinguish them from each oiher when not
in flower, for \^hich reason they have both been confounded by the name oi maiden-
plum. Jacquin observes that the whole tree abounds in a watery sap, shghtly glutinous,
■which grows black in,, the air, and dy-es die hands a deep black that can scarcely jje.
washed out. .

2. DENTATA.,. TOOXHfcD.
Leaflets spiny-toothed.
This species is very common in Jamaica, and some of them liave been observed
■which bore female, some male, and some hermaphrodite, flowers. It is like the fore-
goino' species ; the leaves are crenate, somewhat pubescent; the racemes many and
terminal " Leaflets from six to ten, oblong, acuminate, spiny-toothed, veined at
the back, and sub-tomentose. .Uiice milky, glutinous, turning very black ; not to be
washed from the skin or cloth. If the tree be ever so slightly wounded, it has a strong
smell of dung. Ibe natives have a notion that it is dangerous to sleep under it."—
J.acqui)i,-

MAJOE OR IMACARY BITIEU. PICRAMNIA.

Gi. 22, 0.1. 5. — Dioccia fentandria, Tiiandria digynia. — Sw,

ThU-

hs.\JO-Z rrORTUS JAMAICENSIS^. 4T7

Tliis generic name is doiived from two Greek wcrds bignlfjing bitter shrab, the
whole [jlant being, remarkably bitter.

Gen. char. — Male calyx ri' one -leafed perianth, three or five- parted ; segnients
lanceolate, erect; corolla three or irve petals, lanceolate, from erect spreading,
longer than the calyx ; stamens three or fi\e fdaments, awl-shaped, appi'oximat-
ing at the base, erect, longer tlian the corolla ;- anthei-s ovate, twin. — The tT'malc
calyx as in the male, permanent; corolla the same; the piitil has an oblong geno,-
somewhat compressed ; styles two, short, rcciu'vetl, permanent ; stigmas simple,
acute ; the pericarp an ovate-roundish berry, two-celled ; seeds two in each ceil,
ovate oblong, bwartz describes three stamens, a three-parted calyx, and fhree-»
j>ctaled corolla* -

ANTIDESMA^

Scyha-is'fmictu fruticosa raccmosa, fra.rini fnlioafafn, friiciu iit^ry
ilipijiuito. Slo'ane, v: 2, p. 101, t. 208, f. 2. Frulifosa, ramidix
Ici^/tdus, racemis laxis terminalibus, Browne, p. 123.

I?acemes very long ; flowers three-stamened.

This tree is small, with an upright, weak, evcn^ trunk; branches sub-divided, roc?-
like, spreading, bendin- ^own, smoothisli, with an asli-colonred l)ark. Leaves pin-
nate, a foot long or more ; leahets petioled, alternate, elliptic, with a biunt top, en-
tire, nerved, and veined, smooih, bent down each way by the side of the petiole. —
Petioles roundish, spreading, (rising from a swelling joint) smooth ; pctiolets very
short, pubt-^scent, brownish, (:iLso from a swelling joini). Racemes terminating, from
one to two feet in.:length, fidfor.n, striated, looso^ pendulous, ■ many- flowered ; flow-
ers alternately congloiuen.tr, peduncled, v/lruj.sj). green ; peduncles from five to seven,
clustered, whitish, longer than the ilo-wers. - Males deciduous, ("aiyx thri e-parted.
Petals thiee, iilanwnts three, antbers rufous.- Females the same size with tne males. •
Berries oblong, tlie size of a gooseberry when ripe, two-celleil. cells two-seeded, at
fi.'st scarlet, then lilack. Itia-ldoked upon as anti-venereal, and the negrocs.commonly
use an infusion of it ii> colic. - An infusion of the bark is deemed aiv exceient remedy
in intermittent fevers, and in affections ai the bowels and sconiacii. It flowers iq^
August, and the fruit is ripe in November. — Sw.

This plarii:,- sometimes trailed Tom Bo)i/ein\<: hus/i, zn(\ oliT ■s'ovia>i''s hitler, is com-
mon in coppices and the skirts of woods in Jatuaica, and all parts at it have a bittef
taste. That of the leaves isamixtHw; of bitter and sweet. The fruit is commonly
divided into two cells, bya.tliin septum, to which the seeds adhere, which are of a
chesnut colour Sometimes there is but one cell and one seed, and at other times two
seeds in each cell rhe fruit is, before.it turns mellow, of a lowly shining red; but
ripens into a. very black colour, having a soft ycllowi-sh pnlp. It is aljoiit three-fourths
of an inch long. Tlie seeds vary in form agreeable to their number in the cells. Whea
there is but one it is of an ovate gently dejyressed form ; when there arc two thev re-
semble colfae seeds ; when three the one is like the coffee seed, the other two trigonal ;
when four they are ah trigonal. The tree sometiu es rises to the height of twentv feet,
when it can lean conveniently upon any support. The bark ii bwvn ; tJio branches •
reij i^w. The coQiOion height about eight or nine feet.

Ti4r^

473 TlortTUS JAMA I CRN SI 5. WAT-aMS

Tl;is allmii'Jilo plant hath its nair.o froni Ma'ioe, an old negro woman so callel, who^
will) a simple decoction, did vvondLnful cmt-s in the most sIuIjIkm n diseases, as the
\;iws, and in venereal case-, when the perjon has-been given ovt>r as inciuahioby
.•skili'nl pii3sicKu>.s, because tlRirHcrcnlean medicir.cs Tailed tlitm, tiz. preparaU(,r.s of
mercury and antinion}-. It is niso calJed iMac.iry bitter, from its growing in great
plenty in the Ijay of Macary, and. being -a-verv biltev plant. I in>'t with some of it
•gi'owing in a sldrt of wood near St.^Jago ile laiV^ega, in Jamaica : It was but a ssnall
•tree that Isaw, with winged leaves much hl:c tiie D'nglish asli ; the flower I never ;,axv;
butthc fruit is in ciitsters, i i siiapc and bigness ofilie (anary.grape, first green,, ih.eti
of a bright ec^r^et, an.l when full-rii>e4!s biack.as a damascene ulii nib : It iiatii a yel-
lowish ])ulp, witli a sub-bitter taste ; then a large st>)ne, with a kernel or seed in it, all
YCry bitter. This plant was first shewn to me by a pluiit.-r, who had done many cxctl-
lent cures amongst his negro slaves, in old inveterate stubborn ulcers, and tliat by only
'boiling the Dark and leaves, orHowers and fruit if thcyhappen to be on the tre<?, whon
i«'anted to make use of, giving them plentifully to drink, ;uitl washing tiie sores with
some of the decoction ; then lajing over them a leaf of the jack- in the bu>h, until liieir
sores were healed. — ■liarhtnn, p. 96.

The plant, upon repeated trials, has been found deserving of the high encomi«rr»s
glassed upon it by Barnaul. A wine-glass full of a strong decoction of the leaves is re-
j;oi»mended as a dose for a strong adult. I'he leaves become purple when they begu»
.|» dry.

BIaiz — Sec Great-Corn.

Xo English Name. . MALAXIS.

Cl. CO, OR. 1. — Gynandyia (liandria. 'N.iT. ou. — Orchidets,

This is derived from a Greek word signif) ing to soften.

Gen. char. — There are no spathes nor perianth ; the corolla has five petals — three
outer, of which two upper oneJower; lanceolate, blunt, spreading; two inner
linear, acute, i-eBex about the germ ; nectary in the middle of the coroila, les*
.than the petals, concave, with convex margins, -cordate, acuminate behind, bifi.J
in front ; the stamer.s.are two ovate anthers, scarcely pedicelled, inserted into the
pitcher of the pistil at the edge, sitting on two little excavations at the bottom;
. the pistil lia.i a pedicelled germ, somewhat cylmdric, inferior; style a pitcher iu
the middle of the nectarj-, halved, very short, spreading, bearing the stamens on
its hinder margin ; stigma before the little excavations, /lear the anthers ; the pe-
ricarp is a pedicelled capsule, oblong, three-keeled, one-celled, opening undei
the keels, cohering at top and bottom ; seeds extremely minute. There are twe
species, discovered in Jamaica by bwartz.

1, SPICATA. SPIKED.

Scapes quadrangular ; flowers in spikes.

2. UM BELurLOR.'l. UMBEL- FLO'.VEREB.

Scape quinnuangular; flowers umbcUed,

X^JALLOW^i

MJUXO-iVS: HORTUS JAMAICENStS. " «9

- MALLONV'S, UALXA.

Cl. loj OR. G. — Monadelphia polyandria. NaT. OR, — Columnifsra.
Gen. CHAR. — Calyx a double perianth; outer thiee-lcaved, narrower; inner oDf-
leafed, liaU'five-cleft ; corolla five-]ictaled, ob-cordate, jirainorse, Hat, fixed to
the tube of the stamens at the base ; stamens numerous filaments, uniting below
into a tube, seceding and loose at the top and surface of it ; anthers kidney-form ;
the pistil has an orbicular germ,, a cyJindric sliort style ; stigmas very many, bristiy^
the length of the style ; the pericarp is a roundish capsule, composed of very
many cells, two-valved, placed in a whorl about a colunmar receptacle, finally
falling; seeds solitary, very seldom two or three, kidney-lorm. Two species arii
Datives of Jamaica, the rolundifoUa is an exotic^

1. ROTUNDIFOUA. ROUND-LEAFEP.

Stem prostrate; kaves cordate-orbiculate, obsoletely five-lobcd ; fruiting pe-.
dunclfis declining.
Thisplant was introduced by a Captain Jones, who planted it in the mountains of*
I.iguanea, and it has thriven well in .Jamaica. It is a native of Europe. Its emollient
qualities are well known. The aipcnsis, or cape, and tlic crispa, or curled, mallovwr
have also been introduced. .

2. SPICATA. . SniTED. •

Althea snicata hetonicce folio, fli-ire lutco, habitiori spica. Sloane, %'..
I, p. 219, t. 1^8. yJssureoi.s, sH/ivillosa, viriiinil'tis tenuioribii^
tentis tloribiis sessilib.us ; spicis oblongis tcrminalibus et alaribus. — ~
Browne, p. 282.
Leaves cordate, crenate, tomentose ; spikes oblong,, rough-haired..
Browne calls this the erect mallows, with long slender branches. Stem pale green',
two or three feet high ; leaves almost round, an inch and quarter- long, and three-
quarters of an inch broad at ths base, pale green, smooth, on petioles three-fjurths of
an inch in length. The tops of the twigs and branches, for the length of an inch, are
thick set in a spike with orange-coloured flowers, in very hirsute calyxes. It is very-
common in.xileaved^ barren, rocky, lands. — S'toane..

3. COROMANDELIANA. CORO.MAN'DF.I..

Leaves cblong, or cordate - serrate ; peduncles axillary ; flowers ■glomei'atei
arils three-cusped.

Stem a foot lugli, round, hispid ; branches leaf}'; round, hispid ; leaves alternate',
oblonor, sometimes cordate at the l)ase, obtuse-hispici ; pctinles round, longer, hispid.
Peduncles solitaiy, upright, shorter than the petiole.- flowers terminating, in a sort of
spike, sessile, yellow; leaflets of the outer calyx linear ; styles ten to sixteen. Fruit
liirsute ; with two cusps of the arils in a pair, the third superior. It is an annual planijj.
and. common in Jamaica among grass — Sic.

Six Lndia.n aiALLOw and Maush-Mallo^t. -

IMAMME

isj> KOHT.US JAMAICENSI9. *WM5fijJj

M A MM E E S APOTA. A C H R A S.

Cl. €, OR. !. — Hcvandriamonogynia, ■ Nat. OR. — Dumosa,
■CSK. CHAR.— if £• Bully-Tree, p 124.

MaMMOSA.

Mahis persica maxima foliis ma?nis, integns, hn?!s, fructu maximo

cblongo, scabro, osslculo partim rueoso, pai i/'in g/abio. Sloane,
V. 2, p. lL'+, t. 218. /•'ructu md.Hitio ovate, aetninibus pHucioribus
oblongis tuigidis. Browne, p. 201.

"This genus of plants docs not seem to be yet well understood ; the naseberry and thjs
plantare often coiifouiided together, as iveli as the naseberry bullet tree Tiie follow-
ing-are the t-haracters of the tiiammee-sapota : Calyx eight or nine ronndish leaves,
placed scalewise, the e>;terior ones the smallest, increasmu- in size inwards, the inter-
nal ones coloured ; corolla monopetalons and beli-shapod, longer than tne cup, it has.
live divisions, somewhat eniargined, roundibli, coneave and erect ; at the base of each
division is a subulated denticle, in size and form resembling the stamei>s. Stamei^s
ate five subulated fiiameiUs, pLced alternate with the denticles, and shorter tnan thu
corolla-, anthers sagiitated and versatde ; germ ovate, striated and hairy, and, v.hea
:cut, appears to have five cells, containing one seed ; the style is subulated, equalling
the corolla in length ; the stigma obtuse. The ripe fruit has seld(jin more than one
seed, rarely iwo, the other ceils b^ing obliterated.

This tree has a straight trunk, thirty feet high, and about a foot in diameter ; bark
i\sh-colourcd, furrowed, and rough. 7'he brancheN are equally sprir ad, shooting ab iij
-twelve feet from the ground, and throwing out regular risuig branchlcts, in circie^, at
Cf^ual distances, whose ends are covered with leaves set all round, withcuTt any order,
standing on inch-long round petioles ; they ai-efrom ten inches to afoot long, revo-
]ate, narrow at the base, and widening to the end, where they are rjunded, and about
■four inches broad ; the miil-rib is very strong, as well as the nerves, which are some-
times op])Obite, sotiieiiraes alternate, and numerous. The whole tree has^ pyramidal
iippearance The Howers come out from the branches, and are of 4i cream-colour.—
The Iruit is four or five inches in diameter, tapering to both ends, covered witli a
rough russet-coloured bark. The pulp i-s dark yellowish, soft, sweet, tasting not unlike
a very ripe Enghsh pear, to which it is also somewhat similar in consistence. ^It makes
excellent marmalade, which, being binding and astringent, is recommended in fluxes.
The stones, when ..istilled, ijive to spirits a ratafia flavour ; and they are a pleasant in-
■gredient in making the cordial called iwveaur. Bruised and infused in rum, they con-
.tribute to give it an agreeable tiavour. The fruit eaten raw iiS of an aperient quality.

TJiis is a very beautiful tree, full of fine branches and long gr«en leaves, but seldom
grows above fifteen or twenty feet high. Its fruit is aimostas big, and in shape of, a
man's heart, only a little longer, and sliarper at tho lower end; the outside is of a
brown or russet colour, and very rough ; the inside is of a darkidi-red soft pulp, and
luscious eating, like a mamulet ; in which are contained two, sometimes three, long
cones or stones, thick in the middle, and sharp at both ends, one side rough, and
would make good nutmeg-graters, antl the other side smooth, black, ami shining as
"'oostjible, It is said, those that plant the stone or set;! of these trees never live long
•^ enouj^

ifAMMEB BOHTUS JAMAICEN'ftISi KU

euou«fli to eat of the fruit of themy bein^ forty or fifty vears, as thev say, before they
bia.' : ! have seen .iwe, that a person tolil rue he had planici above twenty years a;>x>j,.
aiiu Uifi'e was no sigu of its bearing then. — Barham, p. £)8.

M\MMEE-TREE. MAMMEA.

Cl 23, OR. 1. — Palijgamiavionoecia for dia'cia). Nat. ou. — Guttiferie.,

®EN. CHAR. — Hermaphrochte calyx a one-leafed perianth, two irregular parts, oir-»
casioned by the,s\velling of the petals, concave, coriaceous; corolla four roundish
concave petals, spreading very much, sub- coriaceous, longer than the calyx ;
stamens numerous fiia.tients, bristle-shaped, erect, very short, inserted mto tiie
receptacle, ending in oblong, blunt, erect, . anthers ; the pistil has a roundish
depressed germ , a oylmdric, erect, st3le, longer than the stamer>s, permanent;
stigma capitate, convex, (the germ and st\ le have the figure of a common bottle) ;
the pericarp is a roundish, fleshy, berry, very large, acuminate with part of the
style, with a coriaceous rind, one-celled ; seeds four, siil^-ovate, rugged, dis-
tinct from the flesh. Male on the same or a different tree — calyx, corolla, and
stamens, as in the hermaphrodite. There is only one species, a native ot
Jamaica.

AMERICANA. AMERICAN.

Mains pcrsica maxima, foliis rotundiorihus sphndi'ntibus gTabrts^

Jructu maximo, scubro, rugoso, subrotuiido, pulpa dura sublu'ea,

unumvelpturaossiculafilamentosaciyigente. Sloane, v. 2, p. 123,

t. 217, f. 3. Maxima JoL. is longioribu^,cortice sulcata cinereo : and

Foliis ovalibus nitidis, Jructu subrctimdo scabro, Browne, p. 249.

This is a tall upright handsome tree, with a thick spreading elegant head. It haa
a lonfr downright tap root, which renders it very difficult to transplant. Young branch-
lets (juadrangular. Leaves oval or ob-ovate, quite entire, biuret, shinrng, leather}-,
firm, with pai'allel transverse streaks, on short petioles, opposite, from five to eight
inches in U^ngth. Peduncles one-flowered, short, scatter-ed over the stouter bi-anches ;-
fk)wers sweet, white, an inch and a lialf in diameter; the calyx often trifid, with a five
or six- petaled corolla, which arises from one of the segirients or petals benig cut. — -
Fruit roundish or obsoletely thr-ee or four-cornei-ed, according to the nunrber of seeds,
one or two of which are frecjuently abortive, varying in size from three to seven inches
in diameter. It is cov red with a double rind, the outer leiithery, aline in thickness,
tough, brownish-yellow, dividetl by incisures longitudinally tlecussated ; the innet
thin, yellow, adhering strongly to the flesh, which is firm, bright yellow, has a plea-
sant singular taste, and a sweet ai'omatic smell; but the skin and seeds are very bitter
and resinous. It is eaten raw alone, or cut in slices with wine and sugar, or preserved
in sugai-. In Martinico they distil the flowers with spirit, an' make a liquor, which
they call eau Creole. The Englrsh and Spaniards call the fntit niammce, and the French-
abricot-saiivage, from the yellowness of the pulp, like tnat of abricot. — Jacquin. —
Swartz remarks that the tree which hears hernraphrouite flowers is very lofty, but that
the male trees are smaller. Browne has given the hennaphr-odite and male trees as dif-
ferent species ; both of them abound ^ith a strong resinous gum, and are good timber/

Q q <i trc'is.-

iii nORTUS JAMAICENSIS. M^^■cnIO^•FAll

trees. The leaves and younger branches of both are full of a yeliow milky juice,
piilp of the fruit is niilky wiien ripe, an J turus yellowish like a carrot, to which it

The

has a
resemblance in taste and substance, when nut sutKciently mellowed. It generally con-
, tains three or four rugijed, oblong, .seeds. The gum of this tree is generally used by
the negroes for extracting chigoes froni their feet, fur on being applied to the part it
draws them out biig and all. Melted down with a little lime-juice, and dropped into
.r.ores, it is eifecti'.al in destraying maggots at the first diessmg. A bath ot th«; bark
Ijardcna the soies of the I'eet like thie mangrove bark.

Manatee Grass— .SVe Tuutl'E Grass.

MANCHIONEAL-TREE. HIPPOMANE,

Cl. 21, OR. 8. — Monoccia monaddphia. Nat. OR. — Tricocca,
.Gen. char. — See Gum-Tree, p. 361.

MANCHINELLA. M.\NCHiOXEAL.

IiighnnU affinis arbor juUfcra, lactcsccns, venenata, pyrifoVa, maT\^
canillo ilispanis dicta. Sloane, v. 2, p. 3, t. 159. Arbore-um htc-
tesccns, ramulis ternatis, petiolis glandula notatis ; fioribus spicatis,
7nutis. Browne, p. 351.
Leaves ovate, serrate, biglandular at the base.
This is a large tree, with a gray, even, thick, milky, baric, and a hard wood, which
is yellowish, with gray or blackish veins. Leaves rounded at the base, acuminate, cre-
nate, two inches in diameter, thickish, dark green, shining, paler underneath, milky
nerved ; on petioles from twelve to fifteen lines in length, margined. Flowers iit
aments or spikes : a -lents clustered, terminating, from one to two inches in length ;
males several, fen.aics few, distinct, inserted at the base, or quite distinct from the
males, and lateral. Male flowers three or four in an ament ; common perianth one-
leafed, blunt ; proper two -parted, -turbinate, with blunt minute teeth. Filaments -one,
two, three, or four, connate at the base, longer than the caiy.x ; anthers roundish,
twin. Fenwiles, perianth trifid, minute, caducous; style none ; stigmas three, two-
parted, acute, reflex. Fruit a drupe, the colour, size, and form, of an apple, smooth,
with a soft spongy flesh, a sweet smell, and an insipid caustic taste. Within is a nut
v/ith from three to five cells, with a single seed in each, which is three-cornered, co-
vered witli a shining silvery skin, and having the taste of a hazel nut. — S-u>. It is a na-
tive of Jamaica.

The wood makes very handsome furniture, resembling in appearance the English
oak or wainscot ; but takes a fine polish. The hewers usually make a fire round the
root, and burn .some depth into the trunk, before they venture to cut it. The fire is
suffered to prey upon it till very litde remains to be done by the axe. The sawyers and
carpenters, who work it up, generally cover their mouths and n,o->trils with crape, in
ortfer to exclude the finer particles from getting down their throats. Upon enquiry
among the negroes, I could not learn that they suffered any inconvenience from drops
cf the juice, which were accidentally spurted upon their skin, whilst they were em-
ployed

Bf*KCiiit)NE.\*. HORTUS J AM A IC EN ST Si 4sS

ployedin felling the trunk, or iiacking olT the limbs ; l)ut thoy iufoi-mcd mc, that, if
any chanced to tly into tlieir eye, it would give them a severe pain ibr several hour*
afterwards, occasioning an inflammation, wliich was relievable by applying lime-juice
to the part.*

The stories related of the fruit opappJcoCthts tree are certckinly to be classed among
Tulgar errors. The romantic tales of the early voyagers and travellers into Americi •
have been copied by dilferent writers ; and the credibility of their relations, thus buili,
upon a series of such frail authorities, has at length been received as authentic and in-
disputable. Most of these historians affirm that " the apple is lovely to the eye, plea-
sant to the taste, but mortal in its effects ;" and that " certain sailors having taken re-
fuge from. sudden shawers of rain under the branches of this tree,- were terribly blisi
tered in their skins by the dropsvvlnch trickled from- the leaves.'*'

It is true, that the apple bears some similitude, viewed at a small distance, to the
English crab-apple ; but the crab-apple was never admired for loveliness of aspect. It
seldom exceeds an inch iit diameter, is of a vellovvisli colour when ri|7e, and has scarcely
any jmlp at all ; the fruit consisting of the outer skin, or rind, a pulp alxuit as thick as
a wafer ; and then the stone or seed, which is perfectly- hard and inedible. Its taste is
bitterish; and, when it is green, acrimonions, like the husk of the cashew- nut ; vvliick
must necessarily render it. so- disgustful, that no-.person could eat it in this state for
pleasura.

