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SKETCHES
TOWARDS A
HORTUS BOTANICUS AMERICANUS;
OR,
COLOUIREB PLATES
(WITH A CATALOGUE AND CONCISE AND FAMILIAR DESCRIPTIONS OF MANY SPECIES)
OF
NEW AND VALUABLE PLANTS
OF THE
West Indies and North and South America.
ALSO OF
SEVERAL OTHERS, NATIVES OF AFRICA AND THE EAST INDIES
Arranged after the Linnaan System.
WITH
A CONCISE AND COMPREHENSIVE GLOSSARY OF TERMS, PREFIXED,
AND A GENERAL INDEX.
By W. J. TITFORD, M.D.
eORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF ARTS, &c.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY C. STOWER, HACKNEY:
Published by Sherttood, Neely, and Jones, Paternoster Row; J. Hatcharb, Piccadilly ; J. Richardson,
Cornhill, and all Booksellers in the United Kingdom.
1811.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR,
THE HONOURABLE THE COUNCIL,
AND TO
THE HONOURABLE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY,
OF HIS NATIVE ISLAND
JAMAICA,
THIS WOIK
IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED,
BY
THEIR MOST OBEDIENT HUMBLE SERVANT,
THE AUTHOR.
Xlll
EXPLANATION OF THE FRONTISPIECE.
TROPICAL FRUITS.
For a more particular description, see each under its proper Class and Order in the work.
Fig. 1. Bread Fruit, (Artosarpus IncisaJ a valulable fruit, about the size of a child's head. When gathered green, parboiled, and afterwards baked, the inside very nearly resembles new bread. It is not cultivated to the extent it should be in Jamaica, probably because it is more liable to be injured and destroyed by hurricanes and storms than ground provisions. It was brought by Captain Bligh from Otaheite to Jamaica in February, 1793.
Fig. 2. Musk Ochro, (Hibiscus abelmoschus.j A five-cornered capsule, contain- ing the seeds, (which smell strongly of musk) in the cells.
Fig. 3. Pink. Apple, ( Brome.lia ananas J. This exquisite and valuable fruit, in every variety, is in the greatest plenty and perfection in Jamaica, and may be pur- chased for the smallest piece of coin current there.
Fig. 4. Soursop, (Atmona Muricata.) A large fruit, of an irregular oblong heart- shape. The pulp within is white, juicy, soft, and of a sweet and acid taste mixed. It is considered grateful and cooling by some, and by others compared to cotton dipped in vinegar.
Fig. 5. Shaddock. (Citrus Decnmana.) Is a fine fruit, roundish, about six inches in diameter, having a yellow, spotted rind, of a pungent, aromatic flavour. The pulp within is red or flesh colour, separated into divisions, and is granulated in the form of pegsor wedges, containing a sweet, aromatic, subacid juice, highly grateful and cool- ing. This fruit may be preserved at sea for some time by hanging it up in the air, and sealing the top of the stalk where it was separated from the tree.
Fig. 6. Jack Friut, ( Artocarpus Imegrifolia.J This very large fruit frequently ■weighs thirty pounds, and grows immediately from the trunk or branches on strong footstalks. See Plate II. Fig. 48. The outer surface is rough, and each protuberance ends in a point. The fruit, and every part of the tree abounds with a glutinous, milky juice, which may be drawn out in threads. The body of the fruit is principally com- posed of a white, tasteless, fibrous pulp, interspersed in which are numerous seeds, each of them surrounded by an orange-coloured pulp, about half an inch thick, of a very rich, sweet taste, winch, after being washed in salt and water, is preferred by many to all the fruits in the island. The seeds are oval, about the size of an almond in the shell, and when roasted very nearly resemble chesnuts. This tree is of the same genus as the bread fruit, and introduced from Otaheite; it is not very common. The smell of the fruit is so powerful that some persons cannot bear it in a house.
Fig 7. Sweetsop, Annona SquammosaJ. This fruit is about the size of a large orange, and has a very soft, white pulp of a luscious, sweet taste.
Fig. 8. Pigeon Pepper, (Capsicum. J
Fig. 9- Coral Pepper.
Fig. 10. Bird Pepper, of which Cayenne is made.
Fig. 11. Purple, or Sore Throat Pepper; all the capsicums make excellent and wholesome pickles.
Fig. 1c2. Spanish Fig, (FicusJ. A rich, luscious fruit, and very cooling and whole- some.
Fig. 13. Garden Egg. (Solanum Melongena.) Cut in slices, parboiled and fried, resembles fried eggs.
Fig. 14 Long Cerasee, (Momordica Balsamina.J Medicinal and vulnerary.
Fig 15. Star Apple, (Chrysopkyllum (ainitoj. The soft pulp is of a rich, clammy, sweet taste, and mixed with orange juice, resembles strawberries and cream.
d
xiv
Fig. 16- Naseberry, ( Achras Sapota.J The pulp is of a reddish brown, and tastes like a sleepy pear, but of a very rich and luscious sweet.
Fig. 17. Mammee Apple, (Mammca Americana.) Has a thick, leathery, out- side rind, and a very bitter, whitish one within ; the pulp is yellow and firm, of a pecu- liar flavour and sweetness, preferred by some to all other fruits.
Fig. 18. Chocho, (Sicyos angulata.) A large green fruit, the pulp of which is boiled, and is a very wholesome vegetable.
Fig. 19. Mango, (Mangifera Indica.) A fine fruit, introduced from the East In- dies, with a yellow, juicy pulp, of a delicious sweet taste, and, if not stringy, reckoned one of the best fruits. When first introduced they sold for a dollar each, but now four dozen may be procured for that price. They are also degenerating for want of care in planting the seeds of the best sorts. The fruit is very wholesome ripe, and when green, makes an excellent pickle.
Fig. 20. Cashew Apple, ( Jnacardium Occident ale J A fruit, with an austere acid, restringent juice. The kernel of the nut, when green, is delicate as a walnut, and is also eaten roasted when ripe.
Fig. 21. The Young Cocoa Nut, (Cocos Nucifera.) Just as it appears when first formed in considerable numbers on the spadix ; only a part of which come to maturity.
Fig. 22. Sand Box, ( Hura Crepitans.) This curious fruit, when the seeds are picked out of the cavities at the bottom, and the hole sealed up, forms a natural sand- box, for which it is used. If left on the tree till quite ripe, a sudden shower of rain will burst the capsules with reports like pistols, which is the mode ordained for the dis- persion of the seeds. The seed is sweetish, but poisonous.
Fig. 23. Pomegranate, (Punica Granata.) The pulp surrounding the seeds is red and of a fine cooling nature, and taste of mixed acid and sweet.
Fig. 24. Akee, ( Blighea.) The white substance attached to the seeds of this beau- tiful fruit, parboiled and fried, tastes exactly like marrow, and is a most delicious vege- table.
Fig. 25. Avocada Pear, (Laurus Persea) called Pattas, in Peru. Has a soft yel- low pulp, which, when ripe, melts in the mouth, and, eaten with pepper and salt, is called vegetable marrow. It is very nutritious and wholesome ripe, but when unripe it occasions dysentery.
Fig. c26. Plantain, (Musa.) A valuable, wholesome and nourishing food, boiled or roasted, the chief support of the negroes, and preferred by many of the whites (for constant use) to bread.
Fig. 27- Large Purple Plum of Salt Ponds. A very fine fruit, but not common.
Fig. 28. Indian Fig, (Cactus Fie us Indie us.) The fruit of the plant on which co- chineal is found in Jamaica; the pulp and juice is of a most beautiful purple. If the fruit be eaten it tinges the urine of a deep red.
Fig, 29. Guava, (Psidium (pyriferum.) The pulp of this fruit is of a faintish, aromatic, sweet taste, and very wholesome. It is, however, principally made into mar- malade and jelly.
Fig. 30. Rose Apple, ( Eugenia Fragrans.) This fruit is hollow, containing the seeds, having a considerable space round them. It smells exactly like a rose, and the taste is much the same, with a faint sweetness.
Fig. 31. Tomato, or Love Apple, (Solatium Ly coper sic um.) This fruit is consi- dered very wholesome to colour and flavour sOups and hashes.
Fig. 32. Yellow Hog Plum, (Spondias Myrobalanus.) An oval small plum, of a sweetish taste and mealy, not much esteemed by the whites.
Fig. 33. Common Ochro, (Hibiscus Esculcntus.) A valuable, nourishing, mucila- ginous vegetable, when boiled, and a principal ingredient in Ochro soup and pepper pot. Fig. 34. French Sorrell, (Flibiscus Sabdarijfa.) The calyx has a fine acid taste, which, when deprived of the seeds, makes good jam for tarts, and a very cooling drink in fevers.
XV
Fro. 3.5. Granadtlla, (Passijiora Quadrangularis.J This delicious fruit has a pulp of a fine sweet and acid taste, which is very cooling and pleasant; when ripe, it may be allowed to the sick in any quantities. It is eaten by some with wine.
Fig. 56. Cerasee, ( Momordica Balsamina.J This species is of a roundish shape, and the inner pulp of a glorious red ; when pricked with a pin, it bursts open and scat- ters its seed.
Fig. 37. Wild Gooseberry, (Cactus Pereskia.) The pulp of this fruit, when un- ripe, is of a most austere, acid taste, and will take ink-spots out of mahogany. When ripe, Dr. Barham says, it is black, cooling, and laxative.
Fig. 38. Pinguins, ( Bromelia Pinguin.J The pulp is of an acid taste, and when mixed with sugar, is cooling in fevers, and given to children for worms.
Fig. 39- Banana, ( Musa sapientum.) This fine fruit, when ripe, has a rich, yellow, sweet, mealy pulp, very agreeable and nourishing, raw, baked, or sun-dried. It makes a drink exceeding cyder.
Fig. 40. Tamarind, (Tamarindus Indica.J The Tamarind bean, the shell of which is hard and brittle, containing the fibrous pulp and seed. The preserve made of this fruit is well known.
Fig, 41. Lime, (Citrus Medina. J A very common small fruit, containing a very acid juice, used for making punch. It is a diminutive lemon, with a smooth rind.
THE FOLLOWING FRUITS ARE ALSO FOUND IN JAMAICA.
Olives, Many wild sorts ; and they might with care be produced very good.
Currants, (Ehretria BourreriaJ. The fruit of a tall stately tree, of which birds are fond, but neither the European currant nor gooseberry will grow in Jamaica.
Grapes, (Vitis Vinifera.) When cultivated and taken care of are produced very large and delicious in Jamaica. There are several wild sorts.
Clammy Cherry, or Barbadoes Cherry, (MalpighiaJ, make an excellent red jelly for fevers; but none of the European sorts are to be found, either of the cherry, plum, or apricot, (Primus).
Mammee Sapota, (Achras MammosaJ. A brown, oblong oval fruit, of a luscious, sweet taste, called natural marmalade, containing a seed like a polished shell. See Plate III. Fig. 10.
Cunep, or Honey Berry, (Melicocca). See Plate III. Fig. 62. The shell turns brown as it ripens.
Whortleberry, (Vaccinium Meridionalis ) '. A fine acid berry.
Neither Apples nor Pears, (PyrusJ will grow in Jamaica.
Strawberry (Fragaria), Raspberry and Blackberry (RubasJ, are very un- common and never to be seen in the markets; but sometimes found wild in the cool mountains.
Pindars. See Plate III. Fig. 41. A delicious species of earth nut.
Oranges, Sweet and Seville, (Citrus aurantium, J abound in great plenty and variety, and are very fine ; they commonly grow wild in woods and road sides, like many other of the fruits, and may frequently be purchased in the market, a dozen for the smallest piece of coin current: a tumbler of the juice every morning fasting is very wholesome.
Forbidden Fruit, (Citrus Decumana J. A fine fruit of a sweet aromatic flavour, resembling the orange and shaddock, and of a size between both.
Lemon, (Citrus MedicaJ in great plenty, and very fine, particularly a large species with protuberances, called the French lemon ; they are not so much used for lemonade and punch as the limes above mentioned, one species of which, the sweet lime, is of a sweet aromatic taste.
Mulberry (Morus), will grow in Jamaica, and where cultivated are very fine; as they are easily raised in great abundance, it is a matter well worthy of consideration whether the breeding of silk worms would not be very advantageous and profitable in Jamaica.
xvi
Walnut, fJuglans BaccaiaJ. One sort grows at Guauaboa, in St. John's, having a quadrangular shell, with four nuts, which taste like a filbert, called by some, Virginia bread nut. The American Hickory degenerates, and will not come to perfection in Jamaica.
Bread Nuts, (Brosimum alicastrum). The nuts fatten pigs, and the leaves are good
for horses.
Pumpkin, (Cucurhita pepo), grows very large, and is much cultivated as an article of food, boiled, or made into pie ; eaten too freely it causes surfeit and fevers.
Water Melon, (Cucurbita citrullus), grows very large, fine, and full of juice in the driest soils ; they are very wholesome and refreshing. The seeds are good in emulsions.
Musk Melon, (Cucumis MeloJ, grow very freely in every variety, and are a fine wholesome fruit of a sweet aromatic flavour.
Squash, (Cucurbita melopepoj. A wholesome vegetable.
Cucumbers, (Cucumis saiivus), grow in great abundance and every variety ; and with vinegar, salt, and cayenne pepper, are wholesome.
Prickly Wild Cvcumhkk, (Cucumis angaria), grows very luxuriantly and makes
one of the best sort of pickles ; they arc small, egg shaped, and armed with soft prickles.
Abbays, (Elceis guineensis). The fruit of a species of palm, called oily palm, which
produces palm oil. See Plate II. Fig. 56. They have a fibrous, yellow, oily pulp over the
stone, and when boiled are pleasant and wholesome.
Anchovy Pear, (Grias caulijiora), See Plate II. Fig. 54. The fruit of a large tree growing in the mountains, the leaf one foot long and half a foot broad; resembles the Mango when pickled.
Custard Apple, (Awnona reticulata). The pulp, yellow, soft and sweet, like a custard ; but frequently watery and without flavour.
Water Apple grows by the side of salinas and creeks, is food only for alligators, but poisonous to men.
Garlic Pear, (Cratceva GynandriaJ. A cooling and restringent fruit the pulp of which smells like garlic.
Water Lemons, ( assijlora maliformis). The fruit is a pleasant sweet with sour, and very cooling in fevers.
Locust Fruit, (Hymeneea courbarilj. A fruit with a pleasant acid pulp contained in a thin shell.
Cabbage Tree, (Areca oloracea). The succulent top of this lofty palm, called the cabbage, is very sweet and delicious food, and also makes a good pickle.
Papaw, (Carica papaya). See Plate II. Fig. 50. The pulp is yellow when ripe, and of a sweet aromatic taste, boiled, or made into pies it very much resembles apples. Mangosteen. See Explanation of Plate X. Fig. 5.
Sea-side Grape, (Coccoloba uvifera). A pleasant acid grape with a purplish skin, but so highly astringent as to render it dangerous to eat them.
Cocoa Nur, (Cocosnucifera). This well known and valuable fruit is common in Jamaica, and well worth planting to the greatest extent. When quite young they are full of adelicious cooling water or milk, which is very wholesome and strengthening ; as they grow older this hardens to a kernel like an afmond, when not tco'okl, in this state they are frequently brought to England, the fibrous part of the tree will make- cloth, the shells cups, and by boring the trunk, arrack is procured.
PREFACE.
rPHE term Botany is derived from Bo7<wj, (Botane) a herb, and signifies, generally, a knowledge of the great vegetable kingdom of nature, the pro- perties of plants, as food and medicine, and the various uses to which they may be applied in agriculture, medicine, domestic oeconomy and the arts. In a more con lined sense, it may be defined the knowledge of a scientific mode of arrangement, for the numerous plants which are to be found scattered over the surface of the globe, and diversified by the hand of Infinite Wisdom and Goodness, according to the respective climates, and the wants of the inhabitants of the various regions of the earth. In Tropical climates, the vegetable productions of nature are in the highest degree beautiful and magnificent. She is there clothed in perpetual verdure, and seems to be endowed with superior powers of fertility, presenting to the wondering eye, her ripest fruits; and on the same tree, the budding leaf, the verdant foliage, the bursting blossom, and the future fruit in different stages of maturity. Not only do these beautiful objects arrest our attention and command our admiration, but the more humble shrub and lowly herb are fraught with wondrous medical virtues, many of which are known only, perhaps, to the
B
IV
natives (otherwise illiterate) by experience and observation. To gentlemen studying medicine, a scientific knowledge of Botany is indispensably necessary — to the man of leisure and taste what study can be more interesting, or cal- culated to fill his mind with more pleasing ideas of the Creator, than the great book of vegetable nature, which lies open before his eyes, and invites him, by all the allurements of beauty, and wonderful and minute contrivance, to a nearer acquaintance ; by which the hours devoted to exercise and health may at the same time be both agreeably and profitably employed. But for the fair sex, who to the advantage of leisure unite the still greater advantage of a natural taste and discriminating judgment, for pleasures as pure and innocent as they are noble and sublime, the study of Botany is peculiarly adapted, and has become particularly pleasing, as we may judge from the taste which has of late years prevailed in its favour in the United Kingdom, is also prevalent in other parts of the globe, and it is to be hoped will continue to increase. Its usefulness cannot be doubted, when we consider that the principal articles of our food, and many which furnish materials for our clothing, are plants, and that the most valuable and powerful, as well as the most safe of the remedies to be found in the Materia Medica, are drawn from the vegetable kingdom ; and it is a generally received opinion that most countries possess within themselves simples adapted to the cure of their most prevalent diseases ; and particularly so in Tropical climates. A skilful botanist can, in many instances, from the examination of an unknown plant, by considering its scientific and natural class, determine if it be wholesome food for man or beast, or whether on the contrary its properties be poisonous and deadly. By attending to the habit and characteristic appearance of the several plants in the natural orders, a wonderful analogy and correspondence may be found in their properties and use as food, and particularly as to their medical properties. A comparative view of the plants growing in each coun- try on the globe under the same climate, and between the same parrellels of latitude, is a most interesting, and might be made a most useful and profit- able study, by leading to the introduction and cultivation of new and valuable plants: Botany then may be safely pronounced to be a study, noble and useful, interesting and pleasing.
The motive which induced me to the undertaking of the present work, was the scarcity of books treating of the plants of the West Indies ; and Such as were in existence, being of old date, out of print, and unaccompanied
with figures. My leisure time has been employed in the collection of plants, and their names, in making drawings of them, and in giviag some accounts of their virtues. An opportunity likewise offered to procure from Negro doctors in Jamaica, and, subsequently, from the Indians in North America, information which may prove new, curious and valuable. It was also hinted to me by the worthy Secretary of the Society for the Promotion of Arts, &c. at the time that Society honoured me by electing me a Corresponding Member, that my attention might be usefully turned to the subject of Jamaica Botany ; and when afterwards I spent a considerable time in America, a great part of which was devoted to the study of medicine, and a part to travelling in the interior of the country, I increased my collection of drawings of American plants, gained additional information, and met with encouragement from the medical and other gentlemen there, to prosecute botanical researches, and publish the result of them, as being a work very much wanted. Thus (though I felt myself inadequate to the task,) I endeavoured to put together such information as could be collected, and arrange the plants indigenous or freely growing in North America, according to the Linnoean classes and orders, as I had previously, the Jamaica plants. I was also favoured with several dried plants by a friend from Yucatan in South America. From the mode in which my information was collected, from Negroes and Indians, it must necessarily have been very liable to error ; and, no doubt, many other uncer- tainties and mistakes may be found, for which I trust to the liberality of the public for indulgence. The following sheets were compiled abroad, partly while travelling, and totally debarred from the use of books, which might have greatly assisted to render the work more complete; but it was inconsistent with my plan to make it voluminous and expensive, and since my return to England, my time being fully taken up with other avocations, which leave no leisure to consult all the very useful and valuable publications which have of late appeared in this science, I am compelled to submit my collections to the public as they were brought over.
The mode of arrangement adopted is — A Glossary of the Terms used in the work, compiled for my own use from books in my possession when learning the science, as short and simple as possible, referring to the plates for an idea of the several parts of fructification and shapes of leaves, &c. instead of long definitions. But I have carried this part of the work to a greater length than originally intended, and in the compilation of it have endeavoured to make it as comprehensive and useful, yet concise as possible, on the consideration that in the West Indies there is a great want of an elementary work on the sub-
VI
ject, in a small compass, for general use. It may also be found useful for per- sons learning Botany, and the use of Schools. The work proceeds with a few Observations on the Character and Habit of Trees, of the various classes, illustrated by plates — A Description of various Seeds and Ikricarps, with a plate —-West Indian Plants, arranged after the Linnaean System, under their classes and orders — American Plants arranged in the same manner — A gene- ral Index referring to the pages, and a list of Subscribers will close the whole, W. J. T.
ADVERTISEMENT
To Appendix Part II. of the Medical Assistant.
MANY of the plants recommended in the Catalogue of Simples in the Appendix to the Medical Assistant, being imperfectly known, or perhaps wholly unknown, to some of those who have the greatest occasion to use them, it has been suggested to the Author that he should have given a short and clear description of them. This he would have done, were he satisfied that it could have answered the purpose intended ; but such descriptions as those given by Dr. J3aiuiam, or that are not scientific, are of little or no use in conducting the search ; and there are few of those for whom this work was chiefly intended, either versant in botany, or who have leisure for such a study. The only way, therefore, of supplying the deficiency of the work in this respect, would be by Engravings or Figures. The Author has such an undertaking in view : viz. — of publishing a set of engraved Figures of all the Medicinal Plants, except such as arc perfectly familiar, of a size to bind up with the present " edition of the work. He only waits to know how far such a publication — describing and designating the plants by their various names, &c. mentioning their place of growth, season of gathering, &c. with a reference to the Medical Assistant for their properties and uses — may be deemed necessary ; and whether the encouragement it is likely to meet with would justify the ex pence.
ft IN every soil unnumber'd weeds will spring, " Nor fewest in the best.
a (i n u tt u
u II (I
a
" .And yet some weeds arise " Of aspect mean, with wondrous virtues fraught : " Such, planter, be not thou asham'd to save " From foul pollution, and unseemly rot; " Much will they benefit thy house and thee. " But chief the yellow thistle* thou select, " Whose seed the stomach frees from nauseous loads j *c And if the music of the mountain dove <% Delight thy pensive ear, sweet friend to thought,1 (l This prompts their cooing, and inflames their love.
* Gamboge Thistle or Poppy, (Argemane,)
VUl
" Nor let rude hands the knotted grass* profane,
" Whose juice worms fly: — Ah, dire endemial ill,
11 How many fathers, fathers now no more,
" How many orphans now lament thy rage !
" The cow-itch also save, but let thick gloves
" Thine hands defend, or thou wilt sadly rue
" Thy rash imprudence, when ten thousand darts,
" Sharp as the bee-sting, fasten in thy flesh,
" And give thee up to torture. But unhurt,
" Planter, thou may'st the humble chickweedi cull.
" And that% which coyly flies the astonish'd grasp, —
" Not the confection nam'd, from Pontus' King,
" Nor the bless'd apple Median climes produce,
u Tho' lofty Maro (whose immortal muse
'* Distant I follow, and submiss adore)
" Hath sung its properties, to counteract
" Dire spells, slow mutter'd o'er the baneful bowl
" Where cruel stepdames poisonous drugs have brew'd
*' Can vie with these low tenants of the vale,
" Jn driving poisons from the infected frame.
(( For here, alas! — ye sons of luxury mark —
" The sea, tho' on its bosom Halcyons sleep
" Abounds with poison'd fish, whose crimson'd fins, " Whose eyes, whose scales, bedropt with azure, gold,
" Purple and green, in all gay Summer's pride,
" Amuse the sight, whose taste the palate charms,—
" Yet death in ambush, on the banquet waits,
" Unless these antidotes be timely given.
11 But say what strains, what numbers can recite
il Thy praises, vervain, or wild liquor ice% thine ;
" For not the costly root, the gift of God,||
" Gather'd by those wlio drink the Volga's wave,
" (Prince of Europa's streams, itself a sea)
li Equals your potency. Did planters know
" But half your virtues, not the cane itself
" Wrould they with greater, fonder pains preserve."
* Worm Grass. (Anthelmia.) f Holosteum. % Sensitive Plant. (Mimosa.)
% Abrus Precatorius. f| Rhubarb.
ADVERTISEMENT TO PART III.
Being the Completion of the Work.
IT may, I trust, be permitted at this the close of the work to say a few words on the cir- cumstances and motives that first induced to the undertaking, and also as to the mode adopted in the performance of it.
The foregoing Advertisement, and the Lines, are extracted from the Appendix, Part II. of a valuable and popular work on West-Indian Diseases, by the late Dr. Dancer. When I first read them, I resided some miles distant from Spanish Town, in Jamaica, and thought my leisure might be employed in the collection of plants, for the purpose of drawing them after Nature, and in enquiries as to the names by which they wrere known, and the uses or virtues generally ascribed to them; in which I was assisted by a negro doctress, whose fame was great in the Red Hills, and whose knowledge, in the opinion of the negroes, was far superior to that of physicians. I also occasionally procured information from other persons ; and in many instances depended upon the botanical name given to me, as I had not the advantage of a single work on Jamaica Botany to refer to; neither Sloane, Browne, Long, Grainger, W hi gut, nor Swartz, could I ever procure a sight of, which may apologize for many errors and uncertainties. I once indeed met with Dr. Barham's Hortus Americanus, a thin octavo book, published in 1794; but sixteen pounds would not induce the owner to part with it; nor were the Linmean Names, classes or orders given to all the plants, noticed. Thus was I obliged to make my collections, in a great measure, in the dark, without a proper guide as to the genera and species ; and as for full botanical descriptions from the plant, I could not spare the time necessary for so Herculean a task. I had not then the most distant idea of publication, much lc^s in London.
