rf^ 
60 
y 
indeflted at their points, and of a pale green colour ; the filaments 
are five, (lender, fhort, and the antherj£ large, and yellow ; the ftyle 
is fhorter than the ftamina ; the ftigma is round, and the germen oval. 
It is a native of South America, 
b 
The 
we 
h 
and flowers in Auguft and Septem 
ive figured was introduced into the Royal 
garden at Kew in 1778, by Monf. Thouin, and under the diredion 
of Mr, Aiton 
« 
It 
quired g 
g 
d luxuriance. 
its ftalks 
from it, two healthy young plants h 
ding 
fifteen feet in length ; and, by means of flips obtained 
fi 
been produced 
this 
umfl:ance is the more fortu 
Botanifl: 
Linn^u 
as the parent plant lately died 
have differed much refpeding the oflicinal Jalap 
following Clufius, Plumier, Tournefort, and others, firfl: 
lis, but in the fecond edition of his Materia 
referred it to the Mirab 
Med 
h 
a 
dopts the opinions of Ray and Miller, in confidering 
Convolvulus ; and indeed after the account of this pi 
by Dr. Houfto 
upon this fubjedl 
furprifed that any doubt Ihould fl;ill 
th 
It is faid that the root of Jalap was firfl: brought to Europe about 
year 
6 
J 
in New Sp 
and whole 
of 
and took its name from Xalapa, a 
In the fliops we find this root both 
provmce 
fl 
s 
outfid 
but 
an oval Ihap 
folid 
ponderous, blackifli on the 
ey within, and marked with fev 
dark 
veins 
the number of which 
by 
the goodnefs of the root 
d by its hardnefs, heavinefs, and dark 
be efl:imated. It has fcarcely 
any Imell, and very little tafl:e, but to the tongue and to the throat 
manifefl:s a flight degree of pungency. The medicinal adivity of 
Jalap refides principally, if not wholly, in the refin, which though 
given in fmall dofe 
* Hort. Kew. 
The London C 
cafions violent tormina 
The gummy part 
Obferv. in Mat. Med. 1772. p. 7 
32 
an name of this plant. 
Mirabilis Jalapa, nor of the M 
flora, given in the dofe of half a dram, produced any cathartic efFeas, but he fays that 
M 
true exotic jalap, he hence infers that it is the fame. However, with great deference 
to the learned profeffor, we think thefe reafons infufficient to warrant his conclufion, 
more efpecially as they are repugnant to eftablifhed fads. V/e may alfo obferve, that all 
the three fpecies of the Mirabilis are in fome degree purgative ; but even when foftered 
in the warm climate of Jamaica, fo congenial to their native foil, their roots, both in 
appearance and medicinal power, efTentially differ from thofe of jalap.. 
~ bears 
X 
-r. 
