Tas. 5982. 
MUNTINGIA CALABURA. 
Native of New Grenada. 
Nat. Ord. Tittacks.—Tribe Titizz. 
Genus Muntinaia, Linn. ; (Benth. and Hook. f. Gen. Pl. vol. i. p. 236). 
~Montiveta Calabura ; arbor parva, ramulis pedicellis foliisque subtus 
molliter velutino-tomentosis pilosisque, pilis interdum glandulosis, 
foliis oblongo-lanceolatis acuminatis dentatis basi oblique cordatis supra 
puberulis subtus canis, petiolo brevi, stipulis angustis, pedicellis 1-2- 
pollicaribus, sepalis lanceolatis apice filiformibus, petalis obovatis 
sepala excedentibus, toro piloso, bacca globosa. 
Montineia Calabura, Linn. Sp. Pl. n. 728. Jacq. Amer. Pict. t. 107. 
Tuss. Fl. Antill. p. 4, t. 21. Decourlitz Fl. Med. Antill. 5, t. 368. Gert. 
Fruct.1,t.59. DC. Prodr. vol. i. p. 514. Griseb. Fl. Brit. W. Ind. p. 98. 
Karst. Fl. Columb. vol. ii. p. 55, t. 128. 
__ Avery common American tree or bush from Mexico and 
Jamaica, and through many of the West Indian Islands, to 
Trinidad, Venezuela, and Peru, inhabiting both dry hills 
and river banks. An infusion of its leaves is used as tea in 
Caraccas. In Jamaica Purdie found the bark stripped off 
the trees in quantities, and used (as he was told) by the 
Negroes in cases of difficult parturition, under the name of 
“Guasem.” Dr. M‘Fadyen, however, in his excellent, though 
fragmentary Flora of Jamaica, makes no allusion to this or 
_ any other use of the plant; whence probably Purdie was im 
error, the bark being used, like that of many other Tihacee, 
as cordage, as is the case in St. Domingo, where the wood 
also is used for staves. : 
Muntingia is a handsome stove plant, raised by I. eae h 
Henry, Esq., from seeds sent by Dr. Jameson, of Quito, w a 
— flowered at Hay-lodge, Trinity, Edinburgh, in. July, me rr 
arsten figures two supposed species of this genus, foun 
AvGUsT Ist, 1872. 