Shortly before I left Jamaica, Proposals for a Hortus Jamaicensis were issued by a very respectable gentleman in Spanish Town, who was in possession of all the above-mentioned scarce works; and also of Martyn's Miller's Dictionary; — a work which to the scientific botanist is invaluable, and for extent, comprehensiveness, and accuracy of information as to every known genus and species, is above all praise. He proposed to publish a compilation from them all, describing in Alphabetical order each species scientifically, that was native of
a2
I
X
Jamaica ; and also what was said by each author as to their virtues and uses : to be com- pleted in thirty numbers, (but probably from the immense number of species lately added by Swahtz and others, it would on that plan have occupied considerably more). I know not if this work proceeded beyond the first number, but sincerely hope it has, as it would be highly valuable, and deserving of success ; the only objection to the plan I ever heard mentioned was the length of the work, and the deficiency of plates. Neither was there any Glossary, or explanation of terms ; and the persons for whom such a work would be useful on plantations, generally have neither leisure nor inclination to read through, much less to study, a thick volume of any of the very full and excellent Elements of Botany pub- lished of late years, any more than they would have to look out for the botanical and familiar description of Jamaica plants, in a general work among thousands of others, natives of all parts of the world, to them, therefore, uninteresting. But this remark by no means applies to medical and scientific gentlemen.
Seeing that my plan (which never was intended to go deeper into the scientific part than to mention the classes and orders, natural orders, generic and specific names, and number of species, and arrange the plants in that manner, with plates) would take up some of those ideas which did not form a part of the plan, of the Hortus Jamaicensis, I formed a design as I was at that time proceeding to New-York, of having my Drawings engraved and published there, with a Catalogue of the Plants. As I had leisure there also, I procured some information respecting, and made some drawings of, American Plants and Indian Reme- dies, and had begun the publication, when circumstances calling me to England, I ventured to publish the first two numbers for a trial ; though, I again repeat, it was not my original intention to publish at all, much less in London. In the sale of the first two numbers I have, however, met with considerable encouragement; but, from the West-Indies and America, where I depended upon near two hundred subscribers, the returns have been, and must necessarily be, slow, and uncertain from existing circumstances, and the expence already incurred has been very considerable; but nevertheless, I held myself bound to finish the work, which has been accomplished in six numbers, as proposed ; that, perhaps, however may be rather exceeded as to the letter-press, on account of the additional Tables of Climates, and Nosological Index given, which it is hoped will be acceptable, and render the work more complete. Should it not succeed, I must submit, with the consolation of good intention alone. The whole of the figures of the natural size being engraved from impressions actually taken by a peculiar method from the living plants, or from the dried specimens, (with the exception of four or five of which drawings were given me) and most of them being new, as I believe, (unless contained in valuable and expensive books not in my possession, nor of persons in general) I hope they will be found useful and interesting. In these four latter numbers it will be observed, that there are fewer plates for each number than in the two first ; but they all contain numerous figures, (whereas some in the first and second numbers contained only four) those plates were engraved and coloured at half the price of the frontispiece and other plates of these four numbers. It will be found that more figures are actually given ; and the expence of
XI
engraving and colouring the ten double plates for the present four numbers is equal to what sixteen plates such as from 1 to 6, would have been ; and they are indeed, as I trust they will be considered, fully adequate to the price charged for the work ; for the expences of publication are now enormous in every article, and peculiarly disadvantageous to an individual who under- takes it at his own risk, and on his own account.
The shortness of the descriptions, and their being only familiar and noticing principally the uses and virtues of the plant, may perhaps be dissatisfactory to some of the scientific gentlemen of the present enlightened age, and probably little botanical information may this work afford to them ; but my attempt was of a more humble nature, and only promised coloured Plates and a Catalogue with concise and familiar descriptions of many species : for it has been said a great book is a great evil. I have included in the text particular accounts of the medical virtues of the greater part of the most valuable American plants and Indian remedies, and a catalogue and arrangement of the remainder will be found in the Appendix and Addenda ; many of which genera and others are common to England and North America. Should a full botanical description of a particular species or genus be required, reference may be had to Martyn's Dictionary, the Genera Plantarum, or an Encyclopaedia.
I have likewise added a Nosological Table of the more frequent diseases, for the purpose (with the assistance of the Table of the Medical Virtues of Plants, in the second number,) of re- ferring to the pages where the plants useful in each disease, are to be found, and also a Table of Climates and Habitats, with Catalogues, Addenda, and a general Index, containing the common names of the plants, with pages of reference. Some omissions, and other in- teresting particulars, are thrown into an Appendix. The names of many subscribers not having yet come to hand, has prevented the insertion of that list. Some copies are bound up with Plates not coloured, upon the same paper, for the convenience of those who may wish to colour them themselves, and some without any Plates, at a price proportionably low.
Thus far respecting the Mode adopted in bringing these Sketches to a conclusion. I beg leave to add a few general observations.
The learned and amiable Sir William Jones has observed, " I grieve to see Botany imperfect in its two most important articles, the Natural Orders and Virtues of Plants, between which I suspect a strong affinity. I envy those who have leisure to pursue this bewitching study. If Botany could be described by metaphors drawn from the science itself, we may justly pronounce a minute acquaintance with plants, their classes, orders, kinds, and species, to be as flowers which can only produce fruit by an application of that knowledge to the purposes of life ; particularly to diet, by which diseases may be avoided, and to medicine by which they may be remedied." In another passage he describes Botany as an elegant and delightful study for a well born and well educated female, and one the most likely to assist and embellish other female accomplishments."
n
U ti
il a a n
Xll
The importance of the above observations must forcibly strike every reader, and I cannot myself imagine a more useful or delightful employment, if leisure and fortune allowed, than the cultivation of indigenous plants of our native country ; and the introduction and natural- ization (as they habituate themselves in a wonderful degree) of plants from other countries, with constant trials and experiments to ascertain all the uses and virtues of each, thereby to increase the subsistence and comforts, and lessen the ills of our fellow- creatures. Our most valuable staples and finest fruits in the West-Indies have been introduced, and flourished freely; and it is impossible to say to what extent this might be carried. Happy the man who has it in his power so to serve his country. The superintendants of our Botanic gardens in the East and West-Indies might be encouraged to devote their whole time to this ; and the constant interchange of seeds and plants between both parts of the world, should be their bounden duty, as it would be their pleasure and advantage. Reports printed at different stated periods, would be also of the greatest use ; and every facility should be given to the distribution of plants and seeds, freely to all applicants; also of seeds of esculent plants to the negroes. A plan of this kind steadily followed up, as to the Botanical Garden in Liguanea, would be highly worthy of that loyal and patriotic body of liberal and enlightened men, — The Honourable House of Assembly of Jamaica.
The celebrated Professor Barton, of Philadelphia, makes the following observation in one his works :
The man who discovers one valuable new medicine, is a more important benefactor to his species, than Alexander, Ca-.sar, or an hundred other conquerors. Even his glory, in the estimation of a truly civilized age, will be greater and more lasting than that of these : admired ravagers of the world. I will venture to go farther,— all the splendid discoveries : of Newton, are not of so much real utility to the world, as the discovery of the Penman te Bark, or of the powers of Opium and Mercury."
It may perhaps be said that if the remedies mentioned in this work were really cures for the diseases noticed, that there should be no diseases at all. One of the causes that they exi* in such lamentable abundance, and diversified forms, has been the prevalence of luxury, and total^ inattention to diet and regimen, attention to which, with other measures of prudent pre- vention, would preserve the health unimpaired, under the most unfavourable circumstances and climates, as I have myself experienced. Another cause is that these virtues and uses of plants are not sufficiently known, or if known, not attended to. Some wili again gay, our Materia Medica is already too full; but probably it might b found advantageous if other valuable articles were introduced, and some most, perhaps, pernicious ones now in it, rejected. Substitutes for the medicines composed of minerals, might surely be found in the vegetable kingdom, if that was sufficiently known and attended to : it is perhaps as yet not 1 misunder- stood. There certainly appears to be something incongruous between mineral substances, always very active when net in quantity to be- poisonous, and the exquisitely tm « of
Xlll
the stomach and intestines. Vegetables once supposed poisonous have proved by experience to be noble remedies: witness — Fox-glove, Stramonium and Opium. Many a life has been sacri- ficed, sooner or later, at the shrine of Mercury — more insatiable than the altars of Moloch; or what has perhaps been worse to thousands than immediate destruction, the c institution has been ruined, the powers of the mind injured, and years of ill health and to. meat have drag- ged their slow length along, from the use of mercury and other mineral medicines.
Let us for example compare Dover's Powder, an excellent diaphoretic, composed of opium and ipecacuanha, (both vegetable productions), to James's Powder, composed of antimony, an active remedy in skilful hands; but the imprudent use of which is supposed to have hastened, if not caused the death of the great philanthropist — Howard.
The choice of remedies is also of consequence in particular circumstances and constitutions, and simple remedies have been sometimes found of avail when officinal medicines have failed. It should also be remembered that many of the medicines, allowedly the best in the Materia Medica, have been more recently discovered; and it was not by a backwardness and hesi- tation in disclosing its supposed virtues, that the power of Peruvian Park, and other of the noblest remedies was established ; and indeed we find that even this was given up after its introduction, and its use discontinued for many years. Other medicines equal in value to bark and opium may yet be discovered. It has been observed that botany is the only science known to savage nations, and they are frequently acquainted with the gen ral medical proper- ties of vegetables, (which knowledge was made use of by Patroclus and others, at the Siege of Troy ; or to go farther back, is as old as the Deluge) as well as their use for food ; and they also know ceconomical substitutes for the comforts and even luxuries of more civilized society, (sec the hided) by which they can enjoy many things for which we are in- debted to manufactures and commerce.
In giving an account of the virtues ascribed to plants, I have only humbly followed the example of Drs. Barham, Dancer, and other respectable authors mentioned in the Preface, as to West-Indian, and Dr. Barton, in his valuable works, as to American Botany. A great number mentioned have been made use of by myself, or within my actual knowledge; and the others are generally given on such information and corroboration as I conceive sufficient autho- rity : but in this case, even suggestions and repetitions, quotations and hearsay, are valuable, as trials may generally be made without any danger. The genus of a plant, and its natural order will also be a considerable guide, as there certainly exists an affinity of qualities between species of a genus, and the genera of a natural order. Facts are valuable, even hints have their use ; and when a path is once opened to the better knowledge of vegetable remedies, it may be taken up by those who have far better opportunities and abilities, by which not only their country, but the world at large would benefit.
XIV
It would be desirable that works on this subject, like a dictionary, should profit by, and make use of all the suggestions of former writers, rejecting such as had since been found inert upon trial, and adding the further results of collection and experience.
The volume of Nature it is true lies constantly open before our eyes, but like other objects always visible, it has scarcely yet been considered, never perused, or thoroughly studied. — I would be understood principally, as to medical virtues and exotic botany.
In the West Indies, particularly, a knowledge of the medical properties of plants growing around them is particularly desirable and valuable to persons living on plantations, as the attack of disease is remarkably sudden, its progress peculiarly rapid, and skilful medical assistance, which is to be found in the towns, (and to which I would recommend those who have it in their power, to apply without an hour's delay) being at a distance, seldom to be procured, and of course expensive. In general works, officinal plants are so mixed with long descriptions of those never used, or of no peculiar beauty or quality, that it requires more time and labour than most persons can afford to bestow, to separate and distinguish them. Premiums are constantly offered for improvements and discoveries in agriculture, arts and sciences ; and surely discoveries to preserve the health of our fellow-creatures, are also of importance, and Mould deserve reward; but in many cases it is difficult on this subject to trace the original author or suggester of remedies, which, however may afterwards become valuable ; and till they are strictly attended to, and fairly tried, the suggestions cannot be too often repeated.
The mode of preserving seeds to be sent to a distance beyond sea, as connected with the above subject, is of considerable interest and importance. Seeds should if possible be sent in their dried husks or capsules, and packed up in a bag or gourd, well secured from air and damp ; or they may be preserved in wax ; perhaps jars exhausted under the receiver of an air pump, and in that situation sealed up by a burning glass, would answer very well, and be the least trouble. Roots and slips that arc not in a growing state, might be packed up in moss, which will keep them alive a very long time. Some seeds have been known to vegetate after thirty years, — there is a great difference in this respect between different sorts; and the vegetation of old seeds may be assisted by the means mentioned in page 9.
From the views I entertain of the importance of this subject, I have perhaps, been too diffuse, but every attempt, however feeble, prompted by good intention to promote it, will be received, I trust, with candour and liberality by the public, and to it do I commit myself with hope.
TABLE
»v
CLIMATES AND HABITATS
OF
plants;
To ascertain, by a comparative View, to what Countries they are common, and to shew those which might be introduced from congenial or neighbouring Climates into any given one,
THERE are in all, between the Equator and the Pole, 30 Climates. In the 12 men- tioned below, and the 12 next towards the North Pole, the longest day increases by half hours; in the the remaining six, between the Polar Circle and the Poles, the days increase by months. The specification of the particular countries lying under the first twelve Climates, will be sufficient for the present purpose ; and it is interesting to observe, how many Plants are common to countries under the same Climate; and that this is not confined to the. same, but extends through two or three, perhaps 20 or 30, degrees of latitude. The principle it is intended to illustrate may be applied to a very great extent, and might be productive of the most beneficial and general advantages; as there are many valuable Plants which are not yet common, though it is highly important they should be so ; and with this object in view, it may be useful to observe, that the original Native country of a Plant is not of so much consequence to be known and kept in mind, as its Habitat, or the country where it has bexiome naturalized, and freely and spontaneously grows. The greater part of the most valuable Plants we know, are in this situation; for instance, the Potatoe, that invaluable root, is native of South America, about as many degrees to the South of the Equator as London is to the North; the Sugar Cane, Coffee, and most valuable Plants in the West Indies, are also Naturalized Foreigners. This is a most important subject, and should be attended to in its utmost extent, by superintendants of Botanic Gardens, both in the East and West Indies, to the incalculable advantage of both, and then the motto of the Jamaica arms might be applied to this subject : —
"INDUS UTERQUE SERVIT UNI."
11
The First Climate extends from the Equator to 8 deg. 25 min. North Latitude, and in it are situated the following countries and places: — the Gold Coast, and part of Ajan and Adel, in Africa; the Maldives, Sumatra, Malacca, and Borneo, in the East Indies; Gallapagos Isles, New Granada, Surinam, Cayenne, and Guiana, in South America.
The Second Climate extends from 8 deg. 25 min. to 16 deg. 25 min. and con- tains Senegambia, Negroland, and part of Abyssinia, in Africa; Ceylon, Siam, Madras, and Pondicherry, in the East Indies: also part of Cochinchina, the Phillip- pine Isles; Carthagena, Honduras, Panama, and Darien, in North America; the Windward Islands, as Barbadoes, Tobago, &c. in the West Indies.
The Third Climate extends from 16 deg. 25 min. to 23 cleg. 50 min. the Tropic of Cancer, and comprehends the Cape Verd Islands, part of Senegambia, Zabra, and Nubia, in Africa ; Arabia, in Asia ; Bombay, Calcutta, and part of Bengal, in the East Indies; Pegu, Ava ; Tonkin, and Canton, in China; the Ladrone and Sandwich Islands; part of Mexico; Cuba, Jamaica, Saint Domingo, Antigua, Mar- tinique, Gaudaloupe, and Porto Rico, in the West Indies.
The Fourth Climate extends from 23 deg. 50 min. to 30 deg. 25 min. and comprises the Canary Islands, Morocco, Tripoli, and Egypt, in Africa; the North of Arabia, part of Persia, the Mogul Empire, and part of China, in Asia; the Sand- wich Islands, California, New Orleans, New Biscay, and East Florida, in North America.
The Fifth Climate extends from 30 deg. 25 min. to 36 deg. 28 min. and con- tains part of the Azores, Gibraltar, and Sicily, in Europe; Madeira and the Barbary Coast, in Africa; Candia, Cyprus, Syria, Palestine, Persia, Tibet, and Nankin, in Asia ; New Mexico, Louisiana, Georgia, West Florida, North and South Carolina, in North America.
The Sixth Climate extends from 36 deg. 2S min. to 41 deg. 22 min. and com- prehends part of the Western Islands, Portugal, Spain, Minorca, Sardinia, Naples, the South of Italy, the Morea, and Greece, in Europe; Anatolia, Georgia, and Great Tartary, in Asia; Petin, in China; Korea and Japan; New Albion, part of Louisiana, Virginia, Maryland, and Pensylvania, in North America.
The Seventh Climate extends from 41 deg. 22 min. to 45 deg. 29 min. and comprises the North of Spain and the South of France, Corsica, the North of Italy and the North of Turkey, in Europe; Georgia and Tartary, in Asia; the Western Indians*
I'll
New York, New Jersey, and the Northern United States, part of New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia in North America.
The Eighth Climate extends from 45 deg. 29 min. to 49 deg. 01 min. and con- tains the North of France, Switzerland, and Hungary, in Europe; part of Turkey and Tartary, in Asia; Canada, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland, in North America,
The Ninth Climate extends from 49 deg. 1 min. to 52 deg. 0 min. and comprises the Netherlands, Germany, the South of England, part of Poland, and Russia, in Europe; Siberia, and part of Tartary, in Asia: the North part of Canada, and Newfoundland, in North America.
The Tenth Climate extends from 52 deg. 0 min. to 54 -deg. 27 min. and com- prehends Ireland, the midland counties of England, Holland, Hamburgh, Hanover, part of Poland, Prussia, and Russia, in Europe; Siberia, in Asia; Labrador, and the Esquimaux Country, in North America.
The Eleventh Climate extends from 54 deg. 27 min. to 56 deg. 37 min. and contains the North of England and Ireland, the South of Scotland, Denmark, Gothland, Courland, and Moscow, in Europe; Siberia, and part of Kamschatka, in Asia; Hudson's Bay and Labrador, in North America.
The Twelfth Climate extends from 56 deg. 37 min. to 58 deg. 29 min. and comprises the Western Islands, the North of Scotland, the Orkneys, part of Norwav* Sweden, and Petersburg^, in Europe; Tobolsk, Siberia, and Kamschatka, in Asia; Hudson's Bay, and Cape Farewell, in Greenland.
In the First Climate, New Granada, Surinam, Cayenne, and Java, the following Plants are found : — Arabian jasmine, arrack palm, areca palm, artemisia, moxa, anatto, bitter wood, quassia, balsam of capivi, coffee, clove, cokarito palm, cowhage, caruna poison tree, toxicaria, gout remedy, ipecacuanha, Indian rubber or caoutchouc, mangosteen mangrove, manicoli palm, nutmeg, mace, pepper, pine apple, sugar cane, trooley palm, Ticuna poison vine, (nearly the same as Macassar poison) and Upas poison tree.
Sumatra.— Benzoin, banyan, camphor, coffee, (but does not thrive) cassia, cherimoya, ebony, guaicum, matisia, myrtles, musa, mopa-mopa, (yields varnish) pepper, rattan- bamboo, silk-cotton, and wax palm.
Second and Third Climate. — Spanish North America. — Adam's needle, arums, Ame- rican aloe, arbour vines, balsam of capivi, bamboo reed, cocoa, cacti, cocos, cedar, calabash tree, de las meuritas, geraniums, gum-copal tree, gigantic sun flower, logwood, lilacs, lily root, liquid ambar, mahogany, mentzelia, melia, myrasols, mastic tree, maguey, nopal, (on which the cochineal insect feeds) oak, olive, plumeria, pome- granate, sage, splendid dahlia, sisyrinchium, silk-cotton, superb lily, sensitive plants, solanums, swallow wort, sweet sop, Tolu balsam tree, thistle, tomatoes, turnsole, tamarind, violets, vanilla, and wood sorrel..
Arabia. — Aloe, almond, amaranth, banyan tree, balsam of Mecca (amyris) bead tree, cacti, cotton tree, coffee, cocoa nut, date, euphorbia, fig marigold, fan palm, gourd, gum-arabic, liquorice, lily root, melons, orange, oil nut, pomegranate, plantain, staphelia, sugar cane, sycamore fig, sensitive plants, senna, tamarind, and white lily.
Further India and Cochinchina. — Arbour vine, amaryllis, Arabian jasmine, black ebony, banyan tree, betel pepper, black pepper, braziletto, bimbling plumb, babouls, butea superba, corypha palm, cardamon, capsicums, carthamus, croton, camphor, cocoa nut, carambolo, custard apple, caryota palm, carrissa, clearing nut, (for water) cotton, cloves, dracena ferrea, calamus rotaug, (producing dragon's blood) dillenia indica, dahlbergia, (a timber) datura metel, egg fruit, elate sylvestris, (elephant's food) elephant's apple, eagle wood, ferreola, ginger, gamboge, gourds, grapes, (of a very large size) hibiscus, hog plum, indigo, iron wood, Indian madder, Indian vine, justicia, (dyes green) jasmine, jack fruit, long pepper, lawsonia, laurel, love apple, lemon, lime, morinda, melons, mangosteen, Malabar nut, mangoe, morea, Mackaco nut, myristica, mountain rice, nux vomica, nutmeg, orange, plantain, pine, papaw, pillaw, rose bay, rose apple, sandal tree, sycamore fig, strawberry, spikenard, sweet potatoe, sago palm, soap berry, silk-cotton, strychnos, superb lily, teak wood, turmeric, tama- rind, thorn apple, and wild vines.
Third, Fourth, and Fifth Climate. — China. — Arbor vitae, azalea, arenaria, antirr- hinum, asparagus, astragalus, artemisia, aster, amaranth, acalvpha, andropogon, ash,
asplenium, banyan fig, balsamine, bamboo, bind weeds, barleria, Barbadoes millet, blitum, bradleia 21 — 8, buckthorn, briza, bidens, balm, brassica, burmannia, box- thorn, chesnut, china root, china aster, cowhage, calavances, china gourd, crotolaria, china rose, china pink, corispermum, cyperus, cynosurus, chenopodium, chrysan- themum, catstail, cenchrus, colutea, carduus, carthamus, cotton, chavv-whavv and camellia, (used to scent tea) capsicum, clematis, dolichos soya, (from which soy is made) daphne indica, dodder, dog's bane, day lily, euphorbia, elaeagnus, elephant's foot, ferns, four o'clock, globe amaranth, galangale, Guinea corn, gardenia, garlic, ginseng, hibiscus, hemp, hedysarum, ipomea, ixia, Indian shot, ixora coccinea, inula, ilex, Indian c©rn (grows from the equator to 5\ deg. but best between 30 and 40 deg.) juncus, kidney bean, kowleary or lofty corn, laurus, lobelia, lolium, leonurus, lee chee, (used to scent tea) leadwort, monarda sinensis, mallow, momordica, mimosas, nymphaea nelumbo, nettle, nauclea, orange, oily grain or sesame, ophioglossum, plantain, paper mulberry, panicum, poa, polygonum, potentilla, parsley, polypo- dium, pindail, psychotria, prickly yellow wood, red bead tree, rose bay, rice, rose, rumex, spurge, sarsaparilla, Solomon's seal, sweet potatoe, solanums, spindle tree, swallow wort, salsola, sow thistle, sida, sempervivum tectorum, scirpus, stratiotes, spider wort, sagittaria, sugar cane, tallow tree (croton sebiferum) tamarind, tea tree, tobacco, tribulus, thrift, trefoil, trichomanes, vine, vervain, valisneria, white mulberry, water lily, (with esculent root) water cress, willow, wild basil, water soldier, winter cherry, and yam.
The Fourth and Fifth Climates. — Egypt, Syria, and Persia.— Almond, arum, colocasia, atriplex, acacia, anemone, anthyllis, bead tree, box thorn, bay tree, cercis, cherry, carob, cedar, cocculus indicus, cyperus papyrus, caper bush, croton, coloquintida, cyperus esculentus, cocoa, date, egg fruit, exacanthus, fig, four o'clock, hibiscus, heath, hyacinth, henbane, jasmine, Jews' mallow, or sosumber (corchorus) lemon, lilac, lawsonia, Lebanon pink, mulberry, myrtle, mastic, mimosa, menispermum, melons, manna ash, momordica elaterium, nymphaea lotus, olive, orange, oleander, oil nut, pomegranate, peach, pistachia nut, prickly cupped oak, (produces Aleppo galls) plan- tain, poppy, rice, rhus, rushes, storax, sycamore fig, senna, saltwort, sumach, sugar cane, spurge, Syrian madder, smilax, scammony, sebesten, sesame, spikenard, trailing plum, tamarisk, thrift, tulip, vine, willow, and wild olive.
The Sixth Climate. — Japan. — Arum, aletris japonica, black pepper, bay tree, bamboo, branched asphodel, calla, cotton, camphor tree, camellia, cocoa nut, chamaerops, cycas, four o'clock, ginger, indigo, lily, mulberry, mimosa, orange, poppy, plantain, rose of Jericho, soybean, sugar cane, shaddock, star of Bethlem, trumpet flower, tallow tree, varnish tree, (rhus vernix) volkameria, winter cherry and willow.
Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Climates. — Tartary. — Aspen, amianthus, artemisia, asparagus, avena, ash, aster, buck wheat, barberry, buck thorn, bell flowers, briza, carduus, caltroppes, cassia, crassula, capsicum, cestus, cyperus, elder, elm, garlic,
VI
lien bane, ixia, Jerusalem oak, lily of the valley, loose strife, mulberry, madder, morea, nymphaea nelumbo, (seeds and roots eaten) oxeye, oak, poplar, pink, poa, pan- icum, pine, peony, rice (two crops) stone-crop, sophora, swertia, swallow wort, spindle tree, solatium, sanguisorba, scabious, syringa, tallow tree, tobacco, vine, vipers bugloss, Valeriana, veronica, willow, wax privet, and weeping thuya.
The following Countries south of the Equator produce the Plants mentioned.
Brazil. — Amaryllis formosissima, amyris elemi, banana, brasil, brasilian myrtle, cocoa nut, chocolate nut, copaiva, coffee, capsicums, canella alba, contrayerva, ebony, fustic, gourd, ginger, guaicum, ipomea quamoclit, jalap, logwood, melons, mechoacan, mahogany, nicaragua wood, plantain, potatoe, pine apple, pepper, rose wood, satin wood, scarlet fuchsia, tamarind, turmeric, wild cinnamon, and yam.
