The Natural Hiftory of Jamaica. 
13Q 
Down, or Zomentum. much longer in proportion to the Seed, then any Zo- 
mentum \ know, being as long as the Pod or Capfula. 
It grows onthe Arms of the Trees in the Woods every where, as alfo on 
the Barks of their Truncs, efpecially when they begin to decay, their Barks, 
recciving the Seed, and yielding then cafily to the fibrils of this Plant's 
Roots, which in fome time difiolves them, and ruins the whole Trunc. 
The contrivance of Nature, in this Vegetable is very admirable and 
firange. The Sced has long, and many threads of Tomentum, not only that 
it may be carried every where by the wind, as papofe and tomentofe Seeds 
of Hieracium, lyfimachia, &c. but alfo that ic may by thofe threads, when 
driven through the Boughs, be held faft, and ftick to the Arms and extant 
parts of the Barks of Trees. So foon asit {prouts, or germinates, although 
it be on the under part of a Bough, or the Trunc of the Tree, its Leaves 
and Stalk rifes perpendicular, or ftraight up, becaule, if it had any other 
pofition, the Ciftern (beforementioned, by which it is chiefly nourifhed, not 
having any communication with the Tree) made of the hollow J.eaves, 
could not hold water, which is neceflary for the Nourifhment and Life of 
the Plant. 
In the Mountainous, as well as dry low Woods, in fcarcity of water. 
This Refervatory is neceflary and fufficient, not only for the Plant its felf, 
but likewife is very ufeful to Men, Birds, and all forts of Infects, whither 
in {carcity of water they come in Troops, and feldom go away without Re- 
frelament. For the further account of this Plant and its Figure, as alfo con- 
cerning European Plants, fomewhat analogous to it in fome particulars, Sce the 
Philofophical TranfaGtions. Numb. 251. 
Befides the Authors mentioned in my Catalogue of Famaica Plants, p. 76. 
to take notice of this Plant, I find Aruldrich Schmidel, cap. 46. p.77+ of his 
Navig. Printed 1599. 4t0. to have the following paflage, which I believe re- 
lates to this Herb. 
Ex noftris autem hominibus multi fiti moriebantar, licet 4d hoc iter apud iftos 
Carchconos mediocri aque copia nos inftruxeramus. Invenicbamns_ autem in hoc iti 
nerve, radicem fupra terram extantem, magna lataque folia habentem, in quibas aqua 
tanquam in vafe aliquo manct, nec inde effunditur, nec etiam tam facile con{umitur, 
capitque una harum radicum aqua circiter dimidiam men{uram. 
And Capt. Dampier, in his Voyage, Vol.2d. of Campeche, p. 56. fays thus. 
The Wild Pine is a Plant, fo called, becaufe it fomewhat refembles the 
Buth that bears the Pine: they are commonly fupported, or grow from fome 
Bunch, Knot, or Excrefcence of the Tree, where they take root and grow 
upright. The Root is fhort and thick, from whence the Leaves rife up in 
Folds, one within another, {preading off at the top: They are of a good 
thick Subftance, and about Ten or Twelve Inches long, the outfide Leaves 
are fo compact, as to contain the Rain Water as it falls, they will hold a 
pintand a half, ora quart: and this Water refrefhes the Leaves, and nourifhes 
the Root. When we find thefe Pines, we ftick our Knives into the Leaves, 
jut above the Roots, and that lets out the Water, which we Catch in our 
Hats, as I have done many times to my great Relief. 
VII. Vifcum Cariophylloides maximum, capitulis in fummitate conglomeratis. 
Cat.p,.77+ Tab. 120. 7 
This has a great many long, dark, brown, {mall filaments, threads, or fibrils, 
which rake faft hold of the Barks of Trees, to which it adheres, when all 
united making an oblong Root, and fending forth round about many Leaves, 
like thofe of white Lily, inclofing one another after the manner of Aloacs, each 
of which is a Foot long, an Inch and an half broad, blunt or roundith. 
They are at the ends of a very dark green, and fometinies purple colour. 
i ee From 
