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SAUVAGESIA ERECTA, Linn. 

 Iron Shrub. 



Native of West Indies, Central and S. America. 



An annual herb, 6 to 9 inches high, with small white flowers. 



' It is very mucilaginous, and the infusion has been used in 

 Brazil for complaints of the eye, in Peru for dysentery, and, in some 

 of the West Indian Islands for irritability of the bladder." (Macfad- 

 yen.) 



SCREW TREE, JAMAICA. See Helicteres jamaicensis. 



SECHIUM EDULE, Sw. 



Chocho. 



Cultivated in the West Indies. 



A climbing plant, with tendrils ; roots large and ^fleshy ; leaves 

 large, simple ; flowers yellow ; fruit 4 or 5 inches long. 



Root can be used like the yam. 



Fruit a most wholesome vegetable. It is also made into tarts 

 with addition of lime. 



SESUVIUM PORTULACASTRUM, Linn. 



Sea-side Purslane. 



Tropics. A perennial weed, with fleshy leaves ; flowers with no 

 petals, but the sepals are coloured purple within. (Ficoidece.) 

 Pickled, it is like samphire. 

 A decoction is useful as a gargle. 

 An alkali might be obtained from it. 



SIDA CARPINIFOLIA, Linn. 

 Broom Weed. 



Tropics. A somewhat shrubby plant, about a foot high, with simple 

 leaves and shortly-stalked yellow flowers. (Malvaceae*) 



Branches tied together, used as a broom. 



" The leaves and tender shoots are made use of as a substitute for 

 soap. Rubbed up with water, they form a lather, which may be em- 

 ployed in shaving, when the skin is in an irritable state, not admitting 

 of the use of soap." (Macfadyen.) 



SIDA RHOMBIFOLIA, Linn. 

 Broom Weed. 



Tropics. A somewhat shrubby plant, from one to three feet high, 

 with simple leaves, and pale yellow flowers with stalks nearly an inch 

 long. (Malvaceae.) 



Branches used as a broom, 



A good fibre can be extracted from the stems. 