Cape of Good Hope. — Adansonia digitata, avicennia, African oak, bamboo, baobab, banana, butter tree, cocoa nut, cotton, capsicum, copal tree, crassula, cotyledon, dracaena draco, ebony, elais guineensis, euphorbia, Guinea grass, ginger, gourd, geranium, hassagai wood, indigo, iron wood, lemons, mangrove, maize, melon, mimosa Senegal, maccaw, mangles, mesembryanthemum, orange, oak, palm, papaw, pisango, pterocapus santalinus, pelargonium, protea argentea, rice, robinia, sugar cane, sweet cassava, sweet potatoe, sandal wood, schaa or croton, stone pine, stapelia, sago palm, scarlet-flowered guaicum, strelitzia regina, turmeric, tulip-tree of Guinea, tetrandra, taxus, weeping willow, yam, yelloAv wood, and zamia.
Chili. — Acacia, called jarilla, (yields an excellent vulnerary balsam) Chili straw- berry, (white tipped with purple) cacantahuen, (sudorific and febrifuge, but particu- larly useful in diseases of the throat) cullen, stomachic, [makes a vermifuge tea] cassia, senna, cypress, (in the Andine vallies) cedar, red, white, and lofty,- cacti (with thorns eight inches long) carob tree, ceratonia, has spines four inches long, used as nails; gentian, incense shrub, four feet in height, distilling gum, leaves of a whitish yellow, and a bitter aromatic taste ; maguta, a kind of rice; myrtle (seven kinds) the fruit of one yielding an excellent wine; potatoes, (indigenous, thirty kinds) payco, (for indigestions) puye, (the trunk supplies corks) palqui, (esteemed a febrifuge equal to bark) pines, quelghin, salsola kali, tuca, a species of barley; vira-vira,(expels the ague) wild tobacco, willow (with intire thin leaves of yellowish green, its bark is a febrifuge.)
Friendly Isles. — Aloe wood, aralia, areca, bamboo, bauhinia, bean, calambac, cajeput, canaria, producing gum elemi; cocoa nut, cucumber, canna, erythrina,eschy- nomene, euphorbia, eugenia, great fan palm, ginger, gourd, hibiscus, ixora, melaleuca cericadendron, mango, melon, orange, pomegranate, palmeto, plantain, pine apple, rice, sitodium and cynometra (with bags of oily kernels produced from the trunk) sandal wood, sago, sugar cane, sweet potatoe, tamarind, turmeric, and yam.
La Plata and Paraguay. — American pine, called cury, with red veins ; Algarobbaor carob tree, (St. John's bread) a broadpod, with beans or seeds of a brownish colour, the pulp whitish and sweet, makes bread, and an intoxicating drink by fermentation,
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called lagga, which is wholesome and diuretic, and cures consumptions, the pulp also fattens horses and cattle; the wood of the white carob is of a violet colour, and used for the keels of vessels; the black is smaller, and the pulp must not be eaten raw; the third sort resembles the acacia, yields a gum like gum arabic, and is used to dye black ; Alaba, is the petahaya of California, a delicious and refreshing fruit, which might be cultivated like the pine apple; Anguay, has violet pips of a triangular shape, used for necklaces; anana, ant tree, of a spongy nature, serves as a haunt for those insects; ambay, used to strike fire ; Angola pea, baroba, banana, borage, bean, barley, [about Buenos Ayres] cinchona, called pezoes; caa, [yields dragon's blood] cacao, cedars, lofty and abundant; chanar, cotton tree, cochineal, cacaquata (a species of aloe) canes, cucumber, cresses, figs, izapi, [drops water from its leaves copiously] indigo, Indian corn, from which is made a fermented drink called chicha; jalap, jujube, lemon, lettuce, leek, mangay, yields an elastic juice, is about the size of a cherry tree, with odorous white flowers and yellow fruit, like large plums ; mammou, the fruit grows on the trunk, and resembles the melon; molle, yields a copious and fragrant gum; manioc, mint, mane, the fruit of a beautiful plant, two feet high, resembles the almond in taste and form, and yields an oil better than olive; melon, mustard, mix vomica, nakalie, five feet high, a beautiful yellow dye ; orange, onion, palo santo, Paraguay tea is the produce of the caa, which resembles the orange, the tea is made of the leaves dried by a slow fire; peach, pomegranate, passion flower, yields a wholesome and exquisite fruit, like a small apple, of a golden colour, with red spots; potatoes, white, red and yellow; quabyra (in which a kind of ants form wax as white as snow which makes candles) quembe, a fruit of a cylindrical form, as thick as the fist, weighing two pounds, with a delicious pulp, on a creeping plant; rhubarb, with a leaf ending in a point; reeds, rosemary, rue, sarsaparilla, [root of a thorny plant] sassafras, seibo, a tree bearing violet blossoms ; timbabi, sup- plies a beautiful golden gum, which may be run into moulds ; tatay, produces a yellowr fruit like the mulberry; tarumay, resembles the olive, but inferior; turnip, umber, of a prodigious size, so as to shade fifty men; urucuy, a strong scarlet dye ; vanilla, vines [cultivated] white rhubarb or mechoacan, (grows like bryony) willow, wild asparagus, wheat [about Beunos Ayres] yacani, zamia, small at bottom and top, and bulging in the middle; zevil, yields a bark useful in tanning ; zepallo.
Madagascar. — Banana, betel, bamboo, benzoin, cocoa nut, corn, cinnamon, cotton, dolichos, ebony, flax, gourd, ginger, gummifera madagascariensis, whose juice concretes into an elastic gum, like the caoutchouc ; gumlac, Indian fig, indigo, mauritanian mulberry, with green fruit; nymphaea lotus, orange, pine apple, pomegranate, pepper, rice, tamarind, turmeric, water melon, and yam.
New Holland. — Arum macrorizon and esculentum, by culture and boiling becomes a mild farinaceous food ; Banksia, bellarderia scandens, bears a cylindrical fruit, and tastes like a roasted apple; ceratopotalum gummiferum, convolvolus, eucalyptus robusta, yields a brown gum ; elegant papilionaceous plants, are the platilybuim formosum and pultnea stipularis, embothyrum formosisimum, has large crimson blossoms, like peony ; New Holland mahogany, Botany Bay wood, or spotted red wood ; red gum tree, styphelia
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tubitlora, with fringed scarlet flowers like buckbean; sweet potatoes, and yams thirty pounds weight.
Otahcite. — Ava or kavy, is an intoxicating drink, from the piper mellisticum; bread fruit (aroo) five trees will support one man for 18 months, the inner bark makes cloth ; the wood, huts and canoes; the juice, cement and birdlime; crataeva, draceena terminalis, esteemed sacred, and employed in shading the Morais; evee [eatable] figs; mimosa, pandarus odorotissimus, inocarpus, [fruit resembles chesnut] paper mulberry, shaddock, terminalis clabra or tara ove.
Peru. — Acacias, aloe, amomum, algorob (incorruptible) achras sapota, broom, box, cedar, cotton tree, cabbage palm, cocoa nut, cotton shrub, chocolate nut, canna, cin- chona (two species) cardana alliodora (a large timber treer the leaves and fresh wood having a strong smell of garlic) capsicum (six species) calceolaria, cascarilla, datura arborea, ebony, ferns, gigantic fennel, (ferula) affords a very light yet strong wood; guaicum, jalap, large flowered jessamin, love apple, mangles, Maria (used for masts) majestic sun-flower, nasturtium, nolana, olive, palm (with roots rising six or seven feet above ground) pine apple, plantain, pepper (24 species) potato, (native) prosbata, quina-quina, sugar cane, salvia longiflora, turmeric, tobacco, tropaeolum, tamarind, wild coffee (coffea racemosa, berries used in the same manner as the other) wild orange, and willow.
Rio Janeiro. — Cactus, coffee, cacao, cotton, fern, grape vine, ipecacuanha (an herba- ceous plant, three feet high, single stem, and herbaceous leaves) indigo, mastic tree, mango, manioc, orambela, papaw, plantain, rice (cleaned by sand and sifted) sugar cane and wheat.
Society Ides. — Divoe, large as a potatoe, fiery and pungent, baked for one night, it as well as the mapooro is esculent; ehuoye, a kind of fern, grows in the marshes, when dressed is good food ; ehegan, a fruit of red hue, or watery apple, has filaments hanging from it which come from the core; hearee, or cocoa nut, affords meat, drink, cloth, and oil; mapooro like wild tarro, but smaller; paeea like potato, and of the nature of cassada, is grated, and washed several times ; rataa, like a chesnut, but bean-shaped, two inches and a half across, eaten roasted; shaddocks, from Friendly Isles; tarro, a root from 12 to 18 inches long, and as much round, the leaves used as spinach, it requires much dressing; tee, a small root, growing in the mountains, good eating, and produces a juice like melasses; yapple, larger than tarro, rather acrid, as arum, but good food, well prepared; yellow apple, evee, like a peach, oblong, with a stone, growing three or four in a bunch.
Van Diemeti's Land. — Apium prostratum, ancistrum, aletris, banksia iutegrifolia and gibbosa, camarina limodorum, caledolaria, carpodontos lucida, drosera bifurca, eucalyptus globosus, of an enormous size; embothrium leptospermum, epacris, exo- carpus expansa and cupressiformis, festuca, ficoide, glycine, lobelia, mazotoxeuron rufum, and reflexum, mimosa, morcea, melaleuca aster, orchis, plantago, ptolea, rechia glauca, scheflleria repens, terebinthinus, thcsium, utricularia.
The Stigma is usually placed on the top of the style, or if that part be wanting, immediately on the germ. It is a part of great importance, as it receives the dust of the anthers, and conveys it, or its effluvia, through the fine vessels of the style to the seed contained in the germ. Indeed, the anther and stigma are by Linnaeus considered as the essential parts of a flower, and, in the language of Botany, they constitute one. These parts being present, are sufficient to the production of fruit — without them, there can be none : the presence of the stigma implies that of the germ, as the anther does of the dust. It is exceedingly various in its form, generally downy or velvety, sometimes ramified finely, or filiform or thread-like ; single, bifid, trifid, quadrifid, quinquifid or globular; perforated, hooked, simple, flat and orbicular, spreading or rolled back. The stigma is also frequently bedewed with a clammy moisture, which is admirably adapted to catch the dust from the anther. In monaecious plants the female flowers are placed below the male, as is admirably exemplified in Sand Box-tree and Oil-nut.
V. The PERICARP, or Seed Vessel, Tfspi,peri, round, and xapn-o^, carpos, fruit, is a case or covering for the seed, which is present in most plants, though in some the seed is naked, and fixed on the end of the receptacle, and in others, contained in the bottom of the calyx. According to the diversity of its structure it takes the different apellations of Capsule, (capsulaj Silique, (siliqua), Legume, (legumenj, Follicle, (folliculus), Drupe, fdrupaj, Pome, fpomumj, Berry, (baccaj, Cone, fslrobilasj. Nut, fnuxj.
A Capsule, or Casket, is composed of several dry elastic valves which, usually burst open at the points, sometimes at the bottom or in the middle. If it consists of two valves it is called Bivalve, if of three Trivalve, and so on. The cavity of the capsule is called a Cell, (loculamenlumj, and, according to the number of cells, is denominated Unilo- cular, Bilocular, Trilocular, &c. The divisions of the cells are called Dissepimenta, and the substances connecting the partitions to the seeds Columellae. If it consists of three cells, with each a single seed in it, it is called Tricoccous. Capsules differ much with respect to the manner in which they open, as also in their form and suface ; thus we find them, round, oval, long, angular, jointed, &c. some smooth, others prickly, as Indian Shot, plate 3, fig. 1. and Arnotto, plate 3, fig. 21.
Silique, or Pod, has two valves, in which the seeds are fixed to both sutures alter- nately, as in Mustard, Radish, and Nephritic Tree, plate 9, fig. 6. When the seed vessel is small, short, or round, it is called a Silicle.
Legume, or Cod, has two valves, and the seeds affixed to one suture only, as in Beans, Peas, and Gum Arabic, plate 3, fig. 22.
Follicle, or Bag, sometimes called Conceptaculum, is a seed vessel of one valve, opening from top to bottom on one side, the seeds being attached to a receptacle within it, not to any suture, as in Bastard Ipecacuanha, plate 7, fig. 1.
Drupe, or Stone Fruit, is secculent or pulpy, having no external opening or valve, containing within its substance a stone, or nut, as the Plum, Sassafras, Sour Olive.
the two side ones, the Wings, (alee), and the lowermost, the Keel, (carina). The Corol is also called Compound, (composita), when it consists of a number of florets, placed in a common receptacle, and contained within a common calyx, as in Dandelion, Blue Bottle, &c. Of Compound Flowers there are three kinds — Ligulated, (ligulata), when all the florets are flat ; Tubulated, (tubulosa), when all the florets are tubular and nearly equal ; and Radiated, (radiata), when those in the centre are tubular, and those in the circumference flat and spreading. Double or Full flowers, fmulplicatus seu plenusjlosj last longer than simple ones, but are incapable of producing perfect seed.
III. The STAMEN is the male organ of generation, and is composed of three parts, the Filament, (jilamenlum ) ', the Anther, (anthera), from av$o$, anthos, a flower ; and the Dust, (pollen), which parts are all visible in Barbadoes Pride, plate 7- fig- 7. The fila- ment is the slender thread-like substance (sometimes called chives) which supports the anther, and connects it to some part of the fructification, most commonly to the corol, frequently to the calyx and receptacle, and sometimes to the pistil. It is in some taper- ing, in others of the same thickness throughout, smooth or hairy. The filaments in some flowers are very long, in others, entirely wanting. The anther is that part which contains the pollen, or impregnating dust, and when ripe, bursts and scatters it abroad for the use to which nature has destined it. In general it is composed of two oblong or roundish cavities, which burst longitudinally, in some plants gradually, in others, all at once, with considerable violence ; for this purpose the filament is curled up like the spring of a watch, and is suddenly set at liberty. In some flowers, which generally hang down, this dust is discharged through a hole in the top of the anther. It varies much in its shape, and takes the several ones, of round, flat, oblong, kidney-shaped, twisted, horned, or terminated by a membrane. When the filament is inserted near the end of the anther, it is called erect; or, oblique, when it is connected with the middle ; when the anther lies across, it is incumbent; if it turns as on a pivot, versatile, and where the filament is wanting, adnate. The dust is a fine powder, contained in the anther, for the purpose of impregnation, of a yellow colour; but from this it sometimes varies, as also in the form of the corpuscles, of which it is composed.
IV. The PISTIL, also called Pointal, is the female organ of generation, and contains the seed which is to be fertilized by the dust ; it is placed in the very centre of the flower, and is composed of three parts, the Germ, (germen), the Style, (stylus), and the Stigma, (stigma), which parts may be distinctly seen in the blossom of Calabash, plate 8, fig. 4.
The Germ, considered by Linnaeus as the ovarium or uterus of plants, is of various shapes, but is always situated at the bottom of the pistil. It contains the embryo seeds, and when mature, takes the name of Pericarp. It gives origin to the style, as in the Guaiacum Tree, plate 7, fig. 9-
The Style is that small pillar which grows from the germ, on the top of which is usually placed the stigma. In some plants the style is extremely short — in others entirely wanting. It corresponds to the vagina in animals.
sides this general cup, its own particular perianth. Its leaves are generally disposed in a radiated manner, as in Dogwood. The involucre belonging to each umbel, or bunch of flowers, is called Partial; that which grows at the base of the whole collection of umbels, is called General. In Fool's-parsley it is half-leaved, fdimidiatum.J
3. Glume, (Gluma) or Chaffy Husk, is a species of cup which chiefly belongs to grasses, and consists of one two, three or more valves folding over each other, like scales, and frequently terminated by a long stiff-pointed prickle, called the Awn, or Beard — for example, Rice, Mays, or Indian Corn.
4. Ament, (Amentum) or Julus, is commonly called a Catkin, and consists of a great number of chaffy scales, disposed along a slender thread, or receptacle, as in Hickory, Chinquepin, &c. Those flowers, supported by an ament, are generally destitute of petals.
5. Spathe, (Spatha) consists of a simple membrane, growing from the stalk in a sheath-like form, and wraps round the flower or flowers contained in it, till they are strong enough no longer to require its protection. It is sometimes simple, as in Narcis- sus, sometimes divided in two, as in Water Soldier, or imbricated, as in Plantain, and is common to flowers having bulbous or tuberous roots.
6. Calyptre, (Calyptra) from y.a,\utrot calupto, I cover, is peculiar to mosses.
7- Volve, (Volva) is membranaceous, and peculiar to mushrooms and funguses in general ; it is also called Ruffle or Curtain.
II. The COROL (literally, a Garland) is that delicate part of the flower which most attracts our notice, being generally beautifully coloured ; it is enclosed by, and situated next to, the calyx, and surrounds and protects the organs of generation. Linneeus says it is formed from the inner rind of the plant, as the calyx is from the outer. Its coloured leaves are called Petals. When the Corol is composed of one petal, it is called Mono- petalous, sain Arrow Root, plate 4, fig. 1. Dipetalous, as Enchanter's Nightshade, Tripe- talous, as in Water Plantain, Pentapetalous, as in Marsh-mallow, &c. or Polypetalous, as Water Lily, according to the number of pieces of which it is composed, two, three, five, &c. or many. The lower narrow part of a Monopetalous Corol is called the Tube, ( tubus ); the upper spreading part, the Limb, (limbus), as in Four o' Clock, plate 6, fig. 1. The lower narrow part of a Polypetalous Corol is called the Claw, (unguis), the upper spreading part, Lamina, as in Barbadoes Pride, plate 7-, fig- 7- The Corol also assumes dif- ferent names according to the diversity of its form. Bell-shaped, (campanulata) , as the Red Lily, plate7, fig. 2. Funnel-shaped, (infundibiliformis), as in Tobacco; Salver-shaped, (hypocrateriformis) , as in Four o'Clock, plate 6, fig. 1. Wheel-shaped, (rotata), as in Sa- vanna Flower, plate 6, fig. 3. Rose-like, (rosacea), as in Mammee Apple, plate 8, fig. 3. Gaping, (ringens), as in Sesame, plate 9> fig- 7- the opening of the latter is called the Mouth, (faux) ; when that is closed with an intervening substance, it is called Grinning, (personata), Twisted, (torta), as in South Sea Rose, plated, fig. 5. Undulated, (undulata) as in Calabash, plate 8, fig. 4. Butterfly-shaped, (papilionacea), as in Sweet Pea. This latter consists of four petals, the uppermost of which is called the Standard, (vexillum)^
A GLOSSARY;
OR,
EXPLANATION OF THE OUTLINES OF BOTANY, AND THE TERMS USED IN THE DESCRIPTION OF PLANTS.
A S the flower may be considered the termination or end of the old plant, and a pre- paration for the seed or rudiment of the new plant, it will be proper to begin with The Parts of Fructification, which are eight. 1. The Calyx, (Calyx.) 2. The Corol, (Corolla.) 3. The Stamen, (Stamen.) 4. The Pistil, (Pistillum.) 5. The Pericarp, (Pericarpium.) 6. The Seed, (Semen.) 7- The Receptacle, (Receptaculum.) 8. The Nectary, (Nectarium.)
I. CALYX, a general name, expressing the cup of a flower ; it is the termination of the outward bark, and surrounds, encloses, or supports the other parts of the flower, is usually of a green colour, but in some few flowers entirely wanting. It is various in its structure, and is distinguished by the several names of,
1. Perianth, (Perianthium) from xepi, peri, around, and ocvQo;, anthos, the flower, called Empalement, consists of several leaves, or of one leaf divided into several segments, it is then called Monophyllous, Diphyllous, Triphyllous, &c. or Polvphyllous, as it may consist of one, two, three, &c, or many segments. See plate 4, fig. 2. of the Perianths in Arrow Root and Indian Shot. It is called Common, when it supports and connects together a great number of florets — and Imbricated, when composed of a number of leaves lying one over the other, like scales or tiles on the top of a house.
2. Involucre (Involucrum) is, when the Calyx, usually consisting of several leaves, is situated at the foot of a number of flowers growing together, each of which has, be-
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Pome, or Apple, a fleshy seed vessel, without any external opening, containing within its substance a capsule, as the Apple, Cucumber, Melon and Mammee Apple, plate 3,
fig. 10.
Berry, a pulpy seed vessel, containing within its substance a number of naked seeds, as Raspberry, Currant, and Coffee, plate 3, fig. 5.
Cone, or Strobile, a species of seed vessel, composed of woody scales, within which lie the seeds; it is defined to be formed of an anient, with hardened scales; examples of this are found in the Fir, the Pine, &c.
Nut, expresses a pericarpium of extraordinary hardness, containing a kernel, and has no external opening, as the Filbert, Butternut, Antidote Coccoon, plate 3, fig. 21.
Propago. The seed of the mosses, which has no covering.
VI. The SEED is analogous to the egg in animals, and is defined by Linnaeus to be the rudiment of a new plant, similar to the parent stock. It consists of the part which is to be the new plant and of nourishment for it, till it has attained sufficient strength to provide for itself: the young plant consists of the Plumule and the Radicle ; the plumule rises into the air and constitutes the trunk and branches, the radicle pene- trates into the earth, and forms the roots. The plumule and radicle together are called the Embryo (corculum). The part which is to provide nourishment for the young plant forms the bulk of the seed, and consists generally of a farinaceous matter, fit for food, as in Corn, Rice, &c. or mixed with essential oil, as in Oil-nuts, Almond, &c. In most plants it is divided into two parts, called Cotyledons or Seed Lobes, which are sometimes converted into leaves, (though some have only one cotyledon). From the extremity of these arise a number of very minute vessels which unite as they proceed towards the embryo into which they enter in two distinct bodies. Many seeds have also a White (albumen)^ and some a Yolk (vitellus)^ but not commonly. The husk (cutis) sometimes called shell, (testa) incloses and preserves the cotyledons and embryo, and is composed of two coats of various consistence, having a duplicature which incloses the end of the radicle. The eye (hilumj is a mark in the end or middle of the outer husk, being the cicatrix, formed by the breaking off of those vessels which supplied the seed with nourishment. Seeds also generally have a small hole (foramen) between the eye and the radicle, and some are furnished with an additional covering termed an aril, (arillus) which is a substance very like parchment, exemplified in the Coffee. Seeds vary much in colour, see plate 3, also in number, from one, two, three, or four, to fifteen thousand, likewise in their form, and surface; some are crowned with a pappus, aigrette, or down. When placed immediately on the seed it is called Sessile, when on a footstalk Stipitated, as in Dandelion ; when the pappus consists of simple rays it is called Simple, when branched or feathered. Plumose; some are furnished with hooks. The surface of some is rough as Four o'Clock, plate 3, fig. 6, or reticulated like a honey comb, as in findars, plate 3, fig. 41.; some glossy, as Akee, plate 3, fig. 14.; others grooved, aj
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Musk-ochro, plate 3, fig. 26.; some round, as Soapberries, plate 3, fig. 11.; flat, as Sand Box, kidney shaped, as Capsicums, plate 3, fig. 7, and Cashew, plate 3, fig. 15.; or three cornered, as Buck-wheat ; oval, as Sweet Sop, plate 3, fig. 2.5.; twisted, as in Skrew Tree, plate 3, fig. 46.; acuminated, as Star Apple, plate 3, fig. 8.; pointed, as in Naseberry, and Sour Sop, plate 3, figs. 9» and 27. Nature has provided for their dispersion in several ways; some are furnished with a wing, as Mahogany, plate 3, fig. 60.; three wings, as Horse Radish Tree, plate 3, fig. 16.; or an inflated seed vessel, as Bladder Senna ; others are thrown out of the seed vessels by the elasticity of the valves, as Bal- samine, or an elastic spring surrounding the capsule, and others have long threads, which wrap round the arms of trees. Many are swallowed by birds, rats and squirrels, and after- wards voided entire; the Indians indeed think all their timber planted by squirrels. Seeds also migrate by Rivers, the Ocean, Winds, &c. They retain their vegetative power a long time, which in old seeds may be increased by moistening the earth with water, to which is added oxygenated Muriatic Acid.
VII. The RECEPTACLE is the end of the stalk, which supports all the other parts of fructification, and by which they are connected. It is called Proper, when it supports the parts of only one flower, and Common, when it supports several florets; this last belongs to the compound flowers. Umbel, when it supports from a common center, several small footstalks of proportionable lengths; Spadix is the receptacle of a palm, always branched, and produced within a Spathe or Sheath ; in the Indian turnip, and Skunk cabbage it is simple.
VIII. NECTARY is a part found in many flowers, and is extremely various in its forms and uses, sometimes united to the Petals, and sometimes separate from them ; appearing in some flowers as a gland secreting honey, in others, as a kind of vessel to receive it. It assumes the different forms of, threads, a cup, or a number of little cups, a beard, a gland, sometimes of a horn or horns, at others of a cockspur, which in some plants is extended to along point, as in Balsamine, and Chain Cotton, plate 8, fig. 1. The honey contained in it appears to be for the nourishment of the anthers and stigmas. In general when any part occurs in a flower whatever may be its form, if it does not appear to answer the pur- pose of any of the other parts of fructification, it may safely be considered a nectary.
Having described the parts of fructification, we now proceed to the other parts of the plant, beginning at
The ROOT (Radix) is generally understood to be that part of the plant which is under ground, and which draws forth nourishment from the earth necessary for the existence of the plant. The body of the root, or that which lies below the surface of the earth, is termed by Linnaeus the Descending Caudex, the fibrous part is termed CRadicula), which imbibes nourishment from the earth for the support of the whole plant. The root, like the stalk, consists of the Outer Bark, (cortex) the Inner Bark, (liber) the Wood, (lignum) and the Pith, (medulla). In duration it is — Annual, (annua) living but one year, — Biennial, (biennis) a root which continues to vegetate two years, and Pe- rennial, perennis continuing several years. Climates and cultivation have a great effect
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on the term of duration of roots of vegetables, as exemplified in the Oil Nut. Plants attaching themselves to the branches of trees are called Parasitic, parasitica as Vanilla Old Man's Beard and Dodder.
From their various shapes Roots assume the different appellations of
Fibrous, (fibrosa) having no solid body, but entirely made up of thread-like fibres, as the Grasses in general: if the fibres are very slender it is called Hairy Root, (capillaceaj.
Praemorse, (prcemorsa) a root which does not run tapering to its extremity, but seems bitten off, as the Scabious.
Granulated, (granulata) consisting of small knobs attached to the root by slender fibres, as in White Saxifrage.