A gentleaian oS- my acquaintance, who was fond of- making experiments, to satisfy
himself upon doubtful points, cut the green fruit,- and a small quantity. of glutinous
juice issued out at the wound. He tasted this^ and likewise the bark and leaf of the
tree ; but couJd perceive only a slight astringency on his tongue Hs then cut ilceper
into the bark of the trunk, and tasted some of the milky juice tiiat oozed out He ob*
served that it tingled his tongue gentlj-, and rendered his saliva thin and fluid. He af*
terwards tasted the fruit nearly ripe, and, chewing the ripe part, found it perfectly in-
sipid. F"rom these facts it appears, that,, when greeix, .the juice of- the fruit is disa-
greeable trom its acrimony, and, when ripe, forits ins^ipidity. .-

Browne says, that he has known many persons who have ignoran»ly ate of- the frui*^,
■which they had mistaken for crab-apples ; that they g«ne rally vumlted in a shoi t time,
and continued to complain of a buruii^ heat in the raoiiih, thrtEit, and stomach, for
several liours after. He adds, that he never had known any one to-xlie by eating this
fruit, though. he had seen some who had:eaten nineor ten of-tlie apples at a time ; and
that oily emulsions and mixtures give speedy relief to- those who .are iiisorderevl wiik
tliem. Barham, indeed, mentions the case of a negroman, who ate several of theia
with a wilful and premeditated design of destroying himse.ifi that he complyiiied <f
great heat and burning in his stomach, but coul i not vomit ; that his tongue : wi'lle^l,
his eyes were red and staring ; aiul he.was incessantly calling fur water till he eMfdrtd.
Considering this negroe's intention to commit self-murder, as well as the .syinpto.us
T»'hich followed, I tliink we may conclude that hex;hose tiie green and not the ripe fruit
for the purpose.;

The white land-crabs are fond both of-the leaves and fruit. But I have known per-
sons taken extremely sick at tlieir stomachs alter eatmg these crabs, and who were not
relieved until they were disj^orged, by dnoking pleniiiuUy of warm water and oil. I

Q q q 2 remember

• Jafqiiin informs, that lie and liis companions repeseil for three hours Under 5 mancliioJieal tree -wi'iiiotit
injury, aaii Uut.ruiu dropping trout tiw kjves v.'di pcifectly iauecuit>

<?>l HOIITUS JAMAICENSIS, MANcrnoNKia

>reuienil)cr a negro wlio conliiiucd ill for three ('.iiys, from a meal lie had made on these
■crabs, but, wiiiiout recourse to uiedicine, was reiieved by natural evacuations down-
wards, -and was penetlly well alter them.

Sir Hans Sloane gives us an example of a tiu'ncr, whose eye became extremely in-
■^flamed and swelled with some of the juice, which spurted into it as he was felling one
of these trees. Sir Hans orderea iiiiii to be bled, gave bim a purge of ^c/r. 7-(^r/. and
ordered him to wet his eye very oficn in cold w;;ter, and apply wet brown jiaper conti-
.iiuallv, to cool ihe pare. \ViLli these aj^plications he was cured in three liays. He
likewise socaiis of a man .who ate four of the ajjplcs, yet was not much hurt.

It is plain from heiice, that the trunk and lairijie fruit contain an iicrid juice, which
•operates like. other materials of tiie like nature, exciting heat, irritation, and thirst,
when swallowed and received into the stomach, producing such a pungency on the
.throat, and tender nervous coals exposed to its action, as greatly to disonler the vaIioIc
■i'rame, and bring. on very bad .symptoms, and sometmies death ; but that the jnire,
when mr.tured and concocted, as we find it m the ripe fruit, loses much of this acri-
■iiionv, and, tiiuugh still unpleasant in its operation upon the bowels, does not produce
mortal effects, unless ]jerhaps in very weak and delicate liabits ; but, as. to these latter,
1 sj^eak only from conjecture.

That. the fruit should sometijnes produce violent irritation, and at other times be
chewed, and even swallowed, without any disagreeable consequence, can only be ac-
counted for by supposing, that jiersons of stronger or weaker habits are differently af-
fected by it ; and liiat the juices of the iruit may possibly vary much in the diflerent
stages of its advance to maturation, and until the exact time of its being thoroughly
ripe, when, by a perfect fermentation, and concoction, their aorimony is ahiiost sub-
dued. It is not unlikely also, that the juices of this tree may be more poignant and
caustic in the hot months than during the cooler seasons of the year, because the sap in
those months is more redundant and active.*

It is well known, that goats, and even sheep, (Tertre adds macaws) feed very gree-
dily upon the fallen fruit, when it is in a state of perfect maturity, and doubtless re-
solve it into wholesome nourishment.

Instinct, which determines the choice of these animals, points out this as an aliment
not baneful (at least to them) ; for they suffer no injury from it. Barham observes on
its virtues as a substitute for gum guaiacum.

The gu«i of this tree is mostly of a light reddish or yellowish cast ; the guaiacum
riost commonly of a deep green, when held up to the light. The tincture of the latter
cives a milky appearance, when a few drops are Jet fall into a glass of water — fsce
lionum vitse). 1 believe the one has very often been ignorantly substituted for the
ijther ; yet, if Barham' s veracity is to be relied on, which 1 think it is, there is not
much room for apprehensions from the consequence. The gum is most plentiful upon
these trees in the month of February ; and it. is to be wished its nature could be more
.accurately examined and put to the test.

The odour of the ripe fruit is faint, and far from being inviting.— Zon^, p. 838.

Barham -says he has experienced, that if you lay these apples jn a press where cock-
roaches are, they will soon forsake it. He used it in the room of gum guaiacum, by

dissolving

* The juice and tender buds of the b'giwnia leucoiylonr-'See vfLite cedar— are said to be an aDtidoteto tliis
poison.

«UNGO 'HOUTtFS JAMAICENSI«, .*«^

dissolving it in reciificd spirit of wine, nial;ini; a tincture, wliicli it wns impo'-.sible to
disiinguisli from ilie stinie prcjraratiot! of giuii guaiaeuni. He found it ;i spc cific for the
drops}', giving- a decoction of con tray crva and bteei, to strengtlien tlic lymphatic vessels
■Bker the evacuations.

Sec Gu.m-Trre.

Ko.EnsUsh Name. MANETTIA.

"S

Cl. 4, OR. 1. — Tetrandria ir.onogi/nia. NaT. or — Contorttr.

This was so named from Xavier Manetti, prefect of the botanic garden at FfoTcnce.

Gen, CHAR. — Calyx an eight-leaved perianth ; corolla one-petaled, salver-shaped,
four-cleft; nectary a rim surrounding the receptacle; stamens four filiform fda-
ments, with linear anthers ; the pistil has an inferior compressed germ, a filiform
declined style, and bifid stigma; the pericarp is a turbinate capsule, interior,
compressed, grooved on both sides, one-celled, tvvo-valved, or seperable as it
were into two capsules ; seeds few, fiat, winged, orbicnlate with a ce;>tral seedlet,
imbricate at a pulpy oblor.g pillar. One species is a native of Jamaica.

LYGISTUJI.

■Flexihfruticomm, foliis ovatis oppositis, pctiolis pedatis, racemis alari-
biis. Browne, p. 142, t. 3, f. 2.
Leaves ovate-acute, veined; stem twining, sufFruteScent.
'"Drowne found this weakly shrub in the lower mountains of St. Mary's. It rises by a
n-ery brap.chcd flexile stem to the height of about seven feet, and is every where adorned
%vitu moderately large oval leaves, disposed in an opposite order : the twigs or boughs
be<Tin to shoot almost immediately above the root; and they, as well as the succeeding
•branches, rise genendly to the height of the main stem, and are furnished with raode-
*iate branches of flowers towards the top, which generally rise by long branched foot«
>£taiks from the alse of the leaves. — Bro-duc.

■Mangel WuRZEL — See Beet.

MANGO. MANGIFERA.

Tl. 5, OR. 1. — Pentandriamonogijnia. Nat. OR.-^Tcrebinfirccie.
This name is derived from the vernacular name of the fruit, and fcro, to bear.
<}en. char. — Calyx a five-parted perianth, divisions lanceolate ; corolla five petaled,
petals lanceolaie, longer than the calyx ; the stamens are five filaments, awl-shapedj
spreading, the lengtn of the corolla, with sub-cordate anthers ; the pistil has a
roundish" germ, a filiform st^le, the length of the calyx, with a simple stigma;
the pericarp is a kidne) -form ilrupe, oblong, gibbous, compressed; seed an'ob-
Jong kernel, compreaseo, laauj^iaose, (Jim species lias been introduced.

IKDICA.

4U- II O R T U S J A M A I CE X S 1 9i . mang6^

IXDICA. INDUN.

Leaves simple ; flowers, five-stamencd.

This beautiful tree was one of those brought to tliis island in June, 1732, anc! takea
in a Frencli sliip, bonticl for Hisi)aniola, by Captain Marsliall, of his Majesty's ship
Flora, one of Lord Rodney's squadron. Captain Marshall, with the approbation of .
Lord Rodney, deposited the mango plants, and a great many others taken in the same
vessel, in ]Mr. Ea-t's garden, where they were cultivated with great assiduity and suc-
cess ; and have now become one of the coinaionest fruit trees in, Jamaica, in a great .
number of its varieties.

This tree grows ttxa considerable size, in favourable situations, with an upright stem,
rough bark, and thick, spreading, elegant head. The wood is of a soft brittle nature.
The branches siioot six or eight together at a joint, with an upright one in the centre ;
each of them producing branches in the same orderat every foot or eighteen inches dis-
tance, according to the size of the tree ; forming a beautiful round foliated head. —
The leaves come out alternately at the ends of the twigs, seven or eight inches long,
and two or diree broad, ovate-lanceolate, petioled, having a strong rmd-rib, and many
irregular parallel veins; they are reddish brown at first, but becon>e, when sometime
exposed to the air, of a bright shining green above, paler below. The flowers are pro-
duced in loose bunches or panicles at the ends of the branches, male, female, and her-
riaphrodite, on the same bunch. In the perfect flowers the calyx consists of five acute
spreading leaflets ;. the corolla, w-hich is inferior, of five oblongflat petals, reflex at
the tip, white, v.uh yellow streaks at the base, longer than the calyx ; nectary sphe-
roidal, large, fleshy, five-lobed, compressing the germ ; stamens shorter than the co-
rolla, with five ovate- noddiirg anthers; style short; stigma round, reddish; gernx
round; tile plant is evidently polygamous. Tiie fruit is pendent oh long woody
footstalks, of a roundisfi oblong figure, varying much in size and form, iis-well as tex-
ture, on different trees ; it is generally flattish, ,and sinuated. or hoi lowed- at the sides,
and somewhat kidney-sliaped, covered with a thick skin, which is first green, then
yellowish, and lastly mixed with a beautiful reddish colour, and is easily peeled off
when the fruit is ripe ; the pulp, which surrounds the seed, is yellowish, something
like that of the peach, in some of the kinds stringy, in others free of fibres, of a very
agreeable sweet-acid taste, and, as well as other parts of the tree, has a slight not un-
pleasant smell of turpentine. The seed is oblong, flat, hard, one^celled, coiitaininw
an oblong kernel of . a bitter taste. Its umbilical chord is very short, arisin-Tfrom the
bottom of the shell, and inserted into th.e. margin of the kernel, which lias a papery
skin. Embryo upright, white ; cotyledons fleshy, plano-convex ; radicle short, curved
irv upwards, inferior^ .

This fruit is very justly and generally esteemed wholesome and agreeable ; in some
of tlie varieties it is indeed delicious. When taken from the tree before theA' are fully
ripe, they make a good preserve, sweetnjeat, or pickle ; and, when brougiit to table
cooked in puddings or dumplings, have a near resemblance in taste to apples. Hon^s,
as well as other animals, ar.e very fond of this fruit, and, in many places where they
abound, are fed upon them. Tiiis plant is easily raisetl from the seetl, but does not
bear transplanting well, and will bear in three or four years ; they bear abundantly, and
make a beautiful appearance both when in flower and in fruit, and thrive well in almost
eyery situation.

In the ftaist Indies the tender leaves, with the bark of xh^ricinus, or oU-nut, and .

CUOIU 1

•HAKGTiovB HORT'U'? JAMAICENSIS. 4h.t

rumin seeds, are made into a decoction, wliicii is thought liiglily ocnrncia! in coiioh
nml asthma, aiul otlier affections of the thorax : t!;e stones roasted ;;io snid to cnrG
looseness, ^vhicli Garcias found to he true: the stalks calcined and rechioe 1 to pon-.l.r
are said to cure warts : the hark of the tree pulverised, and taken in ehickeu broth, is
an excellent dissolvent of extravasated and coaonlated hlood, occasioned hy a fall, in
anj' part of the hody : the juice of the bark, with the wliite of an eir<r, and a very little
opium, taken inwardly, is a present renicdy against the diarrha-a, dysentery, and
tenesmus Of the gum of the tree, and flour of rice, with the addition of a"^ small
quantity of opium, are prepared pills, which also cure all sorts of fluxes of the belly :
of tlie flour of the dried kernels the natives have the ait of preparing; various kinds of
food. — James, Jroiii Chamber'' s Cyclopedia.

MANGROVE. RHIZOPHORA.

Ci.. 11, OR. 1. — Bodccandvia monogijnia. Nat. or. — Iloloracets.,

This name is derived from two Greek words signifying root-bearing.

Gen. aiAR. — Calyx a ORC-leafed perianth, four or many-parted, patulous ; 'JOg.
ments oblong, acuminate, jiermanent ; the corolla has four or more petals, oI)Ioiig^
rather shorter than the calyx ; the stamens have scarcely any filaments, alternately
shorter ; anthers four to twelve, small, acuminate ; the jiistil has a superior round-
ish germ ; an awl-sliaped semi-bitid style, grooved on each. side ; -and acute stig-
nias ; the pericarp fleshy, sub-ovate, inclosing on'ty the base of the seed ; seed
single, club-oblong, .acuminate, --flesliy at the base. One species is a native of
Jamaica.

MANGLE.

'Mangle pi/rifoliis cum siliquis longis ficui Indicte affinis. Sloane, v.
2, p. 63. Utrinque bracliiata ; fol'iis elliptico-oiHttis, suvtmis ramh
dispositis. Browne, p. 211.

Leaves acute ; fruits aubulate-clavate.

The mangrove tree rises feiiirty, forty, or even fifty, feet high ; the trunTc about the
size of the human body, with a whitish, smooth, thick, bark, and white spots ujjon it.
The wood is white, but becomes rcil when macerated in water. Leaves ovate, slightly
.attenuated at the end, blunt, quite entire, shining, coiiaceous, deep green on the
■upper surface, on the lower yellowish green, with bla«kish dots, petiolf^d, opposite,
fiom three to si.x inches long ; on the younger brandies, which have no flowers, they
are about two inches asunder, and in young trees the iniernodes are even six inche.'^
long ; huton the aid and flowering branches they are nearer, and very oJd ones are al-
most covered with leaves. Each pair of leaves, before unfolded, is rolled up in Mvo
oblong, convoluted, erect, stipules, which scon fall off, leaving two scars on the
branch, alternate with the leaves. Common peduncles axillary, solitar}-, an inch long,
compressed, marked with a longitudinal groove, two-flo\vcred, bifid, sometimes three-
flowered, and obscurely three-cornered ; pedicels round, and half an inch long, but
in the fruit they are lengthened out two inches or more Tlie flowers are commonly
without scent, but sometimes a little sweet ; calyx deeply four-cleft, yellowish; petals
four, wliitish ; anthers constantly eight, sessile, as long as the style, sepeiaiing elas- ■

tically

tR-alK' into-two parts at the hase, and henco very caducous. — Jacquin. {Browne savi-
tliat ilic number of filaments varu's from fuur to twelve, l)ut iliateigat is die most com-
mon nuinl)er ) Acconlinij; to Gajrtner, there is no pericarp, and certuinly this plant
geriamatcs in a very extraordinary manner, as will be observed in the following account,
Iroiii Browne's liisiory :

" This tree is generally found on the borders of the sea,, in whose waters alone it
seetr.s to tlirive ; and tlien only in such places as have a soft and yielding. bottaiu; Its
larger branches frequently emit soft and weakly appendicles, that have tiie a[)peara:v^fr
of so many slender apiiyljQ;>s branches, and ben ' always down%rards ; but as these ars-
^ofttr, and furnished each with a large column of a lax spongy pith i:i the centre, tliey,
grow more luxuriantly than the other parts ot the tree, and reach the mud in a short
time 4 where they throw out a numberless series of slender fibres, which in time turra
into roots, to supply the stem uKjre copiously with nourishmentj while they become so
i»any pro]5s or limbs to the parent tree. Thus it coiitinues to enlarge its bulk, at its
weight increases, or its oranclies spread, (these constantly throwing out new appen-
dicles as they multiply their shoots) and by these means forms those interwoven groves'
we so frequently meet with on the sea-shore, which, besides many other advantages,
serve to stop the mould that is sonstantly washed down by rapid Hoods, and therebj',
in time, tuEU, what might have otherwise continued useless ponds, into rich and fer-.
tile lands..

" The fruit of this tree geraiinatesiwithin the cup, and grows from the top down* -
wards, until it acquires a due deg.ree of weight and perfection: then it falU off, and ■
as the root part is aUvays thickest, and hangs lou est, it drops in that -direction, and is
tlius received in the natural position in ilie mud below. The leaves immediately un-
fold, a'.Ki, in a few minutes, you see a perfect plant, sometimes of ten or twelve inches .
in length, which soon begins to shoot its roots, and push its growth liive the parent
f tem ; for the germ is frequently a foot in length ijcfure it falls, and always furnished
with two leaves at tiie top, which are folded up and inclosed within tlie cup while it
continue3;upon the tree.

' " The trunk of the mangrove seldom grows to any considerable thickness, but the
wood is very tough and hard, bear.'^ the water well, and is much used for knees and ribs
ill long boats and other smaU craft, for which the archings and angles of its limbs most
naturally adapt it. Its lower limbs become frequently the siipj)orters of the American
oisters, which has given rise to the fabulous account of the growth of this shell-fish.— ^
Piso says that a piece of the root toasted, and applied warm to the painful wounds in- -
flictedby.the sling, of the fish ni.gid, soon quiets thepain." — Broivne

The bark of the red mangrove is made use of here for tanning, and ck)es it to that
perfectioi. in six weeks that oak-bark will not do in six months tune, and it is reckoned
to give the most lasting sole- leather in the world. It is a most excellent restringent :
I have made a, strong decoction of the mangrove-bark that would stop bleeding, and dry
\ip the great defluction of running ulcers. I had a son that was exti-aordinarily full of ■
the conliuent small-pox, whose soles of his feet separated, antl came ofi' like the sole
a shoe, and left his feel raw, and so.tender that he could not set them upon the ground ;
upon which 1 sent fur some of the tan-fat or liquor of this bark, such as they tan their
leather with, and added a little alum, and boiled it up very stnjng, with which he bathed .
his feet every day ; and in about a week's time, his feet were as hard and as firm as ever,
^jA he was able to walk about without shoes on. — Barham, p. 101.

■\i

Wrattia HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 4S9

I have often wondered, considering the powerful effects of these restrlngent bark-j
~Tipon animal substances, and tliat, b}' numberless experiments, their stronger infiisiuu^
have been found to recover from a state of absolute putridity, that some trials arc not
made how far persons in the lattur stage of putrid and malign;int fever.;, when livid
yf^(r/2i> make their appearance, when the blood is nearly' dissolved, and llie disease
seems desperate, might not be recoverable, by being plunged into a warm bath matle
with bark decoctions ; the finer virtues of the bark, absorbed into all tiie pores spread
over the surface of the body, must (it is reasonable to im;igine) have an immediate effect
upon the fibres, in some measure restore their'tone and spnwgyness, and, i>v th; ir an-
tiseptic quality, re-unite the globules of the blood, and correct tlioir disposition to pu-
trescency.* I am persuaded, from more than one observation, that the Jesuit's bark
may be administered to infants in this manner, when they are incapable of taking it by
the mouth, and with the happiest effects Such experiments are deemed bold, becausQ
they are out of the common track ; but surely what is called a desperate case woultl al-
ways justify the attempt, and especially when it is at least probable that it may succeed.
The quantity of fluid which may be carried into the human body by absorption in a
tath is amazmg ; and, upon this principle, the ingenious Dr. Hales suggests a means
by which persons at sea, when ready to perish with thirst, fronn want of fresh water,
may obtain a recruit ; which is, by inmiersing their naked bodies Irequently in a tub of
sea water; they will imbibe the water at every pore, freed of its salt, which is too large
to enter with it, and remains condensed u[)on the surface of their skin.f But in the
case of the bark decoction, much of its antiseptic principles are sucked in with the
water. — Long, p. 811.

The wood of the mangrove tree makes very good staves for sugEur hogsheads aad
tierces; it makes also good shingles. • '

£ee Alder Thee and Olive Mangrove^

Manisuris — See Bur-Grass.

m English Name. MARATTIA.

"b

Cl. 24, OR. 2. — Ciyptngamia filices. Nat. or. — Filices.

"This was so named by Swartz, in honour of G. F. Maratti, an Italian botanist, wh©
%'rote on cr\ ptoganious plants.

Gen. char. — Capsules oval, gaping longitudinally at top, with several cells on each
side. One species is a native of Jamaica.

ALATA. WINGED. ;

Rachises scaly, the partial ones winged ; leaflets sharply serrate.

R r r Frond

• Are not all these effects answered by bark jackets lately introduced into practice .' The hint of tliom
-perhaps i laki-n from tliis sii).'j;estion.

t Win ii • i.liimbus dispa'uimi an express from this island to the Commamlcr at Hispaniola, the Indians who
^ere employed in navigating the canoe, |)hinged themselves into the sea every now and tlicn, wlieii almost
spent with the laliguc of rowins;, and pui lied with heat and thirst; for they Uad found by experience, that
St^a prsctii:c revived tUcir spirits, and enabled them to renew their labour.

i?6' HORTUS- JAMAICENSIS. marcgravia.

Frond bi-pinnate, with the pinnas generall)- opposite ; rachis almost four-cornered;
sc;iles bcattcrod, linear, acute, laemhianaceous, dusliv; partial rachises with more
frequent scales ; wings narrow, the sairie substance with the leaflets, but veinless and
quite entire, contracted and evanescent at the insertion ot. the leaOets. Pinnules gene-
rally opposite, sessile, ovate-lanceolate, acutely serrate, especiaJiy towards the top,
veined, die veinlets almost always bifid near the origin, ending in the tips of the ser-
rations, sometimes like the centi-al nerve, minutely scaly. The lower pinnules are
lobed, the u])per ones entire; the terminating one elongated, acuminate, serrate-
lobed. Capsules solitary, placed on the partial veins beyond the middle, before they
open roundish or oval, the size of poppy seeds, even, with a longitudinal cleft above,
which afterwards gapes, and discovers a double row of little holes, about five on each
side, communicating with the cells of the capsule. Finally the rimcf the capsule be-
comes cioyen and sub-lobed.

See Ferks.

NoEyiglishName.. MARCGRAVIA.

Gl. 13, OR. 1. — Polyandria monogynia. Nat. OR. — Putaminea;,

This was so named in honour of Geofge Marcgraff, of Leibatadt, author of a vovagss
to Brasilin 1648.

Gen. CHAR. — Calyx a six-leaved perianth, imbricate, permanent'; leaflets roundish,
concave; the two outmost larger; corolla one-petaled, conic-ovale, entire, closed
like a calyptre, parting at the base, catlucous ; the stamens very many filaments,
awl-shaped, short, spreading, deciduous ; anthers upright, large, ovate-oblong j
the pistil an ovate germ, style none, stigma headed, permanent ; the pericarp a
coriaceous berry, globular, many-celleu, inany-valved ; seeds numerous, smal)^ .
obicng, nestling in soft pulp. There is only one species, a native of Jamaica.

UMEELLATA, UMBELLEO.'

