Pe a eee 
‘The Natural Hiffory of Jamaica. 1 24 
aia 
a | 
L. Juncus cyperoides creberrime geniculatus, medulla fardtus, aquaticus, radice 
rubra, tuberofa, odorata, Cat. p. 36. Tab. 81. Fig. 1. | 
This Ruth hasa tuberous, red, knobbed Root, having a very grateful {mell 
like that of Calamus aromaticus, covered with brown withered Leaves, as 
well as the under part of the Stalk, like other Ruthes, and having feveral 
red Strings, going from the Root of one to that of another. The Stalk is 
round, green, three Foot high, fmooth, having within ic very ftrong, and 
frequent tranfverfe Partitions or Membranes, making it jointed with 
a Pith between. At the top ftand feveral brown chaffie Panicles, like thote 
of Cyperus Graffes, the fmall, long, Spikes, being made up of feveral red- 
difh Scales, lying over one another on the fame Foot-Stalks, all coming 
from the Rufhes top, as from a common Center. 
Ic grows in the Rills of the Savanna, beyond two Mile Woed, about 
Mr. Batchelors. | 
This having a very gratefully {cented Root, I queftion not but that it 
may be very fuccefsfully ufed in place of Calamus aromaticus, Cre. 
This agrees with Hernandexs Defcription of Phatzifiranda, and pretty 
well to his Figure, only it has no Leaves, which by the way are not like 
thofe of Schenanth in the Figure, and Asments fays the Leaves, are like 
Leeks, In both thefe Authors may be largely feen the Vertues a{cribed to 
this Plant. 
LI. Juncus cyperoides, culmo compre[fo ftréato, radice odorata tuberofa, capitulo 
yotundo compatto. Cat. p. 36. Tab. 81. Fig. 2. 
This Rush has a tuberous, red, knobbed Root, having a very srateful 
{mell, like that of Cyperus. Fach knob or joint is by long tran{verfe 
Roots, of about half an Inch in length, joined to the neareft to it, fo 
making a long Root, made up as it were of feveral Beads ftringed. The 
Roots are covered over with brown, withered Leaves, as alfo are the un- 
der parts of the Stalks, which had fome longer and fhorter Sheaths, like 
other Rufhes. From each knob rifes a ftriated cornered Ruth, fomething 
comprefled, full of a fpongy Pith, about two or three Foot high, on the 
top of which under a round Head, made up of many ferrugincous Scales 
or Glume, ftanding clofe together, very compact, were fome few very fhort 
Leaves, as inthe Cyperus Graffes. ? 
This has great refemblance,. in manner of growth, with the Vaembu, 
HM. p.1t. p. 99. OF Acorus Verus Aftaticus radice tenuiore vel calamus ars 
maticus Garzia ab Horto. Comm ibid. 
{¢ was brought by a very curious Perfon from the Bay of Honduras, where 
he told me it grew among the Sand not far from Truxillo. \t was ufed by the 
Tndjans in the Belly-ach, and I defiring the aforefaid Gentleman to bring me 
fome Simples, ufed by the Natives of thofe parts whither he was to go, in 
oe Cure of Difeafes, he aflured me he found none more celebrated than 
this. : 
This is perfectly differing from the Gramen Cyperoides latiori folio afpero, 
panicula in [ummitate caulis conglomerata Plukenct. Alm. p. 178. Phyt. Tab. 190- 
Fig.8. as may cafily appear to any who compares them, however contrary 
the Opinion of Dr. Plukenet miay be,in his Mantiffa, p. 97+ | 
LI. Funcus aquaticus geniculatus, capitulis equifeti, major. Cat. Pp. 37- Tab. 
81. ie: 3. An {cirpus Americans, caule geniculato, cavo. Lign. Tournef. Inft. 
7.528? 
com the {ame Root, made up of many Strings, as is that of other Ruthes, 
rife five or fix, two or three Foot high,hollow Rufhes,within which are a great 
i many 
