BALSAM IIORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 4j 



than tlse corolla, jri-owiiig to its l)ack ; antlicrs double, phlonnf, one a little hirrher 

 j^ermen oblong, style the length of the stamina, sligma obtuse; capsule" two- 

 valved, two eelleil, compressed above and below, but alternatelv, with boat like 

 valves, bursting asunder with an elastic nail, seeds solitary, in form of a lens. 

 This is nearly allied to the genus jusficia, from which its fructification differs onlv 

 in the stamens ; and to which Swartz united it. Two species grow in this island.' 



1. AMERICANA. AMEMCAN. 



Spikes solitary-, alternate. 

 This is a low herbaceous plant, with a perennial root, sending out several weak stalk-; 

 aT)0ut four inches long. The leaves are roundish, hairy, sessile, of a dark green colour, 

 and aromatic odour. The flowers are produced from the si<les of the stalks, iu small 

 spikes, and are in shape anil colour very like those oi cUnopodhnn. 



This herb is so called iu .Jamaica, and few or none knov.- it b}' anv other name, al- 

 though it is a sort of r/H/iV?V//H;;/. This in .Jamaica smells, when rubbed in the hand, 

 almost like melilot, or some pleasant balsam ; and therefore they call it balsam-weed or 

 herb, and make a balsam of it. The juice or distilled water is good for sore 63-68. 

 Barham, p. 13. 



2. COMATA. TUFTED. 



Antirrimim minus angusi\foIim, Jlore dilute purpureo. Sloane, v. 

 ,1, p. 160, t. 103, f. 2. Foliis lanceolato ovatis, racevio spaciuso as^ 

 siirgenti, spicillis vcrficillaiis. Browne, p. 1J8. 



Spikes thread-form, verticilled, the inferior ones umbelled. 

 Rwartz makes this plant jK-y/iV/a cOT^w^a'. The stem herbaceous, a foot high, some- 

 what branched and erect, angular, jointed, smooth, the joints swelling. Leaves sub- 

 sessile, decussated, opposite, lanceolate, acute, attenuated at the base, smooth, nerved, 

 on \-ery short petioles. Peduncles axillary, filiforni, terminated by filiform and um- 

 belled .spikes ; flowers all directed one way, minute, pale blue. Bractes minute under 

 the flowers. Segments of the calyx linear. Upper lip of the corolla half vaulted, 

 lower trifid spreading, with very minute bloody dots in two rows on the throat; fila- 

 ments under the vault of the throat ; anthers two, alternate, black ; germ ovate, style, 

 short; stigma simple, bent in ; capsule ovate, attenuated at the base, containing four 

 round flatted seeds. Szc. 



This plant has a haiiy red fibrous root, it grows commonly in the lowlands, some- 

 times two or three feet high, and is plentifully furnishecl with slender subdividecj- 

 branches. Bromic. 



See Jl'stitia Balsam and Rosemary, Wild. 



BALSAM TREE. CLUSIA. 



Cl. 23, OR. 1. Poli/gamia monoecia. Nat. or. Guttifertc. 

 This is named in memory of Carolus Clusius, an eminent French botanist. 

 Giij:. CHAR. Calyx four, five, or six, leaved, imbricate, leaflets concave, permanent, 



mtenot 