Phyllitidi scandenti affinis major, folio crasso suhrotundo. Sloane,
V. 1, p. 74, t. 28, f. 1. Scandens, foliis caulinis subrotimdis, ad
viargines glandidatis ; ramorum integris,.ovatis alternis, distichs
sitis i Jioribics umbeUatis terminalibus. Browne, p. 244, t. 26,

This is a shrubby creeping plant, but net properly parasitical ; at first it is radicant,
Kke some ferns, whence Sloane has given a figure of -a young pia:it among his ferns.—
As it advances tiie stem becomes shrubby, adhering still by its fibres to the trunk of
some tree, to the top of which it frequently runs,, at length dividing.into several sub-
divided, loose^ pendulous, branches, commonly terminated by Howering umbels — ■-
The leaves of a young-rooting plant are roundish, sub-sessile, slightly emarginate,
with an eniire margin and giaiiJular dots. Leaves of the branches distich, alternate,
on sh(jrt petioles, ovate-lanceolate, of a thick consistence, d ci luou<, smooth Um-
beis nod ling, wiih many simple, one-flowered peduncles. In the centre of the umbel
\itricular glands, sprtiaUini^, oblong, ventricose,, helmet-shaped, deciduous, coriace*^-
©usj — Hui,

WARCGRAViA HOETUS JAMATCENSTS, 4^1,

The climbing marcgravia. — This curious p!a!it is freqiieii> in the vvrtoJs of Jatnaica ;
and appears in such various tbrtns, tiuit it i)as tjeen often mistaken for different plants, in
the tiliftrent stages of its growdi. It is hut a slender weakly climber at fiist, and, as it rises,
throws out a ttrw leaves, somewhat of the form of a heart, on both sides : thebe are sus-
tained by very shuit, footstalks, and stand aU'ays opposite to a numl)er of slender radical
fibres, whereby it sticks and grows to its supporter. By these p. cans the plant continues
its growth, until it gains the top. and lays Us trunk nnore comniodiuus'.s- y\'er some of the
larger branches of the tree; tlien it bt'^ins to strongtiien, and casts many slender, depon-
tlent, and sub-divided, branciiesfrom the upper parts. But, as it increases av top, the
«tem grows thicker, separates from the supporter, throws off its row useless leaves and
roots, and appearsastrong withy shrub, whose trunk is frequently no less than four or five
inches in diameter. The l^'anches of this plant hang always downward, bearing their
ieaves in an alternate but distich order. The [iovve,rs are sustained by h>ng footstalks,
and disposed in the form of an umbeila, about the extremities of the branches ; but the
summit, or crown of the supporter, is constantly adorned with fjur, five, ot more, hol-
•}ow, divergent, glandular, bodies, that occupy the centre of the umbeila: these are
of an arched oblong form, obtuse and roundis-h; they are hollow within, and affixed by
very short footstalks, that rise immediately from one side of the apertnre or opening cJiF
the gland ; v/hich is so disposed as to receive the water tJiat dribbles down along the
.branch in rainy weather. What the real use of these may be is not easily det-ermined :
it is, however, remarkable, that the leaves of the branches are plain, of an oblcmg oval
-form, with a smooth membranous edge ; while those of the j-ounger plants are always
•observed to have many little glands, set gradually round tlve margin. — Brozvnc.

The following observations on this plant are from the manuscript of l\Ir. Anthony

3lobin.son :

" What'Linneus calls the corolla of this plant I think would more properly be called
the calyptra, and the genus might be classed among the cryplogamia ; for it appears ta

'Hie that this conic calyptra cannot fall from the blossom by reason of its strength and
situation, till split open by the swelling of the inclosed fruit, which then must be fe-

■ cundated; because, at the same time thecalyptra is driven off the flowers, by the
swelling of the fruit, the stamina must be carried avvay, which is evident, by reason of
tlicir situation round the base of the germen. This strange shrub rises to the h-eight of

^fty feet, avith a ligneous stem, covered with a rough brown bark, red and streaked
when cut, and of a bitter astringent taste. The stem is round, two inches in diameter,
and sends forth lateral tiiick fibres, wherewith it embraces the tiee it hajjpens to grow
•upon; from its lower part it detaches some slender branches, which also send forth
fibres ; these may be called the adherent branches, which bear, in alternate order, many
cordated leaves, lying flat to the tree on which they grow, giving it the appearance of

-one of the scandent ferns ; above these it emits other branches, thicker, and shooting
in an t^blique direction upwards ; these are divided into lesser ; at their sides grow in
alternate order, smooth, dark-green, shining, leaves, of an oval form, about four
inches long, and one and a half broad, their margins marked vvitii some almost imper-
ceptible notches, and they have alternate side veins, iiardly visible : they stand upon
crooked, twisted, pedicels, in such manner that their faces incline downwards, and the
tniddle rib, which is pretty eminent, appears above. The leaves of both kinds are bit-
ter, but not ungrateful ; the pedicels which form the umbel are subul .ted and patent.

'It'he strange bodies, shaped like the hood of the napellas flower, are nve in number,

R r r 2 awl

4?2 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. m«snMALL0?;'9

and stand uprig^ht on long footstalks, forming another umbel; I traced this plant from
the base of a very long pahneto royal, which was fresh cut down, to the top, and by»
tliat means came to learn its various appearances^ By cutting a germen I found the
fruit ^as peutalocular, and 1 also observed the fruit split lengthways into three valyes.' ■

BIARJORAM. ORIGANUM.

Cl, M, or. 1. — Didijnamia gi/mnospermia, Nat. or. — Verticillatte.

Gen. char. — Calyx a spiked involucre, composed of imbricate, ovate, colonredj"
bractes ; perianth unequal, various; corolla one-petaled, ringent ; stamens four,
iiliform, two shorter, with simple anthers ; the pistil has a f()ur-cleft germ, a fili-
form st^le, and slin;htly bifid stigma ; there is no pericarp ; calyx converging, fos-
tering at bottom uie seeds, which are four, ovate. Two species have been ia- .
troduced.

1. MAJORANA. M.ARJORAM.

Leaves oral, blunt ; spikes roundish, compact, pubescent. •

This plant, the sweet or knotted vaa.r^oraim, thrives well, and is easily-propagated iri
Jamaica. The leaves and tops have a pleasant smell, and a moderately warm aromatic
Bitterish taste : they yield a considerable quantity of essential oil, which, when long
lept, assumes a solid form. This plant is accounte 1 cephalic, and useful in nervous
complaints. !n its recent state, we are told it has been successfully applied to schirrouE. ,
tumours ot the breasts. — WoodviUe..

2. ONITES.

Spikes oblong, aggregate, hirsute ; leaves cordate, tomentose.
The pot marjoram also thrives well in Jamaica : it has the habit of the foregoing, bu£u.
more woody.

MARSHMALLOWS OF JAMAICA SIDA.

Cl. 16, OR. 6. — Ilonadelphia polyandria. Nat. or. — Columnifene.
Gen. CHAR. — Calyx a oncrlcafed, .angular, perianth, half five-cleft, permanent;
the corolla has five petals, wider above, emarginate, fastened below to the tube of
the stamens ; the stamens very many filatuents, united below into a tube, in the
apex of the tube divided, with roundish anthers ; the pistil has an orbicular germ ;
styles five or more, or else one, many-cleft ; stigmas beaded ; the pericarp is a
roundish angular capsule, composed of five or more cells, (corresponding with the
number of styles or stigmas) two-valved, awnless, acuminate or horned, opening
above, or close, and finady seperating; seeds solit:u-y, two, three, or five, round-
ish, mostly acumiiiaie, convex on one side, angular on the other, fastened to the
iaterior suture. Twelve species of tliis genus have been discovered in Jamaica.

1, ALTH2.

HAHSI1MALL0W9 H OUT US JAMAICENSIS. 4!^

1. ALTH.E.EFOMA. MARSIIJIALLOW-I.GAVED.

Althea fiore luteoi Sloanc, v. 1, p. 218, t. 13(5, f 2. Erecta sah.
tncana vi/losa, ramulis brevioribiis, foliis oblongo-cordatis serraiis;
Jloribiis confertis ad alas siiperiores. Browne, p. 279.

Leaves cordate, somewhat angular, obtnse, serrale-crcnate, tomentose on lioth
sides; beaks of the seeds siicrter than the cal^x.

The whole plant is tomentose, hoary, and s(jft ; the peduncles are asjillarv, towards
tl'e top ot'the branchlets, shorter than the petioles, suli-solitiuy, soiucthnes, but raroly,
two or three together, round, tomentosej one-flowered. Flowers biggish, orange-
coloured, fulvous ;, capsules roundish,^ conipresMH), one-scede i. — Sw. Bro'.vne call;
this the marshviallow nf Jama-ica^coiuvaort in all the lowlands and savannas of the island,
growing upright about two f>r three -feet, and branchy at top. l^he flowers and tender
buds are full of a fme muei'lagc,- ana gene-i'diy used instead nf niarshmalJow^- Sloane
saj-s it grevi'. on tlie sandy baaits near Old ri3.rb0uf.wrv plentifully.

2. SPUNOS.A, THORNV,

Maha erecta minor, carpinijoiio, fiore lufef, seminibus singulis siin-
plici aculcolongiori dojiatis. feloane, v. 1, p. 218.

Leaves ovale-lanceolate, obsoietely cordate-tootlied ;. jjediincles sub-soliiac\-,
axillary; axils somewhat spiny ; stipules bristhj-shaped, longer than the p3-
duncle ; capsules two-beaked. '.

Stem hairy, branching, near three feet high ; the branches come out from the bottom
almost to the top, and form a .p_) ianndal bush ; leaves lanceolate, deeply-serrate, on
short petioles ; riowers axillary, soinary towards the bottom of the stem, but above iii
clusters, of a pale sulphur colour; tlie seeds liave each along prickle.

3. tlLIARlS. CILIATED.

Maiva minor svpina bit omc(e folio, fiore corcinco, seniinibusr asperis.
bioane, v. 1, p. J 17, t 137, f.' 2. Malva. 2. — Minima supiiia^
foliis oblongis serratis, peduncidis uniformis.monopliyllis, calice ex-
terwri rfinoto, Joiiolis ungusl'ssnms ciliLiUs. Browne, p 282.
Leaves lanceolate-truncate, toothed, somewhat wedge-shaped. at the base-,; sti-
pules linear-cilidte, longer tiian liie flower; flowers sohtary, sub-sessile*
capsules awnltss, niu.ric*iLe^ ,

Stem five or six inches long, pubescent, filtformj" strict, ruggetl, with cUveroihir
branches. Leaves terminating, 111 clusters, oldong, .retuse, serrate towards the top ;
stipules the length of -the petioles ; ilowers blo..d-red ; capsules five, depressed, am-
ricate. — Sw. Browne calls it the .^maii ( recpirig nuiUowSy very common in the low lands,
seldom running abjve seven or « glit Vnelies in iengtii. The flowers gro.v smgle and
each of the footstalks generaiiy adorned \>uh one leaf and ihrc;^ filiated stipuics, which
compose the outward cup ; ijui tliose toward (he lop of the plant arc vi ;s short, so thaf

the flowers appear as it tney were dispo--ed in .small heaps at th. axils of thfe leaves. ■

It grows in dry savannas, and flowers alter rain.

4. RHOMRUOLIA. RHCMB-I-EAFED.

Maha minor accni, betonica- Jolio, Jiore luteo, semine duplici rostro
\ scu uiuleo jiTttUtlo. bloane, v. 1, p. 217,

., Leaver./-

494 FORT US JAMAICENSIS. marshmau-ows

Leaves oUong-lancenlnta, toothed, wedge-form at the base, quite entire ; pe-
duncles n.uch longer than the petioles ; capsules two-horned.

This has a large strong root, deeply fixed in the ground ; the branches are woody,
•erect, of a dark brown colour, risnig a foot high. The leaves are purple about the
eiges, agreeing in most rospecls with the c/Ziarz'.';, having two prickles at the ends of
the outermost coat of the seeds. Tlie whole plant boiled is diuretic. From the root
•is made an oil. — $loanc,

5. VISrOSA CLAMMY.

Alcea populi foho villosn, leviter serrate. Sloane, v. 1, p. 222, t. 139,
f. 4. Frill iculosa, riscosa et lillosa ; foliis cordato aciiminutia, su-
perior ihus It'll iter et acute crenatis ; j)etio/is longis, pedunculis tcmii-
bus solitariis ad aias. Browne, p. 280.

Leaves ovate-cordate, acuminate, very finely sf:rrate, tomentose-viscid, hairy,
peduncles sub-solitary, longer than the petiole ; capsules awnless.

This has many green round stems, rising from two to four feet, spreading. At the
«et^ds of the twigs are two or three leaves, on inch-long petioles, hirsute, and small, —
'The flowers are axillary, peduncled, and yellow. The whole plant is clammy, and
..smells stroug. Browne s;iys it has very small footstalks to the flowers, and seldom growi
a%ove four or five feet high ; the trunk ligneous, and covered with a whitish bark; the
leaves and smaller branches a little villose ; the seed vessels buticw, flatted at the top,
and composed of many cells.

6. URENS, STINGING.

Allhea spicafabetonictr folio filloso, spica breviori et laxiori. Sloane,
V. 1, p. 44, t. 14, f. 3. Hirta iirticata, foliis cordatis serratis, fto'
riibus capitatis, pedunculis communibus alaribus. Browne, p. 280.

Leaves ovate-cordate, acuminate, toothed ; peduncles axillary, many-flowered,
glomerate ; capsules awnless.
Stem a foot high and more, suffrutescent, simple, or branched, erect, round, hir-
sute ; leaves alternate, nerved, hirsute, hispid, on long petioles ; stipules bristle-
shaped, at the base of the petioles. Flowers terminating, heaped on axillary branch-
lets, sub-glomerate, on very short pedicels, yellow, with a purple eye ; capsules five,
oblong, compressed ; seeds roundish, compressed, wrinkled, black. Native of Ja-
jjiaica in dry coppices. — Sji\ Browne callsitthe nettle sida.

7. JAMAICENSIS. JAMAICA.

^himilior, foliis ovatis serratis alternis, disfiche sitis ; pefiolis cf pe-
dunculis brevibus, rajnulis Jioriferis Joliolatis alaribus. Brownej
p. 280.
Leaves ovate-serrate, tomentose; flowers axillary, sub-ped uncled ; capsules in
fives, two-horned.
Stem suifrutescent, a foot high, branched, round, hispid ; leaves petioled, alternate,
small, scarcely acuminate, nerved, softish '. petioles many times shorter than the leaves;
leaves next the petiole slightly emarginate ; stipules opposite, at the base of the pe-
tioles, bristle-shaped; flowers on very short peduncles, from one to three, small, yel-
low ; bcftks of the capsules very short,— ^'3', Browne calls this plant the broad-leaved

3IARSSMALLOW3 H ORT U S J A M A I C EN S I S, 455

b'norn-oi'eed, very common in all parts of the island. The leaves and tender buds con-
tain a great quantity of mucilage, and lather like scan with water, and are frequently
used in shaving washes by siicli as cannot coiivenieacly bear tue smell or acrimony of
soap. The leaves are purgative.

8. PERlPLOCtFOUA. PERIPLOCA-LEAVET).

^Icea populi fcl:o iru-ano integro. Sioane, v. 1, p. 222, t. 139, f. 2;
Sulci three and Jour qj — Bowne, p. 280.

Leaves cordate-lanceolate, acuminate, quite entire^ tomentose beneath; pe-
duncles bub-divided, longer than the petiole ; capsules awned.
Root annual ; stem two to four feet- high, erect, simple, round, pubescent, some-
times divided towards the top into spreading branches : leaves petioled, alternate,-
smooth, somewhat wrinkled, lioary beneath. Panicle terminating, hnlf the length of
the stem, erect, almost simple, spreading ; peduncles simply sub-divided, alternate,
tiiiforin, die last one- flowered. Flowers pale, somewhat light purple i capsules five;,,
ovale, acuniinale.T— ^if,

9..UMBEI.LATA. KMBELLED.

Erecla, sitb-villosa, raviosa, tenuis ; foliis c^rdato ammhiatis, reflect-
tentibus, Icniter et acute creiiatis ; Jiore singulari ct ratnulo Jiorifero
J'oliolalo ad alas. Browne, p. 281,

Leaves roundish-cordate, toothed, somewhat angular, acute ; peduncles four-
flowered or thereabouts, umbelled, axillary; capsules tuo-awned.

Browne calls this plant the shrubby sida with reflected leaves, which is very commoii
in the hills about the Ferry, and rises generally to the height of four or five fret. The
flowers are disposed chiefly touards the top, and the leaves conunonly reflected a goo(J
5?ay backwards.

JO. PANICULATA. PANICLED.

IjoIUs cordato acuminatisy serratis ; pedunciiUs Inngis, tenut'ssiviist^
alarihus, tnferioribus simplicibus, superioribus ramosis. Browne^ .
p. 28®.

Leaves ovate-cordate, toothed ; racemes panicled ; capsules two- beaked.
Stem herbaceous, erect, two feet higij, sub-divided, round, rui>ge(l, somewhat hir-
sute ; branches spreading, almost simple, fiuform. Lea^■^.s peiiole , alternate, sub-
cordate, the smaller on«s ovate, acute, tooth -serrate, nei-ved, som wijat hirsute.—^
Peduncles axillar\, sub-divided very long, capidar., spreading very much; the last
®ne-flowered ; seginei.t.i of ihc calyx bent back; corolla dark puride, with the. pttals
spreading ; capsules five, compressed, roundish, acuminate. Native ot calcareous

rocks. — Sw. .

11. DITMOSA, BVSn.

Leaves cordate, ovate-acumiiictie, serrate, suijOth on both sides ; flowers pao
nn led.

Panicles tcrminatinpr, branched, almost erect; petals a pale yellow; capsules five
eg niore>r,frt(jut4itly six, rouuuish, gibbous yu one side, angular on the other, wiih an

avvi-shapeU

41»« HORTUS 7A]\TAICENSIS. WARSitEA

8wl-shapeH btalc, hoary wiili very sipall stellate hairs, closely converging at top, one-
seeded, fsaiive of the souUieni parts (jf Jamaica in coppices, — Sw.

12. ARGUTA. SHARP.

Lcavfs cordate-serrate, atteiuiatod at the top ; stem wand-like ; peduncles ax-
illary, fiiitorm, one-flui^ered.

» Stem srooathi-ro.nnd, 'three feet liigh, stn'ling out long slender liranches ; leaves
smooth, ligiit green, on long footstalks, the lower ones near three inches long, and
aimosLtvvo.hroad^at their base. ,iFlo\vers on very long peduncles, small, and of a whitish
ye'.ltnv colour, (apsides five, tno-avvned at the top, smooth, one-seeded. Native of
Jamaipain dry lieJges in the southern parts. — S:i\

MAR^H TTIFFOTL or BOG-BEAN. MENYANTHES.

Cl. ^, OR. 1. — Pentandria monogynia. Nat. ok.— Precipe.
Gen. CHAR. — Cidyx a one-leafed, five-pai-ted perianth, erect, permanent; corolla
one-peialed, fiinnel-fi)rm, border five-cleft, clefts reflex, spreading, blunt, con-
spicuvnisly slK.i;gv ; the stamens are five awJ-shaped short filaments, with acute
anthers, l)ifi.! at the base, erect; the pistd has a conical germ, a cyiindrij style,
almost tne lenmli o( the corola, and a bifid co ..pressed stigma; the pericarp is an
-ovate capsule, surrounded by the calyx, one-celled; seeds many, ovate, small.
One species is a native of Jamaica. •'

INDICA. INDIAN.

l^ymphaa minor is affinis Indica fiore alho piloso. Sloane, v. I, p.
252. Aquatica nymphteafoliii cordato-orbiculatis, pttiolisjioriferis,
Browne, p. 131.
Leaves cordate-subcrenate ; petioles floriferous ; corollas hairy within.
The lea\es are cordate, peltate, bright green on one Side, dark russet on the other;
flowei. nmbel-fascicie i, placed or. tiie stem just below the leaf. Glands and tube o{
the corolla yellow, border white, both of the most exquisite texture : the divisions of
the corolla may be cailed three-winged ; they look as .if covered with silver frost. —
Gtertner. Sloane describes )t as havmg a leaf like the colt'a foot, floating on the top
of water, about two inches in diameter, thick, yellowish green, smooth, without ap-
parent nerves. Petioles about a foot long, more or less according to the depth of the
.water, on the surface of which they float ; they are round and brownish, and out of
them come several white flowers, just under the leaf, on peduncles an inch long, oi
chorter.

No English Name. MARSILEA.

Cl. 24, OR. 1. — Cri/ptoganu'a miscellaneip. Nat. or. — Filices.
So named in honour of Coqnt Aioysio Ferdinando Marsigli, of Bologna.

AiARVEL ' -nOUTUS JAMAICENSIS, ' ' mt

C'EN. CH.\n. — Commoa calyx oval, suh compressed, coriacoous, hairy, <jap'inp nt the
ba.se, internailv divided into several (t'ourteeii or fii'eert) coils, in two longitudinal
rows, separated by a memhranaceous partition ; therein no corolla; the stamens
have no filameats, anthers severdl, iijsierted round each })istil, vcrv small, ob-ovate,
sharp bt'low, onc^celled, gaping transversely, exploding a spherical pollen : the
pistils several in each cell, cd'-ordinatc in a transverse row, oval , no style, stigma
short, blunt; no pericarp ; seed-s as many as there are pistils; tlie receptacle a
somewhat -flesljy membrane, clothing the cells internally. Oae .^-puciesk a native
of Jamaica.

QUADRfFOLlA. FOUR-LEAVED.

Leaves in fours, quite entire.

This plant is pretty common in the ponds about Old Harbour, and in the parish of
St. Elizabeth ; it. has a slender weakly Bfcalk, that creej>s along the banks and bottoms
^under the water, snd emits a few long- and slender footstallvs that reach tlie surface,
and bear four thin obtuse leaves at tlieircKtremities, which are not unlikethose of wood
sorrel cither in shape or size. — Browne. Capsules toothless. Leaves on long petioles ;
flowers at the base of tlie petiole ; involucre pedicelled, ovate, transversely maiiy-celled^
.■^«elJs having pistils and anthers placed on the same receptacle promiscuously.

^lARVEL OF PERU, MIRABILIS.

Cl. 5, OR. \. — Pcntandria mojiogynia. Nat. or. — Nyctagines.

•"'Tflvs vW's so named from the wonderful beauty and diversity of colours in the'fiower.

fGEN", cii\R. — Calyx, the outer perianth one-leafed, erect-ventricose, inferior, five-
parJ.ed ; v'^egments ovate-lanceolate, sharp, unequal, permanent; inner perianth
globi>lar, pjaced under the petal, with a contracted entire mouth-, and permanent;
corolla one-]X'taled, funnel-form ; tube slender, long, thicker at to\)^ placed on th'C
inner caJyx ; herder, from upright, spreading, -entire, feluntly five-cleft, plaited;
nectary "sohericav fleshy, stirrounding the germ, v/ith a five-toothed mouth ;
teeth very ivriall, tr» angular, converging ; stamens five filaments, inserteil into tlie
orifice of the nectary, and alternate with its teeth, within the inner calyx free,

.rnore slender, -fastened xjt bottom to the tube of the corolla, filiform, the length
of the corolla, inclining, -cnequal ; anthers twin, roundish, rising; the pistil ha?:
aturbinate germ within the vectary; a filiform sty te, the length and situation of

»*}ie stamens ; and a globular, 'l^)tted, rising, stigma; there is no pericarp; the
inner calyx incrusts the seeds, anJ falls with it ; seed single, ovate, five-cornered,
iiJixu species is a native of Jamaica.

JALAPA. JALAP.

Fblik ovatis seminibus pulchn; rcticulatis, radice carnosa. Browne,
p. 166.
Flowers heaped, terminating, erect.
This plant is common in Jamaica. It has a large thick fleshy root, which, when
transversely cut, shews a number of concentric circles, and has an acrid taste. The

-S.»« stalk

499 IIORTUS JAMAICENSIS, MAia-GOLrf

stalk is upright, thick, jointed, branching numerously, widely, erectly, frequently
more than a yard high. Leaves opposite, somewhat hcart-shapecl, sharp-porincd, on
inch-long pedicels : branchesand hranchlets terminated by numerous flowers in clusters .
on verj' short pedicels, which are of different colours in tiie varieties, some white, some
yellow, some, red, some variegated, some with flowers of different colours on the same
plant, ail making a most brilliant appearance. It is remarked that plants raised from
the seeds of the purple and white, never produce red and yellow flowers, nor the con-
ti-ary. The root of this plant was once thought to be the real jalap, whence the trivial
name, which medicine is procured from a species of convolvulus : the root is nc\er-
theless of a purgative nature, when powdered,, in d6ses of two scruples, or more. A
bed of the Jour-o^clcck, the name by which this ornamental shrub is generally known,
spreads a delightful fragrance to a onsiderable distance ; and is very generally culti-
vated, not only on this account, but because it is one of the most beautiful productions
of nature. Thunberg informs that the Japanese ladies make a white paint from tlie
tneal of the seeds for their complexioas.