Tunicated, (tunicata) consisting of many coats, each forming concentric layers, as Onion.
Fusiform, (fusiformis) Spindle-shaped, or Tap-root, a root which tapers downwards to a point, as in Carrot, and in Arrow-root, plate 1, fig. 2.
Subrotund, (subrotundus) a root which is nearly round, as in Turnip.
Solid, fsolidus) of one substance, and not disposed in coats or scales, as in Crocus.
Squammose, ( squamosa Ja. root composed of scales lying over each other, as in the Lilies.
Creeping, (repens) running underground, and sending forth shoots at the joints, as the May Apple.
Dentated, (dentata) a root having many tooth-like knobs, not attached by fibres, as in Tooth wort.
Reptant, (reptans) running on the surface of the ground and taking root at the joints, as Mint.
Tuberous, (tuberosa) consisting of subrotund bodies, collected into a bundle, as in
Sweet Potatoe, plate 1, fig. 11. and Yams, plate 2, fig. 45. It is called Palmated, when
it spreads so as to resemble a hand. Fasciculated, when collected into a close bundle,
Pendulous, when the knobs hang down, as in Sun Flower, Duplicate, composed of two
joined together as the Ophrys, vulgarly called in America, Adam and Eve.
Truffle, ( ' ly coper don ) is all root, without stalk or leaves.
The STALK is that part of the plant which rises immediately from the root, and sup- ports the leaves, flowers and fruit ; it is termed by Linnaeus the ascending Caudex, and is very similar in its structure to the root, consisting of the outer and inner bark, and the sap (alburnum), a soft white substance between the inner bark and the wood, which, in pro- cess of time acquiring solidity, becomes the wood, in the centre of which is the pith, which disappears as the trees grow old. The inner structure of plants is found to be chiefly composed of tubes and cells for conveying air and circulating the sap and proper juices of the plant. Some stalks, on being cut, emit a milky juice, and are thence called lac- tescent, as the Physic Nut. Linnaeus enumerates four kinds of stalks, Stalk or Stem, (caitlis) from KavXaS, (kaulos) that stalk which supports both the fructification and leaves, and is common to plants in general. Straw, (admits) peculiar to the
11
grasses, proceeding immediately from the root, generally cylindrical and jointed, plate
1, fig. 8 — 9, but sometimes triangular, as in Adrue, plate I, fig. 10. Scape, (scapusj which supports the fructification, but not the leaves, as in Lily of the Valley. Stipes- a kind of stalk peculiar to the fungi and ferns. When the stalk dies down to the root yearly, it is called herbaceous, (hcrbaceus.) If it continues and produces buds it is called Shrubby, (fruticosus) or Woody, (arboreus). \\\ trees it is generally called the Stem. Stalks vary also very much in their form and appearance, the following most frequently occur: Aculeated, (aculeatus) beset with sharp prickles, as in Melon Thistle and Dildoe, plate 1, fig. 23 and 24. Two edged, (anceps) forming two angles opposite to each other, as in Sisyrinchium. Angulated, (angulatus) having many angles. Three-Sided (Trigonus.) Compressed, (compressus) compressed on opposite sides, so that the transverse section forms an Ellipsis, as Poa Compressa. Tubular, (fistulosus) a hollow stem as in Elder. Foliose, (folinsus), covered with leaves, as Tuberose. Hispid, (hispidus) covered with prickles, superficially rooted, as in the Mad Apple. Pithy, (inanis) neither solid nor tubular, as in Papaw, plate
2. fig. 50. Naked, (niidus) without leaves or branches. Procumbent, (procumbensj lying horizontally along the ground, as Convolvulus. Ramose, (ramosus) having many branches. The branches of the stalk are called (rami.) Very ramose, (ramosis- simus) abounding with branches irregularly disposed, as Naseberry, Star Apple, plate 1. fig. 12. Creeping, (repens,) running horizontally along the ground, and sending forth radiculae at the joints. Sarmentose, (sarmentosu?) a creeping or climbing stalk, al- most naked, producing leaves at the joints, as the Vine. Climbing, (scandens), as the Coccoon Antidote. Simple, (simplex) a single stem up to its top, not dividing, as the Cocoa nut, plate 2. fig. 42. Solid, (solidus) a stem having substance, opposed to tu- bular and pithy. Thorny, fspinosusj having strong woody prickles, as Cashaw, Fin- grigo and Nephritic Tree, plate 9, fig- 6. Striated, fstriatus) grooved or superficially channelled. Hanging down, ( dependens ) as in Weeping Willow and Mangrove, plate 1. fig. 22. Sulcated, (sulcatus) deeply grooved or channelled. Stinging, furensj as Thistle. Volute, (volubilis) twining up a pole or stem of another plant in a spiral form, as the Yam, plate 2, fig. 4.5.
LEAVES, (folia) are defined to be fibrous and cellular processes of plants, which are of various figures, but generally extended, with a flat membranous or skinny substance; they appear to be the organs of perspiration and inspiration, and are composed of the woody substance, similar to the bones in the human body, distributed in ramifications through the middle of the leaf, which gives it firmness and durability. The Fleshy or Pulpy substance, (parenchyma) forming its principal substance, and giving the leaf its green colour. These two parts are covered on each side by a membrane or skin, which is con- siderably tougher than the fleshy part ; on the under side this appears to be furnished with a number of absorbent vessels to imbibe the humidity of the air. Leaves are prima- rily divided into Simple and Compound. A Simple Leaf is such whose footstalk is ter*
12
minated by a single expansion, and assumes many different names, of which the following are some of the principal and most common. First as to their duration.
Caducous, (caducum) falling off at the first opening of the flower.
Deciduous, (deciduum) falling off with the flower.
Permanent, fpersistens) remaining till the fruit is ripe.
The above terms are also made use of to express the duration of the Perianth.
Ever-green, f semper vir ens J the longest degree of duration.
Second, as to their disposition, insertion and direction, they are termed,
Floral, (Jlorale) immediately attending the flower, as in Chain Cotton, plate 8, fig. 1.
Rameous, frameum) seated or inserted on the branch, as in Calabash, plate 2, fig. 30.
Cauline, (Caulinum) growing immediately on the stem, without the intervention of branches, as in Plantain, plate 2, fig. 49, and the Palms.
Axillary, (axillare) proceeding from the angle which the branches form with the stem.
Radical, (radicale) proceeding immediately from the root, as Thatch, plate 2, fig. 51.
Seminal, (seminale) or seed leaf, into which the cotyledons of the seed expand.
Adnate, (adnatum) growing close to the stem, sometimes called Sessile.
Connate, (connata) when two leaves opposite are joined at their base, so as to have the appearance of one, as in Honey-suckle.
Drowned, (demersum) sunk under water, as Valisneria Americana.
Decussated, (decussata) growing opposite in pairs and each pair being alternately on opposite sides of the stem.
Distichous, (disticha) growing in two rows on two sides of the branch only.
Fasciculated, ( fasciculata ) growing in bundles or bunches, as in Hemlock, Pine, Pitch- pine, &c.
Imbricated, (imbr'icata) lying over one another like the tiles of a house.
Peltated, (peltatum) the footstalk being inserted into the disk of the leaf, not the base, as in May Apple.
Perfoliated, (perfoliatumj when the base of the leaf surrounds the stalk, it appearing to pierce or go through it, as in Thorough Wort.
Pixidated, (pixidatum) one leaf let into another as in Horsetail.
Reclinate, (recl'matum) bending downward, the top lower than the base, as in Choco- late Nut, plate 2, fig. 34.
Recurvated, (recurvatum) bending in a greater degree than reclinate.
Revolute, (revolutum) rolled backwards, as Wild Rosemary. Involute, (involutum) rolled inwards.
Vaginant, (vaginans) the lower part of the leaf, forming a sheath to the stem.
Whirled, (verticillatum) surrounding the stem like the radii of a wheel.
Inflexed, (infiexum) bending upwards towards the stem.
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From the variety of their forms and surface they take the following names.
Scymeter-shaped (acinaciformej one edge convex and sharp, the other straiter and thicker.
Acerose, (acerosum) surrounded at the base by chaffy squammae, as in Cedar. Pointed, ( acuminatum J terminating in a long tapering point, as in Spanish Dagger, plate 2. fig. 53.
Acute, (acutum) terminating in an acute angle, as in Indian Arrow Root, and Indian Shot, plate 4, figs. 1 and 2,
Aggregate, (aggregate) so regularly composed that a leaf cannot be taken away with- out destroying the uniformity of the whole, as Houseleek.
Blistered, (bultatum) when the parenchymatous substance rises higher than the veins, as in Clary, plate 4. fig. 4.
Ciliated, (ciliatum) whose margin is finally edged with hairs, as in American Live for ever. '
Notched, (crenatum) bluntly notched with angles inclining towards neither extremity, sometimes with segments of small circles, as Wild Sage, plate 9, fig. 4.
Undulated, fcrispumj from the margin of the leaf being too long for the disk. Toothed, (dentatum) diverging remote points on the margin, as Vervain, plate 4^ fig. 3.
Eroded, ferosumj when the margin appears gnawed or bitten. Gibbous, fgibbum) when the intermediate pulp renders both sides convex. Lineare (lineare) straight, narrow and the sides nearly parallel, as in Wild Worm- wood.
Nervous, (nervosum) having nerves or vessels, extending themselves from the base to the apex without branching out, as in Cinnamon, plate 7, fig. 5.
Palmated, (palmatum) divided in several parts beyond the middle, as the Bread Fruit, plate 2, fig. 38.
Serrated, (serratum) notched with teeth like a saw, inclining to the apex, or top of the leaf, as in Jack in a Box, plate 9> fig. S.
Spatulated, (spatulatum) roundish at the top, but lengthened by a narrower base in a form of a Spatula, as in Calabash, plate 8, fig. 4.
Spinose, (spinosum) having strong sharp prickles, as Mexican Poppy, plate 9, fig. 1. Tomentose, (tomentosum) covered with numerous white hairs, closely matted. Venous, (venosum) whose veins branch and spread over the whole surface of the leaf. Stinging, furensj burning, as Nettle. Wrinkled or plaited, Plicated, fplicatumj as Sea Eryngo.
Woolly, (villosum) downy, covered with distinct soft hairs.
Lanceolated, (lanceolatum) oblong, gradually tapering towards each point, as Bastard Ipecacuanha, plate 7, fig 1.
Rooting, (radicans) as the Aloe, Squill, &c. which will vegetate.
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Compound leaves are such whose footstalks are terminated by more than one expan- sion. The principal distinctions are,
Articulated, ( articulatum J when one leaf grows from the extremity of another, as in Prickly Pear, plate 1, fig. 25.
Digitated, (digitatum) a number of small leaves connected to the extremity of a foot- stalk, like Radii, as in Horse Chesnut.
Pedated, (pedatum) when the footstalk divides into two and connects the leaflets on the interior sides only as in Passion flower.
Pinnated, (pinnatum) when many leaflets are connected or grow on each side of a com- mon footstalk, as in Barbadoes Pride, plate 7» %• 7-
Binate, fbinatum) having two leaflets on one stalk, as in Jeflersonia Binata.
Abrupt, (abruptum) when the same terminates abrupt or without a leaflet, as in Tamarind, plate 5, fig, 1.
Ternate, (ternatum) having three leaflets, as in Strawberry.
Interrupt, (interruptumj when the leaflets are alternately less.
Doubly Pinnated, (bipinnatum decompositumj.
Trebly Pinnated, ftripinnatum supra decompositumj .
Fronds (frondesj expresses leaves consisting of several other leaves and forming the whole of the plant ; as is the casein the fern kind, in which the fructification being on the back of the leaves, the single leaf makes the whole plant. In this case it is not called Folium but Frons.
The other parts usually attendant on the stalk, are called by Linnaeus
SUPPORTS, (Fulcra, from Fulcrum, a prop) and are calculated either to assist the plant in its growth, or to defend it from injuries. Of these he enumerates seven different kinds.
Bracts, fbractca) leaves growing with the flower, and usually differing greatly in shape and colour, as in Chain Cotton, plate 8, fig. 1.
Hairiness, (pubes) all kinds of hairiness, whether fine or coarse, whether terminating in a sharp point or viscid globule, as in Egg Fruit.
Petiole, (petiolus) the footstalk of a leaf, which it supports without any flower.
Peduncle, fpedunculusj the footstalk of a flower.
Stipules, ( stipules J from a-luty, stupe, two small leaves usually placed in pairs at the joints, mostly of leguminous plants, also in the Tulip Tree, the Peach, &c.
Tendril, (cirrus) a clasper, by which the plant fastens, itself to any other body, as in Winged Pea, Granadilla, Grape, Ivy, and many Cucubitaceous plants.
The following are termed ARMS, (arma)
Prickles, (aculea) which are superficially fixed only in the rind.
Forks, (furcae) when several grow together ■; they are called bifid, as in Horned Acacia, trifid, as in Honey Locust, &c.
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Thorns, (spina) rigid prickles growing from the woody part, as in Nephritic Tree3 plate 9, fig. 6. Orange Tree, Aloe, Thistle, plate 9, fig. 1. and Thorn Apple.
Stings, (stimuli) are the pipes of a small bag furnished with a venomous fluid.
Glands, (glndulcp) in different forms, are found in many plants, as Cassada, Oil-nut, Gum Arabic and Mountain Ebony.
INFLORESCENCE, is the mode in which plants flower; the principal of which are,
Whirl, (verticillus) the flowers disposed circularly at each joint of the stem, having very short peduncles or footstalks, as in Mint or Horehound.
Spike, (spica) ranged alternately, or all round a simple stalk, as in Wheat or Mullein.
Bunch, (racemus) each flower furnished with a short proper footstalk proceeding as lateral branches from the common one, as in Grapes or Pokeweed.
Panicle, (panicula) disposed on footstalks, variously subdivided, as in Guinea Grass.
Thyrse, (thyrsus) a panicle, contracted into an oval or egg-shaped form, as in Lilac or Horse Chesnut.
Umbel, (umbella,) footstalks proceeding from a common centre and rising to an equal length, so as to form an even or round surface at top, as in Wild Sage, plate 9, fig. 4, in Parsley, Ginseng.
Cyme, (cyma) the footstalks proceeding from a common centre, and rising to the same heighth, but the secondary footstalks irregularly disposed, as in Elder and Dogwood.
Corymbe, (corymbus) the partial flower stalks produced along the common stalk on both sides, and though of unequal length, rising to the same heighth.
Head, (capitulum) a mode of inflorescence in which many flowers are collected at the summit of the footstalk, as in Bachelor's Button.
Bunch, (fasiciilus) the peduncles erect, parallel, placed close, and equal in height, as in Sweet William, Globe Amaranthus.
ON THE CLASSES AND ORDERS OF PLANTS.
A CLASS is the first and highest division of every system. The classic character is constituted from a single circumstance, as the words in a dictionary are arranged by a single initial letter ; this one circumstance must be possessed equally by every plant ad- mitted into the class, how different soever they may be in other respects. Linnaeus has made choice of the Stamens, and has founded his classes on their number and situation, and his System, or mode of arrangement, (though not entirely exempt from imper- fections) has now been so generally received and adopted, that, it has nearly su- perseded all the rest, and his language become the universal language of Botany. lie has divided the vegetable kingdom into twenty-four classes. The first ten, 1 — 10; include plants in whose flowers both Stamens and Pistils are found, (thence called Her- maphrodite) in which the stamens are neither united nor unequal in height when at maturity. These are therefore simply distinguished from each other by the number oi>' stamens in each flower, and are compounded of the Greek numerals f*owf> mones..
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one, ft;, dis, two, fpets, treis, three, tsa-a-apss, tessares, four, tevte, pente, five, s£, <?a-, six, «rr«, e/><«, seven, oura, okta, eight, s^a* ennea, nine, &xa, efe&«, ten, and the Greek word eanjp9 aner, a Male, joined to them, to signify one Male, or Stamen, two Stamens, three Sta- mens, &c. as far as ten Stamens. 1. Monandria, 2. Diandria, 3. Triandria, 4. Tetran- dria, 5. Pentandria, 6. Hexandria, 7. Heptandria, 8. Octandria, 9. Enneandria, 10. Decandria.
11. Dodecandria, from SwSem, dodeca, twelve, and ayyp, aner, a Male, Hermaphrodite flowers having from twelve to nineteen Stamens, fixed to the receptacle.
12. Icosandria, from ejKotr;, eikosi, twenty, and a-vfjp, aner, a male, hermaphrodite flowers, having twenty Stamens and upwards, inserted into the calyx.
13. Polyandria, from itoxvg, polus, many, and aveg, aner, a male, hermaphrodite flowers having from twenty to a thousand Stamens, inserted into the receptacle.
14. Didynamia, from ft;, dis, double, and ftjvap;, dunamis, power, hermaphrodite flowers having four Stamens, two long and two short.
15. Tetradynamia, from mo-crapes, tessares, four and Suva^s^ dunamis, power, herma- phrodite flowers having six Stamens, four long and two short.
16. Monadelphia, from povos, monos, one, and a.hx<pog, adelphos, a brother, hermaphrodite flowers having the Stamens united by their filaments into one body or brotherhood.
17- Diadelphia, from ft;, dis, two, and aft-xpo;, adelphos, a brother, hermaphrodite flowers having the Stamens united by their filaments into two bodies.
18. Polyadelphia, from iro\v;, polus, many, and a$s\<pos, adelphos, a brother, hermaphrodite flowers having the Stamens united by their filaments into three or more bodies.
19. Syngenesia, from <rw, sun, together, and ysvsa-is, genesis, generation, hermaphrodite flowers having their Stamens united by their anthers (seldom by their filaments), into a cylinder.
20. Gynandria, from yws, gune, a female, and avsp, aner, a male, hermaphrodite flowers having the Stamens sitting on the pistillum, or on an elongated receptacle.
21. Monaecia, from povos, monos, one, and owa, oikia, a house. Male and female flowers on the same plant.
22. Diaecia, from ft;, dis, two, and omot, oikia. a house. The male flowers produced on a separate plant from the female, or the Stamens growing on one plant, and the Pistil on another.
23. Polygamia, from voXvc, polus, many, and ya.uo$, gamos, marriage, hermaphrodite and also male or female flowers on the same plant.
24. Cryptogamia, from Kpvittos, cryptos, hidden, and yxpos, gamos, marriage, the fructi- fication hidden within the fruit, produced in some unusual manner, or no visible Stamens.
The first 20 Classes, are hermaphrodite flowers, or having Stamens and Pistil in one flower. The first 11, depend on number ; only the 12th and 13th Classes, depend on number and insertion; the 14th and 15th on number and equality ; the 16th, ;7th, 18th,
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and 10th on connection ; the 20th on insertion only ; the 21st, 22nd and 23rd on situa- tion ; and the 24th on absence.
An ORDER is the second division in the system, and in the first thirteen Classes from Monandria to Polyandria, is denominated from the number of Pistils; the greek numerals povo;, monos, kg, din, fguf, treis, &c. are compounded with the word ywy, gune, a female, forming the terms Monogynia, Digynia, Trigynia and so on to Polyginia, one, two, three, and so on to many Pistils. In numbering the Pistils, count from the bottom of the styles ; but if the styles are wanting, the calculation is made from the numbers of stigmas.
The 14th Class Didynamia, has the following orders,
Gymnospermia, from yvpvos, gumnos, naked, and <nre^fMs, spermos, a seed, having the seeds naked, and contained in the bottom of the Calyx.
Angiospermia, from avyto^ angios, a covering, and (rireppos, spermos, a seed, having the seeds covered or contained in a pericarp.
The 15th Class Tetradynamia, contains two orders,
Siliculosa, seeds in a small, short, or round pod,
Siliquosa, seeds in a long slender pod.
The 16th, 17th and 18th Classes, Monadelphia, Diadelphia and Polyadelphia, take the names of their orders from the number of stamens, as, Pentandria, Decandria, Poly- andria, &c. according to their number.
The 19th Class, Syngenesia, contains six orders, viz.
1. Polygamia equalis, consists of many florets or little flowers, all of which have both Stamens and a Pistil. It is called aequalis or equal because the Polygamy is equal over the whole flower.
2. Polygamia Superflua ; the hermaphrodite flowers in the centre producing perfect seed, the female flowers likewise in the circumference producing perfect seed. It is called Superflua, or Superfluous, as perfect seed is capable of being produced by the hermaphrodite flowers in the centre without the concurrence of the female flowers in the circumference.
3. Polygamia Frustranea, when the hermaphrodite flowers in the centre produce perfect seed, but the flowers which form the circumference produce no perfect seed. It is there-' fore called frustranea, as the flowers in the circumference appear to answer no purpose in the production of the seed.
4. Polygamia Necessaria, when the hermaphrodite flowers in the centre produce no seed ; but the female flowers in the circumference produce perfect seed. It obtains the name of necessaria, from the flowers in the circumference being Necessary to the produc- tion of perfect seed.
5. Polygamia Segregata, when the florets are furnished with partial calices or cups, inclosed within one common calyx. It is called Segregata, the florets being separated from one another by the partial calices.
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6. Polygamia Monogamia contains flowers which are simple and no way compounded ; which is implied by the term Monogamia.
The 20th Class, Gynandria, takes the names of its orders from the number of the Sta- mens, as Diandria, Triandria, Pentandria, &c.
The 21st Class, Monaecia, takes its first eight orders from the numbers of the Sta- mens, and has also three other orders, Monadelphia, Filaments united, Syngenesia, An- thers united, and Gynandria Stamens, growing out of the Pistil.
The 22nd Class, Diaecia, takes the names of ten orders from the number of Stamens, has also four other orders, Monadelphia, Polyadelphia, Syngenesia, and Gynandria ; which terms have already been explained.
The 23rd Class, Polygamia, contains three orders, Monaecia and Diaecia already ex- plained, and Triascia, which signifies Hermaphrodite, male and female flowers growing separately on three distinct plants of the same species, as in Fig-tree, (Ficus).
The 24th Class, Cryptogamia, contains four orders,* — the Ferns, (Filices), the Mos- ses, (MusciJ, the Sea Weeds, (AlgceJ, and the Mushrooms or Funguses, (Fungi).
The further divisions of Plants are into genera and species, which gives them their generic and specific names. And also a further division, called a variety, which, however, is generally more regarded by Florists than Botanists, as it is frequently the effect of accident or culture, but may be produced by the application of ripe Pollen of different flowers to the stigma of others.
THE LINNjEAN
NATURAL METHOD OF CLASSIFICATION.
fSo called in Contradistinction to the Artificial or Sexual Method ) , arranges Plants according to their Appearance, Virtues and Uses, conform- ably to the affinities established by Nature, and is highly valuable, useful and interesting.
Order 1. Palmce, Palms, are perennial, of the Shrub or tree kind with simple stems, bearing fronds, or fan leaved ; and varying in height from two to two hundred feet. They generally have a branched spathe or sheath called a Spadix, as in Abbay, plate 2, fig. 55, and bear a fruit of the berry or nut kind, fit for food. The lofty are properly palms, as Cocoa Nut, plate 2, fig. 42, and the low, Palmetos, as Thatch, plate 2, fig. 51.
2. Piperita, (from Piper, Pepper), are perennial and mostly herbaceous, the roots when fresh, acrid, and the general character of the plants, astringent, as Dumb Cane, Arum, and Indian Betel.
3. Calamarice, (Reed like), the bottom of the leaf where it embraces the stalk undi- vided, example Adrue, (Cyperus), plate 1, fig. 10, and the mode of flowering generally a spike, their virtues and uses nearly the same as the following,
4. Gramina, (Grasses), herbaceous plants, sometimes creeping, at others upright, with fibrous roots mostly contained in Class Triandria Ord Digynia. All these plants are wholesome and valuable food, as Guinea Grass, plate 1, fig. 8. Bahama Grass, fig. 6. Scotch Grass, fig. 9, and Sugar Cane, fig. 5, also Indian Corn, plate 5, fig. 37, and Guinea Corn, fig. 47.
5. Tripetaloidce, (Three Petalled), nearly allied to the Grasses, as Arrowhead and Water Plantain.
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6. Ensatce) (Sword Shaped), a beautiful family of herbs, allied to the Liliaceous plants with fleshy roots and simple stalks, as Saffron and Flower de Luce.
7. Orchidece, (from Orchis), plants with fleshy knobbed roots, leaves spathaceous, flowers produced in a spike or panicle ; plants of this order, are generally considered Strong Aphrodisiacs, Example Vanilla, plate 3, fig. 45, and Bee Orchis, Ophrys.
8. ScitaminecBi (from Scitamentum agreeable food), beautiful plants, natives of Tropi- cal Climates, and furnishing exquisite fruits, some have a hot pungent taste, and the roots of many are resinous, example Indian Shot, plate 1, fig 1. Arrow root, plate 2 fig 1. Plantain Tree, plate 2, fig. 49.
9. Spathacece, (Sheath like). The flowers protruded from a sheath, as in Red Lily, plate 1, fig. ]6, and Oyster Plant, fig. 17.
10. Coronarice, (Crowned). Herbaceous plants with fleshy roots, (without a stem in some) the flowers seated on the top of the flower stalk ; the roots generally innocent except such as have a heavy nauseous smell. Example of this order, American Aloe, plate 1, fig. 15, Pine Apple, fig. 14.
11. Sarmentoste, (Shooting stemmed). Plants with climbing stems and branches, sup- porting themselves on neighbouring bodies, as Velvet Leaf and Yams, plate 2, fig. 45.
12. Holeracece, (Pot Herbs). Plants used for the table, and in domestic ceconomy, and the fruit esculent, as Cashew Nut, plate 1, fig. 21. Beet, Cinnamon, plate 1, fig. 18. Colilu, plate 2. fig. 39. Those used for seasoning, may be called Condiments, Condimenta.
13. Succulenta, (Succulent), flat, fleshy and juicy plants, of which the greater part, are evergreen. In their qualities astringent and refreshing, as Melon Thistle, plate 1, fig. 23. Torch Thistle, fig. 24. Cochineal plant, fig. 25. Hydrangea.
