r? H'ORTUS JAMAICENnS; bur 



The anthera of the plant are always in the form of a heart, and the blossoms, which 

 generaUy grow in two distinct parcels near the alie of the leaves, are sustained by a few 

 narrow siipulffi, that perform the ofhce of an involncrum, and half tlie capsula is echi- 

 nated, trie other smooth. The plant is coinniun in Jamaica, and rises iVeipiently to the 

 " height of six or seven feet, wlierfe" tho sf>ii : is r-icii and well supplied witli moisture. 

 The leaves and tender bufls, when infujsed.for any time in water, yield a fine clear mu- 

 cilage ; irom whence we j'.iay conclude it to be an excellent emollient. The bark is 

 tough and strong, and serves for ropes and other little conveniences of that kind> among 

 those who inhabit the inland parts of the country. Browne, 



BUR-GRASS. CENCHRUS. 



Cl, 23, on. 1. Pol^'gamia monoeria. Nat. or. Gramin<i. 

 Gen. CHAR. Calyx has many involucres, laciniate, cchinatc, gathered into a head, 

 each sessile, including tliree calyxes, biflorous ; perianth a bivalve glume, lance- 

 olate, concave, acuH'inate, biHorous, shorter than the corolla ; corolla one male, 

 the other hermaphiodite : stamens to each three capillary filaaients, length of 

 corolla, anthers sagittate ; the ])istil has the germ in the hermaphrodite roundish, 

 style filifonr, length of the stamens; stigmas two, oblong, hairy, spreading; 

 there is iio pericarp ; the seed is roundisli. Four species are natives of this 

 island, 



1. ECHINATU3. HEDGE-HOGGED. 



Grameyi echhiattmi maximum spicanihra vel aiba. Sloane, v. l,,pj 

 108. Spica ohlonga simjdici tchinaia, BrownCj p. 367. 



Spike oblong, conglomerate. 

 This grass has several two or three inch long thready roots, sending out several inch 

 and a half long leaves, of a yellowish green coloui-, from the midi-''c of which rise se- 

 veral six inches long stalks, jointed; the joints are three-quar'<2rs of an inch distajit 

 from each other, at which are now and then branches which ar'' crooked, having leaves, 

 and at the top an inch aud a half long spike of little burs, (^ large round prickly seeds, 

 sometimes reddish and sometimes green ; the prickles b^"'o lo'>g) strong, and sharp, 

 standing on every side, .having within them some oblf^'S' large, flat, whitish seeds. 

 .Of this there are of various, sizes. From the H^s go sometimes reddish jointed 

 branches, on which jrrow tufts ef smaller leavp-' makmg the grass creeping. It is 

 troublesome to travellers on foot, these small '^'^^ or, echmated seeds, sticking close to 

 their garments and stockings. Sloathe. 



The cenchnis, with a simple oblonz-P^^'cle, and multiparted cups, is one of the 

 most common sorts of grass in the '^^^, pastures of Jamaica, and is looked upon both 

 .s a wholesome and pleasant fooc'-^'^ ^'^ ^'^''ts of cattle. Browne. 



2 .j-rdtJLOIDES. TRIBULUS-LIKE. 



Gramen ./"''^^'""*,^t-"/""^ procuuibcns culmo longiori et spicit 

 gfi.^,j.^oribits. Sloane, v. 1, p. 108, t. 65, f. 1. 



.Spike "lomera" fe^.ale glumes globular, muricate-spiny, hirsute, 



/ 