■ Four o'clock fl&wer. — ^This plant is so called in Jamaica from its opening and- shutting
every four i)ours, night and day, as they have observed there. Ihaveseen of all co-
lours. Tiicy have of this plant now in English gardens, calling it marvel of Pent -
others make it a sort of jalap. It hath a root exactly like jalap ; but its stalk, jeavet',.
flowers, and fruit, are different. I have cut these as tliey do jalap, and, when cured,
he must have a good, jiulgnvent to know the difference ; and L have tried to .get the ;
resin out, as of jalap ; but I never could get above half an ounce out of a pound of rooty
whereas w£. commonly get an ounce an,d a halPof resin, or two ounces, out of the true
jalap. Now, if the purging quality lies altogether in the resinous part of die /oot,
then this discovers the diM" rence of the two roots : But I am of opinion, tS'iat ;jll the
purging quality doth not lie in tne resin; for this four o'clock flower root, piven lu
powder, works as well as the other in powder, but giving four times the quantity, and
is of the same virtue. Its fruit is black, round, and rough, witbout-c-ide ; which skin,
being taken off, there appears a seed as big as an English pea, of the colour of Encr.
lish wheat ; and under tluit thin skin is a hne white flour or mfal, vei'v soft to the
touch, and tastes like wheat- flour ; which I believe will purge as welL as the root. — .
liar ham, p. 62.

MARYGOLD. CALENDULA.

Cl. 19, or. 4:~Sy,njencsia polygamia necessaria. Nat. or. — Composite.
Gen. cH;\r. — Calyx common, sin)]jle, many-leaved; corolla compound, radiate-;.
proper of the heriiiaphrodiie tubular, of the female ligulate ; the receptacle is
Baked.;, there is no pappus ; seeds membranaceous.

OFFICINALIS. " OFFICINAL.

Seeds all boat^form^ muricated, bent in.

This plant has been' long intn^duced and generally cultivatetl in Jamaica,, where it •
thrives well. The flowers of the common marygold are supposed to be aperient and a{»-
tenuating, as also cardiac, ale.xinharmic, jmd sudorific j they are principally cele-
brated

THEA-cow HORTUS JAMATCENSIS 409

brated in iTterine obstructions, the jaundice, and for thtov\ing out the small pox. — •
Tiieir sfUiitjlo qi/olities, however, give little iouniuLKjii tor these virtues : the^ have
scarce any taste, and have no considerable smell The leaves of the plant discover a
viscid sweetness, accompanied with a more durable saponaceous pungency and warmth ;
these seem capable of answering some useful purposes as a stimulating, aperient, and
antiscorbutic, iiieditiue,

M.^sTic — ^'ee Bast.apd Bully Tkei:.
Mattee — iiee Fig-Tkkes.

MEADOW GRASS. POA.

'Cl. 3, OR. 2. — Triandria digj/nia. NaT. or. — Gramina.

Gen. CHAR. — Calyx a many-flowered, tvvo-vaived glume ; corolla two-valved ; nec-
tary two-leavccl; stamens tluee capillary filaments, with forked anthers; tlie pistil
has a roundish gerui, two retiex viliose styles, and similar stigmas ; there is no pe-
ricarp, the corolla cleaves to ttie seed, and does not (.^pc'ii ; seed single, oblong;,
acuminate, compressed ou both sides, covered. Three species are indigenous to
Jaiuuica.

i. GLUTINOSA. CLAMMY.

Gramini trcmu/o I'J/iue, panicidaiuvi elegans mmi'mum. Sloane, v.
1, p. lU, t. 71,"f. 2.

Panicle spreading, strict; spikelets seren to nine-flowered, somewhat hirsute^
glutinous ; culm simple ; leaves somewhat hairy.

Culm one or two feet high, sub-erect, very slender, strict, round, smooth, jointed
below ; leaves short, linear, acute, concave, spreading, hairy, or somewhat hirsute,
the hairiness thin and clammy. Sheaths hirsute. Panicle two inches long, somewhat
hirsute; branches alternate, distant, simple, few-flowered; spikelets distinct, three
to six on a branchlet, purple, pedicelled. Calycine valves acute, keeled, minute. — •
CoroUine glumes a little larger, ovate, acute, keeled, flatted a little ; the inner ciliate,
when examined by a magnitier ; with that advantage the keel also appears serrulate. —
Filaments very short ; anthers dark purple ; stigmas hairy, whitish ; seed roundish,
very minute. It is an annual grass, in dry sand. — S\v. Sloane says it grows plenti-t
fully in the savannas about Spanish Town.

2. PROLIFERA. PROLlFERpUS.

Panicle spreading, strict ; spikelets many-flowered (sixteen to twenty) ; cuim
very much branched, knobbed, proliferous at the joints.

Culm a fathom high, or more, upright ; branches sub-divided, round, striated,
smooth ; joints knobbed, leafy, proliferous as it were with the origins of a younger
plant : leaves in bundles, linear, setaceous, commonly convoluted, sheathing, erect,
even. Panicles a span and more in length, branched, erect ; brauclilets sub-divided,
capillary, strict, flexuose; spikelets pedicelled, lanceolate, compressed; calycine
valves equal ; coroUine valves ovate, acuminate, keeled ; filaments two or three ; an-
rfiers pale ; stigmas viilose. — S-x.

■■' •■ -■ S S S 2 3. CILLi.RIS,

^OtJ HOTITUS JAMAICENSI-S. muc

3. CILIAUIS. ClUATKD.

Gramen praicnse panieula ei /oliis anguslisshnis, spicts oreviius
wuticis locustis miftimis. Sloane, v. I, p. 115, t. 73, t'. 1. Briza. —
Tcnuissima, paniculis quasi lanusinosis pedtowulis brevibus et U-
nuissimis inciikntibus. Browne, p. 135.
Panicle conttutcted ; inuer valves of the glumes hairj-, ciliate.,

Gulm from two inches to half a foot in height, simple, slender, erect, smooth ;
leaves linear, short, even. Panicle or compound spike contracted, with short hrancii-
lets pressed close ; florets ovate, of a cinereous rust colour, minute, shming, villose ;
calycine glvime from two to four- valved, from six to eight-fl/)\verecl ; valves equal, ovate, ,
acute, keeled, awnless, beardless. Upper valve of the corolla ovate, obtuse, not
keeled, cihate at the edge ; lower valve keeled, entire at the edge, the keel appearing
serrate when magnilied,. inclosing the upper one at- the base ; anthers purple ; stigmas
villose, pale ; seed oblong. This is a middle species between /^/';'ra and poi?. Browne
calls it sv^ali trevibling grass, and observes that this little plant seldom rises aboae si>:
or seven inche.'!, and is sustained by a very slender weakly stalk ; it is easily distin-
guished by its dehca,te braoches,„fine leaves, and downy head.-

]fo,English Name. MELAMPODIUM.

Cl. 19, .or. 4. — Syngencsia polyganiianecessoina. Nat. on. — Composit^e^-.
This name is derived from two Greek words signifying black and a foot.

GeN- CH.\R. — Calyx five-leaved; corolla compound, radiate ; the pericarp an tm-^
changed calyx ; seeds in the females solitary, oh-ovate, compressed, four-cor-
nered, prickly at the sides, crowned with a heart-shaped, involuted, converging,
calycle ; the receptacle chaffy, conical ; chaffs lanceolate, coloured, the length
of the florets ; down one- leafed, involuted, converging. Swartz found one species
of.this genus in Jamaica,

HUAIII.E. HUMBLE.

Sttjn upright ; leaves lyrate-tootlied, sessile.

MELTC GRASS;^^^ MELICA.

Cl. 3, OR. 2. — Triandria digynia. Nat. or. — Gramitia.
©FN. CHAR. — Calyx two-valved, two-flowered ; corolla two-valved ; nectan' ofle=-
leafed; there is no. pericarp, the corolla incloses and drops the seed; which i^
single, ovate, and grooved on one side. One species is -a uative of Jamaica,

PAPILIONACEA, PEA-FLOWhRED.

Gramen spica brizis singidari, locust is viajoribus, villosis,.puppura-
scenlibus. bioane, v. 1, p. 106, t. 6+, f. 1. .

lower 'valve, of thecaljx very large, coloured ; outer petal sub- ciliate*

Culm

.MEXOCII^ HORTUS^ JAMAICENSI3. a 50,1

Culm gcniculateU, compressed, t«o feet high ; leaves hartl, yetlowish grcon co-
loured, narrow, nine inclies long. Panicle three-quarters of au inch long. Lower,
valve of the calyx ob- ovate, blunt, ver^- large, coloured; upper valve only one-sixth
of the size, remote from the loner, scariose, and coloured at the. top; ftoweis two,
alternate, besides the rudiment ; outer petal to each oblong, striated ; the middle ones
nmricated, the side ones ciliate with many bristles, but the apex of the petal is scan-
ose, with * thin even membrane, biunt, and coloured; inner petal simple; rudiment
oblong.

No English Name. .■ MELOCHIA, ••

Cr.. 16, on. 2. — Monadelphiapentajidriit. Nat. ou. — Cohnnmfcr<e.

^EN. CHAR. — Calyx a perianth, often double; outer one-sided, three-leaved ; inner
one-leafed, half five-cleft ; segments half-ovate, acute, permanent ; corolla fivst
petals, oly-cordatc, spreading, large ; the stamens five fdaments, awi-shaped,
united at the base into a pitcher involving the gertn,.vrith simple anthers; the
pistil has a roundish germ, five awl-shaped styles, erect, the length of the sta-
mens, permanent ; stigmas simple; pericarp a roundish or five-cornered capsule,
five-celled, five^valved ; valves acute, partitions contrary, doubled ; the seeds
solitary, or in pairs, on one side roundish, on the other angular, compressed. — •
Six species are natives of Jamaica.

1. PVR.WJID.'iTA. PYRAMIDAL- •

.^^^^ Ahutilon hcrbacemru, procumbens, hclonwie folio-, flore- pjirpttveo.—-

Sloane, v. 1, p. 220, t. 1:59, f. 1. Jlcrhcuea toinissim*' r.nnosa,
foliis cblnngo oiafis, Jioruin umbellulis laicralibus foliis appvoxima-
tis. Browne, p. 276.. ^

Flowers umbslled ; capsules pyramidal five-coraered ; iJingles muoronate ;
leaves naked.

Stem shrubby at the base, branched, a foot hfgh ; branches depi-esaed, diffusedj-- as-
cending", simple, smooth ; leaves alternate,. ovate-acuminate, serrate, nerved, smooth;
pe.tiole shorter than tlie leaver somewhat erect, slender; flowers pedunclcd, sub-um-
belled ; peduncles lateral, opposite to the petioles, solitary, the length of the petioles,
three- flowered ; corollas small^ hlood-red, frequently closed ; calyx five-toothed,,
teeth erect, lanceolate, acute; claws of the petals yellow at the base ; border sub-erect,
entire, blunt. Capsule menibrsnaccousj vascular, netted, from a ventricose bag
rising into a sliort pyramid, haviag five narrow wings at^ the corners, produced near
the base. into a horizontal dagger point ; the valves open along these wings, and arc
accompanied within by a ntiddle septum. Seeds solitary, oblong, cornered, or angled^
Browne describes it as a very elegant little plant, v.hich he found among penguins near
Old Haxbour, shooting to the height of three feet or better, with a very slender and
■weakly stem, requiring support. The flowers are disposed in small umbels, generally
placed pretty near, and on one side of the footstalks of the leaves,, each is composed
•?£ five or -six raj,s fixed upon a common peduncle.

2. DtPHESSA.

•S.02 H OUT US JAMAICENSIS. Mf.lochix

2. DEPRLSSA. Fl.AT-rnUlTED.

Erecla minor, Joliis o-^ads scrratis, petioUs geniculatis. Browne,
p. 276.

Flowers solitary ; capsules depressed, five-cornered ; angles blunt-ciliate.
The smaller 77;f/of/;('a, ov broomweed, is found m many parts of Jamaica, and risc»
xonmionly to ihe lieij^lit ot two or three feet, throwing out a few slender flexile branches
on all sides. The ieaves ot this plant (which are angular) spread themselves every day
about noon, to receive the heat oi the sun more freely ; but as the air grows cooler
tin y general 1\ rise npnght, ami stand aunost parallel to the stem or branches. This
mcciiunisui of the leaves is grcati_y torwarcied bj the knee in the footstalk of each —
Brou'7^e. The tlowt-rs are produced »mgly irom the side of the stalk, they are of a
fresh colour, and jii shape id;eihose ol the small dowei^ing jnallow ; capsules five-cor-
nered, rough, mclosing five mallovv shaped seeds.

3. VEKOSA. VEINY.

Althea spicata bttonide folio zillossissimo. Sloanc, v. 1, p. 218, t.
138, f. 1.

Peduncles distinct, terminating, many-flowered 4 leaves ovate, serrate, veined,
tomentose underneath ; stem hairy.

Stem woody, four feet high, covered with brown hairs, sending out slender branches,
on the lower ]5arls of which are alternate leaves, an inch and a half long, and nearly an
inch broad, serrate, with many longitudmal veins, on hairy {>etiicels ; the leaves are
also covered with a yellowish hair. The upper parts have no leaves for more than a
foot in length, and from their sides come out peduncles two inches long, sustaining
several small yellow flowers in clusters, having hairy calyxes, cut at tne top into several
Hcute segments.

4. TOMENTOSA. DOWNY.

jlbutUiin arboreiim spicalum, betonictp folio incano, fiore minore pur-
puveo. t'loane, v. 1, p. 219, t. 138, f. 2, 3. l-'rufesce/is, foliis
snbincanis, villosis, oblongo ovatis, crenato-serratis ; Jioribus mce-
mosis, cortice Jusco. Browne, p. 276.

Flowers umbclled, axillary; capsules pyramidal, five-cornered; angles mu-
' cronate ; leaves tomentose.

This rises from six to ten feet high, growing generally in dry gravelly soils. The
stem is as thick as a man's leg, having a darkish-brown coloured baa-k. '£he branches
spread on every hand towards the top ; the leaves grow at the ends of the twigs, they
are whitish, soft, crenate, tomentose, standing on short footstalks. Peduncles um-
helled, many-flowered ; flowers large, purple, or light flesh colour according to
Browne,

5. NODIFLORA. KNOT-FLOWERED.

Abutilon fruticosum, foliis subi-ottindis serratis, Jioribus albis pentad
petalis ad alas foliorum cojigionieratis. Sloane, v. 1, p. 219, t.
135, f. 2.

Flowprs conglovate, axillarj'; capsules globular; leaves ovate -acuminate,
smooth.

This

mLoy HORTUS JAT\rAICEN SIS, JM^

Tiiis rises about five feet high, with a round stem, having rounil, alternate, smootli,
purple, brandies, a Utile fiexuose. Leaves two inches long, smooth on both sides,
thin, of a green colour, with the, veins [nirplish un lerneath, serrate, acute, standuig
on siiort pubescent petioles; stipules iariceolate, smooth, die length of the flowers,
deciduous. Flowers congloineiv.te at the axils, sessile, small, whitish. Bractes ovate,
the iengtii of tiie flowers ; seguieuts of the calyx ovate -acuminate ; corolla longer thaii
the cal) X.,

6. LUPULINA. HOP.

Hacemes clustered, axitiary ; calyxes inflated, membranaceous ; leaves ovate-
cordate, gash-serrate, tomentose underneath. — S'-iH.

Melon — S'ce Musk and Water Melon.

MELON THISTLE. CACTUS.

Cl. 12, OR. \.—Tcosandria iiionogi/nia. Nat. OR. — Succulent.T^
Gen. guar. — 'iee Indian Fig, p. 40S.

MELOCACTU?,

Echiiw melocactus. Sloane, v. 2, p. 159. JJiimilis subroiiindis sut'
catus ct coronatus, spinis confertis. Browne, p. 238.
Roundish, fourteen or fifteen angled.
This is called T'uvks or Papers head, and is common in Jamaica, growing on the
tops »f old walls, rocks, and in barren places. They thrive with little or no earth to
support them. Its roots are stroiig and many, which throw out a large round head of
a greenish colour, deeply ribbed, and covered all over with prickles placed star-fashioa.
.The skin is thick and juicy, and when the plant is cut through the middle, the insida'
is found to be a soft green fleshy substance, very full of moisture. They are frequently
a vard or more in circumferente ; the spines on the surface of it were compared to the
Lack of a hedge-hog by Liuneus. On the sumuit rises a kind of crown, three or four
inches in diameter, made up of redtlish-brown sharp prickles, rising from a downy or
cottou-like substance ; from which also proceeds t!ie flower, which is sessile, having
many purple pttais, which are long and narrow, coming from a common centre. The
pericarp iias its peduncle immersed in the downy substance ; it is taf)ering, about ail
inch and a half ui Iengtii, drawing to a.point at. bottom, but blunt at top. On the out-
side it is covered with a thin, shining, ll^ht purple-coloure I, mem ranc, containiag-
a puip of the same colour, whicli has :i very agreeable acid taste, and containing many
black seeds. In times ot drought caitle have been observed to rip open these planta ,
wiUi their horns, and devour the fleshy moist part.

See Indian Fig and Torch Thistle.
Menow-Weed — Hce Spirit-Leat.

SQi nORTUS JAMAICENSIS. milkWOOR

m Englisn Name. MENTZ F.LI A,

Cl. 13, OR. 1. — Folyandriaviono^ynia. 'Nat. or. — Calycanthcmte.
^' -So named in menioiy ot' Clinstian Meinzelius, physician to the Elector of Brandcn-
•■Aurgii, who was tiie author of some botanical worJis.

GtN. CHAR — Calyx a five-leaved perianth, spreading!;, superior, deciduous ; leaflets
lanceolate, concave, acumiaate; corolla live petals, ub-ovatc, acununate, a little
longer than the calyx, spread i n j^ ; stamens many filaments (thirty), the length of
tiie calyx, erect, bnstle-shaped, the ten outer membranaceous ; anthers roundish ;
the pistil has a cyimdric gernt, very long, inferior; a filiform style, the length of

. the stamens, an J a simple blunt stigma ; the pericarp is a cylindric capsule, long,
one-celled, thrce-vahed at top ; seeds about six, oblong, angular. There is only

' one species.

ASPER.\. ROUGH.

"Setis iiacinatis viunita, foliis lobatis,fructibus singularibus sesst'libus
ad divaricaiioncs ramorian. Browne, p. 249.

' ;The tufted herbaceous mentzelia is very common among the Imslies in all the dry

• cavannas about Kiag^ton. It is an annual plant, rising with a woodj- smooth stem, three

.feet high, branching alternately ; the branches distorted, and running into one ano«

. ther ; leaves shaped like the point of a halbert, alternate, on short footstalks, covered

with short hooded ))rickles, which fasten themselves to whatever rubs against them. —

The tlovvers come out singly from the joints of the stalk, resting upon a cylindrical

germ, which is near an inch in length, narrow at the base, but widening upwards ;

upon the top of it comes the calyx, spread open ; then the petals spread open upon

the calyK, of a pale yellow colour. Capsule rough, inversely conical, succulent before

it is ripe, but then dry, with three longitudinal grooves, and wrinkled ; seeds flatted,

ovate, narrower at top, roughened with little prominent points. Browne observes that

. the plant is easily distinguished by its yellow flowers, tufted form, and stiflr uncinated

bristles ; the seeds iu:e disposed at some distance from each other in the pulp. Barhaoj

-calls this onagra, from the resemblance the flower bears to that plant.

MILKWOOD. BROSIMUM.

Cl. 22, OR. 1. — Dioeciamonandria. Nat. oa. —
.Cen. char.— ^fc Bread-Nut, p. 1 14.

SPURIUM.
Jjaurijelia arbor venenata folio acmninaio, copicsum lac prehcns cxqitp
mspissato viscus aiicupum paratiir. Sloane, v. 2, p. 21, t. 167, i,
1, 2. Foliis ablongis glabris alternis. Browne, p. 369.

Leaves lanceolate-ovate, acuminate; aments pedicelled, ovate, axillary, in
pairs ; fruit soft.
This tree grows to a considerable size, and is accounted a good timber wpod. The
braucUes are beset with twigs, bearing leaves, on inch Jong pedicels, which are smooth,

thick;

,jni.!.F.T H OUT us JAr'JAICENSia $M

t):kk, rnd of an ova! shape. Ir i< frpqui^ntly to )<'^ found in tho '.vdoIs of Jamaica.— •
Ai^ riii-rs of the t!T' art- extrinic-ly niiiky, wliicii iin.k is accoiiutc'd poisonous ; it spce.ii!/
bfctiacs, whcii t'-^posci to tue uir, luugli ynJ vistous, and Biaki's.c.vceiicut bird- lime.

S'cC JiRLAD-NuT.

P.Ta.K WnpT — S'ce Lig^:i;m Vn.E, Bastj,k», .
Millet — S'le Guinea Cokx,

MILLET GKASS. MiLHTM.

Ct. 3, OR. 2. — Triandria iligynta. Nat. on. — Gramhia,

So called Uomviiiie, a thousand, because of the multitude of its grains.

■Gln. CHAR — Calyx a one-fiowered glume, tivo-va!ved ; valves ovate, acuminate,
almost equal ; corolla tvvo-\'aived, less than the calyx; valves ovate, one less;
riectarv two-'eaved, leaflets ovate, obtuse, gibbous at the base ; the stamens three
filaments, capil.arv, very short, with oblong anthers; the pistil has a roundish
germ, two capillary styles, and pencil rform stigmas ; there is no pericarp ; seed
single, covered, rouiiaisii. Four species of this genus were discovered in Jamaica
by fcwartz.

1. PUNCTATUM. DOTTED.

Branches of the pinicle quite simple ; flowers alternate in pairs, directed one way.
Culm from one to two feet high, simple, upright, round, jointed, smooth; leaves
broadish, entire, striated, even ; sheaths beardless, closed. Pamcie upright, simple;
branches alternate, scattered, upright. Florets pubescent, two together, one gene-
rally less than the other, on very short pedicels, one shorter than the otiu'r, surrounded
at the base with a dusky ring. Ivachis angular, filiform, rough-haired; calycine
glumes equal, acuminate, rough-haired on the outside ; corolline glumes smaller,
"equal, ovate, the outer more sliortiy awned ; anthers very minute, brown; stjgmas
feathered, black purple ; seed oblong, shining. Native of Jamaica in moist meailows.
■ — Sw.

2. COMPRESSrM. COMPRESSED.

spikes generally in threes ; florets alternate, awnless, pressed close to the
rachis; culm joiuted-compressed ill the middle ; peduncles very long.

This is a perennial grass.

S. DIGIT.\TUM. FINGERED.

Spikes digitated, generally in fours, sub-sessile ; florets awnless, pressed close^
directed one way ; leaves cartilaginous-serrate at the edge.

This is an annual grass,

4. PANICEOM. PANIC.

Spikes sub-digitate, alternate, approximating, filiform ; florets directed om"
way, awnless, pressed close, three-cornered.

Millet Reed— .ft-e Rf.eo Millet,

T 1 1 MlNr,

&Oti IIORTUS JAIvfAICENSISl j^Nt

MINT. MENTHA.

CL. \i, OR. 1. — Didjjnamia gymnospermia. Nat. or. — T'enicillaf^.

Ce^'. (.liAii. — i-aiyx aone-It'i.fc'Ll, live-toothed penMntli ; corolla one-petaleJ, four-
parted, one segment broader, emargiiiaie; stamens avvl-shaped, tun sborler;
aiuiiers rutin Jisu ; the pistil has a f'nir-c!et"t germ, a fihform »tv;e. and bifid stigma;
no pericarp ; caiyx upright, with the seeds in the outtoui, vviiicii are lour, and
s;:.ull. The foilouing specie^ have been jutrodueed.

1. VlRiDlS.- GUtEX.

Spikes oblong; leaves lanceolate, naked, serrave, sessile; stamens longcrlhan
the coroUa.