14. Gruinales, (from Grus, a Crane). Geraniums Cranes Bill, and other plants nearly similar, as Flax and Wood Sorrell.
15. Inwndatee, (growing in the water), aquatic and herbaceous plants, as Pondweed, Lily of Lake Champlain.
16. Calicijlorce, plants having the stamens inserted into the Calyx, of the Shrub and Tree kind, and generally astringent, as in Wild Olive, Eleagnus.
17- Calycanthemce, (from Calyx and av9oj, anthos, a flower), having the Corolla and Stamina inserted in the Calyx ; these plants also are frequently of an astringent quality, as American Wild Gooseberry, and Tree Primrose.
18. Bicornes, (Two Horned). Plants in which the anthers have the appearance of two horns, of the shrub and tree kind, and possessing astringent qualities, example American Honey-suckle, Bilberries, Mangostan, Forbidden Fruit, plate 2, fig. 35. and Indian Date Plum.
19. HesperidecB, (Golden Fruited). Plants of the shrub and tree kind mostly ever- green, and bearing esculent berries, as Guava, Rose Apple, and Pimento, plate 2, fig. 46.
20. Rotacece^ (Wheel- shaped), the petal in the shape of a wheel and no tube, as Pim» pernell and Gentian.
21
21. Precia, (Early), plants that flower early, as Primrose and Sow Bread.
22. Carophyllatte, (from the Genus Carophyllus). The plants of this order are innocent, have bitter seeds, attenuating and detersive, Examples Carnation, Pink, and Soap Wort.
23. Trihilatce, (Three-eyed), plants with three seeds marked distinctly with a hilum or eye, as Barbadoes cherry, Chaw Stick, and Maple.
24. Corydales, (Helmeted), from Kopvs, corus, a helmet. Plants with irregular Corols, somewhat resembling a helmet, as Balsamine, Fumatory.
25. Putaminea, (Hard Shelled), plants having a fleshy seed vessel covered with a woody shell, as Calabash Tree, plate 2, fig. 30. Garlick Pear.
26. Multisiliqute, (Many Podded), or rather having many seed vessels of the Capsular kind, and numerous seeds. The qualities of some, are Acrid and Purgative, example Pheasants Eye, and Virgins Bower.
27. Rhcedea, (from Rhaeas Red Poppy), plants emitting a milky juice, and of a nar- cotic quality, but externally applied, corrosive, as Mexican Poppy, plate 9, fig. 1- also May Apple and Puccoon.
28. Luridcs, (Lurid), plants whose appearance is ominous and indicating something noxious in their quality, generally of the fifth Class, as Night shade, or of the masqued tribe. The plants have an insipid taste, a nauseous smell, and are frequently poisonous, example Thorn Apple, Mullein and Deadly Night shade.
29- Campanacea, (Bell-shaped), plants with bell-shaped flowers — many plants of this order abound with a milky juice, and it furnishes valuable medicines and articles of food, Ex. Quamoclit, American Lobelia, Jalap, Sweet Potatoe, plate 1, fig. 11.
30. Contortce, (Twisted), plants having petals bent to one side — generally abound in milky juice, and are of a poisonous quality, as South Sea Rose, plate 5, fig. 5. Bastard Ipecacuanha, plate 7, fig. I. Periwinkle and Red Jasmine.
31. Vepreculce (Briar-like), plants resembling a Bramble, as Leatherwood and Meze- reon.
32. Papilionacece, (Butterfly-shaped), plants with papilionaceous flowers, of which numerous family, are all leguminous plants. Many of these plants are fit for food ; some emollient, vulnerary and astringent, examples Wild Liquorice, Dogwood Tree, Indigo, Pea, Bean, &c.
33. Lomentacece, (Colouring), plants furnishing useful and beautiful tinctures used in dying, as Brazil Wood, Logwood, Locust Tree, plate 7, fig. 8, Barbadoes Flower Fence, fig. 7, Nickertree, &c.
34. Cucurbitacece, (Gourd-like), these plants generally have Tendrils and climb, as in Granadilla, Antidote Coccoon, Tomatos, or run along the ground as Melons, plate 2, fig. 43.
35. Senticosa, (Bramble-like), resembling a bramble in their port and appearance, as the Rose, Raspberry, and Strawberry, their fruits are cooling, leaves vulnerary, and roots diuretic.
22
36. Pomacea, (from Pomum an Apple), plants having a pulpy eatable fruit, of the Apple, Berry, or Cherry kind, frequently subacid, mostly shrubs and trees, as Medlar, Apple, Currant, Hog Plum, plate 1, fig. 19» Pomegranate, Cherry, and Mango, plate 2, fjg. 52.
37. Columniferce, (Column bearing), plants whose Stamens and Pistil, have the appearance of a column or pillar in the middle of the flower, as plants of the Monadelphia Class, and Mallow Tribe; the Silk Cotton, plate 2, fig. 32, and Musk-ochro furnish beautiful specimens of this Order, the plants are mucilaginous and many excellent food, as Common-ochro, other examples are Arnotto, Tea Tree, and Skrew Tree, Jews Mal- low and Chocolate Nut, plate 2, fig. 34.
38. Tricoccce, (Three Berried), having a three cornered capsule with three berries and three seeds, as Papaw, Carica, plate 2, fig. 50, Cassava, fig. 40, Oil Nut, fig. 44.
39- Siliquosce, (Podded), plants having a pod for their seed vessels, as Cabbage, Mus- tard, Shepherds Purse.
40. Personates, (Masqued), having a gaping petal, as Sesame, or Oily Pulse, plate 9, fig. 7, Trumpet Flower, Fiddle Wood, and Garden Balsam.
41. Asperifoli<z, (Rough Leaved), principally herbaceous plants, their virtues cordial, vulnerary, and astringent, as Wild Clary, plate 4, fig. 4. Borrage, Cornfrey, &c.
42. Verticillatce, (Whorled), synonymous with Lip Flowers, herbaceous vegetables with four seeds, and the flowers placed in Whorls along the branches. Their virtues are fragrant, penetrating and cordial, as Jamaica Spikenard, Lavender, Orange Balm, Mint, &c.
43. Dumosa, (Bushy), plants thickly and irregularly set with branches, as New Jer- sey Tea, Naseberry and Star Apple, plate 1, fig. 12, and Mammee Apple, fig. 26. The berries of some, are esculent, and the flowers of many, cathartic. This order contains also Stafftree, Poison Sumach, Spindle Tree, Elder, &c.
44. Scpiarice, (Hedge plants), a beautiful tribe of woody plants proper for hedges, of the shrub and tree kind, as Lilac, Horse Radish Tree, Logwood, Arabian Jasmine Privet and Olive.
45. Umbellatee, (Umbelled), the plants of this order that grow in dry places are sudo- rific and cordial, as Parsley, Coriander, Cummin and many plants of Class Pentandria, Ord. Digynia, but growing in wet places they are poisonous, as Hemlock, Fools Pars- ley, &c.
46. Hcderacecc, (Ivy-like), creeping plants similar to ivy, parisitic or attaching them- selvesto others, as Dodder, Wild Grape, Ginseng and Tooth Ache Tree.
47. Stellatce, (Starred), plants with two naked seeds, the leaves and flowers disposed round the stem in form of a star, as in Coffee, plate 1, fig. 13, Wormgrass and Dog- wood.
48. Aggregates, (Aggregate), a number of small flowers growing together in a bunch, as Honeysuckle, Button Tree and Misletoc.
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49- Composite, (Compound), as Dandelion, Scabious, &c.
50. Amentacece, (Amentaceous), catkin bearing plants, as Willow, "Walnut, Juniper, Arbor Vitae, Sand Box Tree, &c.
51. Conifera, (Cone bearing), bearing the seeds in a cone or strobile, as Pitch-pine, Cedar, and Yew: they generally produce a resinous or gummy substance, with an agreeable smell, as Gum Sandarach ; and the Larches, Pines and Firs, also yield Tur- pentine, &c.
52. Coadunatce, (Joined together), the seed vessels numerous and slightly attached together. This order furnishes a beautiful collection of exotics with an aromatic smell and bitter bark, as the Custard Apple, Tulip Tree and Magnolia.
53. Scabridce, (Rugged), plants whose leaves are much rougher than asperifoliae. These plants are generally astringent, bitter and styptic, — example, Hemp, Contrayerva, plate 4, fig. 3, Fig, Hop, Mulberry and Elm.
54. Miscellanea, (Miscellaneous), not connected by numerous relations, as Duck-meat* Globe Amaranth, Pokeweed, Side Saddle Flower, and Mahogany.
55. Filices, (Ferns), plants bearing flower and fruits on the back of their leaves or stalk ; their virtues are opening and attenuating.
56. Musci, (Mosses), are in general cathartic, and sometimes emetic.
57 > Algm, (Flags), plants whose root, leaf and stem are all one, as the Sea Weeds.
58. Fungi, (Mushrooms), either creeping or erect, and seldom branched ; externally used, they are astringent and styptic ; as a food they should be used very cautiously, many being poisonous.
59. Dabii Ordinis, (Doubtful), those plants which cannot be arranged under any of the above orders.
Many plants of the order of Grasses produce sugar, and might thence be called Sac* chariftrcc, as the Sugar Cane, Indian Corn, Guinea Corn ; the Acer Saccharum of North America, also yields Sugar in considerable quantities.
Some plants also from the peculiarity of their fruit, which serves as a good substitute for Bread, might with propriety be called Paniferce, as the Bread Fruit, plate 2, fig. 38, the Plantain, fig. 49-
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24
CLASSIFICATION
OF THE
MEDICAL VIRTUES OF PLANTS.
I. GENERAL STIMULANTS.
Diffusible Stimulants. Narcotics, (narcotica), from vapHae, narkao, to render torpid, diminish the action of the system, relieve pain, and procure sleep, as poppy, thorn apple, tobacco, spotted hemlock, wild carrot, mountain laurel, broad-leaved laurel, azalea, mountain tea, black henbane, wolf's bane, deadly nightshade, hemlock, foxglove, Indian berries, camphor, prickly yellow wood, hops, ginseng, lettuce.
Antispasmodics, ( antispasmodic a J ', from avri, anti, against, and viragos, spasmos, a spasm, allay pains and spasm, as Mexican tea, clary, asafaetida, skunk cabbage, Indian turnip, camphor, cajeput, valerian, saffron, garlick.
Permanent Stimulants. Tonics, ftonica J y from rovow, to strengthen, primarily give strength to the system, as Peruvian bark, Jamaica bark, English oak bark, white oak, bitter wood, centaury, boneset, yellow root, columbo, gentian, parsley-leaved yellow root, centry, frasera-caroliniensis, wild cherry tree, sassafras, persimmon, dogwood, rose willow, horse chesnut, beaver tree, tulip tree, aspen, snake root, alder, halbert weed, chamomile, wild horehound, buckthorn, poplar, macary bitter, bully tree, hops, quassia, contrayerva, locust tree, shrub yellow root, yarrow.
Cordials, restore and invigorate, as tacamahaca, sweet gum, abanga, arnotto, caranna, coffee, mint, adrue, saffron, avens, gout root.
Astringents, fastringentiaj, from astringo, to bind up, obviate or remove increased evacuations, as tormentil, simarouba, purslane, banana, kino, rose, oaks, spotted gera- nium, alum root, pomegranate, cashew, arrow root, pleurisy root, sea-side grape, guava,
25
logwood, black snake root, uva ursi, sweet fern, pippiseva, candleberry myrtle, black alder, cancer root, agrimony, white ash, avens, water avens or canker root, choke cher- ries, privet, rose, nickers, catechu, nutmeg, galls, rhubarb, red mangrove, narrow-leaved sumach, Pensylvanian sumach, Virginian sumach, white willow, broad-leaved willow, sept foil, blackberry root, red elm, cranes bill, Indian nut, mouse ear, copaiba, vanilla, wild basil, shepherd's purse, horse tail, quince, strawberry, wild olive, plantain, popo- nax, cashaw, self heal, woad, medlar, yarrow, myrtle, rice, loose strife, quinchamali, sloes, spelt, five fingers, golden thread, wild gooseberry, briar rose, Jamaica dogwood, flower gentle, wild and sea side grape, amaranth, marsh rosemary, snake weed, puff balls, button wood, blood flower (asclepias currasavica), brasiletto, canker root.
Aromatics, ( aromal'ica ) ', stimulate the stomach, accelerate circulation and increase heat; soalsodo carminatives, as cassia, lavender, turmeric, capsicum, caraguay, wild car- rot, saffron, clove, cascarilla, orris, cowparsnep, cinnamon, white wood, dill, peppermint, wormwood, lavender, anise, balm, ginger, cardamoms, kennebeck snake root, wild allspice bush, camphor, sassafras, pimento, angelica, bayberry, chamomile, wild cinnamon, citron, clove, collinsonia, coriander, penny royal, mace, nutmeg, balsam tree, myrrh, pimento, black pepper, long pepper, rosemary, sage, cubebs, cummin, galangal, clary, sweet marjoram, sweet flag, ginger, rosemary, alligator wood, cedar, peach.
Alexipharmics, falexipharmicaj, from aXe^eoo v.ai fa.ppa.Kov, alcxeo and pharmaco?i, are antidotes to poison, as arrow root, caaco, blue scullcap, (hydrophobia), mangrove, plan- tain and horehound, (for bite of rattle-snake), contrayerva, nhandiroba, nhambi, ginseng, coccoon antidote, cedar, chickweed, sensitive plant, yellow prickle wood, velvet leaf, olive, rattle-snake root, swallow-wort, borrage, marigold, rice, ghandiroba, halbert weed, Spanish carnation, sassafras, sarsaparilla, China root, lignum vitae, burdock, indigo weed, eryngo, navel wort, hares' ears, orange, vipers' grass, rattle-snake plantain, gub a gubs, black snake root.
Alteratives, from altero, to alter, have a favourable effect on the constitution, without sensible operation ; for examples see the above class and Tonics.
II. LOCAL STIMULANTS.
Emetics, femeticaj, from spew, emeo, to vomit, excite vomiting by their action on the stomach, independent of the quantity taken, as ipecacuanha, mustard, Indian physic, wal- nut, lobelia, emetic weed, blessed thistle, cassio berry tea, yellow Mexican thistle, lig- num vitae, euphorbia, wild ginger, staff tree, thorough wort, puccoon, violet, bayberry, poke weed.
Cathartics, (catharlicaj, from naSoupuj, kathairot to purge, quicken or increase the eva- cuation from the intestines, as jalap, aloes, oil nut, colocynth, common physic nut, French physic nut, butter nut, black alder, sempervive, belly-ach weed, may apple, gamboge, cassia marilandica, leather wood, seneca snake root, yaw weed, pleurisy root, nicker, buckthorn, guaicum, scammony, black hellebore, dwarf elder, yellow water flag, attoo,
wild turnip, white hellebore, bind weed, wild cucumber, purging flax, white mechoacan.
f 2
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Laxatives, (laxantia), from laxo, to relax, open and relax the bowels, without much stimulation, as tamarind, Barbadoes flower fence, oil nut, cassia fistularis, cranberries, daisy, bastard ipecacuanha, pleurisy root, wild rhubarb, wild senna, vervain, seneca rat- tle snake root, guaicum, rhubarb, cassia marilandica, manna ash, plum tree, common elder, violet, avens, Jamaica wild gooseberry, French sorrel.
Emenagogues, (etnenagogaj, from s/st/wwa, enunenia, the menses, and ayw, ago, to move and promote the menstrua, as madder, erigeron Philadelphicum, wild carrot, cohush, Mex- ican tea, nanny bark, green wheat, savine, ergot of rye, sow bread, mugwort, orach, mo- ther-wort, camels hay, sweet marjoram, penny royal, ground pine, dandelion.
Diuretics, (diuretica), from Seipew, deireo, increase the urinary discharge, as hemlock pine, flaxweed, milk wort, nephritic tree, penguins, blackberry, may weed' ginten root, pepper grass, rest harrow, fumatory, madder, onion, elder, arnotto, cashew, dwarf elder, samphire, turmeric, fennell, glass wort, toad flax, dragon root, wild lettuce, larch, squill, winter cherries, wild sea asparagus, chervil, ox eye, dandelion, bear's whor- tleberry, skunk cabbage, scurvy grass, copaiba, fox glove,. tobacco, lobelia syphylitica, spiked saw wort, emetic weed, South Sea tea, Indian cucumber, skevish, locus tree, arti- choke, fir, brake, buck bean, burdock, wild carrot, checker berry, nickers, pleurisy root, blessed thistle, juniper cedar, parsley, berberries.
Diaphoretics, (diaphoretica), from liayopw, diaphoreo, to carry through, increase the natural exhalation by the skin, as rattle-snake root, sarsaparilla, sassafras, angelica, catnep, centaury, payco herba, lignum vitae, water eryngo, seneca snake root, boneset, pleurisy root, contrayerva, wild sage, silk cotton, deviPs bit, tooth-ach tree, millet.
Sialagogues, (sialagoga), from naxo;, sialos, saliva, and ayw, ago, to force, increase the quantity of the salivary discharge, as hemlock, camphor, seneca snake root, tooth-ach tree, tobacco, prickly yellow wood, payco coatinga, pepper, squills.
Expectorants (expectorantia)* from expectant, to discharge from the breast, promote rejection of mucus from the lungs, as pine ivory, maidenhair, skunk cabbage, garlic, hys- sop, balsam of Peru, balsam of tolu, cross wort, horseradish, elecampane, tobacco, rattle- snake root, puccoon, squill, benzoin, coltsfoot, slippery elm, arbor vitoe, wake robin, daisy, cotton, hemp, ground ivy, orris, jujubes, opoponax, mullein, laurel-leaved tulip tree, oily pulse, velvet leaf, horehound, currants.
Errhines, (errhina), from ev, in, and ^v, rin, the nose, promote a discharge of mucous or serous fluid from the nostrils, as asarabacca, white hellebore, bear's foot, orris, andiome- da, kalmia, spurge, asarum canadense, beet, betony, horse chesnut, sow bread, lily of the valley, eyebright, canella, tobacco.
Epispastics, (epispastica), from «n, epi, and mw, spao, to draw, produce when applied to the surface of the body, a serous or puriform discharge after inflaming the parts, as but- ter nut, moose wood, daphne, crowfoot, poison vine, poison oak, vernice tree, cashew nut, spurge laurel.
Rubefacients, (rubefacientia), from rubefacio, to make red, excite pain and inflamma-
27
tion, but discharge no fluid, as Indian turnip, pyrola umbellata, butter nut, fig, capsicum, spruce fir, mustard, common nettle, currato, dumb cane, wild radish, mezereon.
CHEMICAL REMEDIES.
Refrigerants, frefrigerantiaj, from refrigero, to cool, allay heat of the body.
Antacids, (antacidaj, from and and acida, obviate acidity in the stomach.
Antiseptics, (antiseptica), from avr*, anti, against, and o-ijirw, sepo, to corrupt, prevent or stop putrefaction, as purslane, scurvy grass, sorrell, southernwood, aloes, chamomile, nettle, canella, water cresses, indigo weed, pepper grass, columbo, myrrh, wood sorrell, snake weed, marsh rosemary, berberries, coffee, angustura, wormwood, orange, lemon, Spanish oak, red mountain oak, wild cherry tree, sassafras, persimmon, dogwood, rose willow, horse chesnut, beaver tree, tulip tree, bitterwood, contrayerva.
Lithonthriptics, ( lithonthriptica ) , from \tkv, lithon, a stone, and dpuirtw, thrupto, to break, dissolve urinary culculi, or antilithics, which prevent the formation of them, as nephritic tree, onion, horsemint, Jamaica spikenard, spiked saw wort, bears whortleberry, uva ursi, wild potatoe, arsmart, hazel nut, Philadelphia flea bane, convol- vulus panduratus, — see also Diuretics.
Escharotics, (corrosivaj, from £<rxa.ca, eschara, a scar, dissolve and erode animal matter, ascevadilla, vegetable caustic of Yucatan, garden spurge, manchineel, sundew, celandine, papaw.
Antivenereals, (antisyphilitica), from ante and syphilis, remove syphilitic affections, as lime roots, majoe, nickers, sassafras, wild cherry, rose willow, lobelia syphilitica, sene- ca snake root, may apple, crowfoot, poke weed, prickly ash, balsam rakaisiri, ceanothus, china r ot, lignum vitae, spurge laurel, sarsaparilla, new Jersey tea.
MECHANICAL REMEDIES.
Vulneraries (vulnerariaj, from vulnas a wound, cleanse, defend and heal up wounds, as ribbed plantain, self heal, periwinkle, golden rod, spirit leaf, tway blade, caranna, cen- taury, hemp agrimony, herb robert, hog gum, all-heal, hares' ears, slippery elm, Peruvian balsam, wild tansey, velvet leaf, balm of gilead, thorough wax, goose grass, iron wort, St. John's wort, Santa Maria, cerasee, Jamaica daisy.
Anthelmintics ( anthelmintica) , from avn, anti, and sk[uvs, elmins, a worm, as (anthel- mia, worm-grass), destroy worms, and expel them, as aloes, wild ipecacuanha, wild fig, devil's bit, poisonberry or bead tree, male fern, stinking weed, angelyn tree, brakes, Carolina pink root, worm seed, or Jerusalem oak, (chenopodiumanthelminticum), may apple, stinking hellebore, cardinal flower, ground pink, tobacco (as a cataplasm), Virginian goats' rue, speckled alder, cabbage bark, penguins, cowhage, persimmon, ben- zoin, mulberry, Virginian plum,
Demulcents ( demulcentia J ', from demalcens, softening, obviate the action of acrid and stimulant matters, as Iceland moss, cocoa nuts, ochro, pindars, chocolate, oily grain or
28
benne, gum arabic, slippery elm, pistachio, salep, turnip, olive, maidenhair, almonds, coltsfoot, tragacanth, oats, fig, liquorice, mallows, wheat, dates, white ash, fever bush, white pond lily, sago, sugar cane, sun flower.
Diluents, (diluentia), from diluo, to dilute, increase the quantity of fluid in the blood and system, as balm, barley, white horehound, gland flax or nuil, &c. &c.
Detergents, ( deter gentia), from deter go, to make clean, cleanse wounds and ulcers, as cassada, canella, cerasee, cashew, marsh rosemary, red onion, wild parsnip, plantain, red mountain oak, buckthorn, wild madder, water dock, rhus glabrum, tooth-ach tree, birch, cats tail, clary, coral tree, ringworm bush, vervain, prickly yellow, French physic nut, Indian turnip, wild carrot, savine, broad-leaved laurel, balsam pine, hemlock tree, Scotch fir, black alder, wild cherry, currato, broomweed, soap berry, house leek, celandine, ar- raganas, arrow head, basil.
Emollients, (emollientia), from emollio, to soften, render the solids more lax and flexi- ble, as barley, beet, cabbage, oil nut, cotton tree, wild liquorice, banana, marsh mallow, hyssop, galbanum, flax, mullein, melilot, chickweed, ochro, coltsfoot, sugar cane.
Discutient, (discutientiaj, from discutiens, medicines having power to repel, as pur- slane, cancer root, turnip, palm, hemlock, bittersweet, white hellebore, angelica, bean, borrage, burdock, chamomile, chickweed, love apple, sow bread, ben nut, ducks' meat, spleenwort, water lily, arsmart, anchoaca, clove strife, cotton tree, garlic pear, sow bane, oil nut, yellow pond lily of lake champlain, sumach, clown's heal-all.
Materials to put in Aromatic Baths,— red cedar, hemlock pine, broomweed, Spanish elder, star wort, oak bark, piper amalago, bay, hog plum, wild sage, Jamaica spice wood, vervain, clary, spikenard, &c. &c. &c.
2,9
CLASS I. MONANDRIA.
This class is the first in the Linnaean System, and comprises those plants having only one stamen or anther. It contains a fine natural order of plants, nearly allied to each other ; viz. the scitamineae, which comprehend a num- ber of valuable aromatic, esculent and medicinal herbaceous vegetables, in which both Indies are peculiarly rich.
ORDER I. MONOGYNIA.
To avoid prolixity and the taking up too much room by a particular descrip- tion of each part of fructification in every plant, the notice of them will be confined to the great leading distinctions of the classes and orders, familiar descriptions and their virtues, uses and species. For those scientific Bota- nists, however, who may have time and inclination for such full descriptions, they are highly interesting and useful. The following may serve as an ex- ample of a full botanical description of the parts of fructification.
Indian Arrow Root, Maranta Arundinacea. Calyx — a small erecto- patent perianth, fixed upon the germ, divided into three segments of a lan- ceolated figure. Corol — monopetalous and gaping, the tube oblong, crooked and compressed ; the limb six parted, the alternate exterior segments ovated, small and equal, one below, two above ; the two alternate lateral segments large, roundish, and represent a lower lip, the upper one small. Stamen — a single filament, similar to a segment of the corol. Anther — small and linear,
30
and fixed to the side of the filament. Germ — roundish beneath the recep- tacle. Style — simple and as long as the corol, towards the top revolute. Stigma — three-sided and hollowed. Pericarp — roundish, obscurely three- sided, tivalvular, and contains a seed, single, ovated, hard and rough. Recep- tacle— is proper. Named, from Bartolomeo, Maranta. For remainder of description, see Explanation of Plate 4.
Indian Shot, Carina Indica. Greek kww, — hence our word cane. For remainder of description see Explanation of Plate 4.
Narrow-leaved Ginger, Amomum Zinziber. N. O. Scitamineae ; Fr. Gingembre ; Ital. Gingiovo ; Span. Gingibre, — also Zinziber; Gr. Apupri from the Arabic ; nat. East Indies.
This valuable plant is herbaceous, having palmated tuberous roots, of a yellowish brown outside, extremely white within, and acrid when fresh. It creeps and spreads so as not easily to be eradicated, and renders the land barren. The stalks are erect, reed-like, two feet high, with alternate lanceo- late leaves, embracing the stalk at their base. The flowers are borne on scapes, and arise from the sinuses of the squammae (which are reddish at the points), small, of short duration and of a blue colour. Seed vessel, smooth, with many oblong seeds.
The root is aromatic and carminative ; when preserved is an excellent sto- machic, expels wind, and is very good in sea sickness. The expressed juice with cocoa nut oil is good for an embrocation in rheumatism.
