JOURNAL 



OF THE 



WASHINGTON ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



Vol. 9 MAY 4, 1919 No. 9 



BOTANY. — Revision of Ichthyomethia, a genus of plants used for 

 poisoning fish. S. F. Blake, Bureau of Plant Industry. 

 The genus Ichthyomethia, belonging to the tribe Dalbergieae 

 of the family Fabaceae, is of economic importance among the 

 aborigines of tropical America as one of the plants commonly 

 used as a fish poison. Its use for this purpose in Jamaica, 

 where it is called dogwood, was so well described by Patrick 

 Browne^ that it is only necessary to cite his quaint account. 



The bark of the root of this tree is used for the same purposes, and 

 with the same effects, as the leaves and branches of Surinam poison, 

 already described : it is pounded, and mixed with the water in some 

 deep and convenient part of the river, or creek, etc., from whence it 

 may spread itself more diffusively around; and in a few minutes after 

 it is well mingled, you'll see the fish, that lay hitherto hid under the 

 neighboring rocks, or banks, rising to the surface, where they float as if 

 they were dead; in which situation they continue for a considerable 

 time; but most of the large ones that are left, recover after a time; 

 while the smaller fry are all destroyed, and float upon the surface, for 

 some days after. The eel is the only fish I have observed, that could 

 not be intoxicated with the common doses of this bark, though it af- 

 fects it verv^ sensibly; for the moment the particles spread where it 

 lies, it moves off, and swims with great agility through the water. 

 I have sometimes seen them chased to and fro, in this manner, for some 

 minutes, without being any ways altered. 



The tree is generally considered as one of the best timber-trees in the 

 island. The wood is very hard, and resinous; and lasts almost equally 

 in or out of water. It is of light brown color, coarse, cross-grained, and 

 heavy. 



The bark of the roots of the genus has found some apphcation 

 in eclectic medicine, under the name Piscidia or Piscidia bark, 



^ Nat. Hist. Jam. 296. 1756. 



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