This is commonli- C'lUed spenr-rninf, and i, the most useful species. It thrives '.rell
ifl Jamaica, is cultivated in most <;ardens, and may often be found in a wdd state —
Tne leaves and tops of tins piaiit are nsed in salads, and eaten as sauce with iamb and
in soups; a conserve of litem is gratefiU, and the di.sti lied waters, both simpie and
spiiitu-us, uiiicii e^eetued Tlie. virtues ^if mint are, those, of a warm slomacnii-^ and
carminative: in- loss of appetite, nansi-a, and continual retching, there are few sim-
ples of <-(]iiai tfii acj. in chgiicky pains, the gripes to whicli ctnkhvu are subject,
lienterjes, and other immoderate fluxes, this pi. nt frequently does good service. It
likewise proves b. m ficial in manv li\Meric cases, and aii'ords an usefnl cor li A in lan-
guors and other weaknesses consequent upon deliverv. The best preparation in these
cases is a strong infusion of tiie dried herb in yvaier (which is much superior to the
gret-n), or rainer a tiiictui"e or extract prepared with rectified spodr. These possess
die whole virtues of the mint ; the essential oil anJ di-stilled water contain only the aro-
matic part; the expressed 'juice only ttie astringency and bitterishncss, together with
the mucilagin.'us substance common to al. vegetables.

When mint i- cut for dr\in^, it siiould be done just when it is in flower, and on a
di^r tiay ; f r, if cut in w-ctweather, the leaves will change black, it should be tied
iii'siijall buiicnes, and hung iu a shady place, upon lines.

Lewis obst rves ihi<t n.inl is said to prevent tne coagulation of milk, and hence re-
coiumetideil iii milk diets ; when dry, and digested in rectificxl spirits of wine, it gives
out a tincture which appears by day-light of a fine dark green, but by candle light of a
briiiht red <-oloiir. A small quantit, is g;een by day-liglit or candle-light, but a large
(piantiiv seems imi)eivious t > c(3mmon day-light ; but, when held between the eye and
the can'die, or Letwi en the eye and the sun, it appears red. If put in a fiat bottle it
appears g.reen &idewd._ s, but viewed edgewise red,

2. PIPERITA. PEPPERMINT.

Flowers in hsa Is ; leaves ovate-petioled ; stamens shorter than the corolla.
This has smooth purple stalks, and the leaves are smaller than those of the- spear-
mint ; the\ are lanceolate, serrate, verv dark green, with pur]>le tnid-ribs and veins,
tk, little hi.iiv on ti.e under side. The spikes of the flowers are shorter and thicker than
Spcar-niiMi, and ire broken or interrupted at bottom. The corolla is of a dar'^ purple
colour, the stamens longer than it. The stem and leaves are beset with many very
minute glands, con:aining the essential oil, which rises plentifully in distillation. —
P«?j>^(^i--uaint has a more pw'netrat'uig saioij tlun the other species, and a more pungent

glowing

-.jj^lsLSTdt HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. bOJ

^loujng taste, sinking as it uere into the tongue, and followed bv a sensition of cold-
l:tss. Its i-tciniachu', antispasnjodio, and caraiii:ative, qualiiies, render it useful in
Isacuient colics, liVhtt-rical aH'ections, retchinijs, and otht r iy.s|jrptic syniptonis, acting
t; a cordial, and often iffor.lnig immediate relief. "I he officiual preparations are an
ts,-,t'iitial oil, a sinijne water, and a spine. 'I'lie essence of pepper-niint is an elegant
riiedicine.

3. PUI-EGIDM, PENNY-ROYAL.

Flowers in whorls ; leaves ovate-lilunt, sub-cxenute ; stems roundish, creeping j
sLiUiens longer than tlie coro.ia.

Penny-ro.al has a pale purple flower. It has a warm pungent flavour, and possesses
tbe same geneiai virtues as mint, and may be used lor the tame purposes, but mint i&
Uiorc elleciual.

Mint, CArSec C.^T-IVtoT.

MISTLETOE. YISCUM.

Cl. 22, OK. 4.--l)inec'a tefrandria. Nat. or. — Aggregatce.

Cen. ciiar. — Male calyx a four-parted perianth ; leaflets ovate, equal ; no corolla;
siamens four, filaments none, anthers oMoiig, acunniiate, one growing to each
caivx leaf. FvUiale toniiiioiiiV opposite to tiie male — c.ilyx a four-leaved peri-
antn ; leaflets ovate, small, sessile, deciduous, placed on the germ ; no corolla ;
the pistil has an oblong germ, three-cornered, indistinctly crowned with a four-
ciett niargni. inferior; no style; stigma obtus3, sci rcelv emarginate ; the peri-
carp a gioUnlar lierry, one-celled, even ; seed one, cordate, compressed, obtuseg
iieshy. Three species are natives of Jamaica.

1. VERTICILL/^TUM. VF.RTICII.I.ATED.

Vucmn. Sloane, v. 2, p. 92. Parasituum, ramidis verttct'Haiis,
ji t.oits ob-ovatis trineivns, baccis trkkniaiis. Browne, p. 3£G.

Stem whorled ; leaves ovate, three-nerved, blunt.

This well known plant grows on all sorts of trees, and is very frequent in .Tan-,aica.— -
^t resembles in every respect the nnsletoe of the English oak ; and is used in .lainaica
tr the same |)urposes, but Browne tays he never knew it have any remarkable effect.
Itiat must esteemed is gathered from sweet- wood. >l<)ane speaks of it as good in
Bsitiinns ; and the bruised berries, strained with oil and drank, cures stitches. Mr.
/.niliony Hobuison mention^ a boy afilioieJ with epilepsy, to whom he ordered a cup-
fiul of the decoction of the misletoe tuo or three times a day, by which he vi'as entirely
curod in less than a week, uittiout taking any other medicine. From the branches and
unri|)e berries a g.io.l bjrd-linie is obtained ; fjr tais pu'-nose the berries are boi.eJ
until ttiey break, and tiicn beaten and washed in wa;er, anxttae bran taken away.

Misletoes. — The very same sort that grows in England upon oaks, pear-trees, and
(Some I tiiers, grows in Ani' rica upon dogwood, which is as hard as the English o;tV,
aad of uie same ^ixvutt. It is good against the falling sickness, is accounted a specific

T 1 1 2 JoJ

$0S HORTUS JATJAICENSI^ »mLEtO«

for most diseases of the head, and is one of the chief ingredients in thie {amoiis puhis
epil'pc'icus of Kiverius. The ben-jcs. hvuised and the juice expressed from tKCm^.
niixed with linseed oil, and taken inward!}', cures pleurisies, stitches, and all pains of
the sides, relieves pal.sies, conviil.sions, and cramps ; made into a caliipiaso), rjj.ens
Sneilings and schirruus tumours or iniposthumes. — £arliuvi, p. 101.

2. opuNTiOiDts. opunt:a-l:ke.

Visann opuntioides ramuUs (crnpressis. Hloane, v. c?, p. !?S, t. CGIj.
f. I . FarasitHum ganculatum aphr^lhiir., raimdis Cumpt casts cppC"
sitis. Browne, p. 357.
Flem prohierous, very much branched, leafless, compressed.

This seems, by its way of grovMh, to be near a kin to the cpvntia, having v.o leaves, .
©r rather stems ; but what we must call the stem or fir^t leaf at the coming out of the
trunk of the tree is flat, somewhat roundish, of a very dark green colour, having at
eveiy inch and a halt's distance, out of tfieir sides only, opposite bi-anches growing out
of one another, after llie maimer of the Indian fig, being an inch and a half long, and
one-eighth of an inch broad, the whole growing to a foot in length : at the ends of the
branches are small yeiluwish flouers, two together; berries whiush, lio.e those of thtj
ordinary niisietoe. It.gruws on trees. — Shane..

3. FLAVENS. YELLOW.

leaves ovate-veined ; racemes axillarj', in threes or fours on each side.

This is a shrubby species, with simple branches, ovate, sinuous, very broad, leave?,
which are opposite, and footsialked ; racemes several, upright, simple, axillary, md
sub-umbchale; hemes verticiliate, placed at intervals,, roundish, and umbilicate»

MISLETOE. LORANTHUS.

Cl. 6, OR. 1. — Ilexa'iidria 7no7icffynia, Nat. or.— jiggrrgafpe.

This generic n;;me is derived from two Greek words, signifying strap and a flower,
tthe corolla being cut into srraps.

Gfn. char — Calj s — Perianth — of the fruit inferior ; margin entire, concave— of the
fiower superior, or the margin entire, concave; c<^irolia si.x-petaied, petals oblong-,
revoluie, equal ; the stauiens six fiiameiits, awl-shaj)ed, fasttned to the bases of
the petals, the length of the corolla ; anthers ohlono ; the pistil has an oblong
gerui, between the two calyxes, criiiferi(jr ; style siniple, the length of the sta-
mens ; stigma blunt; the peritarp an oblong one-celled berry; seed oblong.—*
J"oi)r species axe natives of ^iuT.aica,

1 . AM ER ICANU?. A M ER ICAV.

Parasilicajoliis caitis oppos 'tis, ractviis rarioribus alaribus. Browne^,
p. 197.

Hacemes somewhat branched, cj-med ; flowers nodding; leaves ovate, difform.
Branches sub-divided, leafy, smooth, pale green, brittle: 1 aves petioled, oppo-
?itfj entire, sub-conaceous, nerved, pale; petioles. short, compressed, smootii ; ra-
cemes

frsLETOE tlORTUS JAMAICE^fSrS. 50^

CerriCD sub-ciU!Jeel, terminating, wLt!i thrcc-corncred br^nchlcts ; the last pedicels
trifid, one-fjowerecl; flowers red; calyx do'ible; Ip.ver- iir.diviucd, pitcher-shapcJy
suiail ; upper, margin or the g-erm, ermre. Petals six, very long-, coiuigaioiis be!o\v,
spreading abuve, rcvuiiua; before thty are iiiifolJeJ foniiiiig a slightij iijturved co-
rolla; fiiaineiits tasteaed to tiie petals above the 11. iuile, (nifomi, purple; anthers ob-
long, vertical, yellow; genu ovale ; style fiU.bnii, the length of the corolla; stigma
bluut. pubescent ; berry ovate, oiie-seeded — .5a». This api roaches near to tlie viscum,
both in its nature and beiiY, but all tiietltmers ai'e herniaphrodite. This spiecies is
frequently found on matichioneal trees about Hunt's Bay ; and has been observed to
grow into imali twiggy shrubs beyond the careening place on the Falisadocs.'^ — Browne.

2. OCi IDENTaLI:}. ■ WFSTEKN.

Visciiynlatioribus et suh^otundis folyis, Jlore purpureo. Sloane, v. 2,
p. 92, t. 200, f. 2. Piirasiticafnliisraujonbussabrotundis, spici:-
tloi'uni simplicLbus, ulunbus. Browne, p. li'T.

Eacemes simple ; flowers irregular.

Branches divaricating, sub-divided, loose, round, rugged, brittle; leaves larije,
on short petioles, opposite, ovate-rounded, margined, spreading, nerved above,
smooth, succulent, pale green R-acemes axillary, solitary, erect, shorter than the
le.ives, roiiudi-'h, on very siiort thick pe>iivncles ; flowers sessile, mintite, dark purple ;
calyx supeT-ior, minute, undivided; petals ainio.st connate at the base, three a little
shorter, upright, acute ; filaments shorter than the petals, and placed on the middle
of them ; anthers three, ovate, yellow, fertile ; three barren, liollowed on the sides
for the fertile ones ; germ inferior, roundibb, covered with the calvx, and margined;
style the length of the petals; stigma iiaiple, blunt; berry roundish, viscid, one-
seeded. — Su\

Tlie folloiving observations on this plant are from BTr. A. Robinson's manuEcript : — •
" I piucked souve of the broad-Wated misletoe described bv >ir Hans Sloane, the
sciimda of Dr. Browne, which, upon chewing for a vertigo, 1 found the wood, llowcr,
pedicels, and leaves, of a very astringent, and somewhat bitter, taste, leaving no small
degree of acrimony upon the throat and palate. This proves that it is not merelj' as-,
tringent, for, as Parkinson sa s, ' the misletoe is hot an 1 dry in the tnirJ degree, thai
leaves and berries heat and dry, and are of subtle parts, for some acrimony is in them,
which o\erconieth the bitterness ;' wuich 'emark is very just, fur the acrimonv remains
a good wliile alter the re?tringency is no more perceptible to the palate ; therefore this
plant is not astringent and viscid, as Quiiicey says, but restringent, bitter, and acrid,
by which means it renders the saliva thin and fluid. Flerman sa}s it yields an acid
spirit and an oil, by distillation. It is said to be a specific against the epileps}-. The
nervous fibres are probi^bly too much relaxed in epiieptics, in whuh case thtir porea
V/ill also be necessarily too large ; gentle astringents, such as misktoe, will therefore
be useful; the mis'etoe especially, whi'-h, although by its astringi iic\ it strengthens
the fibres, yet does not thicken the fluids, henue it lias been of service in curing qiiar-
tens, in which peculiar quality it )-esetiibles the bark, for it strengthens the fibres and
tiiies tbe fluids. Tlie ieavisand flower pedicels seeai to be eiuuied v\ith greater vir-
tues dian the stem, the bark of which is not to be despised, but tne mi Idle part is lig-
neous, insipid, and of no efficacy. Habitual Oriukers of tea, espenally those of a
phltgiuatic temperament, are soniciimes afllicaed «ith vcrligos, wliicii, in all probabi-
lity, oiay bl; caiwcd by dniikin^;; it too Wdfin, by vvhith means it may rclaJi too much i

buv

fllO HOR-JUS JAMAICENSia moonwor-R

but, in dry constitutions, the tea drank warm, is rather of service to relax the fibres,
Wiiicii in sucb uvc >j<.iif rally tou tense. The coamion J;.Uiuica niisletoe is very acrid ia
the tflite."

S. PAUVIFOLIUS. SMALL- I.F.AVF.D.

Peduticles axillary, triifij ; pedicels ORe-flortered ; leaves ovate, entire.— iVt*.

4. PAUC.lFLOItUS. rE\V-FLO'.Vri!F.D.

Peduncles trichotoaiuus, shorter than tiie leaves ; leaves ob-ovate. — Szff..
Mo.NKZY Ereau — Stc Baobab.

MOONWORT. OSMUNDA.

Ol. 24, OR. 2. — Crjjptogamia flices. Nat or. — Filices.
|3rn'. char — Capsules distinct, disjjosed in a raceme m such manner as to loo'fe the
same vvciy, or else liiapeJ on the back of the pinna or division of the frond,. sessile,
sub- globular, opening transversei\, without any rin^ ; seedi very many, ex-
fLremelv miuute. i^ix species are indigenous to Juuiaicu.

1. hirsuta. shaggy.

Licnar'a clafi'or mat ricari.e folio sp'ca dupl'ci. ?!oane, v. J, p- 71,
t. 25, f. 6. Subhirsuta sctips caul tvs gtminis, Jroiidc bipinnata,
lobata et si'.b-crtnata. Browne, p. i07.
Scapes canline m jjuiis ; frond bipinnate, hirsute.
This rises a foot or more. In its highi r spikes, which are double, it exactly agree*
with the following species, £</ww^//o^/a,- only the pinnu.es are longer, narrower, not
cut quite into uj<. mul-nb, -dud ot a paler green colour, something in their tiivisions
like the leaves of matncui a. — Sloune. brDwne cails it the hai'i/ osmunda, with cre-
nated, oval, iobts, tou.niou m Jamaica, giouing in cool and rocky pistes, scidoia
using above liiteeii lucnes.

2. ad:anthipolia. adia>thl'm-leaved.

Lunar ia elutior, adiant! albi folio, dvplici spica. Sloane, v. I, p. 71.

Scapes cauline in pairs ; frond super-decompound.

This is souietiiiics about a toot, but mostly six or seven inches high, having a very
slender green stalk, at first coming out of the earth of a dark colour. At about four
inches irom the grou ;d, out of one side of the stalk, aris; s one br; n h, on winch twio-s
are set alternately, having several broad irregularly figured roundisn jjumujes, some-
times deeply cut, ai other tunes a little indented upon the edges, of a paie green co-
iou.', iikti adiantum album, an J having many furr.jws, appearing ra Hated. From the
axu of ihis braiicn rise two ruuiKl small green stalks, two mches long, towards the tops
of wuicii are several small bunche^ of capsu.es, at firsi green, attv;rvvardsfrrruj;ii}Ous :
the root is covered with blarlisn hair, iiaving several tilJnis. It grew on a rut^k b_) the
Isaoks of Wie Kig C.Bbie, — iivune^

HJMUEA BOUT ITS JAMAlCENSrS, »'n

3. PEI.TATA. PELTATE.

Shoot croepinf:^ ; fruoifications pedate, disiiict, rouP.Jjsb.balveJ, entire f
fronds clicijoioniouB, witij linear segments— ^a/. •

This is thought tu be a species or acresdchu^n.

4. AUiilTA. EARED.

8cap.es rail iate; fronclsbipinnateat bottom, pinmte at top ; pinnasat the faaS©
_£ared upwards, ser^ale, convex, shining. — Sx».

5. M^EATA. LINEAR.

Fronds pinnatc-lanreohite, obliquely cor 'ate at the Viasc, rntire at the ed^e ;
the fructifying pinnas crennlate, scaly in the middle. — SoJ.

6. POLYPODIOIDES. POLYPODIUM-LIKE.

Fronds lanceolate, pinnatifi 1 ; sesjments confluent, ent're, a-^cending witj^
raised dots at the edge ; scape lanceolate ; piauas remote. — Su^.

N'o Engl'sk Xame. MOR.EA,

Cl. 3, ou. 1. — Triandriamonogynia. Nat. or. — Ensat^,

So nnm'^d in iiononr oFR.i K'rt More, Esq. of Shrewsbury.

Gen. CHvii. — al x t>vo-va!'el spailies ; coro'.la six-petaled, three inner p?rts
aproadino, all connect^-d at tne claivs intoa ti;be ; the sr;:men3 have three short iila^
nients, vvitii obionj^ aathtri ; the pistd has an interior sjerm, a simple style, and
toreebifiJ sdg.uas: t'le pericarp is a three-cornered cipsule, tbree-grooved, tiiree*-
«eiied; seeds vcrj maay, round. One species is a native of Jamaica.

P: [CATA. PLAITED.

Scape ron. id ; leaves petioled, oblong, nened, plaited ; racemes b'fi.L
Bulb ovate, covered with red nie i.branaeeous coats, yellow in the uiidiiie; learea
radical, from uvo to ihrie feet long, ensiform, broad, uairuwer, and as iuvvere pe-
tiuledatttie has , t )waras the root membranaceous, and somewhat sheathintf, purple,
lon_!,itu,iinaiiy six nerved, folding over each other, very smooth ; scapes rather longer
than the leavf's, roundis.. or cjmpressed a. little, somewhat striated, snioitli, nodding
a litiie at top, terujinated by a sputhe-shaped, lanceolate, upright, nerved, leaflet,
from the ,sh adiingbas.^ of which i>»ues <i pedijnci'e, two inches iont;-, and l)ifij; eacb
pedicel has a snjail Itadct un ler it. FIow^ts white, spathaCeous, in a sort of h ad, .
rising gralually on very short peilicets. Spathe two-leaved, ancipual ; leaflets ovate,
acute, sniihtly ^tria•.eJ, keeled, one of them bifi I, smooth, inclosing from six to ten
fljvers, seperated by ovate, acute, iiicmbranaceous, |jale, scales. Corolla six-petaled,
petals oblong, equal, from upright spreading, veined, vvnite, flat, with the base con-
tiguous to ilie a])cx of the germ ^ filaments shrrter tlian the petals, about the apex of
the germ, shortly connate ; anthers linear, bifid at the bottom; germ ob-ovate, sub-
ti-igonali style awl-shaped, ths length of the stamens j stigrua three-parted, the parts

iaiiccolate^,'

MZ nORTUS JAMAICENRIS. wossss,

luncco]; t?. !ipri:,ht. Kative of the mountaina'.is parts of Jam ira, flowering the \vlr>Ie
ycai, opcijiijg ai ioiir o'tlock in liu' afieinooii, out' flouc-r ualy coining out at a time,

llQ%SG.\^6l-c Horse-1{add!IshTrle«?!J Nil ears.

MOHASS-WEED on HORN-WORT. CERATOPIH^LLUM.

Cl. 21, oa. S. — 3Ionocc'a polyandria. Nat. or. — Inundata.

This genc-ric name is derived n-om two Greek words signifying Ijoniedieaf.

Ge >. CHAR. — M..le calyx a n)au3--psrtea peruintli, divisions subulate, equal ; no co-
r<)lla ; the .staiiien.s are filanieius, doable tiie number of the dhisioiis of tiie calyx
(sixteen or i\vent_\), liaidly conspicuous ; anthers oblong, erect, longer tiian the
calyx. P'enialt-s, on the saniepiant with tiie males — calyx a many-parted jicrianth,
division.-) subulate, equal; no corolla ; the pistil has an ovate-compressed germ,
no style, stigma obtuse, oblique ; no pericarp , the seed a nut, ovate, unilocular,
acuiiiinute. One species is a native of Jamaica.

DKMERSU.M. ' DROV.'NED.

Foliis rcrticilLdh et tubercuUitis, vudtifariavi incisis ; laciniis conioii
(ict/tis. Browne, p. 345.

Leaves two-fold, dichotomous ; fruits three-horned.

This plant is very common in all the brackish waters of Jamaica, and generally useti
to cover tisii or water ))lants, which are carrieit a long way to market; for it retains a
deal of moisture, which keeps them fresh and cool for a considerable time. It may be
also used, with great success, to cover the tender seeds of the cacao, for a few days
^fier tiiey are planted. — Bro'wnc.

MOSSES. MUSCUS.

Cl. 24, OR. 3. — Ciyptogayyiia musci.

What hotatiical writers st-ictly understand by the word moss, is a class of plants ap-
pearing of an inferior ran!; to the common vegetables ; the less perfect genera of which
have been supposed to be vvliolly destitute of flower or seed, or anj- thing analogous to
•cither, and to consist of simple, similar, and uniform, parts. The genera a little above
these have some diversity of parts, and carry something that looks analogous to vegeta-
tion in the common way, having a resemblance of those parts which serve other plants
for their fructifi^ ation. The more perfect genera of the mosses not only consist of dif-
ferent parts, but have also their appropriated organs, containing a pulp,- matter, which
finally becomes tlrv, and as>umes the form of a fine and subtle powder, composed of
granules, each of whicn is either a seed or a granule of farina, serving for the propa-
gation of the species.

Tne more imperfect mosses are distinguished from the otliers by their appearance to
the naked eye ; they are either iu form of a fine lanugo or down, covering the surface

of

j,ro3SE4 HORTUS JA:',IAICENS1S. ii;S

of different hodJos', or else they appear as slender filaments, or folir.ceoiisljo lies, iloat-
in"' aiwiit in the water ; or as filaments ot^ a toiiglier texture, hanging down (Vpm the
branches of old trees; or as little^shrubs, or single horns, growing erect on t'le parched
earth of mountains and heathy places; or, finally, a; broad and foliaceous bodies,
sorcadinf themselves over the dry barks of trees or rocks, without any pedicel or other
support.

The more perfect kinds of mosses are fonnd in the shape (tf small but regular plants,
divided into sevei-al branches, and clothed with leaves : these are of various forms and
structures; some being broad and thin, others slender as hairs ; some pellucid, others
opake ; some smooth, others hairy. FroRi the alas of these leaves, m some kinds, and
from the sunmiit of the stalks-in others, there arise heads'or capsules of various figures,
but all nnicapsular ; some of these are naked, and others covered with a calyptra or
hood ; some stand on long pedicels, and others are placed close to the stalks : these
heads are usually called capsules, which contain the seeds or farina. Some of the
mosses, it is evident, ai)proacli to the nature of plants vfliich have their m::le and fe-
male parts in the same flower, and others to those which have them in different ones.
The following arc the different kinds of mosses hitherto discovered in Jamaica :

I. POLYTRICHUM. MANY-HATRED.

■Gen. CHAR.— Capsule oblong, sometimes quadrangular, placed on a quadrangular
apopliysis; peristome double ; outer with thirty-two short teeth, united at the
base, incurved; inner a fiat membrane, transverse, glued to the apexes of tho

• teeth of the inner one ; calyjnre hairy — Male-flowers discoid, or a circular bud,
•on a different plant, terminatmg. One species is a native of Jamaica.