It is cultivated for sale in the West Indies. The roots being dug up, care- fully scraped and dried, is the White Ginger; when scalded it is termed Black Ginger The shifted syrup made in preserving ginger is made into a liquor by fermentation, called cool drink, and commonly sold by the Negroes for five pence per bottle. Dr. Barnaul says the Wild Ginger will cure cancers. Ginger is preserved by soaking, boiling and scraping, and putting it in two syrups.
Broad-leaved ginger, a, zerumbet, is a native of the East Indies ; great wild ginger, a, sylvestre, of Jamaica ; Japan ginger, a, mioza, of Japan ; cardamom ginger, a, cardamomum, of the East Indies ; villose ginger, a, villosum, of Cochin-China ; globose ginger, a, globosum, of China ; grains of paradise, a, granum paradisi, of Guinea and the East Indies; galangale, a, ga- langa, of China and Cochin-China ; given frequently for zedoary; tree ginger, a, arboreum, Sumatra ; hirsute ginger, a, hirsutum, of the East Indies ; sweet scented ginger, a, escapum, of Sierra Leone ; purple bracted ginger, a,
31
purpureum, of the East Indies. Of the above species the cardamom, grains of paradise, and galangal, being valuable remedies, might bejntroduced into the West Indies with advantage.
Spiked Costus. Costus Spicatus. N. O. Scitamineae ; Fr. Canne de Ri- viere ; Ital. Costo ; Gr. Koavos; from the Arabic ; nat. West Indies.
This plant is herbaceous with an irregular knotty root, simple steins, al- ternate lanceolate leaves, and flesh coloured flowers in a handsome spike ; Seeds black. It is an aromatic pungent root, used in making cool drink, and a decoction is used in the first stages of Syphilis by the Negroes. The following are natives of the Indies.
Smooth-leaved, costus arabicus, both Indies ; hairy-leaved, c. speciosus. East Indies ; glabrous, c. glabratus, West Indies ; Malacca, c. Malaccensis^ Malacca.
Ginger-leaved Hellenia, Hellenia Allughas.
Sweet-scented Garland Flower, Hedi/chium Coronarium. These are natives of the East Indies, but have not yet been introduced into the West.
Spreading Hogweed, Boerhaavia Diffusa. N. O. Aggregate ; called also Hogmeat ; nat. Jamaica; named after Dr. Boerhaave, of Leyden.
This useful plant is herbaceous and parasitic, many round and glossy stalks rise from an oblong hard root, and branch out in every direction, rising sometimes ten feet. The leaves are ovated, of a bright green, and reddish at the edges, in pairs ; the flowers stand in the alae of the leaves, of a pale red outside, and a deep purple within ; the stamen and style purple, anther yel- low ; seed single, oblong, obtuse, and angular. It grows plentifully in Ja- maica, especially about Spanish town, where it is made use of to feed hogs who eat it greedily, whence it is called Hogweed. Dr. Barham calls it a wild sort of Valerian, and says it is very cooling and emollient.
Upright hogweed, b. erecta, nat. both Indies ; clammy, b. viscosa, Peru ; hirsute or scarlet, b. hirsuta, West Indies ; climbing, b. scandens, Jamaica ; tetrandrous, b. tetrandra, Society Isles.
Jamaica Alpinia, Alpinia Occidentalis. N. O. Scitamineae ; nat. Ja- maica. Named after Prosper Alpinus, a physician and botanist.
This plant is herbaceous, with fleshy branched roots, nearly similar to gin- ger ; stem round and smooth with alternate lanceolate leaves, sheathing the stalk at the base. Bracts of a blood red colour, as is the calyx ; the flower white ; capsule roundish, obscurely trigonous ; seeds shining. Alpinia Racemosa, is also a native of the West Indies.
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Long-rooted Turmeric, Curcuma Longa. N. O. Scitamineae; Ital. Turtumaglio ; Span. Curcuma ; nat. Cochin -China ; named from the Ara- bic Curcum ; also called Mangel Kaa.
This plant is herbaceous, has a large oval bulbous root, with annu- lar protuberances ; within solid, of a fine yellow colour, fragrant smell, and rather acrid taste ; it creeps, and is increased by smaller bulbs. The leaves arelarge, firm, oval, vaginant and pointed; the flower stalks rise separate, round and succulent, naked below, and the flowers formed into a thick spike above, protruded from the squamma? of the calyx; of a yellowish colour, which soon fall off; seed vessel a roundish trivalvular capsule, each cell containing many seeds.
It grows freely in the West Indies, the root is taken up as soon as th© flowering stalks fade, cut in pieces and dried in the sun. Its medical virtues are attenuant and deobstruent, of use in obstructions in the viscera and jaun- dice. It dies a fine yellow colour, and is a principal and wholesome ingredi- ent in the curry powder made in the West Indies. It is applied as a cata- plasm with wild rosemary leaves for those swellings of the abdomen so common among the Negroes, arising from Amenorrhagia. The following species are natives of the East Indies.
Round-rooted, c. rotunda, East Indies and China ; aromatic, c. aromatica, ditto ; pale, c. pallida, ditto.
Tall Renealmia, Renealmia Exaltata. N. O. Scitamineae ; named from Paul Reneaume, a physician, native of Surinam.
This plant grows to twenty feet in height, with an erect trunk which bears a bunch of flowers ; the leaves are six feet long and lanceolated ; the fruit is a fleshy esculent berry, and the seeds numerous. The following are na- tives of the East Indies.
Drooping flowered, r. nutans ; upright flowered, r. calcarata.
Kjempferia Galanga, Officinal Galangale. N. O. Scitamineae ; Ital. Cipero ; Span. Galanga ; nat. East Indies ; named from E. Kaempfer.
This plant is herbaceous, with bulbous palmate roots, leaves egg-shaped, flower white with a violet spot in the middle, seeds many. The medical vir- tues are aromatic, diaphoretic and alexipharmic. Broad-leaved, k. latifolia; narrow-leaved, k. angustifolia ; round galangal, k. rotunda, are also natives of the East Indies, and would thrive well in the West Indies.
Round-headed Globba, Globba Marantina. N. O. Scitamineae ; ma- layan name ; nat. East Indies.
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This piaut is somewhat similar to maranta. The species uviformis, bears a fruit similar to grapes, which is sometimes eaten. There are also g. nutans, g. japonica, g. purpurea, all natives of the East Indies.
Opera Girls Mantisia, JWantisia Saltatoria.
Woolly Phylidrum, Phylidrum Lanuginosum.
Are natives of the East Indies and China, but not yet introduced into the West.
Herbaceous Marsh Samphire, Salicornia Herbacea. From Sal, Salt and Cornu a horn.
This valuable plant grows in great plenty in Jamaica, on the Salinas and Marshes near the sea coast ; particularly about Port Henderson, Salt Island, and Old Harbour ; and yields an alkali in great abundance, fit for making soap ; there are many species natives of other climates ; of which most are natives of Europe.
CLASS II. DIANDRIA.
This is the second class, comprising plants with two fruitful anthers, of equal lengths and contains many fragrant plants of the natural order Sepiariae ; and many others of the order Verticillatae ; which are very valuable aroma- tic medicines, as sage rosemary, &c.
ORDER I. MONOGYNIA.
Red Jasmine, Jasminum Officinale. N. O. Sepiariae ; Fr. Jasmin ; Ital. Gelsomino ; Span. Jasmin ; from wv k«i iwW; violet odour; nat. East Indies.
This beautiful and well known plant is common in the West Indies and principally used for hedges in gardens and arbours ; a delightful perfume is extracted from the flowers by the Spanish ladies, made into a consistence with other balsams and worn about their persons. The following species also grow freely in the West Indies ; Arabian jasmine, nyctanthes sambac ; yel- low Indian jasmine, j. odoratissimum ; and many varieties with double flowers.
Common Privet, Ligustrum Vulgare. N. O. Sepiariae ; Fr. Troene ; Ital. Ligustro ; Span. Altrena ; nat. West Indies ; the Ligustrum of Pliny.
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This handsome shrub grows freely in the West Indies, and is a very ele- gant specimen of hedge plants ; 1. Japonicum, and 1. sinense, are natives of Japan and China ; and the wax tree privet, 1. lucidum, of China.
European Olive, Olea Europea. N. O. Sepiariae ; Fr. Olivier; Ital Ulivo ; Span. Olivo ; nat. South of Europe.
This valuable tree might be cultivated with advantage in the West Indies, the fruit, and oil expressed from it is too well known to require a description. There are many wild sorts in Jamaica, as the black olive or olive bark called in Antigua, French oak, Bucida Buceras, a genus of the tenth class, first order, called by the French Grignon, is a valuable timber tree and the bark is very restringent and styptic.
There are seven species of the Olive and many varieties.
Fringe Tree, or Snow Flower, Chionanthus Compacta. N. O. Sepiariae; nat. West Indies ; from xi(UVt chion, snow, and a.^, anthos, a flower.
This handsome tree grows about twelve feet in height, the leaves are en- tire and shining, about six inches long. The flowers are of a snowy white- ness, divided into several long and narrow segments. The fruit is a one celled drupe. C. axillaris is a native of the East Indies.
Wave-leaved Trumpet Flower, Bignonia Longissima. N. O. Persona- tee ; Fr. Chene noir ; nat. West Indies ; named after Abbe Bignon.
This is a beautiful tree thirty feet high and more, having entire waved leaves. The Inflorescence is a panicled Raceme with numerous sweet whi- tish flowers ; Siliques slender, roundish and two feet long. Thrives in the Savannahs in Jamaica and is considered an excellent timber tree. B. unguis is also a native of the West Indies and supports itself by tendrils, having axillary personated flowers.
Hairy-leaved Trumpet Flower, B. Pentaphylla, has an upright stem, and pale blue flowers, the Siliques crooked.
White Wood, B. Leneoxylon, grows to a large tree, the wood of which is excellent hard timber called White Fiddle Wood, the flowers are white and soon fall off, the pod is six inches long, the juice and tender buds are said to be an antidote to Manchineel poison. There are in all twenty-seven species of this tree most of which are natives of warm climates.
Balsam Herb, Justicia Comata vel Dianthera Comata. N. O. Persona- tae ; nat. Jamaica ; named from James Justice, Esq.
This plant is very common in Jamaica, and rises about 1§ feet high, erect, branched angularly, with lanceolate leaves and small pale blue flowers, ovate
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capsule containing four round flatted seeds. It grows plentifully in the low lands of Jamaica, and the juice, or distilled water, is good for sore eyes. The decoction made into syrup is said by Jacquin to be demulcent and pectoral, and cures coughs. There are twelve species of Dianthera mostly natives of the East and West Indies.
Vervain and Wild Clary. See Explanation of Plate 4. Add. Vervain. The dried leaves, powdered, are used to sprinkle on ulcers.
Thyme-leaved Hedge Hyssop, Gratiola JVLonnieria, from gratia. N. O. Person ata? : nat. both Indies. A small, creeping, spreading plant, eight inches in length, with minute blue flowers. The Indians eat this herb in their soups to refresh them. Creeping Gratiola, G. Repens, is also a native of Jamaica, and there are ten other species mostly natives of the East Indies.
ORDER III. TRIGYNIA.
Rough-leaved Pepper, Piper Amalago. N. O. Piperita? ; t&tepi, Peperi of Theophrast & Diosc : nat. Jamaica. Is a shrub eight feet high, leaves al- ternate, acuminate and nerved, flowers clustered, berries sessile, containing a single seed, small, black, and pungent. It grows commonly on hilly si- tuations ; taste and flavour same as the black pepper of the East Indies ; should be picked (as Pimento) when full grown and before it ripens.
The leaves and young shoots boiled are a favourite remedy with the negroes for discutient baths and fomentations, and pounded, are applied to foul ulcers. A slight decoction of the root is sudorific, diaphoretic, and de- obstruent, in obstructions from lentor or inertion. It is also called Pepper Elder, and the Piper Aduncum, Spanish Elder ; Black Pepper, P. Nigrum, and Betle. P. Betle, are natives of the East, and might probably be cultivated in the West Indies. There are in all sixty species of Piper, of which thirty are natives of Jamaica. Ulloa asserts that the Coca, orKoka, of Peru, is the same with the Betel. Jaborand, P. Reticulatum, is an antidote against the poison of mushrooms and cassada.
Santa Maria Leaf, Piper Umbellatum. Is very common in the woods of Jamaica, and grows about three feet high, the leaves large and round, the footstalks embracing the stem. Piso says, the root is a warm, active remedy against poisons, and that a syrup is good for colds and catarrhs. Barham says, the leaves of racemosum malvaceum are cordated and soft, and relieve the head-ach and gout, and the juice of the leaves cures burns.
H
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CLASS TIT. TRIANDRIA. This is the third class, and contains plants furnished with three stamens, com- prising the useful and valuable plants of the Natural Order Gramina, under "which head are found those species of grain fit for the food of man, as the oat, rye, wheat, barley, and sugar-cane, and grasses for the food of cattle ; some of the Natural Order Ensatae and others of the Carophyllatae.
ORDER I. MONOGYNIA.
Entire-leaved Maiden Plum, Comocladia Integrifolia. N. O. Tere- bintaceae Jussieu : nat. Jamaica. This tree grows about fifteen feet high, with a small trunk, erect, dividing at the top into a few branches with pin- nated leaves. The tree abounds with a watery sap, slightly glutinous, which grows black in the air, the stain of which is not to be washed out. The wood is hard and reddish, and it is commonly cut down to make pali- sadoes and rails for fences. There are two other species natives of the West Indies, C. Dentata and C. Ilicifolia.
Marti nico Flower de Luce, Iris Martinieensis, N. O. Ensatae : nat. of Martinico and St. Lucia. This plant has a solid root and a roundish stem, two feet high, and yellow flowers without scent. There are fifty-three spe- cies, mostly natives of the cold climates of Europe and Asia, and the Cape of Good Hope.
Plaited Mor/ea, Morcea PUcata. N. O. Ensatae: nat. Jamaica.
This plant has radical leaves from two to three feet long, flowers white and spathaceous. It flowers the whole year, one flower coming out at a time at four o'clock in the afternoon. There are seventeen species, mostly natives of the Cape of Good Hope.
Adrue, or Anti-emetic Grass, Cyperus Articulatus. N. O. Calama- riae. This rush has a tuberous, red, knobbed root, smelling like Calamus Aromaticus. Stalk about three feet high, with transverse partitions, and at the top chaffy brown panicles. It grows on the rills of the Savanna, near Two Mile Wood in Jamaica, and in Egypt on the banks of the Nile. The roots are cordial and diuretic, resisters of poison, and good in the first stages of dropsy. The roots are also aromatic and stimulant, and may be used in the place of Virginian snake root : it was much used in practice by the late Dr. Brodbelt, of Spanish Town. The infusion is good in vomitings, fluxes, &c. but its most valuable and surprising quality is its virtue in restraining vomiting in fever, and relieving sickness of the stomach, which I have often witnessed. It gives out its virtues to water in decoction, or warm infusion, to be taken cold. The whole plant, cut or sliced, makes the strongest decoction.
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A variety of the Adrue is used by the Indians, near Truxillo, as a cure for the belly-ache. C. Minimus, C. Elegans, C. Odoratus, and C. Viscosus, are also natives of Jamaica, and there are fifty-one other species mostly natives of the East Indies ; among them is the C. Papyrus, of which paper is made.
Rough-spiked Cenchrus, Cenchrus Echinatus. N. O. Gramina : nat. Jamaica. This is a very common grass in the pastures, and a wholesome food for cattle. There are ten other species, of which two are natives of the West and several of the East Indies.
Creeping Callisia, Callisia Repens. N. O. Ensatae : nat. West Indies.
A small, tender, creeping plant, with ovate acuminate leaves, and small sessile, greenish flowers, growing three together. Is found in moist shady places.
Tamarind. See Explanation of Plate 5.
ORDER II. DIGYNIA.
Common Sugar Cane, Saccharum officinarum. N. O. Gramina : flat, both Indies. This plant and its cultivation has been so long known in the West Indies, that it will be needless to say much of it. There are several different species cultivated in the Island, which suit the various soils and climates. There are also varieties of this cane both as to size of the joints and colour ; some being a yellowish white, and long jointed, others red and shorter joint- ed, and another sort Elephantine, with the culm thick, and knots approxi- mate. There is also the Ribbon cane, the culm of which is curiously striped and variegated ; but not much esteemed. The Otaheite and Bourbon canes are now very much cultivated, and found to be very productive. In pre- paring the ground for planting, the plough is not yet used so much as it might be, and one would suppose with the most beneficial effect. There are ten other species. The virtues of sugar are attenuant, pectoral, vulnerary, and in a high degree nutritious. Muscovado sugar, with Cocoa nut oil, is fatal to worms. A species of wild cane in Jamaica makes an excellent pickle.
GRASSES. — Guinea Grass and Scotch Grass, Panicum. See Explana- tion of Plate 5 The roots of the grasses in general make a diuretic decoction.
The following grasses are natives of Jamaica:
Fox-tail Grass, Alopecurus Indicus.
Barley-like Fox-tail Grass, Alopecurus Hordeiformis, is also an In- dian grass, grows about a foot high, leaves flat and channelled : there are six other species.
Ciliated Meadow Grass, Poa Ciliaris, grows six inches high, a slender stalk, fine leaves, and downy head. Clammy Meadow Grass, Poa Glutiiiosa, and there are sixty-nine other species, natives of all parts of the world.
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Flat-stalked Bent Grass, Agrostis Complanata: also Purple Bent Grass, A. Purpurascens, growing one foot and a half high, stalks round and solid, small leaves, and a branched panicle. There are thirty-three other sp x-ies.
Dotted Millet Grass, JWilium Punctatinn, grows in moist meadows, from one to two feet high, broadish entire leaves, and upright, simple panicle. Compressed Millet Grass, M. Compressum. Fingered, M. Digitatum, and Panic, M. Paniceum : and there are in all eight other species.
Pea-flowered Melic Grass, Melica Papillonacea, is said by Sloan to be a native of Jamaica. It has rodlike panicles. There are in all thirteen other species.
Rye, Secale : Barley, Hordeum : Oat, Avena : and Wheat, Triticum, are neither of them to be found in the West Indies : the grain there cultivated is Indian and Guinea Corn ; but in North America they are all cultivated with success, and in quantity far greater than the wants of the population, so that a considerable part of their commerce consists of the exportation of flour. As to their medical properties, an infusion of toasted wheat bread is useful in febrile diseases, and is particularly useful in cholera morbus, which it has been said to cure. A decoction of young green wheat is also a popular remedy in America to remove suppression of the menses. Wheat starch is demulcent, and useful for enemas in dysentery and diarrhoea, as also arrow root starch.
Decoctions of pearl barley, strained and acidulated, are eminently useful in diseases of the kidneys and breast, and all inflammatory cases.
Rye is subject to a disease, called by the French, ergot, by the Americans horned or spurred, and smutted rye, which renders the bread made of it very unwholesome, and the grain is fatal to cattle and poultry. This substance has been found by respectable American physicians to excite a specific action upon the uterus, and to relax the contracted muscular fibres during parturition. In lingering cases it speedily induces forcible pains and expedites delivery, but care should be taken not to administer this powerful parturient in preterna- tural presentations : the dose in powder is from five to ten, or fifteen grains ; but it is more active in decoction, half a drachm of the powder being gently boiled in half a pint of water, one third to be given every twenty minutes till the pains are commenced. A large dose will excite nausea and vomiting. A drachm in decoction has also removed amenorhaea.
ORDER III. TRIGYNIA.
Bamboo Cane, At undo B umbos. N. O. Gramina: nat. Both Indies ; Gr. KaAa^oo- ; Kalamos.
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This valuable plant grows freely in the West Indies and southern parts of America. It rises about twenty feet high by river sides, and is well known. It was used by the Spaniards inside the roofs of their houses; and a house in which I resided in Spanish Town had such a roof, entire, which was supposed to be upwards of two hundred years old. It is also used to make houses, bridges, masts, wattled fences, boxes, cups, baskets, mats, and paper (by bruising and steeping in water, and forming it into a paste). It is likewise useful for fishing rods, and pipes to convey water, and the tops of the young branches are pickled. In the cavities is found at certain seasons a white sub- stance, called by the Arabians Tabasheer, and highly esteemed by them. The decoction of the leaves and bark is cooling and emollient. A. Orientalis furnishes the Turks with writing pens, and the stems of another species are converted into tobacco pipes. There tire in all fourteen species of Arundo. This plant belongs to Ord II. — Digyna, instead of Trigynia, p. 38, inserted by mistake.
ORDER III. TRIGYNIA.
American Chickweed, Holosteum Cordatum. N. O. Carophyllei : nat. Jamaica ; called also Alsines. This plant is creeping, leaves opposite and heart-shaped, rises about ten inches from the ground: the birds feed on the seeds ; and the fresh plant applied warm is cooling and resolutive ; two-sta- mened. — H. Diandrum, also a native of Jamaica, is very small, and not com- mon. There are three other species.
Another species of Alsine, Mollugo Verticillata, is also a native of Jamai- ca. It spreads out six inches each way, and has seven leaves at a joint, in the form of a star. Its virtues are cooling, like the purslanes. There are five other species.
CLASS IV. TETRANDRIA.
This class contains plants with four stamens of uniform length, and com- prises the natural order of Aggregate, and several of the Stellatae ; and also has several plants possessing valuable medical properties.
ORDER I. MONOGYNIA.
Slender Button Weed, Spermacoce Tenuior, called also Iron Grass. N. O. Stellata?. This grows two feet and a half high, with stiff stalks, two
i
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leaves at each joint, and smaller leaves in whirls ; the flowers are small, white and sessile near the tops of the stalks. Rough-haired, thorny, and shaggy Button Weed, S. Hirta, S. Spinosa, and S. Hispida, are natives of Jamaica; and there are sixteen other species.
Three-flowered Iron Tree, Siderodendrum Triflorum: nat. West In- dies. A tall branching tree with ovate lanceolate leaves, flower small, a red colour without, and white within : the wood is very hard, like iron, whence its name.
Ash-leaved iEGYPHiLA, JEgyphila Martinicensis, nat. West Indies. N. O. V i rices (Juss.)
A shrub six feet high, branches opposite, leaves ovate acuminate, flowers white. Goats are fond of this plant JR. Elata, JR. Faetida, and JR. Trifida, are all natives of Jamaica.
Callicarpa Ferruginea, and C. Reticulata are natives of Jamaica.
English Plantain, Plantago .Major. This will grow if cultivated care- fully, and is in much esteem in Jamaica, as an excellent eye water is made from the juice of its leaves ; and the water mixed with linseed oil, cures burns.
Sweet-scented Broom, Scoparia Dulcis. N. O. Personatae : nat. Ja- maica. Fr. Balai doux ; Sp. Escobilla Menuda. This plant, grows about three feet high, with small white flowers. It is vulnerary, and makes a cleans- ing bath for children : the negroes make brooms of it. An infusion, or ex- pressed juice, (three spoonfuls) is said to be good for disorders of the breast. There are two other species.
Three-leaved Cissus, Cissus Acida. N. O. Hederaceae : nat. Jamaica. This has a climbing succulent stalk, alternate leaves, thick sub-ovate sessile leaflets, and black berry. The whole plant is acid. C. Sycioides and C. Tri- foliata, are natives of Jamaica ; and there are twelve other species natives, mostly of the East Indies.
Contrayerva. See Explanation of Plate VI. Fig. 4 ; but the plant there figured and described is not the Dorstenia, but Aristolochia Odorata, of the Class Gynandria, Order Hexandria. N. O. Sarmentaceae.
Bastard Iron Wood, Fagara Pterota. N. O. Dumosae : nat. Jamaica. Rises about eight feet high, with pinnated leaves, and small white flowers in double spikes : the wood is very hard. F. Emarginata rises twenty feet high, the wood is white, solid, and in burning very odoriferous. F. Spinosa, and F. Acuminata are also natives of Jamaica, and there are six other species.
Ammonia Sanguinolenta, is a native of Jamaica, and A. Latifolia is said to be Brown's Isnardia, which he says is pretty common about the Ferry.
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White and Yellow Sandal Wood, Santalum Album. N. O. Onagrae (Juss ) ; nat. East Indies. This valuable tree grows plentifully in Malabar ; in appearance it resembles a myrtle, and has the habit of the privet. It has black berries which are eaten by the birds, and the tree when old acquires great hardness, a yellow colour, and fragrant smell. It might doubtless be introduced with great advantage into the West Indies.
Climbing Kivina, or Hoop Withe, Rivina Octandra. N. O. Holeraceae : nat. West Indies. Fr. Lianne a baril. This plant climbs trees, and has long flexile branches oblong acuminate leaves, and dark purple berries. In a scarcity of hoops, the steins and branches make a good substitute. There are three other species.
Great-flowered Dogwood, Cornus Florida. N. O. Stellatae. This beautiful tree is well known in America. The flowers come out large and white, edged with rose colour, in clusters of several together. The bark is astringent and has long been employed in intermittent fevers, and a decoc- tion cures horses of the Canada distemper. The berries in brandy make an agreeable bitter, and a tea of the flowers is good for flatulent cholic. Rose Willow, C. Sericea, is another species, the bark of which the Indians smoke with their tobacco, and it is also used with success in intermittents. There are in all twelve species.
ORDER II. DIGYNIA. Dodder, Cusemla .Americana. N. O. Convolvuli (Jussieu); nat. West In- dies. This is a parasitical plant, creeping and climbing over whole trees, and destroys them, from which it is vulgarly called DeviPs-guts and Hell-weed. There are in all three other species.
ORDER IV. TETRAGYNIA.
South Sea Tea, Ilex Vomitoria. N. O. Dumosae. A native of the South- ern states of America. A decoction of the toasted leaves is a most powerful diuretic, and in great esteem among the Indians, who call it black drink, and permit only men to drink it. It is called by them Cussaena and Yaupon, aud is the famous Paraguay tea of South America. The Indians come down in tribes to the sea side to drink it, till it causes vomiting ; and some of them consider it a specific for all diseases. It would grow very well in the West Indies.
Myginda Rhacoma and M. Latifolia are natives of Jamaica, but of no particular use or virtue.
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CLASS V. PENTANDRIA.
This class is immensely numerous. It contains the natural orders of As- perifoliae, Luridae, Contortae, Umbellatae and Dumosae, and comprises plants highly important to mankind, as valuable and powerful medicines, and some esculent fruits and roots.
