ISO H O Pv T U S J A M A I C E N lb 1 S. - xhrirtmss 



.T'roccrioi; mbci. erea, hirsuta ; pedunculis ramosis i jfiore mulli- 

 plici. Browne, p. i.7. 



'Leaves almost entire, peduncles uichotomous divaricate, panicled. 



The r(jol is perennial, stem frutescent, from two to three feet high, often prostrate, 

 four-coniereo, smooth, but pubescent towards the top ; leaves opposite on short peti- 

 oles, ov&ie-ianceolate, subserrate, nerved,, suinevvhat hirsute or ruttged ; stem leaves 

 longer; branch leaves often deciduous; panicles formed of opposite ciichotomous 

 brandies, divaricating very much; pedicels one-flowered, flowers biggish, blue; cap- 

 suie acuminate, surrounded by tha calyx, two-celied, bursting by the claw ; seeds 

 roundish, compressed, black.. The wiiole herb is somewhat clumsy, witii glands, imd 

 has an odour approaching to that of caujphor. .It is a native of Jamaica iu llie soutlicrix 

 parts ill dry hills and hedges. Sw. 



- When the capsule is ripe it bursts open with great violence on being wetted, throw- 

 ing the seed to it coiisiJtirjble distance. T*iib is a remarkable provision nidde liy nature 

 for propagating tiiese plants when rain falls. It is very common al)oui Spanisii Town, 

 and generally blows ab;iut Cliristnias, in the months of Becember and January, iiiak- 

 ing a beautuul appearance on the hetiges at that season of the year, whence ics name, 

 C'hris/i/tas-pn.:e, has. been derived. The plant biing weakly setdomrises above a foot 

 or two unsupported, but climbs on the neighbouring bushes frt-quently the lengtli of 

 tliree or four feet, bearing a great number of flowers. .This is the self-heal, or all-heal, 

 ofBarham, of which he gives tne follovying account : 



*' These herbs are called in Latin prunella, or a;tieaLcr self-heal ; and the Germans 

 call tlieni brundla, or brtaieilen, because they cure that disease wuich they c-all die 

 brucn, common to sohliers in camps and garrisons, which is an inflammation of tne 

 mouth, tongue, and throat, with bjackn.'s.s, accompanied with a strong l)urning fevjer 

 and disti-aetion or delirium ; The juice of these piajits is a certain specific for tliat dis- 

 temper, and all sore mouths and tnroats, mixed with a little hon^y of roses and white- 

 wine vinegar. The decoction of the herb, in wine or water, -makes an excellent trau- 

 matic drink, to forward the healing of ail wounds and stubborn ulcers. 'Jt is said to 

 take away the jJiii.a and swelling of tiie testicles,, which negroes are apt to have. ,7\bove 

 twenty years past, one captain Pickering, a gentleman I knew very well, had a stick 

 witii fire at the end of it .darted at him, vshi'ch happened t come jtist under the brow 

 of his eye, ^nd ses^inied to turn his e\e out, and all despaired of his life. jSio surgeon 

 being at hand, , they sent for an old negro man, well stilled in plants ; as soon a.s he 

 came, he ran and took of this herb that hath tne bluish or purple flower, and washed 

 it, reduced the eye as well as he conhi to its place, and then laid on the bruised herb, 

 bound it up, and tlie captain was carried home. The next day iie sent for a surgeon ; 

 and when tiiey came to open it, found it healed up to admiration; upon whicii they 

 sent for the negro, and 'desired him to finish his cure ; which he did in two or three 

 <}ays, only applying the same thing ; andtlien'the captain rewarded the negro very 

 well, and desired Jiimi;o shew hiiii the'herb. This Ihad from several worthy gentle- 

 men who were th<.-re present, and affirmed it to be matter of fact and truth, who since, 

 they" toid inej'use it to all green wounds with great succe.ss, and call it Pickering's herb 

 ,i;Ci tliii day." Barhain, p. 171. . 



-2. -BLfXHUJT. 



PruiiQlla datioyjlorc (klti. jSioane, v, 1, p. 173, t. 109, f. 1. Bb-. 