CONVOLUTDM. CONVOLUTE.

Stem simple ; leaves linear, involute, serrate at top, twisted when dry j capsute
cylindrical, nearly erect.

11. BRYUM. BUDDING.

•JSF.y. CHAR. — Capsule ovate-oblong; fringe double ; outerof sixteen Ijroadish teeth;
inner a laciniated membrane ; veil smooth ; fruit terminal, tewartz notices the
following species as natives of Jamaica.

1. AGRARIUM, FIELO.

Stemless; capsules cylindric, somewhat erect, subulate ; leaves lanceolate-
acute.

C. ACUMINATUM. ACUMI^IATE.

Capsules cylindric, erect-subulate ; branches caulescent, matted ; leaves linear.

3 LYCOPODIOIDliS, LYCOPODirM-UKR.

Capsules erect; peduncles short, solitary; branchlets elongate, fe^v; leaver
patent, hnear, acute, .serrulate, somewhat undulated.

4. PARASITICUM. PARASITICAL.

Capsules somewhat erect ; peduncle very short ; branchlets crowded, tamos*,
khort ; leaves pat^it-linear.

U U U S. CALYCINUM,

«li HORTUS JyVMAlCENSISi mosses

5. CALYCINXJM. CALVXED.

Capsules nearly erect; involucre bristly, longjah^ longitudinal, peJuncled;.
branchiets erect ; leaves llnear--cirrhose.

III. FOxNTINALIS. FOUNTAIN.

Gen. char.. — Capsule oblong, with the mouth ciliate ; opening with an acuminate
lid ; covered with a sessile, smooth, conical, veil, iiud included in a pitcber-shaped^
perichietiuni. Swartz enumerates four species as natives of Jamaica^

I. CRISPA. ClJRLEDi

Ramose piimate; leaves duphcate-bifarious, roundish, patent, imbricate, un-
dulate ; capsules lateral on the back part.

2. DISTICHA, DISTICH.

Branchiets simple ; leaves bifarious, patent, retuse, iiubricate plane ; capsules-
lateral, on the bacii part.

3. FILICINA. FERN.

Erect pinnate ; pinnas approximating ; leaves five-pointed, ovate, acute ; cap^-
sules axillary'.

4. HYPNOIDEA. HYPNtJM-UKE.

Creeping, erect, sub-divided, scattered ; leaves lanceolate, two-keeled, ap»
pressed j capsules axillary.

IV. MNlUlVf;

Gen. char. — Capsule with a lid ; calvptre smooth ; bristle from a terminatmg ta-
bercle — Male flowers headed or discoid, fewartz discovered three species io.
Jamaica.

1'. TOMENTOSIIM. DOWNY.

Dichotomous, erect> downy ; leaves subulate ; capsules spherical.

2. SPH^RICARPON. ROUND-CAPSULED*

Erect, downy, filiform ; branchiets simple, bundled, termiaating ;. feares ca--
pillary ; capsules round.

3. STRICTUM. STIFF.

Caulescent ; leaves capillary ; peduncles elongate, terminal ; capsules obliquef.

V. HYPNUM.

Gen. char.— Capsule ovate-oblong ; fringe double ; outer of sixteen broadish teeth;
inner a variousJy divided membrane ; veil smooth ; fruit lateral. Tliis is a numer«
ous genus, fewartz found no less than twenty-seven species in Jamaica.

1. SPINIFORME. spine-formed.

£i£Gt, sinxple ; leaves linear-siJ)ulato, serrulate, ending in a bristle ; capsule
ovate, lid obUcjue.

2. PAJUMATaiCs

iiess^ HORTUS JAMAICENSIS, "i

2. PALMATUM. PALMATED.

Frond simple, pinnated, sub-palmate; apex peduntled; pinnas distant, patent,

3. POI.YPODIOIDES. POLYPODfWM-LIKE.

Frond simple, pinnate, lanceolate, erect ; pinnas obtuse ; capsule peJuncled,
incurved.

4. ASPLENIOIDES. ASPLENIUM-LIKE.

Frond sub-ramose, pinnated, erect, linear; apex peduncled; capsule in-
curved.

S. FULGENS. SHINING.

Dispersed, long, pendulous ; fronds compressed ; leaflets distich, folded-keeled,
snming.

6. DIAPHANUM. DIAPHANOUS.

Scattered, somewhat erect, sub- divided ; leaves bifarious, ovate, acuminate,
peUucid, plain.

7. ALBICANS. WHITE.

Creeping, ramous, compressed ; branchlets scattered ; leaves bifarious, ovate,
acute, pale ; capsules balf-nodding.

8. GLABELLUM. SMOOTH.

©ivaricate, neaily erect, ramose ; leaves bifarious, imbricate, oblong, obtuse,
plain, somewhat toothed.

9. PATULUM. .SPREADING.

JTiliforni, creeping; branchlets scattered, short; leaflets lanceolate, reflex*
spreading.

10. REPTAN3. RUNNING.

Hunninpr ; branchlets scattered, bundled, rooting, filiform ; leaflets capillary^
spreading ; capsules noddmg.

11. FASCICULATUM. BIWDLED.

Erect ; branchlets terminal, heaped, sub-divided ; twigs compressed ; leaves
oblong, decussated, scattered.

12. TAMARISCI.

Creeping, pendulous, longish, flexuose ; branchlets scattered, short, round,
recurved ; leaflets heaped, ovate, spreading.

13. KIGRESCENS. BLACKISH,

Filiform, pendulous ; branchlets short, round, scattered ; leaves equal, Subn*
late, spreading.

14. DENSUM, DENSE.

Erect, round; branchlets scattered, simple j leaflets approximate, lanceolate,
acute, keeled, spreading.^

U U U 9 15. FLEXILE,

U4 H OUT US JAMATCENST^, kossu

15. FLEXILE. FLEXIBLE.

Creeping, peticUilous, longisli, flcxuose ; branchlets scattered, sh&rt, rountlj.,
rt'turvcd ; kutlcts litapc d, ovale, spreading.

16. COMPOSITi;VI. COMPOUND*:,

Brancliy, pinnated-scattered; branchlets heaped; peduncles short ; capsules
erect ; calypUes hairy.

17. POJ.YTRlCnOIDES. POLYTPaCIIUM-LIKE.

Round, erect, simple; leaves spreading; peduncles short ; capsule erect ; ca-
jypire liairj-. .

13. CAPPILLAEE. CAPPILLARY.

Creeping, filiform, ramose; branches heaped, capillary; leaflets appressedj
subulate ; capsules ovate, erect.

19. DEPRESSUM. DEPRESSED.

Heaped, creeping, ramose ; branchlets depressed ; leaflets linear-lanceolate,
spreacUng, when dry. curled ; capsules nodding.

2a. TRIHOPHYLLUM.

Creeping; branches distant, erect; leaves capillary, patent ; capsules erect.

Mtiscus. feloane, v. 1, t. 25, f. 1.

21. MICROPHYLLIMI. SMALL-LEAVED.

Heaped, creeping, ramose; branchlets filiform, round, erect; leaflets incum- -
bent, subulate ; capsules oblicjue.

22, C/ESPITOSITM. TURFV.

Heaped, simple, nearly erect, round-compressed; leaves ovate-lanceolate ;
peduncles short; cajjsule erect,

23. PUNGENS. SHARP.

Heaped, erect, round, ramose; apex attentiated, acute; leaflets lanceolate^
subulate, spreading, somcvvhat rigid ; peduncles capillary, short.

24. CONGESTUM. HEAPED.

Heaped, ramose, declined ; branches nearly erect ; npex inflexed ; peduncles
short.

25. TETRAGONUM. FOLTt-CORNERED.

Creeping; branches scattered, nearly erect, four-cornered ; leaflets tetrafarious,
imbricate, concave.

26. TORQUATUJr. TWISTED.

Creeping, heaped ; branches erect, round ; leaves dry, spiral, appressed, ca-»
lyptre coriaceous, five-parted at the base.

27. CIRRHOSUM. CIRRKOSE.

Creeping, heaped ; branches sub-divided ; leaflets dry, revolute j capsules
globose ; calyptres many-parted at the base.

iiossES HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 5iy

The following generally belong to the third order, hpaticx, of the class cryp-
Ugamia :

VI. JUNGERMANNIA.

Tills was so named from Louis Jurgermannus, professor of botany at Altorff.

Gen. char. — Male fiowers sessile, clustered on the leaves, stem, froii.d — ^Temnle
capsule peduiu-led,- naked, arising from the sheiith, fonr-valved ; seeds attached
to the elastic filanientSi Swanz has twemy-eiglu species of this genus natives of
Jamaica.

I.'ADJAKTHIOIDES/ ADlANTHUM-LIKn;,

Erect, slightly divided ; leaves ovate, obHque, liliate; fruit terminal.

2, CRIST.ATA. CRESTED.

Creeping, with erect bnmches; leaves lanceolate-acute, spread incumbent^
serrate on the upper margin, behjw lobed, connivent, <;rebitd.

3. PROSTRATA. PROSTRATE.

Filiform, nearly simple, creeping, prostrate, pinnate; leaves alternate, ovate,
entire.

4. FALLENS. PALE.

Erect, branched ; fronrds pinnate, caulescent ; leaves incumbent, roundishj;
entire, half-hearted at the base ; siieaths one-leated, retuse, funnel-form.

5. SIMPLEX- StMPLE.

Caulescent; fronds pinnate, filUoim, creeping; fronds erect, simple; leaves?
ovate, distant, -serraie-cihate ; fruit tenuina).

6. PERFOLIATA. PEIiFOMATE,

Caulescent; branches compound, pinnate, crowded, erect, undivided; leaves",
perfoliate^ nicumbent, one-rowed, ovate, entire.

7. CONNATA. CONNATE.

Caulescent, pinnated; leaves opposite, incumbent, retuse, and slightly emar-
ginateattop, united and two-toothed behind; fruit terminal ; sheath den-
ticulate. -

8. TENERA. TENDER.

Caulescent, pinnate, creeping, crowded; leaves alternate, distant, roundisbj
entire ; stipules minute, two-toothed.

9. SERRULATA. SERRULATE.

Caulescent; fronds pinnate, crowded, erect, nearly simple, obtuse, doubly
pinnate above ; leaves ovate, concave, bifid, serrate; fruit terminal ; sheath
subulate.

10. JUNIPEROIDEA. JUNIPER-LIKE.

Caulescent, erect, nearly simple, rigid, doubly pinnate above ; leaves lanceo-
late, falcate, bifid, one-rowed ; Iruit terminal.

li. CAPPILLARIS,

tl8 nORTUS JAMAICENSIS, wossiS

11, CAPPILLARIF. CAPILLARY.

Caulescent, creoping, branched, capillary, above bi-pinnated; leaves some«
what imbricate, all three- [)aited.

12. CUPRESSINA. CYPRESS.

Caulescent, procumbent, crowded, pinnate, bi -pinnate above; leaves imbri*
cate, convex, four-cleft.

13. TRAXSVERSALIS. TRANSVERSAL.

Caulescent ; froud transversal, creeping, doubly imbricate ; leaves roundish,
entire.

14. PLAVA. YELLOW.

Creeping, branched, doubly imbricate ; leaves roundishj lower ones minute^
bifid; sheath one-leafed, retuse.

15. DtPFUSA. DIFFUSED.

Caulescent, much branched; fronds forked, erect, doubly imbricate; leaves
ovate, convex ; lower ones roundish, denticulate.

16. STOLONIFERA.

Caulescent, creeping, filiform ; fronds erect, crowded, sub-divided, doubly
imbricate; leaves lanceolate, three-toothed, one-rowed, lower ones minute,
roundbh.

17. BRACHIATA. BRACHIATE.

Caulescent, erect, forked, doubly imbricate j leaves ovate, flat, lower ones
roundish, convex.

;I8. ATRATA. BI.*rK.

Caulescent, much branched, pendulous, capillary, doubly imbricate; leaves
ovate, retuse ; lower ones minute, hearted, cloven.

19. FILIFORMIS. FILIFORM.

Caulescent, erect, filiform, nearly simple, doubly imbricate ; leaves roundish,
entire, lower ones minute.

20. FILICINA. TERN.

Caulescent, erect, branched, pinnate, linear, doubly imbricate ; leaves ovate,
acute, serrulate, lower ones slightly emarginate, toothed.

21. TO.MENTOSA. DOWNY.

Caulescent, erect, crowded, pinnated, doubly imbricate; leaves Jaciniate,
downy, ciliate ; fruit terminal, solitary.

22. BIPARIA. TWO-POINTED.

Erect, nearly simple, crowded, intricate two ways ; leaves ovate, acute, den-
ticulate i truit terminaL

23. sinuata«

itsssE? HonTus JA^fA^CENSIS, no

23. SINUATA. SINUATE.

Stemless; frond flat, pinnatifid, sinuate j the extremities unequally two-lobed^
peduncles shorter uian the frond.

24. ri'COIDEA. Fucus-traE.

^temless, erect, supra-decompound ; leaves and leaflets opposite, the lattejP
linear.

25. BIPINNATA. DOUBLY-PINNATE.

Stemless, procumbent, branched, bi-pinnate ; divisions and sub-divi^ions,
linear, acute.

26. r.irHOTo%rA. dichotomous,

Stemless, linear, toiked, neany erect

27. LINKaRIS. tINEAR.

Stemless, frond creeringj linear, forked, divaricate;

28. POLYPHYl.IA. MA^Y-LEAVEI>.

Stemless ; fronds crowded, somewhat creeping, iaciniate and palmate ; fruifc
radical.

Vn. MARCHANTIA.

This was so named in honour of Nicholas Marchant, M.D.

Gen char. — Male calyx salver-shaped, with numerous anthers bedded in its disk^.^^
Female calyx peduncled, peltate, flowering, underneath; capsules bursting at
their summits ; seeds attached to elastic fibrest . One species is a native of Jamaicaf

HIRSUTA, HaIRY.

ATaacus saxatilis vel Ikhen, Kc. Sloane, v. I, p. S9. Terrestris vf^
ridis, foiiis oblongo lobatis^ pcdunculis longioribus, capitidis pal"
matis. Browne, p. ss.

Sloane and Browne call this common ground liverwort, very- common on the moist
ghady brinks of rivers. It is said to be the lichen of Dioscorides and Galen. Browne -
says it i« a gentle sub-astringent cooler and laxative ; and may be very properly osdered
in ail cooling apozems made use of in burning fevers ; as well as for foulness and exul-
cerations of the skin. It is the principal ingredient, he says, in the pulvis antili/ssus,
which was so much spoken of as a cure for the rabies canina. The decoction is said to-
be good in jaundice Mr. John Lindsay, surgeon of this island, sowed the fine dust
ttom the fructification of this plant, also of a species of Ij/copodium and bri/um,^and, ia.
aproper situation, found them grow readily.

VIII. RICCIA.

So ivamed in honour.of P. R. Riccio, senator of Florence.-

Gen. char. — No calyx nor corolla ; anthers cylindrical, sessile, on the germ, per-
.forated by the style ; capsule globular, crowned with the withered anthers ; seedr
inany, faetnispherical, pedicelled. One species was discovered in Jamaica by.
Swartz.

RETICULATA. NETTEB»

Fnoad diffonn^ Iaciniate^ smoothi netted>

5:o nORTUS JAMAICENSIS. MorxTAW

Moss i)i Tiers. — Tho gro'.vUi of large quantities of moss on any kitul of tree is a dis-
teijiper of very bad conseciiu-iice to its increutie,. and luiuli damages the i'niit of the
tree. The present remedy is tiie scraping, it.. otF.froni.. the body and large branches,
by means of a kind of wooden knife. that.wilUiot hurt the bark, or with a piece ot"
rough hair-cloth, which lioes very well after, a soaking-rain. But tlie most eifectnal
cure is the taking away tlie cause.. This is to betloi^e by draining away all the sup-r-
fluous moisture fioui about the roots of the trees, and may great!)' be "uardcd against
in the hrst planting of the trees, by not setting them too deep.

If trees stand too thick in a cold griunid tliey will always-be covered wirh mess • and
the best wav to remedy the fault is to thin them. '-When the young branches of trees
are covered with a long an 1 shaggy mos-:, it wiiluttcrly ruin them; and there is no way
to pr^event it but to cut off tlie branches.uear the trunk, and eve-nto take ofi". the head
of the tri_-c if necessary ; for it will sprout again : and if the cause be in the nu an lime
removed by thinning the plantation, or draining the knd and stirring the. ground well,
the young shoots will C(;ntiniie clear after this.

Ii the tree's are covered v\ith moivs in consequence of the ground's beinfr too dr\-, as
this will happen from cither extreme in tne soil, then the proper remetly is .the lavin^
mud from the bottom of a pond or river pretty thick about the root, opening the
ground to some distance and depth to let it in ; this will not only cool it, and prevent
its giving growth to any great quantity of moss, but it will also prevent the other great
mischief which fruit treejj are habJe to in dry grounds,- which is the falling off of the
Iruit too early.

The mosses which cover the trunks of trees,- as tKey always are freshest and most
vigorous on the side which points to the north, if only produced on that, serve to pre-
serve the trunk of the tree from the severity of the north winds, and direct the traveller
in his vyay, by always plainly pointing out that, part of tlie counjass.

MOUNTAIN BROOM. CALEA.

Cl. 19, Oil. 1. — Sijngvnesia pdygamia ttqualis. Nat. OR. — Composite,
-Gen. char. — See Halbert-Weed, _p. 363.

SCOPARI.\.

Arhorca ramnsshshna. ; ramulis teretibits, quadrato-sub-margincffis ;
foliolis pauicioribus minibus linearibus. Browne, p. 316, t. 34, f, 4*
Stem suffruticose ; branches almost opposite, angular.

This is a shrub or small tree ; stem the height of a man or more, branched towards
the top, even, streaked, wrinkled, with an ash-coloured bark. Twigs abundant, four-
sided, sub-divided, stiff, almost naked, streaked, smooth, silvery ash-coloured. —
Leaves sessile, minute, alternate, oblong, smooth ; the branches are sometimes ttr-
niinating and leafless. Fiowers solitary, leafless, sessile, small, white; scales of the
«;dyx very many, minute, whitish; coroUules twenty to thirty; stamens above the
corolla ; style undivided, stigma blunt ; receptacle naked : the outer stamens seem to
be barren, — Sw. It is a native of Jamaica, growing in the coldest parts of the moun-
lAins. It resembles the European broom, and the only tree of the same appearance in
^i^us inland. The leaves are very small, and but few on any part of the plant.— B>o-^'ne^

Geertner,

-#!0!'sta]5h h out us jamaicensis. \m

Kjwrtiier, who has maJe a clistinrt gnius for this plant, oh.servps tliat it differs from
■ caUa txjrii ill ro'-eptacle and doivn ; from c/ir^/voco^wa in the latter only; and conss-
i]i4tiulj tiiiit it ii allied tnore nearly to the latter tliati the former.

See Ha; bert-Wf.ed and Starwoht.

Mountain Caebage— .SVr Cabbaoe-Tree,
Mountain Calalu — ^i'tt PoKtu e'kd.

MOUNTAIN DAMSON. QUASSIA.

Cl. 10, OR. 1. — Decandria monogynia, 'Nat. or. — Grucnales,
"Gen. cuak. — See Bitter-Wood, /;. 94.

1 simapuba.

Flowers >moiioeciaiis ; leaves abruptly pinnate ; leaflets alternate, siib-petioletl ;
* petiole Hciked ; flowers in panicles.

This tree grows to a considerable height arid thickness, uitli alternate spreading
branches : the bark on the trunk of old trees is black and a little furrowed, but that of
younyer trees is smooth, gray, and here and there marked with broad yellow spots:
the wood is hard, wnite, and without any remarkable taste. Leaves nuu;crous, alter-
nate, composed of several leaflets (from two on each side to nme) oblong or nearly el-
liptic, sharp at the end, smooth, above, and of a deep green colour, beneath whitish,
placed alternately on very short foot- stalks. Flowers on branched spikes, or long wide
axillary panicles, of a yellow colour.

According to Linneus and oUiers, the male and female flowers are mixed in the same
panicle; but Dr. VVi-igat says that the female flower is never found on the same tree
-with the male, in Jamaica. The small calyx is cnt into five obtuse erect segments in
-both; the five petals are sessile, equal, lanceolate, bent outwards, three times the
length of the calyx, into which they are inserted. Nqctary composed of ten roundisk
or ovate villose scales, inserted in a ring at the interior base of the filaments. Recep-
tacle marked-with ten grooves. The male flowers have an abortive germ, depressed,
five-streaked, covered by the nectaries, but without any style or stigma. The fertile
flowers have no stamens, but five roundish germs adhering together, with aeylindrical
erect style, about the length of the corolla, divided at the top into five recurved per-
manent stigmas. The fruit is ovate, black, smooth, ptilpy, composed of five drupes,
but seldom more than two or three arrive at maturity ; each of these contain an oblonf
pointed nut with a flattish kernel. — IVoodvillc. Gaertner names them berries, which
he describes as five in number, from upright spreading, ovate, convex on one side,
keeled with a blunt angle on the other, black, smooth, one-celled ; the pidp fungose,
thick, hardish ; the cell invested with a cartilaginous membrane : the common recep-
. tacle small, fleshy, sub-pentangular ; the proper receptacle a thin membranaceous
lacinula, springing from the internal angle of the cell, and inserted into the side of the
seed below the tip. Seed ovate-oblong, very slightly compressed above, thickened
and rounded below. Gaertner remarks that the berries which he examined were very
dark, smooth, and shining. This tree is known in Jamaica by the name of mountain
xiatnson, bitter damson, or stai'cwood, but considerable doubts are entertained whether

X X X thi?-

icc- H O R T U S J A M A 1 C E N S IS. mouNTAM.

tliis be the real simarstha. Dr. Wrij^lit saj^s that in 1773, specimens of the fructifica-
tion were sent from Jamaica in spirits to Dr. Hope, at Edinburgh, with some clrie4
bark from the roots : and that the following year specmiens were also tiT.nsmitted to Dr.
JoDii Focliergill, of Loiiilon, who sent tliem to Linneiis at Upsal. The drug is the bark
of the roots, wiiuh is rough, scaly, and warted ; the inside, vvhtn fresh, is of a full
yellow, but, when dry, pal^.r; it has little smoi!,, and the taste is bitter, but not disa«
gn-eable Macerated in water, or in rectified spirit, it quickly impregnates tliem with
its bitterness, and with a 3'eilow tincture ; the cold infusion in water is rather stronger
in ta-t;^ tlian the decoction ; whitli last grows turbid and of- a reddish brown when it
cools. Dr. Wright says most authors wLo have wriiven on the simurnba agree, that in
fluxes 11 restores the lost fcnni of the intestines, allavs their spasmodic motions, promotes
the secretio:is by urine and per-piration, removes the lowness of spirits attending dy-
senteries, and disposes the patient to sleep ; the gripes and tenesmus are taken off, and
the stools changed to their natural colour and consistence. In-a moderate dose it occa-
sions no disturbance or uneasiness, Ijut in-lerge dases it produces sickness at the stomach
and vomiting. Dr. Cullers .asserts he has found an inlubion of chamomile flowers more
tiseful as a remedy for dysentery. Dr. Wright recommends two drachms of the bark to
be boiled in twenty-four ounces of water to twelve, the decoction is then to be strained
and divided into three cqiral parts, the whole of which is to be taken in twenty-four
liours; and, when the stom.ich is reconciled to this medicine, the quantity of the bark'
may he increased to three dmcljnre^ To this decoction some join arouiatics, others a.
few drops of laudauum to each dose.