ORDER I. MONOGYNIA.
Indian Turnsole, or Wild Clary, Heliotropium Indicum. See Expla- nation of Plate IV. fig. 4. Wild Clary, instead of being a Salvia, is of this genus, Heliotropium Indicum. There are 24 species in all. A decoction of this species is diuretic.
Tournefortia, Tournefortia, named from J. P. Tournefort, the famous botanist. N. O. Asperifoliae. There are eleven species, of which seven are natives of Jamaica ; but I know of no particular virtues ascribed to them : in future, when this is the case, the names and number of species only will be mentioned.
Annual Worm Grass, Spigelia Anthelmia. N. O. Stellatae ; nat Jamaica. This valuable plant is well known and highly esteemed as a remedy for worms. Boil two handfuls of the plant in 2 quarts of water to one ; to the strained liquor add sugar and lime juice. Dose, to a full grown person, half a pint every six or twelve hours, for three or four times, and then a cathar- tic. The worms are discharged in great quantities, and it relieves fever and convulsions ; but too large doses are narcotic. An injection with a little lau- danum is also a useful form. It should not be given to children under two years. There is another species, native of the Southern States of America, called Perennial Worm Grass, or Indian Pink, S. Marilandica, a valuable anthelmintic among the Indians, and is much used in America, in form of the powdered root, in which it is also supposed febrifuge.
Smooth-flower Lisianthus. N. O. Rotacaeae. An elegant little plant. Five species are natives of Jamaica and there are four others.
Climbing Leadwort, Plumbago Scanilens. Native of Jamaica. There are in all seven species.
Sweet or Spanish Potatoes, Convolvulus Batatas. N. O. Campanaceae ; nat. both Indies — from convolvo, to turn round. This valuable plant grows freely in the West Indies and produces a number of roundish, esculent roots, yellow inside and very sweet. The roots are a reddish brown outside, and they are fine food boiled or baked. They are imported by sea into New York from Carolina and considered a delicacy. The vines are good to feed
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hogs and rabbits. The young* shoots boiled are also as good as spinach. The growth of these potatoes, covering the ground with vines and leaves, it is said, improves the soil.
Blue Bind Weed, Convolvulus Nil. This beautiful plant has heart- shaped leaves, on long petioles, and climbs on the fences and trees. The flowers are large and purple. Another species, C. Roseus, has large rose- coloured flowers. Syrian Scamnjony, C. Scammonia, and Jalap, C. Jalapa, both strong cathartics, might doubtless be cultivated to advantage in the West Indies, and are said to have been found in the United States. C. Bra- siliens : a decoction of the root is good in dropsy. There are in all 110 spe- cies, very many of which are natives of the East and West Indies, several of them yield an extract not inferior to scammony. Dr. Rush's celebrated purgative in yellow fever, is said to have been twenty grains of jalap and ten of calomel, which I have often experienced to be the most efficacious and safe cathartic for adult negroes. Wild potatoe-vine, C. Panduratus, is supposed to be the mechameck or wild rhubarb of the Indians : in Delaware the root is called cussander. The root is also used, in Virginia, in cases of gravel, and assists greatly the passing of calculi renales.
Indian Pink, Ipomcea Quamoclit. N. O. Campanacese ; nat. both Indies ; also called Sweet William. This beautiful plant is a climber and has slender stalks and numerous leaves very finely pinnated. The flowers come out in constant succession from the side of the stalks on long peduncles, of a most beautiful scarlet, small and thickly set, succeeded by four black seeds. Dr. Barham says, the root in decoction is a strong cathartic. Scarlet Ipomaea, I. Coccinea, has larger flowers, not so deep a red as the former, and a va- riety with orange flowers, is remarkable for the curved figure of the tube of the corolla. Spanish Arbour Vine or Seven-year Vine, I. Tuberosa, has tube- rous roots, large leaves and yellow flowers, sometimes purple, of a very fra- grant smell : it will spread over an arbour 100 yards long. It is lactescent and purges watery humours strongly. There are in all twenty-seven species, of which many are natives of the West Indies.
Long-flowered Lobelia, Lobelia Longifolia. N. O. Campanacese ; nat. West Indies. This is a handsome plant, upright, herbaceous, and about six- teen inches high, leaves sessile, toothed and long ; flowers white, upright and four inches long. The plant internally taken produces an invincible purging and is considered poisonous ; it will kill horses, and handling it produces inflammation. Chili Cardinal Flower, L. Tupa, is also con- sidered poisonous, and the smell causes vomiting. Blue Lobelia, L. Sy- philitica, is a native of America, very common and well known, and
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considered a valuable remedy in syphilis and certainly in gonorrhoea ; (the root used in decoction,) the knowledge of which was purchased from the Indians. L. Inflata vel Emetica, Emetic Weed or Indian Tobacco, another well known species, with oblong serrated leaves and pale blue flowers ; is considered by medical men in America, and, among others, my friend Dr. Rogers of Mamaraoneck, State of New York, as a valuable remedy. The leaves chewed produce vomiting, and frequently when tartar emetic and the other emetics have failed. It often produces profuse perspi- ration and has been serviceable in cholic and chronic rheumatism. Also, in the form of tincture, fully saturated, in asthmatic affections it has frequently proved more beneficial than any other medicine ; perhaps smoking it would be also eligible : but being a powerful remedy and probably narcotic, it should be given with caution. Its stimulus is of the diffusive kind and it has an evident effect upon the urinary passages, and is very useful in the cure of leucorrhcpa. It has also been found successful in the cure of hydrophobia and also of tetanus, on the same principle as exciting a strangury by cantharides, has been found effectual in the same. Lobelia Cardinalis. A decoction of the root is used by the Indians against worms. There are in all forty-two species.
South Sea Rose, or Rose Bay, Nereum Odornm. N. O. Contortae ; nat. of the East and West Indies. This beautiful tree rises about ten feet high, having stiff leaves and large bunches of flowers at the end of the branches, very similar to Red Plumeria, Plate V. Fig. 5. of a purple or white colour, with a very fragrant odour. The leaves are acrid and poisonous, and oil in which they have been infused is said to cure psora. The milky juice of plumeria will corrode iron. There are eight species.
Centry or Centaury, Chironea Centaureum vel Angulaus. N. O. Rota- ceae. A beautiful annual plant, an excellent aromatic and bitter, and given in infusion with great success in fevers by physicians, and is also a favourite popular remedy. Ten species.
Coffee Tree, Coffea Arabica. Native of Arabia. Nat. Or. Stellatae. This valuable plant has been known in the East time out of mind, was in- troduced into Jamaica by Sir Nicholas Laws, in 17.31, and is now cultivated to great extent ; but particularly of late years. There are mountain planta- tions in the parishes of Liguanea and St. Andrews, producing from 250 to 400,000 weight of clean coffee per annum, on which are extensive works and machinery for the peeling, pulping, washing and drying the coffee, some of which is nearly equal to the Mocha in size, colour and flavour, the small semi- transparent bean, with a bluish cast, being reckoned the best. This plant is
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cultivated usually by suckers, but will grow well from seeds and bear in about three years, after which, by care in pruning and keeping the coffee-piece free from weeds, it will continue bearing for many years. The trees are kept low, about the height of five or six feet, to give more strength to the bearing hori- zontal branches and for the convenience of picking. When kept for use in the island, it should always be dried and preserved in the outer covering or pulp and parchment, and if it could be shipped in this way to Europe, it would no doubt preserve its virtues and flavour much better than in the present mode, and not be so liable to imbibe the flavour of rum or sugar, which is frequently shipped with it. See a Communication on this subject to the Society of Arts, by Dr. I. Titford, of Jamaica. Transactions, Vol. IX. p. 174. It is a most valuable article of commerce, and a common and wholesome be- verage, being cordial and cephalic. A decoction or infusion of the raw Cof- fee cherries, bruised, is much used by the Arabians. It is also a native of Abyssinia. Western Coffee, or Wild Jessamin, C. Occidentalis, is a native of Jamaica. There are eight other species.
Ipecacuanha, Psychotna Emetica. N. O. Stellatee ; nat. South America. This valuable plant is also said to grow in the Southern States of America, and would doubtless thrive in the West Indies. There are nineteen species, natives of Jamaica, and twenty other species.
Thorn Apple, Datura Stramonium. N. O. Luridte ; nat America ; called also Floripondio. This is a common plant, with large, scented, white, bell- shaped flowers, and bears a prickly capsule, with numerous seeds, which are highly narcotic. An ointment of the flower is good for burns, contracted nerves, spasms, and irritable sores, and the leaves applied are said to ease the gout. It is common in the West Indies, and considered a troublesome weed in America, called James-town weed, to the southward. An extract has been used with success in mania and epilepsy. Its efficacy for relieving asthma, by smoking the plant, is well established. There are eight species.
Hairy Rondeletia, Rondeletia Hirta. N. O. Rubiaceae, (Jussieu). This, with ten other species, are natives of Jamaica, and three others of the Spanish West Indies.
Peach-coloured Trumpet Flower, Solandar Grandijiora. Nat. Ja- maica. A climbing, sub-parasitical shrub, with large sweet flowers, and fruit of a subacid flavour.
Nightshade, Solarium. N. O. Luridae. There are ninety-three species of this genus. One sort, which runs in a vine along the ground, is trouble- some in pastures, poisoning the horses and sheep, when its young shoots rise with the grass ; but if at its full growth and easily discernible, they will
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avoid it ; so that in endeavouring to eradicate it, great care should be taken completely to extract the whole of the root. The juice of one species is good in extensione ani, attended with inflammation. Irish Potatoe, S. Tube- rosum, that invaluable plant, is a species of this genus. It was imported into England, 1597, from Virginia, probably originally introduced from Peru. It loses its flavour and turns sweet when planted in Jamaica, so that the pota- toes used for the table are generally imported in the packets. Canker-berry, S. Vahamenu, makes an excellent gargle for sore throat, and is considered a specific for a cankerous mouth.
Oval-leaved Macrocnemum, JYIacrocnemum Jamaicense. N. O. Con- tortas ; nat. Jamaica. A tree growing about fourteen feet high, on the banks of rivulets, with greenish flowers, in a panicle. There are two other species.
Great-flowered Portlandia, Portlandia Grandiflora. Nat. Jamaica. This is a shrub, with very large, white, fragrant flowers, common among the rocks. The bark is bitter and astringent and cures intermittents. There are three other species.
Guinea Pepper, Capsicum Annuum. N. O. Luridaa ; nat. Jamaica. Of this species there are fifteen varieties, and of the genus four other species. It is very common in the East and West Indies, and also grows in America. The pods are variously shaped and coloured, and much used by the Negroes, as a seasoning, and also by the Whites, for a pickle or sauce. The Cayenne is made from the pods of the small Bird Pepper, dried and ground between two stones, and mixed with salt. As the seeds and the inner divisions of the pod are the most acrid, they are frequently cut out of those large sorts, used for pickling. The use of them in moderation acts as a stimulus on the sto- mach, creates an appetite and restrains vomiting. It is now frequently pre- scribed in pills, or a tincture. Infused in oil they take away the numb palsy, and cataplasms are useful in coma and delirium. In opthalmia, from relaxation, the diluted juice is a sovereign remedy. A few bird peppers, swallowed whole, relieve the heart-burn and prevent dyspepsia. The fol- lowing are the sorts most commonly to be found :
Pigeon Pepper, — bearing a green or yellow pod, of a roundish shape.
Bell Pepper, — bearing a yellow or red pod, bell-shaped, or smallest at the extremity next the foot-stalk.
Cherry Pepper, — Red and of a roundish shape.
Coral Pepper, — bearing a long red pod, tapering to a small point.
Bird Pepper, — bearing a small oval fruit, green or red.
Great Pepper, — A large species, of the size of a peach, green or red, and frequently used for pickling, and there are many other varieties.
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Purple or Sore-throat Pepper, has the leaves, stalks, and fruit of a dark purple, inclining to black, whereas the leaves of the other species are of a light green. This sort is esteemed a specific for the cure of the sore-throat, made into a gargle with barley-water and honey. All the varieties of Capsi- cum are very useful and ornamental. The seeds are numerous and kidney- shaped.
Marvel of Peru, Mirabilis. See Explanation of Plate VI. Fig. 1.
Snowberry, or David's Root, Chiococca Racemosa. N. O. Aggregate ; nat. Jamaica. Rises about seven feet high, with many branches, flowering in a raceme, and covered with snow-white berries. A decoction of the root is good in rheumatisms, bone-ache and spina ventosa ; has the same taste as the Seneca Snake-root. The smaller the plants, the greater the efficacy of the root.
Grape Vine, Vitis Vinifera. N. O. Hederaceae. There are many sorts of wild Grapes in the West Indies, besides the garden vine, which is not cultivated to any extent, but where it is, produces fine fruit, and of a rich, luscious flavour. It certainly deserves more general cultivation, both there and in America, where it doubtless would thrive very well, and be both ad- vantageous and profitable. There are fifty-two varieties of Vitis Vinifera. Indian Vine, or Water Withe, thrives in the Red Hills of Jamaica, and pro- duces small black grapes, which, if properly managed, would make good red wine. A piece cut off, of three feet long, yields a pint of clear, refresh- ing water. There are ten other species.
Shrubby Erithalis, Erithalis Fruticosa. N. O. Rubiaceae ; (Juss.) Two species.
Spanish Elm, or Prince Wood. See Explanation of Plate VI, Fig. 5. Jamaica Button Tree, Conocarpus Erecta. N. O. Aggregatae ; nat. Jamaica. This tree is very common on the sea coast, grows about twenty- five ieet high, with small, globular, yellow flowers. The wood is useful for burning, called by the Spaniards Mangle Saragoza. Rarham says, the fruit is drying, binding, and healing. Another species, C. Racemosa, is called White Mangrove, and by the Spaniards, Mangle Bobo. The bark is used for tanning leather. Butterflies swarm about this tree. There is one other species.
Rough-leaved Cestrum, Ccstrum Hirtum. N. O. Luridae. Is a native of Jamaica, and there are eight other species, one called Poison-berries.
Obtuse-leaved Jacquinia, Jacqninia Armillaris. N. O. Dumosae ; nat. Jamaica ; Span. Bubasco. This is an elegant little shrub, four feet high, with small white flowers, like jasmine, and sweet scented ; the berries are
h
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oval, of a brownish yellow, and strung for necklaces. It grows on the rocks. There are three other species, nat. of the West Indies.
Bastard Cherry-tree, Ehretria Tenuifolia. N. O. Asperifolioe ; nat. Jamaica. This tree rises about twenty-five feet high, with a laurel leaf and yellow berries, about the size of large currants, from which Dr. Barhain calls it Currant-tree. They are good for poultry. There are four other species.
Bastard Bully Tree, Bumelia Nigra. N. O. ; nat. Jamaica. This is a hard wood tree, with a small, smooth fruit, (on which pigeons fatten,) it is the size of an olive, and black. Mountain Bully Tree, B. Salicifolia or Achras Salicifolia, a pale yellow, hard wood and lasting timber. Beef Wood is another species: there are in all seven. The bark of B. Salicifolia is said to answer as a substitute for Jesuits1 bark, in twice or thrice the quantity.
Teak Wood, or Indian Oak, Tectona Grandis. Nat. East Indies. This tree grows to an immense size in the vast forests of India, and is the best timber for ship-building, being light, strong, and durable. It would certainly be an object of high importance to introduce it into the West Indies, where it would doubtless thrive: some seeds given me by Dr. Dancer, came up very well.
Barbadoes Bastard Cedar, Cedrela Odoruta. Nat. Jamaica and Bar- badoes. This large tree, next in size to the Cotton Tree, grows common in the West Indies, on the mountains, having a trunk sixty feet high, and a soft, reddish wood, of a pleasant odour, which is sawn into boards and split into shingles. Neither insects nor cockroaches attack any thing in boxes of this wood, but it is not fit for casks.
Neither Currant Tree nor Gooseberry, Ribes, thrive in the West Indies, but are plentiful in North America.
Perfoliate Feverwort, or Bastard Ipecacuanha, Triosteum Perfolia- tum. N. O. Aggregate ; nat. North America. The bark of the root of this plant, in large doses, is emetic ; but it is a good cathartic, in doses of twenty and thirty grains. Called also Dr. Tinker's Weed. There are two other species.
Virginian Tobacco, Nicotiana Tabacum. N. O. Luridge ; nat. America. This well-known plant has funnel-shaped flowers of a white colour, edged with red, is cultivated to great extent in the southern States of North Ame- rica, and its use is general all over the world. It is sometimes raised by Negroes in their grounds, in Jamaica, for their own use and thrives \ery well ; but the Havanna Tobacco, in the form of segars, is mostly used there. Soaked in urine, or made into an ointment with green pepper, and rubbed on, it cures psora or vermin, and is a powerful enema in dry belly-ache,
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spasms, tetanus, and colic : the smoke or infusion, administered as an enema in ruptures has been useful. Smoking tobacco in moderation is said to re- lieve tooth-ache, preserve the teeth, and to prevent corpulency, if drinking any liquid with it is refrained from. The seeds are very numerous and small, and have been found useful as an anthelmintic. It is narcotic and errhine, and a powerful diuretic ; an infusion, from 60 to 100 drops, has brought away gravel. It is also useful in asthma, and a cataplasm of the pounded leaves in vinegar has also had a wonderful effect in worm cases, epilepsy and obsti- nate intermittents. There are in all seven species.
Winter Cherry, Physalis Angulata. N. O. Luridae ; nat. both Indies. The juice of the plant, with Cayenne pepper, promotes urine and eases the colic. Seventeen species.
Tall Achyranthes, or Bastard Hoop Withe, Achyranthes Altissima. N. O. Miscellaneae ; nat. Jamaica. Eleven species in all. Grows in the Low Bush between Spanish Town and Passage Fort, on the banks of the river Rio Cobre.
Bastard Plantain, Heliconia Blhai. N. O. Scitamineae ; nat. Jamaica. An elegant, herbaceous plant, ten feet high. There are two other species.
Panicled Coxcomb, Celosia Paninilata. NO. Miscellanea? ; nat. Ja- maica. A beautiful, well-known ornament to the garden. There are thir- teen other species.
Willow-leaved Cerbera, Cerbera Thevetia. N. O. Contortae ; nat. Ja- maica. This is an elegant, lactescent plant, about ten feet high, with large yellow flowers and fruit, containing a poisonous nut. There are four other species.
Savanna Flower. See Explanation of Plate VI. Fig 2, for the descrip- tion of a weed common in Jamaica so called, but the name seems to be in- correct.
Red Plumeria, Plumeria Tlubra. See Explanation of Plate V. Fig. 5.
Citron-leaved Tabern.emontana, Taberncemontana Citrifolia. N. O. Contortae ; nat. Jamaica ; Fr. Bois Laiteux. Rises fifteen feet high with a woody stalk and thick leaves, both lactescent. The flowers are in bunches, small, and of a yellow colour and agreeable smell. T. Laurifolia is also a native of Jamaica, and there are seventeen other species.
Indian Buckbean, Menyanthes Indica. N. O. Precias ; nat. both Indies. It is a water plant, having a roundish leaf, like Coltsfoot, on long petioles. Dr. Barham says, a decoction of the leaves in ale is a wonderful remedy in goutish distempers, drank every four hours ; also good in hydropic cases. Four other species.
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ORDER II. DIGYNIA.
Bastard Ipecacuanha, Blood Flower, or Red Head, Asclepias Curras- savica. See Explanation of Plate VII. Fig. 1. The bark of the root of an American species, Pleurisy Root or Butterfly Root, A. Decumbens, is cele- brated as a remedy in dysentery, from twenty to thirty grains, and a specific in pleurisy. In decoction it produces general and plentiful perspiration, without heating the body, when other medicines have failed.
Hares Ear, Bupleurum. N. O. Umbellatae. Nineteen species. Are ac- counted vulnerary, and a cataplasm of the leaves to cure the bite of the rat- tle-snake.
Wormseed Goosefoot, Chenopodium Anthelminticum. N. O. Holeraceae ; nat. America. The seed of this plant was in great request in America, at the time I left it, as a safe and efficacious remedy for worms. It is common in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Also called Jerusalem Oak. The seeds are reduced into a fine powder and made into an electuary, of which a table spoonful is given morning and evening, for several days. Twenty-three species.
Globe Amaranth, Gomphrcena Globosa. N. O. Amaranthi, (Jussieu). This beautiful and ornamental plant is cultivated in gardens, in America. The flowers, gathered full grown and dried in the shade, retain their form and beauty many months. It is commonly called Waxwork, and sometimes Bachelor's Button.
American Sanicle, or Alum Root, Heuchera Americana. N. O. Succu- lentae. The root of this plant is very astringent and is supposed to be effi- cacious in the cure of obstinate ulcers, and sometimes even of cancer, for which it is used by the Indians. Two species.
Eryngo, or Sea Holly, Eryngium Fcetidum. N. O. Umbellatge ; nat. West Indies. This plant grows in Jamaica, and is a common remedy against hysteric affections, whence the Negroes call it Fittweed. An infusion of the leaves is the form used. Eleven species.
Common Parsley, Apium Petro&elinum. N. O. Umbellatce. This well- known plant is cultivated in America, and the following remedy for the dropsy, in its first stages, is said to be very successful: Parsley roots and raspings of lignum vita?, equal quantities, boiled in hard cyder. A decoc- tion of the leaves is also considered to be useful in gravel and stone. Care should always be taken to distinguish this from Fools Parsley, Jithusa Cy- napium ; the safest way is to cultivate only the curled parsley. There is one other species, A. Graveolens, Small age.
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Sea Samphire, Crithmum Maritimum. N. O. Umbellatse. This herb grows very common in Jamaica, upon the sea shore, and on land overflowed by the sea. It makes an agreeable and wholesome pickle, which is gently diuretic, and removes obstructions of the viscera. Three species.
Navel Wort, Hydrocotyle Umbellata. N. O. Umbellatge ; nat. Jamaica. This plant grows in ditches and standing waters ; the leaves round and smooth ; the foot-stalk entering the middle. It is said to open obstructions of the liver, and to be an antidote to poison. There are in all fifteen species, four of which are natives of Jamaica.
ORDER III. TRIGYNIA.
Hog Gum, Rhus Metopium. N. O. Dumosae ; nat. Jamaica. This tree is very common in Jamaica, growing about twenty feet high, with a roundish head, pinnate leaves, and reddish berries, on which the bald-pate pigeons feed. There exudes from the tree a yellowish gum, which becomes hard in the air. It heals fresh wounds, and a plaster of it is strengthening and eases the gout and rheumatism, as it is of a warm and discutient nature. A solu- tion of the gum is purgative and diuretic, and good in belly-ache or colic. Made into pills it acts like balsam of Capivi, in stopping gleets and fluor albus. The water that comes from the buds, (when they are baked in banana leaves,) is said to have cured persons nearly blind. The tree takes its name from the wild hogs rubbing themselves against it, when wounded, to heal their hurts. The following are American species :
Poison Vine, Rhus Radicans, is a climber, with small, yellow, odoriferous flowers, produced along the whole course of the smaller branches.
Swamp Sumach, Rhus Vernix, is a larger species, and is called, in New England, Dogwood. It grows in swamps and makes a fine appearance.
Poison Oak, Rhus Toxicodendron, is alow, shrubby species, leaves trifoliate.
All these three are highly poisonous, particularly in warm weather and after a meal, and if touched or smelt, excite inflammatory eruption and vesi- cation, with fever in most people, though others are not affected by it ; it sometimes causes blindness for some days. A decoction of the bark of R. Radicans has been found useful in consumption and asthma. The infusion of this plant and the leaves of R. Toxicodendron have been used with great success in paralysis, the latter in doses of half a grain or a grain three times a day. The very best Japan varnish is prepared from the Rhus Vernix.
Smooth Pennsylvanian Sumach, Rhus Glabrum, rises eight or ten feet, with feathered leaves, which, with the seeds, turn to a beautiful red, in autumn, covered with a white powder, of an agreeable acid taste. The berries are
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used to dye red. An infusion sweetened makes an excellent gargle. The bark, boiled in milk, cures chronic ulcers. Narrow-leaved Sumach, Rhus Copallinum, rises about six i'eet, with acid berries, sprinkled with a greyish powder. These two species are considerably astringent. The leaves or ber- ries are a valuable substitute for nut galls in dying a permanent black, or making ink. The whole plant is also a good substitute for oak bark, in tanning, especially glove-leather, and might be introduced with advantage into England for that purpose. This species produces gum copal. Virgi- nian Sumach, R. Typhinum, called Stagshorn, or Vinegar Plant, is similar in properties to the two species next above mentioned. The seeds have purple, woolly, succulent covers, and the upper leaves turn to a brownish purple. This is also used for tanning leather.
Rhus-leaved Spathelia, Spathelia Simplex. N. O. Bicornes ; nat. Ja- maica. This beautiful plant rises about eighteen feet high, with a simple stalk and pinnated leaves at the top, like a palm, above which the flower- spike rises several feet. It is common in Above Rocks, near the Ferry. No other species.
Narrow-leaved Sea-side Laurel, Xylophilla Angustifolia. N. O. Tri- coccae ; nat. Jamaica. This elegant tree rises about fifteen feet high ; the leaves are long, smooth, and evergreen, and when in flower it is a great or- ment to the rocky shores. In all seven species.
Elm-leaved Turnera, Turnera Ulmifolia. N. O. Columniferae ; nat. Ja- maica. This shrub rises eight or ten feet, with lanceolate leaves, and flowers of a pale yellow. It grows plentifully in the Red Hills and on the Guanaboa Road. The flower opens wide at eleven in the forenoon. It is said to be good for fluxes. There are in all nine species, of which four are natives of Jamaica,
ORDER IV. TETRAGYNIA.
Flax-leaved Evolvuhis, Evolvulus Linifolius. N. O. Campanaceae ; nat. Jamaica. This beautiful little plant rises about a toot high, with a slender, simple, upright stalk ; few and narrow leaves, with a small, deli- cate, axillary peduncle. It is common at the foot of the Liguanea Moun- tains. E. Nummularius has trailing stalks, taking root at small distances. The flowers are axillary, of a light blue. E. Sericeus is also a native of the West Indies. E. Alsinoides, of the East Indies, reputed a sovereign remedy in dysentery. There are three others pecies.
