The Natural Fiflory of Jamaica. 1 97 
being of a yellowifh green colour on the upper fide, and whitifh underneath. 
The tops of the Twigs, beyond the Leaves, are a Foot long, and branched 
out into very large bunches of many Flowers each ftanding on a fhort Foot- 
Stalk, and being made upof two green Leaves or Lobes, within which are 
many Stamina of a yellow colour, and a Stylus which grows roundith, big in 
the middle, and tapering to both extremes, and in its middle contains a {mall 
brown oblong Seed. | 
All parts of this Plant yield on breaking a yellow juice, like that of 
Celandine. 
It grows in a Gully near Mr. Ellet(on’s Houle in Lignance, on the Road 
going to Collonel Bourden’s Plantation from Gwanaboa, and feveral other 
laces. 
" It is hot and dry in the fourth Degree, with fome Adftri@ion. The 
Twigs bark’d take off {pots and marks from the Eyes. The juice confumes 
Wind, cures Tetters as well as the Fruit, and eafes pain from cold Caufes. 
The Leaves cure old Sores, being applied tothem. They take off Warts, 
efpecially thofe of the Preputium and Pudenda, which has been found by moft 
certain Experiment. It is likewife called Quauhchilli, from being as fharp as 
Indian Pepper, and was planted by the Jndiam Kings in their Gardens, 
Fernandez. 
“XUL Zithymalus Pa nreres foliis hirfatis, floribus ad caulium nodos cone 
glomeratis. Cat. p. 82. Tithymalus Americanus, humi fufus, ferratus, floribus in 
capitulum alts adherens, congeftis. Plum. Tournef. Inft. p. 88. Tithymalus bo- 
tryoid:s minor Americanus foliis hirfutis. Pluken, Alm. p. 373. 
This from an oblong tough Root, fends out feveral {mall, round, red Stalks 
hairy, and about a Foot long. The Leaves are fet at the joints of the 
Stalks, they are fometimes red, and fometimes whitifh green, almoft like 
thofe of Parietaria. Out of the joints come likewife the Flowers, towards 
the under part of the Stalk having a Foot-Stalk, but towards the top none. 
They are very finall, many being clofe fet together inthe fame Head, or con- 
glomerated, of a white or purplifh colour, and after them follow tricoccous 
Seeds, as {mall as thofe of Chamafyce. | 
Ir grows every where in Famaica, and other Iflands. 
Its Vertues are thought many. Here ‘tis very much commended in 
Claps as an Antivenereal Medicine, and by fome it is given in the Belly-ach. 
Pifo ays "tis one of the beft outward or inward Antidotes, and that be- 
‘ing freth chaw’d, or beaten, applicd to a Serpents biting, ic not only takes 
away the pain, but draws out the Poyfon, and curcs Wounds, and likewile, 
that if it be dry and powdered, and given ina convenient Liquor, to the 
quantity of a Pugil, ic corroborates the Heart, and reftores the ftrength de- 
cayed by Poyfon. He farther fays, that fcarce any who is prudent go’s into 
the Woods in Brafile without either this Herb or its Juice, which drank in a 
good Draught cures the Poyfon of Serpents. | 
This is the greateft Antidote againft Serpents biting, being bruifed, and 
applied to the Wound: if it have reach’d the Heart, a little of the Powder 
cures being inwardly taken. One drop kills a finall Serpent. Zertre. 
A Bath is made of this againft Serpents Poyfon.. The Leaves with the 
Juice of the Bark Lana, levigated and anointed, Remedies Carbuncles and 
Phlegmons. H. M@. 
XIV. Zithymalus erectus, acris parietarie foliis glabris, floribus ad caulium nodos 
conglomeratis. Cat. p.82. Tab. 126. Tithymalus Americanus, erectus, ferratus, 
floribus in capitulum longo pedicule infidens, congeftis, Plum. Tournef, Inft. p. 88. 
3 Eee Chamalyce 