2. E.XCELSA. TALL.

Flowers hermaphrodite, five-stamened, panicled; leaves unequally pinnate |.
leaflets opposite, petioled ; petiole naked.
This species was discovered in Jamaica by Swartz.

See BixTERVVooB.

IMouNTAiN Dogwood — See Dogwood.
Mountain Ebony — See Ebony.

MOUNTAIN GIIaSS. ANDROPOGON.

Cl. 23, OR. 1. — Poli/gamia mojioecia. Nat. or. — Gramina,
This name is derived from a Greek word signifying main-beard.

Gen. char. — Hermaphrodite flowers sessile; calyx a one-flowered glume, two-
valved ; corolla a two-valved glume-, less and more slender than the calyx, awneJ-
at the base; nectary two- leaved ; stamens three filaments; anthers oblong, forked ■
at both ends, incumbent; the pistil has an oblong germ, two styles, and oblong,
feathered stigmas ; there is no pericarp, glumes of the corolla and calyx involving
and inclosing the seed ; seed solitary, oblong, covered, armed with the awn of the
corolla, which easily falls off — Male flowers peduncled, single, or in pairs to each
hermaphrodite ; calyx, corolla', and stamens, as in the Others, only the corolla lias
uo. awn. Seven species are indigenous to Jamaica.

I.- riRGINICCJJ.

ftovNTAm HORTUS JAMATCENSIS. ^23

1. vIRGl^'IclI^r. virg;nian.

Cravien daciyion bkorne. tomcntosinn minus. Sloanc, v. I, p. 110,
t. t8, f. 2. ylltissinmm gracile ; panicula leitui el longiori, apicis
ptufhnis gi-ada/hn naxce/tttbus, fioribus coiifci lis. Browne, p. 365.

Spikes of die panicle conjugate; peduncles simple; rachis woolly; floseulcs
awnlcss, tiie male one v\:iistuig.

This has several nine inch lonj^ leaves, like ajperua leaves, turnlnsr red when dvy ;
the.culms rise iVo n the centre of the leaves, a i'out and a half hiijh, with swellin"- ioints ;
lu'.ving three leaves, emhraciny the stem at each joint; from liie axils of these leawn
risesinall pedicels bearni*:^ two spiked panicles, standing like a pair of horns, fnll of
!o«g soft iiair, softer than cotton. — Sloane. Browne says this plant was freipient in the
jiarish of St. Elizabeth, with a slender stem, and the llowers placed in distant tufts, on
long hairy footstalks ; the caljrine glumes also hairy, t-jcniinating in long bristles.

- ., . C. BICORNE. T\rO-HORN£D.

Gramen daclylon bkorne fomejitosum ma.vinuim, spicis nui}icTOii:.si^
mis. Sloane, v. 1, p. 42, t. i,5. Hreciuin, muntanum ; spica utiil-
iiplici comosa et la)iuginosa. Browne, p. 365.

Spikes of the ])anicle conjugate; peduncles branching very much; rachis
woolly; awn cadacous.; male floscKJe wanting.

Culm three to six feet liigh, upright, simple, round, smooth; leaves serrate ; pa-
nicle fastigi^ite, afoot long, loose, but not diffused; peduncles numerous, Iruni the
terminating sheaths of the cnim, upright, branched, sub-divided; jiediccls filiform,
iong, irj>i-ight. Spicules small, terminating, hairy, whitish, s(5litary or twin ; floscules
awnless, concealed by viUose hairs; hermaphrodite, sub-sessile, with one or two males
by the side of it ; these are pedicelled, and much smaller. It is calledy().r-/(7//^/(7.M. —
Sw. Browne calls it mountain grass, who says the peduncles are covered with a long
vfhite down, and the spikeiets, which rise by pairs on long erect supporters, meet in a.
kiuti of umbel at tlie top.

3. INSULARE. INSULAR.

'Gramen avenaceum, pankula minus sparsa, glumis alba seritea la-
nugine oliductis Sloaiie, v. 1, p. 43, t. 14, f. 2. Avenaceum as-
siirgens, panicula la.ia lanuginosa. Browne, p. 365.

Panicle loose, smooth^ floscules double, awnless ; one pedicel shorter; calyxes
woolly.

This has a thin contracted panicle, a three-glumed calyx, and the wool of the calyx
pressed close. Swartz ihmks the conformity of the valves, and the absence of the awn,
remove this species trom the androp'ogons. The male flowers also are frequently want-
ing. It may be the same as panicuin lanatum — See Panic Grass. Sloane describes it
as follows : The uppermost joint had a sis inches iong leaf, cniLracing the culm ; this
joint was a foot long. The panicle was four inches long, not very sparse, composed
of many spikes, growing from the top of the culm without order ; each peduncle had
fixed to it, bv short footstalks, several reddish oblong seeds, lying between the chaffy
glumes, wnich are covered with a silky cotton. Browne calls it sour grass, and says
" The roots and leaves of tl*iS plant, pounded and applied externally, are observed to
cure sores and ulcers of all sorts, with more certainty than most other things used for

X X X 3 " that

&2i IIORTUS JAMAICENSIS.T MOi^NTAiit*

that purpose. It is a strong detersive and agglutinaiit ; and, doubtlesi;, wouH make
aa excellent ingredient in valnerary apozems and infusions. Simples of this kind, and-
all those in general tiiat are of a stimulating nature, have been always observed to an-
swer much better in warm climates, thun ointments and regular dressings ; nor js it un-
natural, where the habit is much relaxed."

This plant is found in great abundance, growing in fences, and at the feet of walls, .
and the banks of gullies, shoots luxuriantl)', and retains its verdure in the dryest sea-
sons. Tiie cattle will not meddle with it whilst it i-i green ; but, after it has been cut, .
and dried in the sun, it makes an hearty fodder for them ; and has the merit of being .
vigorous and useful, when other grasses are scorche^l and perished for want of rain. —
In the time of great drouglit therefore, during crop, it may, be cut and cured for
road cattle. — Long, p. 765.

4. ALOPECUROIDES. FOXTAlt-LlKE. -

Gramcn dactijlon, alopeciiroules facie, panicida lonsissima e spkis pJu-
rimis tomentosis constante. Sloane, v. 1, p. H'i, t. 70, f. 1.

Panicle loose ; rachis woolly ; a twisted awn to each floscule.

Culm jointed, rising four feet, leaves a foot long. Panicle, consisting of many
sfjikes, about a foot long ; spikes an inch long from all sides of the stalk, closely s^,
and covered with white long soft down, appearing like fox-tail grass. Linneus ob-
serves that the down is longer than the flowers, even in the very glume.

5. SACCHAROIDES. SUGAR-CANE.

Branches of the panicle simple ; florets in pairs, hermaphrodite, awned, sessile,
the other awnless pedicelled, withering; pedicel and rachis woolly. — Sw.

e. FASTIGIATUP. . FA5TIGIATE.

Spikes ofthe panicles solitary ; peduncles elongated, nearly flat topped ; rachis -
woolly ; florets a.\\ncd ; the male fertile.

7. BREVIPOLIUP. SIIORT-LEAVED.

Spikes lateral, sohtary; florets alternate, remote, awned; culm jointed, cora--
pressed. — Sw.

Mountain Guava — Sde Guava.
Mountain Mahoe — Sec Mauoe.

MOUNTAIN PRIDE. SPATHELIA, .

Ct. 5, OR. 3. — Pcntandria trigynia. Nat. or. — Bicornes.
'■Jf.n. char. — Caly.t five-leaved, leaflets oblong, coloured ; corolla five oblong eqtiai '
petals ; stamens five filaments, awl-shapcd, ascending, marked with a tooth at the -
base ; anthers ovate ; the i>istil has an ovate germ, shorter than the stamens, three
styles, and simple stigmas; the pericarp is an oblong capsule, three-cornered,

tliree

jaouNTAiN HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. i>25

three-wingcd, three-celled ; cells accompanied by a 1 tteral, resiniferous canal ;
bceds soliian', oblong, tliree-suled. One species is a native of Jamaica.

SIMPLEX. SIMPLE.

jlc'eri aut palluro ajjinis arbor anidice von I'amoso^ fcUis sorbi sjjh
resins, J/oribus penfapelalis racivwsis spcciosis purpurcis, fracUi,
suro tribus, mcinbranulis extant ibus alato. Sloanc, v. 2, p. 1:8,
t. 171.

This tree rises by a single slender stem like the palms, and bears all its oval leaves m
a pinnated order, Qn moderate ribs disposed closely togethcT about the top ; the leaflets
are six or seven inches long, and about two broad in the middle. The branches grow
Irom all sides at the top ui a spiral order, for about two feet in a tree fifty feet high ;
they spread horizontally, the lowest about five feet long, but diminishing in size as
they approacii tue summit. . A& the old ones drop they leave triangular protuberant
marks on the body of the tree, which may^ be observed running spiiady its whole length.
A tree which measured lifty feet high was only seventeen inches in circumference about
tour feet ironi the ground, and the tree leaned considerably from the v,'eigbt of the py-
ramid of flowers, which issued from its summitj close to the foliage, and had a most
jnagnificent appearance ; the base branches of this pyramid measured upwards of eight
i'eet from the point of one to the point of the opposite ; it was six feet high, and thickly
covered with beautiful bright purple flowers, about half an inch 111 diameter, when ex-
panded, which, as the tree generally overtops all other trees in the woods, may be
seen at a very great distanc.;. The wood is white, soft, brittle, and of no use in build-
ing. Gartner describes the fruit very accurately, as follows: "A juiceless drupe,
ovate-three-sided, smooth, bay-coloured; rind' mcnibi-anaceous, fungous, widening-
out into rigid brittle wings ; shell three-seeded, stony, ovate-acuminate, peduic'ed
with a long rigid bristle, rounded, threo-cornercd ; the corners and cells accompanied
by a roundish appendiele, protnineut above into a dagger point, internally channelled,
and abounding in a resinous fluid. Seeds in each cell one, sub-cylindric, acuminate
at both ends, on the side towards the resiniferous channel, slightly marked with a groove,
of a red rusty colour, cohering with the outer side of the cells. <Jn the same tree are
other fruits, compressed like a lens, having two wings only, and tvvo>-cel!ed, but in the
rest of their structure resembling the otners." Browne calls this inaidtn-pluin trce^
from its resemblance to the comocladui, which is a very different tree.

MOUNTAIN REED GRASS. APLUDA."

Cl. 23, on. l.^^—Poli/gamia monoeeia. Nat. or. — Graviina.
Of.N. CHAR. — Calyx a eomni'on bivalve giume ; female floret sessile, males pedun-'
cled; no male calyx; corolla bivalve; stamens three; no femile calyx ; corolla
bivalve; one style; one-cove-red seed. On-e species is a native of Jamaica.

ZEUGITES.

ArundinaceuSf ramosus^ minor, rufescens ; panicula sparsa tehnmalL
Browne, p. 341.

Lea.ves

$26 HORTUS JAMATCT^KSIS. Jicr.ES

Leaves ovate ; male llowcrs awnless, one r.t the end sessile, and awned.

Culm IVuiii one to two feet in luight, fiiitbrn), joiiiti d, sub-divided, round, shea'tiicfl,
.smooth, tinyfd with browiiish-icd ; leaves pctiolcd, acute, luTved, ncitcd, very smooth,
hri^jhi green ; petioles hhform, troui the cloven tip of the siie^Uhs, which are lax, witli-
<k:i auv ligiile, striated, broader at the joints. Panicle difluseil, fow-iiovvered ; race-
mules capUlary, Sjireading; florets pedicrlled, small; common giutne ovate, retuse,
liaif-embracing a sessile female tloret, and male ones pedicelled; the female has ik)
calyx; glume of the corolla bivalve ; outer-valve keeled, acute; inner ovalc-laiicco-
late, awned ; awn terminating, capillary, only half toe length of the glume; stamens
noiie; germ oblong ; stvle simple, but bifid al)ove tlie glume; stigmas villose, long,
white; seed oblong : male liovvers two, snort, uaif the si^se of the other, -on a pedicel
the length of the female Horet, rising from the glumes of it ; no calyx ; glume of the
corolla bivalve ; valves equal, acuminate, awnless; fiia.Tieius three, tiie length of the
valves; no pistil. — 6V. JBrowne says tluit he found tais curious little plant at Cold-
spring, ill the mountains in New Liguaiiea, growing in a rich shad}' soil.

■Moving Plant — See French Honey-Suckle.
IVJCGWORT — See Wild Wormwood.

.JVIULBERRY— ^ee FUbXIC.

MULES FERN. 'HEMI0NITr«5.

Ci,. 2-1, OR. 2. — Cryptogamia fUces. Nat. or. — Filiccs.

Gen. char. — Capsule digested into lines, meeting toicetlier, either intersecting eacJi
other or branched. Four species are indigenous to Jamaica.

1. LANCEOLATA. LaNCR-SHAPP D.

■Parasitica acaulis, foliis lon^is angustis utrinque productis. Browne,
p. 95.
Fronds lanceolate, quite entire.

-The narrow leafed undivided hcmionitis is commonly found on the trunks of trees in
the cooler and more shady inland woods; the leaves are plain and simple, and seldom
exceed sixteen or eighteen inches in length, when most luxuriant; they grow in tufts
from a strong fibrous root. — Browne.

2. parasitica. parasitical.
Parasitica repens, foliis ovato-acumivalis. Browne, ,p. 95.
Fronds ovate-acuminate ; shoots chaffy, creeping.
The creeping hemionitis with pointed oval leaves is an uncommon plant, sometimes
found creeping on trees in the cooler shady uiland woods ; the leaves are ab lut two
. inches long, and one and a half over vvliere broadest. I observed this species-far back
in the mountains of St. Ann. — Browne.

3. palmata. palmated.
Ilenmnitisfolio hirsute ct magis dissecio sen ranunculi/olio, Sloane^

StrlNTiNQiA HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 527

V. 1, p. 72. Sub-hirsuta monophijlla, simplex, funcle pahnaio lohata.

Browne, p. 95.
Fronds palmate, hirsute.
Roots many, fibrous, black. Stalks black, cornered, about six inches high, covered
VTth a ferruginous moss. Fronds divided uiio tliret; se lions, cur in almost to the
centre ; the two under parts having ears or app jiuicies, making- tie leaf appeir divided
into five sections ; the middle division largest, an inc.i and a half Ion;:;-, and half as
broad in the middle, easily dented on eacu side, rougii, and of a ycliow greenish co-
lour; each ends in a point, and has a purple mid-rib. fronv wnicn grow, several trans-
verse fibres, on wliich is liie seed. The utiole frond is hke- tuv^ leaf of lUe creeping
ranunculus. It grew on tiie siniLly banks of a gull\ in a wood, b cwi ,-n the town savanna
aud Two Mile VVood. — Sloaiie. The hairy simple i;)be-ieaha kenuonitis seldom rises ,
above five or six inches from cue ground, it is pretty tiairy every wnerc, and grows
chiefly m low meist places, l^ut thrives best in ricu luxuriant suady soil. — Browne,

4. UNKATA. LINEAR.

Frond lanceolate-linear; lines of fructification nearly parallel, longituJinaL

See Ferns,

No English Name. ■ MUNTr:GIA. '

Cl. 13, OP. I. — Polyandria monogynia. Nat. or. — Cdumnifem,-

Sor named from Abraham Munting, professor of botany at Groeiiin en.

Gen. CHAR.— Calyx a one-leafed perianth, five-parted, oncav.-^ at the base: seg.*
mcnts lanceolate, acuminate, large, deciduous ; corolla has five roundish concave
petals, spreading, inserted into the calyx, (longor than it): staiu^Msverv many .
filaments, capillary, short; anthers roundish; the pistil has a globular "-erm,
clothed with villose hairs ; style none; stigma headed, pentagonal, raved, per-
manent; pericarp a globular berry, umhilicate with the stigma, five- celled (fre-
quently more) ; seeds numerous, roundish, very small, nestling. There is. only
one species of this genus, which is a native of Jamaica. .

CALABURA. .

Loti arhoris folio angustiore, ruhi Jlore, fructu pvli/spermo 7!m''iIicafo.
Sloane, V. •?, p. so, t. 194, f. 1. Fruticosa et villosn ; foliisserra'
tis oblongis, ab ano latere brevioribus. Browne, p. 245.

This' small tree rises from ten to twenty, or, according to Sioane, tbirt^• fret, with a
tnink eight or nine inches in diameter, sending out many irre-jjular, spreading, long,
round, hairy, branches, covered with a smooth purple bark, with distich slendec"
branches and twigs set alternately. In habit and leaves not unlike the bastard cedar. — •
Leaves alternate, flat, spreading horizontally, oblique, ovate-lanceolate, .-icuminate,
unequally serrate, nerved, green and hirsute above, hoary-tomentose and viscid iin-
darneatl)^ three^ four, or five, inches long, «ind three-fourths of an inch broad at: tli^

base J:-

-S28 - H O R T U S J^ A WA I C E N S I-S. mushrooms

base ; the upprr one more ohliqiie, or stretchin-;- mtuli farther bacl; on one side of the
petiole than they c!o on the other;; petioles sliort, round, liirsn'i.e; stipules solitar}',
the length of liie petioles, filiform, .hirsnte in front at tlu; base of the leaves ; the hairs
of the leaves are glandular. .' Peduncles two to four, between the petioles, and not a.v-
-jllary, clustered, lonocr ilian uie petiole, ■•.sli>rttr than the leaf, one-ilowereil, round,
viilo'^e-viscid. Jacquui remarks tiiiit they- successively turn tiie flower when it is abouj;
to expiiiKi, to the face of the ie;'.f, v^Jiich befo e was rcflexed to tiie back of it. -Flowers
without seen;, Itut handsome, an inch in diameter, resembling those of the bramble,
according to Sioane. :The calyx is ash-coloured, and the petals white; the former is
five or six-parted, the parts the same length with the petals, hirsute and viscid; the
la'ter five or six in number, with a very short claw, and plaited ; filaments twenty five
to tiiirt}-, shorter tlian the ET'^rm; anthers twin, germ smooth; stigma five or six-cor-
nerv J, five or six rayed.— ^'li; K Jacqzihi. Berry spherical, crowned with the .sessile
stigum, which has from four to si It grooves, succulent, many-celled; partitions mem-
branaceous, veiy tl.in, sub-divided towprtls the periphery, wiien die cells are unequal
and irregular; seeds very smooth and shining, whitish or pale straw colour, ne.stling in
the puip without ~any receptacle. — Gtsrtrur. It is frequent in the hills and lower
mountains of Jamaica ; the branches are very irregular and spreading, the tvyigs slender,
an 1 the leaves hairy and narrow, stretching much furtlier back on one side of the foot-
stalk than they do. on the otiier. — Broicnc.

MUSHROOMS. FUNGI.

■ Cl. 24, OR. 5. — Criiptogamia fungi.

So little is known about the fructification oi funguses, that the clraracters ate taiken
f:oui external form. It is evident that they are vegetables and produce seed, by which
tiicy have been propagated. The following- arc indigenous to Jamaica :

I. AGARICU3.

Gen. char. — Cap with gills underneath; gills differing in substance from the rest of
the plant, composed of twolaminasj seeds in the gills. Of tiiis there are two
species.

1. SRRIATUS. STRIATED.

Stemless, convex, ferruginous hairy ; ■ margin entire ; lamellce alternate, in-
. terrupted, ash-coloured. — S'lt".
■Browne calls this the larger vi\\\X.e agaricus with interrupted laminse, frequent enoii^-h
in the w;;oJs of Jamaica. It is easily distinguished by its white colour, thicker mass,
and tiie interrupie i disposition of its lamina; or seed plates. lie adds that this vegeta-
ble has lately been discovered to be the most effectual application hitherto known to
rescrain the effusion of blood \\\ recent or old wounds, as well as in chirurgical opera-
tions, and was iound to answer where considerable arteries had been cut ; applied in
small pieces to the extremities of the vessels ; for this purpose the middle part is only
used, the outward coats being strpped off. — See Cases in Surgery, by Joseph Warner,
1754. Browne mentions another species, which be calls the oblong fringed agaricus,

beautiful

m'SKRGOMS no TIT US JAMAICEKSIS. i^

^beautiful in its form, and of a v/liiiish ash-colour, and rare. He found it in the moun-

■■%suiis 01 Hi. Aim's.

.« 2. RADI/sTUS. RADIATE.

Stemless, fan-shaped, white, hairy; margin cut-crenated ; lamcUfc coloured.

II. BOLETUS.

Gfn. ciiAn. — Horizontal, porous or punched with lobes xinderneatii. Seven specie*
ijrow in Jamaica.

1. MICROPORU,?.

Stemless, woody, hard, diflorm, unequal; pores unequal, imp-.dpable, pallsli. -
This is the por.ia 2 of Browne, p. 77, civssissi>na J'uscti, poridis vii/ihriix, com-
mon in Jamaica, and gio^vs thick, rugged, and lumpish, in time, but is perfectly
smooth, and of a wlutisii colour, when young.

2. SANGUINEUS. BLOODY.

Rather membranous, red ; pores impalpable.
This IS Browne's /joj'ifl 2. Aliniala supenic glabra, which he csWsihQ-scavlet porici^
■with a smooth surface, also conimon in Jamaica.

3. MEMBRANACEUS, MEMERANACHOUS.

Stemless, gregareous, proliferous, somewhat membranaceous, smooth, rayed,
white ; pores erose or gnawed, diflorm. — Sw.
..This seems to be Browne's po/Za 3.

4. VILLOSUS. HAIRY.

'Stemless, somewhat membranaceous, bundled, whitish, villose ; pores dilTorm,
dented. — Su\

S. FASCIATUS. BUNDLE©.

•Stemless, hard, unequal above, blackish brown, bundled; pores ■white, very
small.

6. HYDNOIDES. HYDNUM-LIKE.

■Stemless, thick, bristly, branchy, erect, with a thick blaok cover above ; pores
. veiy small and fine.

7. RESUPlNAtUS. RESUPINATE.

-Stemless, resupinate, smoothish white below; the pores above impalpable,
brown.

III, CLATHRUS.

"Cev. char.— Fungus roimdish, cancelled with fleshy branches interwoven witji each
other. There is only one species. ^

CANCELLATUS. lATTICEB

Uubella viajor edorata et obverse ovata. Browne, p. 78*

Yyy Jh^

530 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. wysimooMS-

The flesh coloured dctria, with a strong sincll, is a curious mushroom, found some-
times iti Jamaica ;" it is of a iax spongy texture when fresh, hollow within, and fui-«
nisiied with large rhomboidal apertures, disposed in an oblicjue direction iii jwery part.
It is of a. rosy colour and rank smell. — Brinenc.

IV. CLAVARIA.

Gen. chau. — ^This genus is one of the lowest order in the scale of vegetation, and in
substance is sometimes like a piece of rotten wood, it can no otherwise be char,ac-
terised than as an oblong fungus, simple, or branched, with the seeds dispersed .
over the whole surface, or collect£-d in tubercles opening at the top. One species
has been.found in Jamaica by Swartz.

rUSCA. ERO-VVN.

Turfy, brown; stem simple, compressed, united at the base, hairy; apeX
sometimes forked.

V. HELVELLA.

Gkn. char. — Inflated, deformeil, or concave, smooth, cTastically ejecting the seeds
from the upper surface. Swartz describes foar species as natives of Jamaica.

1. VERSICOLOR. CHAyOEABLE.

Stemlcssj^ membranaceous ; florescence two-coloured, below smooth and white;

2. TEFMELLINA.

Stemless, coriaceous, undulate, smooth, lead like ; below rough, hairy.

3. ATRA,TA.. BLACK.

Stemless, membranaceous, brittle, smooth on both sides, black..

4. PALLIDA. PALE.

Stemless, coriaceous,, brittle, smooth on both sides, brown above,, whitish
below.

VI. HYDNUM.

Gen. CIL\R. — Horizontal, echinated beneath with awl-shaped fibresi Swartz ha*
three species of this genus he found in Jamaica.

1. AC-.iRlGOlDE3. AGaRICUJI-LIKH'. -

Convex, smooth, pale, ferruginous below.