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ORDER V. PENTAGYNIA. Cluster-flowered Ivy, Hedera Capitata vel Aralia Capitata. N. O. Hederaceae ; nat. Jamaica. A woody, erect stem, leaves scattered, triner- vous, and a bright green. Racemes erect, having round heads of flowers, numerous and sessile. A. Sciodaphyllum is also a native of Jamaica.
ORDER VI. POLYGYNIA.
Parsley-leaved Yellow Root, Xanthorrhiza Apiifolia vel Tinctoria. nat. Carolina and Georgia. This shrub rises about three feet high ; the root is woody and of a bright yellow within. The bark of the root and stem is more intensely bitter than Colombo, and it has some pungency. The infusion, or the saliva, when chewed, is of a beautiful yellow, and if its colour could be fixed, it would be a valuable article for dying, and its use in medicine, as a bitter, is, in some cases, to be preferred to Colombo. It sits easy on the stomach, in a dose of forty grains. It dyes cloth a drab colour, and silk a handsome yellow ; but will not take on cotton or linen.
The watery extract of the grated extract of the grated roots, with alum, is better than gamboge, to mix with Prussian blue, for greens, in water colour- ing, as it is more lively and stands better.
OMITTED, CLASS V. ORD. I.
Egg Fruit or Mad Apple, Solatium Melongena. N. O. Lurida? , nat, Africa ; Spa. Balankuna ; Ital. Melanzana. This plant has an irregular, prickly stalk, about two feet high, with trailing branches, having large, si- nuated, tomentose, prickly leaves, with a flower very like the common po- tatoe, but much larger, and of a deep violet. The number of stamens irre- gular, frequently seven. For a representation of the fruit, see Frontispiece, Fig. 13. Cut in thin slices, parboiled and fried, the taste is delicious, and it is wholesome and much resembles fried eggs ; the skin, which is bitter, must be taken off. It is called in India, Branjaw, in Jamaica, Garden Egg and Valanghanna, Brown Jolly or Bolangena.
Tomatoes, or Love Apple, Solarium Lycopersicum. N. O. Luridae ; nat. Jamaica. An herbaceous, climbing plant, with small, sinuated leaves, end- ing in a point, bearing bunches of yellow flowers, succeeded by a red and yellow, pulpy fruit, (see Frontispiece, Fig. 31) which imparts an agreeable acid flavour to soups and sauces, and is considered very wholesome. I have also frequently seen it in the market of Philadelphia.
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Star Apple, Chrysophillum Cainito. N . O. Dumosae ; nat. Jamaica. Tins beautiful tree rises thirty feet high, with a thick trunk, and the branches garnished with ovate, acute leaves, of a bright green above and gold colour beneath, shining like satin. See Plate I. Fig. 12, for the habit of the tree, and Frontispiece, Fig. 15, for the fruit. When cut across, it re- sembles a star. The juice of the fruit is milky, and the pulp soft, sweet and clammy, and much admired by some. One sort of fruit is green, another purple. The branches, if planted in wet weather, will grow. There are six species.
CLASS VI. HEXANDRTA.
This class embraces those vegetables whose flowers are furnished with six stamens of uniform length. It is one of the most beautiful in the sexual system, and embraces the ninth and tenth natural orders of Spathaceae and Coronariae and a part of the eleventh, Sarmentaceae, some plants of which are wholesome, as the Asparagus, Yam, Mediola Virginica and Convallaria, while others of the same order are poisonous, as Gloriosa and some others. It contains also some important medicinal plants, as aloes, squill and meadow saffron, and esculent plants, as rice, leek, garlic, onion, &c. The West Indies are remarkably rich in plants of this class.
ORDER I. MONOGYNIA. Common Pine Apple, Bromelia Ananas. Nat. West Indies and Spanish America ; N. O. Coronariae. This delicious fruit is well known and very common in Jamaica, where there are several sorts, as the Queen Pine, the Sugarloaf, the Montserrat, the King, the Green, the Ripley. The best are frequently to be bought in the markets for five pence currency, the low- est piece of money in the West Indies. They grow wild in the woods, in such abundance, that I have sent out and procured several hundred plants in one day. For the manner of its growth, see Plate I. Fig. 14 ; for the fruit, see Frontispiece, Fig. 3. Wild Pine or Silk Grass, B. Karatas, grows at the root of shady trees, and has leaves and fruit similar to the Pinguin ; the outward green part being scraped off and washed, the fibres appear quite straight, which are worked into ropes, fine twine, hammocks, nets, cloth, &c. Pinguin, B. Pinguin, is similar in its growth to the Pine and is very com- monly used in Jamaica for fences, as its radical leaves grow very thick and about four feet high, armed with spines, and it spreads by suckers from the
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root, forming an impassable fence (except to goats, who jump over them.) The fruit grows at the head of the stalk, in clusters of sixteen or twenty, and while it is ripening, the lower part of the leaves turn red ; the fruit is about the size of a walnut, of an orange colour, containing an acid pulp, the juice of which, with water, is cooling in fevers, and the pulp, with sugar, is agreeable to children and kills worms, and with honey, cures ulcerated mouths. It is also diuretic, mixed with Rhenish wine, and makes, by proper management, fine vinegar. The fibres also may be twisted into ropes, the same as the Silk Grass. For a representation of the fruit, see Frontispiece, Fig. 38. Water-holding Pine, B. Aquilega. This species grows on branches of trees in the woods ; the leaves are channelled, and from their form and connection, form a reservoir at the bottom, which fre- quently contains a considerable quantity of water, generally about a quart. This plant is also arranged as a Tillandsia Utriculata. There are in all nine species of Bromelia.
Tuberose, Polianthus Tuberosa. N. O. Coronariae. This beautiful and sweet smelling flower grows very common in gardens, in Jamaica, and is too well known to need description.
Scarlet Pitcarnia, Pitcairnia Bromeliafolia, and two other species, are natives of Jamaica, as is Green-flowered Chlorophytum, Chlorophytum In- ornatum.
Mossy Tillandsia, or Old Man's Beard, Tillandsia Usneoides. N. O. Coronariae ; nat. West Indies and Southern States of America. The leaves of this plant are small and thread-like, with a hoary, shining skin ; when this is rotted off and washed, the fibres can scarcely be distinguished from horse-hair. It is used to stuff pannells, cushions, pillows and mattrasses. It hangs from ebony and manchineel trees, in such a form as to give it its trivial name. The nests of the Banana birds are generally made of it. There are sixteeu species, mostly natives of Jamaica.
Caribbean Lily Root, Pancratium Caribwum. Nat. West Indies ; N. O. Spathaeeae. This plant grows wild in Jamaica, with large leaves and nume- rous flowers, rising about eighteen inches high. The bulbs, in decoction, make a diuretic drink for horses, and a cataplasm of the roots roasted is ma- turating. There are in all fifteen species.
Jamaica Garlic, Allium Granile. N. O. Spathaceaa ; nat. Jamaica ; Fr- Ail ; Spa. Aio ; Ital. Aglio. Has leaves like the narcissus, a foot in length, with a slender scape, three feet high. Many species of Allium, as Common Garlic, Leek, Onion, Scallion, Cives and Shalotts are very common, and particularly wholesome in Jamaica. The Jews use the garlic considerably,
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and particularly season with it a sort of smoked sausage, called chorisas, which are very good. The onion tribe is generally stimulant and diuretic. A free use of boiled onions is useful in the first stages of dropsy, and exter- nal applications of garlic and onion, as sinapisms or poultices, are frequently useful. There are in all forty-five species of Allium.
Trailing Hypoxis, Hypoxis Decumbens, is a native of Jamaica ; but the flower of no great beauty.
Common Asparagus, Asparagus Officinalis. N. O. Sarmentaceae ; Fr. Asperge ; Sp. Esparago ; Ital. Sparagio. This well-known plant grows very well in the mountains, or in the low lands, if well watered. Dr. Barham says, the roots of Wild Sea Asparagus are a powerful diuretic. There are in all thirteen species.
Aloe-leaved Adam's Needle, Yucca Aloifolia. N. O. Coronariae ; native South America. This beautiful plant grows in Jamaica, eight feet high, with narrow, stiff* leaves, ending in a sharp spine. The flowers are borne on a pyramidal head, rising in the centre, of a purple colour. It is also called Dagger-plant and Spanish Dagger. There are four other species.
Hillia Longiflora and Tetrandria are natives of Jamaica. N. O. Con- torts.
Solomon's Seal, Convallaria. N. O. Sarmentaceae. This plant is well known to the Negroes in Jamaica, who eat it boiled, and the Indians in North America also feed upon the root. There are eleven species of this genus.
Barbadoes Aloes, Aloe Perfoliata vel Barbadensis. N. O. Coronarise ; nat. West Indies. This plant is well known and very common in the West Indies, where it is also called Sempervive. The juice of this plant, inspis- sated by boiling or drying in the sun, is the medical substance, known by the name of Barbadoes and Hepatic Aloes, and it is cultivated to a consider- able extent in Barbadoes, for the purpose of exportation. The best and purest, for medicinal purposes, is that produced from the A. Socotrina, thence called Succotrine Aloes ; the coarser sort of this is called Horse Aloes, A. Caballina. Aloes are a valuable cathartic, and the basis of many ap- proved medicines of that class ; and its bitter taste is best covered by Spanish liquorice. It is useful in cases of worms, the primae viae loaded with mucus, and in chlorosis, with steel. The fresh juice is frequently given for worms with milk, or it is used in a plaster, applied to the abdomen, or sometimes mixed with pulverised conch-shells, made into pills. The juice is a power- ful antiseptic and heals old sores, and is an useful ingredient in an enema.
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It is an excellent preservative to ships' bottoms from the worms so common in harbours in the West Indies, incorporated with pitch, Spanish brown and oil, in the proportion of one ounce of aloes to two square feet of plank ; one coat will preserve a ship's bottom eight months. This plan is well worthy attention and encouragement. Rafters and timbers are also preserved by it from the destructive ravages of the wood-ant, and books from the scarabaeus, if a small proportion be used in binding them ; and a spirituous extract de- stroys bugs. An aquatic solution of Aloes protects young plants from in- sects, and will also preserve dead animals and vegetables from putrefaction. A decoction dyes wool brown, and silk a violet colour, by simple immer- sion. There are in all fifty-three species.
American Aloe, or Currato, Agave Vivipara. See Explanation of Plate VII. Fig. 4. The expressed juice of the leaf is also diuretic. Boiled to a thick consistence, with lime-juice and molasses, is a good dressing for ulcers.
Common Naseberry, Acliras Sapota. N. O. Dumosse ; nat. West Indies; called also Sappadilla. This is a tree of considerable size, and the timber of it is hard ; the branches are thickly set, with smooth, bright leaves, and the young shoots and unripe fruit full of a milky juice. The berry, when ripe, is brown, (see Frontispiece, Fig. 16.) of the size of a small apple, of a sweet, luscious taste, very numerous on a tree, and must be gathered while hard, and in a few days they become soft and fit for eating, but soon decay. For the seeds see Plate III. Fig. 9 ; from six to twelve make a pint of good bitter emulsion. Mammee Sappota, A. Mammosa, grows about forty- feet high, with a straight trunk and regular head. The branches are thickly set, with large, smooth leaves, and the fruit is of an oval shape, with a thick brown rind, and a very luscious, sweet, yellow pulp, called American mar- malade. It is good in fluxes. For the seed see Plate III. Fig. 10. A va- riety of this, called the Bully-tree, grows very tall, and is the hardest timber in Jamaica : from its straight, thick trunk, it is best fitted for main rollers of sugar mills, and a single trunk, for that purpose, fifteen inches diameter, delivered at the mill is worth fifty pounds and upwards. There are also Beef-wood, Bastard Bully-tree, and Mountain Bastard Bully-tree, all hard, fine timber. White Bully-tree or Galimeta Wood, A. Salicifolia, is a tall, straight, timber tree ; the fruit is black and fattens pigeons, grows about the size of an olive. The bark of A. Sappota and A. Mamosa is very astringent, but will not answer as a substitute for Jesuits' bark, though it has been given for it, in twice or thrice the quantity. There are two other species.
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ORDER II. DIGYNIA.
Common Rice, Oryza Sativa. N. O. Gramina ; Fr. Riz ; Sp. Arroz ; Ital. Riso. This valuable plant is not cultivated in Jamaica, but will grow very well in the low, moist lands, and such as are fit for Scotch grass. Great quantities are raised in the Southern States of America. It is cooling and restringent, and an emulsion is good for strangury. No other species. There is a sort of Rice, in the East Indies, called Mountain Rice, which will grow on dry, mountainous soils : the seed of this would be a valuable acquisition in Jamaica.
ORDER IV. TETRAGYNIA.
Garlick-scented Guineahen Weed, Petiveria Alliacea. N. O. Hole- racese ; nat. Jamaica. This plant is very common, and rises about two feet high, with oblong leaves, and flowers in spikes. It grows in moist, shady places, and is green in the driest weather ; when the cattle feed on it, it gives their milk the taste of garlic, and I have had the flesh of wild cattle caught in ropes, in dry weather, so rank with it, that the meat was totally unsaleable. Guinea-hens feed on it, and are to found, in great numbers, where this weed abounds. Dr. Barham says, the root put to aching teeth* eases them. There is one other species, P. Octandra.
ORDER V. POLYGYNIA.
Yellow Water Plantain, Alisma Flava. N. O. Tripotaloideae ; nat Jamaica. This is very common in ditches and standing water. There are eight other species.
CLASS VII. HEPTANDRIA.
This class contains plants whose flowers are furnished with seven stamens, and is the least numerous of the whole twenty-four. There are no plants, natives of Jamaica, comprised in it, though that island contains numerous genera of every other class.
CLASS VIII. OCTANDRTA.
This class embraces plants whose flowers are furnished with eight sta* mens, and comprises plants of the natural orders of Calycanthemi£> Bicornes,
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Sarmentacess and Iuundatae. It contains many curious, useful and medicinal plants.
ORDER I. MONOGYNIA.
Akee, BUghia. Nat. Africa, This plant was introduced from Africa, and now thrives very well in Jamaica. Dr. Broughton describes it, in the Hortus Eastensis, as follows : — Gen. Char. Calyx five-leaved and inferior, with concave, acute, ovate, small leaves, persistent and hairy ; corolla five- petalled, oblong, lanceolated, acute, hairy, bent at the base, and pressed to the receptacle, alternate with the calyx and longer ; stamina eight short filaments, hairy, inserted at the base of the glandulous receptacle of the germen ; anthera oblong, disposed in an orb, and almost of the same length round the germen ; germen subovate, three sided and hairy ; the style the length of the germen, cylindrical and hairy ; the stigma obtuse ; pericarpium a fleshy capsule, oblong, obtuse on both sides, triangular, trilocular, trivalv- ed, and gaping from the apex ; semina three, orbicular and glossy, having a rising appendice. This beautiful tree rises twenty feet high and upward. The trunk has a rough, brown bark ; the branches irregular and declining ; the leaves are pinnated, ovate, lanceolated, bright above, and veined under- neath ; the flowers are disposed in spikes, small, white, and scentless ; the fruit is as large as a goose's egg, of a red and orange colour. See Frontis- piece, Fig. 24. The seeds are three. See Plate III. Fig. 14. To each seed grows a white substance twice or thrice its size, of the consistence of beef fat, which, when parboiled and fried in butter, tastes exactly like mar- row, and is the richest and most delicate of vegetables. This, by the inha- bitants of Guinea, is served at table alone, or mixed with broth or pottage. It thrives well in the low lands of Jamaica, is easily propagated from the seeds, and well deserves cultivation. When in bearing, it has a most beau- tiful appearance from its variety of colours. There is no other species. It is named after Captain Bligh, who brought the bread fruit and other valua- ble plants from Otaheite.
Cunep, or Wing-leaved Honeyberry, Melicocca Bijuga. N. O. Sa- pindi, (Juss.) ; nat. South America ; Dutch, Knippen ; Spa. Monos. This tree has been introduced into Jamaica, and grows pretty common, about twenty feet high, with bright green, ovate, acuminate leaves. The fruit is an egg-shaped drupe, with a thin, brownish, brittle shell or bark, contain- ing one seed, covered with a sweetish, acid, gelatinous, orange-coloured pulp, which is pleasant and cooling ; but accidents sometimes happen, from child-
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ren's letting the seed slip into their throats. For figure of the fruit, see Plate III. fig. 62. There is no other species.
Musk, or Alligator Wood, Ghiarea Trlchilioides. N. O. Meliae, (Juss.); nat. of Jamaica ; Fr. Bois Rouge. This is a tree of middling size, with pin- nated leaves. The bark smells strongly of musk : a small piece in a tobacco- pipe will perfume a room. The powder of the bark is sometimes used for an emetic. There is no other species.
White Candle Wood, or Rose Wood, Amyris Balsamifera. N. O. Teribintaceae, (Juss.); nat. Jamaica; called also Lignum Rhodium. This is a valuable, heavy timber, of considerable size ; the wood whitish, and, when young, of a curled grain, and bears a good polish. It has a laurel leaf, and the wood smells very sweet and burns like a candle. An infusion of the leaves is diaphoretic, aromatic in baths and fomentations, cordial and particularly restorative to weak eyes. The berries have much the taste of Balsam Copaiba. Small Shrubby Sweetwood, A. Maritima, is also a na- tive of Jamaica, and if the Amyrises of this island were tapped at a proper time, a balsam, similar to the balm of Gilead or balsam of Mecca, the pro- duce of A. Opobalsainum, might probably be obtained. There are seven other species. The gum elemi of the shops is said to be the produce of A. Elemi fera, a native of Carolina. Half an ounce of gum elemi, dissolved in four pints of good rum, a large spoonful three times a day, is the best remedy for a cough.
Ximenia, Ximenia Inermis. N. O. Aurantia, (Juss.) ; nat. Jamaica. A small, bushy tree, eight feet high, with leaves only an inch long. One spe- cies, X. Americana, bears a fruit very like the cunep. There is one other species. Rhexia Acisanthera, Hispida, and Rutilans, are natives of Jamai- ca, in Luidas Vale.
Prickly Lawsonia, Lawsonia Falcata. N. O. Salicariae, (Juss) ; nat. East Indies. This shrub rises about six feet high, very much branched, with acuminate leaves and bunches of white flowers, of a very powerful animal scent ; so much so, that too many near a house are unwholesome. The pul- verised leaves of the L. Inermis form the henna or alhenha so much used by the Eastern nations to dye their nails a yellow colour. There are three other species.
Jamaica Bilberry, or Whortle Berry, Vaccininm Meredionale. Nat. of Jamaica, in the Blue Mountains ; Sp. Arandano. The berries are sapid, red, acid, astringent and bitter, like bilberries ; the leaves are annual, ra- cemes leafy, and flowers variegated. They make a good rob or jelly, which is excellent in colds and sore throats. There are in all twenty-seven species.
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Lace-bark Tree, or Laurel-leaved Lagetto, Daphne Lagetto. N. O. Vepriculae ; nat. West Indies ; Fr. Bois Dentelle. This tree has laurel leaves, the wood is white, and the inner bark white and thick, but may be drawn out into fine lace, which will bear washing. King Charles II. wore a cravat of it, presented by Sir Thomas Lynch, governor of Jamaica. It is used to make twine and ropes, and would doubtless make paper, if properly prepared. D. Occidentalis is also a native of Jamaica, and there are twenty- six species in all.
ORDER TRIGYNIA.
Mangrove Round-leaved Sea-side Grape, Coccoloba Uvifera. N. O. Holeraceae ; nat. West Indies ; Fr. Raisinier du bord de la Mer ; Sp. Uvero. This is a pretty large, irregular tree, growing by the sea side ; the wood hard and red, used for fuel, and when large for cabinet work ; leaves entire, thick and large ; flowers small and whitish, berries purplish, about the size of grapes, having, under a thin rind, a pleasant, soft, astringent pulp, and a round stone, with a kernel. The berries are a very powerful astrin- gent, and instances have occurred, in which the effects of incautiously eating them could not be removed, by the most powerful remedies, in less than three weeks. Properly administered, it is useful in dysentery, and the bark, in rum, good for a fomentation in fluor albus. Great-leaved C. Pubescens, called by the French, Bois a grandes feuilles ; C Excoriata, and C. Nivea, are also natives of Jamaica, and some are hard, red timber of considerable size. There are ten other species.
Asmart, Polygonum Persicaria. Though this plant be not a native of Jamaica, it may be mentioned here, that the fresh plant in decoction, — dose a wine glass full, — or the infusion of the dried plant, are powerfully diuretic and very useful in gravelly complaints. The root of P. Hydropiper, bruised and applied, cures the tooth-ache, and the essential oil is good for knotty gouts.
Supple Jack, Paullbiia Polyphylla. N. O. Trihilatae ; nat. Jamaica. This is common in the woods, with a slender, flexile, tough, knobby stalk, which is usually cut into lengths for riding and walking-sticks, and is boiled in a sugar copper and rubbed with oil, to prevent its becoming too brittle. There are in all seventeen species.
Soap Berry, Sapindus Saponaria. N. O. Trihilatae ; nat. West Indies ; Spa. Saponaria. Rises about twenty feet high, with many branches towards the top, furnished with winged leaves ; the flowers are produced in spikes, small and white ; the berries are smooth, round and black. See Plate III.
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Fig. 11. The seed-vessels, and pulp which surrounds the nuts, are deter- sive, acrid, and rather corrosive, lather freely in water and will cleanse more linen than sixty times their weight of soap. Pounded and steeped in ponds and creeks, they intoxicate and kill the fish. The seeds, having a fine po- lish, are frequently used for buttons and necklaces, and these also, being bruised and steeped, make a fine lather. Another species, S. Spinosus, is common in the parish of St. James's in Jamaica, called there the Licca Tree. There are in all thirteen species. The berries, bruised and mixed in rum, form a good embrocation in rheumatism, cramps, and pains in the joints, especially if the rum be a strong tincture of canella alba. It is said, the ashes of the Soap Berry Tree spoil potash.
Great-flowered Heart-seed, Cardiospermum Grandiflorum. N. O. Trihilatae. Is a native of Jamaica, called in America, Wild Parsley ; Fr. Pois de Merveille. Is a climbing plant, and has seeds contained in a kind of bladders, marked with a black spot, in the shape of a heart. There are two other species.
CLASS IX. ENNEANDRIA. This valuable class, though small, contains many important vegetables, both for medical and domestic purposes, especially the aromatic Spices and the Rhubarbs, and comprehends the natural order of Holeraceae,
ORDER I. MONOGYNIA.
For Cinnamon and the other species of Laurus, see Explanation of Plate VII. Laurus Sassafras, Benzoin, and Borbonia are natives of North America.
ORDER II. TRIGYNIA.
Rhubarb, Rheum ; Fr. Rhabarbe. This valuable plant might be culti- vated to advantage in the United States, where, it is probable, there are some native species.
CLASS X. DECANDRIA. This is a very extensive class, containing many valuable and important vegetables, and comprising the natural orders of Papilionaceae, Lomentaceae, Carophyllei, Trihilatae, and Gruinales ; also some of the Bicornes and Succu- lentae. Many are useful in medecine and others in the arts and manu- factures.
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ORDER I. MONOGYNIA.
Red Bead Tree, Sophora JWonospermum. N. O. Papilionacese ; nat. Jamaica. Rises about ten feet high, with blue flowers, and an ovate legume, containing one large, spherical, scarlet seed, with a black spot. There are in all twenty-five species of sophora.
Dwarf Mountain Ebony, Bauhinia Divaricata. N. O. Lomentacese ; nat. Jamaica. This rises about eight feet high, and is common in the Red Hills. The leaves are cordate, cloven half way, with the lobes standing wide from each other. The flowers are white, in a raceme, and have a plea- sant smell. It folds its leaves before rain. There are thirteen species.
For Locus Tree, Brasiletto, Barbadoes Pride or Flower Fence, Nicker Tree, Guaiacum, see Explanation of Plate VII. To which add, the wood of Guilandina Moringa, or Horse-radish Tree dyes a fine blue colour. Nickers, G. Bonduc, pounded with gum elemi, are very efficacious in diabetes ; also, burnt Nickers expel the yaws from the blood, and half a drachm of the nut in powder is good in convulsive affections. A tea of Barbadoes Pride or Spanish Carnation restores the bile to its natural state, after illness, and a powder of the seeds in the dose of one drachm is a cure for the belly-ache. A decoction of Brasiletto strengthens the stomach, and takes away inflammations and defluctions of the eyes. Nicaragua Wood, C. Vesicaria, is a much more valuable dye than Brasiletto and might be introduced into Jamaica with advantage. It is called by the Dutch, Stockvishout.
Cassia. See Explanation of Plate IX. Also, Wild Senna, ( Cassia Senna Italica.J Rises about a foot high, with pinnated leaves and yellow flowers. It is found on the Palissades, near Port Royal, and is supposed to resemble the true Alexandrian Senna. A handful infused in half a pint of water and quickened with a spoonful of juice of Sempervive, may be given. Labat says, the French imported Senna from their West India islands, and there the leaves of several species of Cassia are used, as also the leaves of Barba- does Pride, instead of the true Senna. American Senna, Cassia Mari- landica, is also in general use in the southern parts of America, as a substi- tute for the Alexandrian. Round-leaved Cassia, Cassia Obtusifolia, is also a native of Jamaica ; rises about two feet high, and bears a legume four inches long, containing upwards of twenty seeds. Also Hairy Cassia, Cassia Pilosa, — Creeping Cassia, C. Serpens, — Ringworm Bush, Cassia Alata vel Herpetica (the juice of which cures the ringworm,) called by the French
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Herbe a Dartres; — C. Frutescens, — C. Minima, — C. Sericea, — C. Lineata, C. Virgata, are all natives of Jamaica. In all fifty-one species.
Logwood. See Explanation of Plate X. Fig. 3.
Balsam of Tolu, Toluifera Balsamum. N. O. Terebintaceae ; nat. Tolu in Darien, South America. A large tree with spreading branches, alternate, ovate leaves, and yellow flowers, in bunches. The balsam is mild, fragrant, vulnerary, pectoral,