The Natural Hiffory of Jamaica. 
I7I 
— ae 
et 
I]. Mentaftrum maximum, flore coruleo, nardi odore. Cat. p. 64. Tab. 102. 
Fig. 2. Erva Cidreira Lufitanis. Maregr. Citrago feu Meliffa Citrata Brafilienfts. 
Raii Hift. p. 1332. Meliffa Famaicana odoratiffima. Plukenet. Alm. p. 247. 
Phytogr. Tab. 306. Fig.3. An mentha Americana meliffe foliis graveolentibus. 
Herm. par. Bat. pr. Plukenct. Alm. p.r4% 2 Phytogr. Tad. 306. Fig.62 Indian 
Spikenard. 
This near the Root has a red, round, rough Stem, which rifes nine or ten 
Foot high, having towards the top a f{quare Stalk, and oppofite Branches. 
The Leaves ftand on an Inch long Foot-Stalks, are more than two Inches long, 
about one Inch broad in the middle, where broadeft, are finuated, or deeply 
jagged onthe edges, hoary, and of a pretty dark green colour. The Flowers 
are ftanding round the Stalk Perticillatim, blue, fmall, tetrapetalous, in a 
quarter of an Inch long ftriated, furrowed, or cannulated Calyces, the top of 
which has frve Hairs or Prickles. Each of thefe Calyces contains two black, 
almoft round, flat Seeds, having a protuberance in their middle. 
The whole Plant fells very ftrong, pleafantly, and like Spikenard, or 
fomewhat like a Citron, whence the name given it by the Portague/es. 
It grew on the fandy Sea Banks near old Harbour, in the Low Lands or 
Savannas near the Town, and in feveral places of this Ifland. 
It is efteem’d a very great Alexipharmac, and is much ufed in outward 
Fomentations. 
Pifo usd this in place of Balm, either in outward Fomentations, or as its 
diftill’d water in the Collick, or other flatulent Diftempers, as well as in Cor- 
dial Potions. 
Ill, Verbena folio fubrotundo ferrato flore caeruleo. Cat. p. 64: Tab. 1073 
Fig.x.  Vervain. . 
This Plant has a long Root, very ftrongly fix’d into the Earth by feveral 
lateral fibers, drawing its Nourifhment, and fending up feveral two or three 
Foot long, jointed four-{quare Stalks. The Leaves ftand atthe Joints op- 
pofite to one another, on {hort Foot-Stalks, are two Inches long, one broad, 
having many Ribs, the principal whereof are purple. They are deeply fer- 
rated, very fmooth, and green, having fmaller onescoming out ex eorum ala. 
The Flowers ftand on the Branches ends Spike fafhion. ‘The Spike is long, 
the Flowers are thick fet round it, without any Leaves between, are mono- 
petalous, with the Ore divided into five parts, of a deep blue colour, onc, 
two, three, four, or five Flowers, opening at a time, fucceflively one 
after another from the bottom upwards. After each of thefe follows in a 
greenifh brown Calyx or Husk one Seed or rather Husk, fomething like to 
that of Wheat in fhape and colour, only in every thing {maller, being cafily 
divifible into two, both being clofe covered with the fame Membrane. The 
Seeds being in a Cavity on the fide of the Spike, and are covered with three 
fharp, brownifh, membranous Leaves. 
This grows in claiy grounds, in the Savanuas, in the Road going to Gus- 
maboa, on the Red Hills, and in many other places in all the Curibes, but 
motft plentifully near Bridgetowsin Barbados. 
It is very much us’d in Clyfters for the Belly-ach ; and by fome in Poul- 
tefles, with Onions, for the Dropfie. | 
This and Lime-Roots boiled together,the Decottion is faid here to cure the 
Dropfie, or a Decodtion of this after the manner of Tea, is of its felf 
counted a powerful Sudorifick, lying warm after it. It is to be drank very 
warm. 
Itis very much in repute among the Zndian and Negro Doctors for the 
Cure of moft Difeafes. ts 