2. RESUFI-VATUM. RESUPINATE.

Plain, imbricated, below scabrous, <above covered withbristly ferruginous. dots;

• 3. SERICEUM. SILKY.

Plain, imbricate, below scabrous, of a woolly tpxture, silky on both sideSy

ivhitish greeu.- „ .

■ VU. PEZIZAs

Kt'SK HOTITUS JAMAICENSI3. #3i

VIT. PEZIZA.
Cp.S, CITaR. — Fungus bcll-sirapcd, concealing lens-shaped, seed-bearing, bodies.-—'
Suartz gives two species as natives of Jamaica.

1. NIGUESCliNS, BLACK.

-Globosc-campanulatc, oblique, within smooth black, without roiigb-h.iiry ;
margin entire.

2. FLAVA. YF.LLOVr.

Globose-cahipaimlate, oblique, within pubescent, without smooth ; on lioih
sides j-ellow ; margin entire.

3. LFNTIFF.RA.

Open, small, cone-like ; capsules compressed, black. — Bro~u.'nf, p. 73.--
Cj/athia.

Browne calls this the smaller smooth cyathia, with black compressed shining capsules.

4. AURICOJ.A. EAR-LIKE.

Concave, Wiinkled, ear-shaped, brown.

This is the y"M»5'i«' voxious priiiii/x, vcl membranaccus auriculavi refercns, Kc. of
Sloane, v. 1, p. 65, to be found on trees ; he could observe uo difference between it
Aind the European plant.

Many of the mushrooms are cultivated in Europe as a delicious food, and those of the
species of ff^ar/cMS' are though best, though others have been found poisonous. Bar-
iiam and Sioane notice a kin<l, fungi, albi venenativiscidi, growing commonly with the
inoftensive sort, and so much resembling it, that they are not casiiv distinguished ;
Barham describes the symptoms to he, "that, soon after thev arc eaten, a hiccough
i^eizes the patient, then a cold or chilliness all over the i)ody, attended with tremblings,
and, at last, convulsions and death ; he recommends the antidoie cocoon, and the
jaborand (piper rcticulatinnj, described under the article pepper trees, as antidotes to
this poison. The most vcnemous sort, he adds, is one that rises out of the ground
•about six inches high, rounding, and hollow like a bladder, as red as scarlet, full
of holes like line wrought net-work; which is most probablj- the clathnis cancel-
latiis. The following simple and easy method is recommended for trying the quality
of mushrooms : Take an onion, and strip the outer skin, and boil it with them ; if the
onion become blue or black, there are certainly dangerous ones among them ; if it re-
■niains white they are good. Where the symptoms of poison have alreatly taken place,
•ihe Medical Assistant recommends an emetic, drinking plentifully of warm water, and,
when the contents of the stomach are brought off, to have recourse to strong cordials,
•such as ginger-tea and brandy, with laudanum ; or Cayenne pepper made into pills.

MUSK MELON. CUCUMIS.

Cl. 21, on. 10 — Monoeciii syugcncsia. Nat. pR. — Cucurhitacccf.
Gen. cuaU. — See Cucumber, /;. 2 J3.

Y y y 2 wel©.

5:32- HORTUS J AM AI C EN S TS. Mtsr"

MF.LO. MELON".

Arigles of the leaves rounded ; fruits torulose.
Steins procumbent or tFaiiing to a great length, \cry much branched, fuftiishsd with
teirdrils ; leaves pahnate-sinuate, or entire, u'aving about the edge, and slightly
toothed, with rounded cornei's, rough with bristles. Floivers pale vcilow, lateral^ so-
Jitary; calyx covered with white hairs; corolla wrinkled, ribbed, and liaving bristles
along the ribs.on the outside. The female Howers, as they are called, have four large
anthers, and the germ is sub-globular, -and covered with white hairs; fruit roundish,
or oval, commonly furrowed longitudinally, sometimes netted, vvarted, or cai-buncied,
from four to tv/elve inches in length and diameter, jellowish-green ; pulp firm,
musky, reddish, seldom green ; seeds many, oblong, pale, in a watery pulp. This
jihir.t iias been long a'go introduced into Jamaica, where it has thriven loxuriantly, in
several of its varieties.

TTie seeds for propagation should he procured from good melons, of the soundest
sort and highest flavour, produced, as some have advised, in a distant garden ; for, if
sown on the place where it was raised and ripened, it is very apt to degenerate. In
England the seeds are kept three years befffre sown, but not more than six. When
seed is required sooner it is recommended to be exposed to the sun, or carried in the
j.oi'ket three or four weeks.

When the melon is perfectly fine,' it is full without any vacuity : this is known by
knockiivg upon it ; and, when cut, the flesh must be dry, no water running out, only a
little dew, which is to be of a fine red colour. Large melons are not to be coveted, but
firm and well-flavoured ones.

The Freach raised particularly fine melons, by a method kept as a secret, but which
is no other than the ingenious Mr. Q.uinting's of that nation, published near a century
ago in the Philosophical Transactions.

The melons particularly proper to be treated in this manner, are those which have a
thin and somevvb?t embro'idered skin, not divided by ribs, and have a red pulp, dry
and melting on the tongue, not meally, and of a high flavour. These are what ■iuc-
ceed in tlie following method ; and are greatly improved in size and flavour by it: —
"When the seeds of this melon are placed in the ground, the first thing, that .ippears is
a pair of seminal leaves. Between these two leaKes there shoots, some days after, a
leaf called the first leaf or knot ; and out of the same place, after some days more,
there shoots ano,ther leaf, called the second knot. Out of the midst of this stalk of the
second knot, there shoots athird knot ; this third knot must be cut off at its insertion,
without hurtiuCT the branch of the second knot from v/hence it grows. Out of this
place there will growy after this cutting, a branch, which will be what the gardeners
<:all the first arm ; and ihisarm^vill, in the.same manner as the first plant, shoot out,
fust one, then a second, and then a third, knot; this third knot must be cut again as
before, and thus the tliird knots are all along to be cut off, and arms or branches will
grow up in the places of them all the way in the same manner as the first ; and it is at
those arms that the melons will be produced, and they will be always good, if the foot
or root be well nourished in good earth. The foot of the melon must never be suffered
to pass into tiie dung, and the earth must not be watered but moderately, when it is
seea to grow too dry ; but in this case it must be moderately moistened ia'time, lest

the

MUSK KOIITUS JAMArCEXSI3. &S3-

the root suffer l-,_y it. Twice or thrice a week is often enough to water in the driest
weather, and this must always be done about sunset ; and wiien tlie heat of the sun is
too violent tiic melons must be covered. When it rains much they imist also be co-
vered. If ihe root produce too many l;«-anches, tlie weakest are to be cut off, and only
three or four left ; and tiiose which are left are to be such as have their knots closest
to one another. When the plants arc remo\ed from the seed bed to tlie places where
ihey are to stand, if they arc very strong, they should be planted single ; but if other-
wise, two are to be set in eacli hole.

When they are planted single, the two branches, which always grow on each side
from the base of the seed leaves, areto be left on ; but when two plants are set toge-
ther, these branches are to be cut off, otherwise all the branches will be too numerous,
and they will entangle and spoil one another. '

When the melons are knit, two of them only are to be left on each foot, choosinp-
those which are best placed, ami next to the first and principal stalk, that is, to the
lieart of the foot. None but i'air fruits are to be left, and such as have a thick and short
tail ; and the foot of the melon must be short, well trussed, and not far distant from the
ground. Melons of a long-stem, and having the stalk of the leaf too long and slender^
are never vigorous. All tlie superfluous branches must be cut olF from time to time, as
they shoot out. Tiiere sometimes shoots out a branch more than is here mentioned,
between the two seed leaves or cars. If this is strong ami vigorous, it is to be kept on,
but, if weakly, it is best to take it off, for it will never bear good. I'ruit.

There are several varieties of the melon kind here, where they thrite exceedingly
Well, and' with little trouble or attention. 'The varieties consist in the shape, whetiier
round, oval, compressed, or long ; the roughness or smoothness of coat ; the colour
of the flesh, whetiier white, red, greenish, or yellowish ; and in sweetness and flavour.
A gentleman here, tho most curious in their cultivation, used to prepare some fine
mould in small baskets, in which the aoed was sown ; these baskets were set in little
hillocks of earth, and suffered to decay. I know not the particular reasons for this me-
thod, but his fruit was of a superior quality to most, i'he musk and cantelupe are
highest in esteem, grow to a large size here, and arrive at the utmost perfection, par-
ticularly the latter kind with a greenish flesh, which (contrary to Mr Miller's observa-
tion, in regard to those raised in England,) is by far the richest, finest flavoured, and
dissolves in the mouth. The musk has no net work about it here as in England, and
turns very yellow. — Long,

i&e Cucumber.

MUSK OCHRA. HIBI'^CUS.

Gl. 16, OR. 6. — Mmiiadelph-a polyandria. Nat. ok. — Columnifevis, ' -
C^EV. Cii.\R. — iJde Changeable Rose, p. i75.

ABELMOSCHUS. MUSK-SEEDED.

ffispidiis, foliis quinquelobis, lobis acutis, semine muscaio. Browne,
p. 285.

Leave?

♦is* h o r t u s J a1^! a I r e>; p i s.

*IUSK>

I, leaves sul)-pclt; tc, cordate, srvcn-angled, serrate ; stem Inspld.

"TL-s uses with an horb;iceous stalk tiirte c;r four feet high, sending out two or three
eii.!e brjncnes, garnisiiecl with larye leaves, c-ut into six or seven acute ant:les, they
Etantl aiternatciy on lon;^ peditv is, which, as well as the ieuves, are hairv. The flowers
are asillary, upon ioiig petiuiu'ies, stancling erec^t, tiiey are large, tiu- petals of a bright
yellow, bin red hear tiic claw ; the coJumn-in the inidst of the tioworis singularly beau-
tiful, the divisions of i he stigma have the app;-arance of purple velvet, and, bending
Lack among the anthers, •leceive the gold coloured dust on then- large heads, resemb-
ling purple tassels fringed with gold ; tlie flowers are succeeded by pj ramidal five-tor-
nertU capsules, filled with large kidnev-shapcd seeds of a very uiiisky odour. The
seeds, when grown to full n^aturity, have .a strong and perfect smell of musk, a few
grains Dting srlHcitnt to perfume a wiiole room. Carham says these seeds are a good
jcure for stinking breath, and tliat they are cordial and expellers of wind. Browne ob-
serves that tney may be used with great propriety in powders and pomatums, nor does
lie cVoubt that tliey may be used in emulsions and many medical cases. It was mucU
cultivated in the French islands, and great quantities of the seed annually sent to France^
which can leave no doubt they were converted to some useful purpose. In Dr. Dan-
cer's Medical. Assislaiu tlie seeds arc said to be emetic.

•vSi-t'CilAKtiEABLE RoSE — iNDl.tN SOfiUEL — MaIIOE — OC'IIRA.

MUSK OR ALLIGATOR WOOD. GIJAREA.

Cl. 8, OR. \.-^Octandrla monogynia. Xat. or. — Melia.
Gen. char. — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, four-cornfred, minute; corolla foiar
spreauing petals, lanceolate, obtuse; nectai-y tubular, cylindric, quite entire,
lengUi of the corolla, contractetJ at the throat; stamens have no filaments; anthers
^■^ight, growing to tlio inner edge of the nectary, ovate; the pistil lias a roundish
germ, on a veiy shOrt pedicel ; style subulate, thick, length of the nectary ; stigma
four-cornered, dej)ressed ; the pericarp a roundish capsule, large, sub-sessiit;,
four-grooved, four-celled, four-valved ; seeds solitarj, obloiTg, with a scarlet aril.
Tins IS nearly allied to tnchilia, from which it has been seperated. There is only
one species a native of Jamaica.

TRICHILOIDES. TRICHILIA-UKE.

Lauro ajjhus arbor, foliis lafioribus ex adverse sitis, corticc caiuiabino,
ligno Diosclnnn oientc. Sloane, v. 2, p. 24, t. 170, f. I. Jrbcrea;
Join's vicijoi ibus, ovatis, oppositis ; petioUs brcvibus, subtumidis
gj-nglienosis. Browne, p. 369.

This tree grows to a middling size with a smooth trunk, the bark grey; branchy to-
wards ilie top. Leaves pinnule, without an odd leaflet; common petioles alternate,
loiigish, round, smooth, ash-coloured; pairs of leaflets two to four, lanceolate-ovate,
obiuse, entire, nerved, smooth ; partial petioles short, thick, round ; racemes a foot
Jong, axillaiT, sub-divided, loose, the branches many-flowered ; peduncles very short;
caiyx. four-torncred, minute ; segments blunt, spreading, — S-x, The nectarium is

quadrigonal.

c

Musk UO-R.TUS JA^.fArCENSISt, 5S>-

aviadi'igonal, shorter than the corolla, and Hghtl^- dented on the margin into sixteen
sulj-ovate hicinia, alternately shorter ; the stigma is divided into t'uur parts by tivo cross
jiiics; at the base of every peduncle tliere is a very small lanceolated bracte. The
structure of the capstile is the same as that oF trickUia ; the seeds are intensely bitter.

This tree is freqncnt in the midland woods, and grows to a considerable size. All
parts of it, but especially the bark, smell strongly of musk, (resembling the smell of
an alligator, whence the name,) and may be used instead of that perfume for many ■
purposes. The wood is full of a bitter resinous substance, which renders it inifit for
rum puncheons, being observed to communicate both its smell and taste to all spirituous
liquors. But it is ot'ten cut for staves and heading for sugar hogsheads, wnen there
happens a scarcity of other lumber. The powder of the bark is said to bo a. good erne*
tic, and is, I am infcu'med, someiinaes used for that purpose.— i)'/'0S77f,

Some old negro women are extremely fond of perfuming their persons with the
powdered bark, which, when dry, retains the odour, till they smell like civet cats.

There is no doubt but the resinous parts of this tree coatain a volatile odorift- rons oil,
and that this, as well as the resin itself, which is soluble in spirits, might be converted
to marry useful, and probably medical, purposes. — Long^.

Miisk-lVood. — This is vulgarly and commonly called ai'igator-wood. The bark of
the tree is thin, of a whitish-brown without and reddish within, and of a most pleasant
scent, like musk. If you pnt a small piece of this bark into a pipe of tobacco, and
soioak It, it will perfume the room immediately. The wood also smells like musk, as
well as the bark ; but as it grows old and dry, its scent wears off. — Barham, p. 107,

arusK-wooD; • trfchi lia.

Cl. 10, OR. 1. — Becandriamonogynia. Nat. or. — Trihilatte.
Sen. char — Calyx a one-leafed perianth, mostly five-toothed : corolla five petals ;
nectary toothed, cylindrical, bearing the anthers at the top of the teeth ; capsule
three-eelledj three- valved ; seeds solitary, berried. Two species are natives of
Jamaica.

1. MOSCIIATA. MUSK.

LaurusfoVm brcviore, florc raccmoso minor e-^ Sloane, Vi 2, p. 2i, t.
166, f. 1.

Leaves alternately pimiate; racemes axillary; flowers sub-decandrous, one-
petaied; capsule^ one-seeded.
A tree twenty feet high ; branches sub-dividei], with a smooth striated bark; leaves
alternately pinnate, entire, smooth,, glossy, with parallel nerves; racemes axillary,
solitarv, upright, luany-fl -wered. striated; ii-iwers numerous, small, of a pale colour,
with a short tube, and ovate, sharp, spreading, divisions; nectary uibular, sliorter
than the corolla ; nofiiamjiits; antders suo-sessiie ; gt-rm ovate; style siiort, cylindrio;
6tigrrt3 obtuse, coriJeri;d; capsule ovate, tnrce-Vdived, single- seeded, Native q *•'.';!-

jnaicij .

«>e ' nOKTUS JAMAICENS1&. myginba

maica, wliere it is called mi(s/c-':tnfidi on account of the smell of fverv- part cf the plant,
uheii lubbecl. It flo\vci'.s in May.-^ — ■Aw. The bark is reddish-brown ; the wood liard,
whitCj and aroinatK". - it ijtevv in the inland parts — Hloanc.

2. SPONDIOIDES. SFO>Dl.>S-LIKE.

■ -Evomjmus, caud:ce ',iun ramoso, folo alulo, fructa rotunch fripyraw.
Siouuc, V. 'J, p. 1U3, t. 210, f. '2, 3.

Leaves unecnially pinnate, sub-hiraute ; pinnas numerous, the lower ones
, larger ; racenies axiilai^',

Tiis tiLC has several stems as thiilt as one's ami, hy which it rises twenty feet,^\vit]i •
Out branches, covered wjih a reddish -brown h-M-k.-^Sluutte. Leaves sni(joHi,' or some-
what hairv, a foot long, scattered alternately at the ends of the branches ; leaflt-ts about
ten on each side, the end one someLinics wanting, lanceo!ate-o^■atc, bluntly acunrunate,
quite entire, pctioled, two inches long, the iiuennediate ones, gradually larger. Ra-
cemes axillary, solitary, three inches long whilst in flower, -but often lengthenin"- to
half a foot when fruiting,; peduncles simple or branched; flowers inodorous, small,
lii)out tnirty in a raceme; caiyx half five-clelt, spreading, flat, very small; petals
wliiush, spreading; filaments hairy internally; germ villose, style thick; capsule
brortiiislL, three-grooved; seeda in the larger fruit sometimes two, in the same cell,
lyuig one upon ttie other, or side by side. — Jacqum. Acc(3rding to Sloane the leaflets
are at au inch distant, pointed at both ends, smooth; dark green, on pedicels an eighth
Oi an inch long. Fruit round, first green, then purplish, when ripe as big as a great
garaen pea, breaking into three menibranes, expanding themselves, eacli having a
crcbi or rising in the miildle, and shewing three almost triangular distmct kernels, co^
veri^d over with a thm scarlet pulp. The i*"rench call this tree mombiji batard. Sioajiie
fomia it in several places about the C'rawle.

' Mustard, Bastard — ^■^•^ bastard Mustakd.

No English Name. MYGINDA.

€l. 4, OR. 3. — Tetrandria tetragyma. Nat. or. — Rhamm.
Cf.N. char. — Calyx a four-parted periantJi, very small, permanent; corolla foiw
roui.dihh petals, flat, spreading very much ; stamens four awl-shaped filaments,
trect, siiorter than the corolla ; with roundish anthers ; the pistil has a roundish
germ; styles tour, erect, short; stigmas acute; the pericarp a globular drupe i
seed au ovuie acute nut. Two species are natives of Jamaica.

1. rhacoma.

Fruticulostnn tenue, foliis ovatis tcnidssime den'icidatis oppositis, ra-
cemisalaribus. Browne, p. 145, t. 16, f. I.

Leaves lanceolate-ovate, obtuse, crenate.; flowers monogynousj stigma four*
cleft.

This is an upright branching shrub, from two to three feet in height, witit an ash*
coloured bark; branches sub-divided, even, strict ; leaves small, half an inch in lengtl^,

»pposit^

.MYRTLES HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. S37

opposite, stiffish, scarcely nerved, smooth, somewhat shining, on very short petioles.
Flowers in small racemes, very minute, red ; racemelets or peduncles two or tliree-
flowcreJ, axiiiarv, shorter than the leaves. Calyx fonr-cleft, very shortly tubular, red
coloured at bottom; corolla deeply four-parted, sub-rotate, whitish-red; segments
ovate, miiiute, fringed at the edge ; filaments from the base of the corolla, between
the segments of it, bent in above the tube ; anthers simple, very minute; germ ovate,
"style awi-shaped, undivided, the length of the tube ; stigma four-cleft ; drupe round-
•isii, the size of a small currant, scarlet, shining; containing a spherical one- seeded
nut : native of Jamaica on the western sandy coasts, flowering in summer. — S':r. — •
Browne says hefounu itui the woods below Martlia-Brie River, growing among rocks,
thi-ee or four feet high.

2. LATIFOLU. BROAD-LEAVED.

Leaves elliptic, crenulate, sub-coriaceous ; stigmas two to Tour, sessile.

This is a branching shiub, three or four feet in height; branches scattered, foui'-
cornered, smooth ; leaves opposite, oblong, blunt, remotely notched, veined, very
smooth, rigid, on short petioles ; peduncles shorter than ilie leaves, axillary, few-
flowered ; pedicels one-flowered ; flowers very small, whitish. Corolla with a very
short tube; border spreading, four-parted; parts oblong, blunt, fiat, reflex, entire;
'■filaments in tiie divisions of the corolla, the length of the border; anthers roundish ;
germ globular; no style; stigmas sessile, globular; drupe globulai", cpntaining aa
-oblong, bonj, wrinkled, nut. — Sw.

MYRTLES. MYRTUS.

fx. 12, OR. 5. — Icosandria mono^ynta. Nat. or. — HcaperidiS.
Gex. THAR. — See Bayberry, p. 15. Besides those described under their English
tiainc's, the following species are also natives of Jamaica :

l.BIFLORA. TWO-FLOWERED.

'Frutkosui, foliis lanceolatis opposifis, florihus geminatis aluribus.—^
Brov^ne, p. 248, t. 25, f. 3. Caryophyllas 3.

Peduncles two-flowered ; leaves lanceolate.
This beautiful siuab rises to the height of eight or ten feet, sending out many oppo-
site branches, covered with a grey bark ; leaves shorter and rounder at the points,
si.'oothir, and of a firmer texture than those of the pimenta. The Howefs come out
f, mi the sides of the branches between the leaves, on slender footstalks, about an inch
ii. engih, iwo generally from the same point ; berries round, of a brighter colour than
tue pimenta, but neither leaves nor fruit have its aromatic flavour,

2. AI.PINA. ALPI.N'E.

Peduncles soHtarv, terminating, one-flowered, very short; leaves ovate j
branciiie.s in fours, fasiigiaie ; stem arboreous. — 9ry^ '

Z Z z 3, DISTICH.4,

6{j». nORTUS J^AMAICEN&ia MYatLM

3. PISTICHA. DISTICH.

Peduncles axillar\-, many-flowered, shorter than the leaves; leaves distich, bent
down, ovate-laiiceolate ; branches spreading. — Sw.

4. .MONTICOLA. MOU^'TAIK.

Peduncles many-flowered, very short, axiliarj-, solitary ; leaves ovate, blunted,
flat, very smooth. — S'u).

5. AXILLARIS. AXILLARY.

Peduncles raanv-flowered, very short, axillary, clustered; leaves o%'ate-acu»
niinaie, shining, flat. — S'k».

6. MRUULTOSA. SP«IGGY.

Peduncles axillary and terminating, paniclecj or racemed ; leaves broadt-lanceo--
late, attenuated ; stem arboreous. — Sw.

Branches rod-iike, smooth, with an ash-coloured baik, the young ones viilose-;
leaves petioled, an inch and a half or more in length, sharpish at the base, smooth
above and. shining, pale underneath and veined, the younger ones somewhat dotted
above ; peduncles pubescent, in pairs trom each axil, shorter by half tlian the leaves;
pedicels opposite, remote, a quarter of an inch long, filiform, one-flowered; bracte
ovate, niinute, at the base of each pedicel, and two under each calyx ; flowers small;
segments of the calyx rounded, ash- coloured at the base; petals twice as Jong as the
talyx, doited. — f'ahl.

7. FRAGRANS. FRAGRANT.

Peduncles axillary, trichotomous, and simple ; leaves ovate, slightly convex^ .
somewhat coriaceous, dotted, smooth ; stem arV^r.r^r«>u — 1»>
Branches sub-dichotomous, smooth, purplish at the end; leaves sub-petioled at the
ends of the branchlets, an inch and a half long, bluntish, with numerous simple veins,
not reacliing the edge on either side, and minute raised dots scattered over them ; pe-
duncles from the top two or three-flowered, the length of the leaves, compressed}-
pedicels three-flowered; flowers sessile. — Fahl.

Ste BAST.^pa) Gre£NHEART— Bayberry — Black-CherrYt— Pimento,

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Lunar, John/Hortus Jamaicensis, or A bot

3 5185 00135 9023