crrcOES; HORTUS JAMAICENS IS. 8!!- 



COCOA PLUM. CimYSOBALANUF?, 



Gl. 12, OR. \.hosandria mnnos:ynia. Nat. or. Pooiaiwc. 



Oen. t'H.\R. Calyx a oiu>ieaft.'cl bell-shupeti poriantli, five-ckTt, (livision.s expnnd- 

 iriLC, withering : the corcjlhi has five obl(;M;r, flat, sprcaiiiitE;, petals, inserte;] hy 

 their claws into the calyx ; the stamens are very iiiiiny, placed in a circle, erect, . 

 iijserted into the calyx ; antliers small, twin : the [listii lias ;tn ovate genn'; style 

 the shape and length ot" the stamens, inserted laterally at the -base of the germ ; 

 stigma obtuse ; tlie pericarp is an ovate drupe, large, one-ce'led ; the seed air 

 ovate nut, maiked vvitli live fmrovvs, wrinkled, fivu-valv^d. Tiiere is only one 

 species. 



ICACO. 



Fruticoms, foliis orbiculu-tis alternis,fioribus laxeracemosis. Browne, 

 p. 250, t.'iv, f. 1, 2. 



This plant is a native of the Caribbee islands and grows in Jamaica, though the plant, 

 described as follows, by Browne, is thought to be only a variety : 



" It is very common in Portland and Carpenter's iMirtmtains, .and seems to tiirive 

 best in a cool moist soil. It grows to the height of six or seven feet, and bears a friiii: 

 not unlike the English plum in size. and shape. Of these some are red, some white, 

 and others black, without any essential difierejice in tiie shrubs of either sort. The- 

 fruit is perfectly insipid, but contauis :i large nat, inclosing a kernel of very delicious 

 flavour, which makes up abunilantly .for ttie insipidity of the pulp. The fruit of the 

 several complexions mentioned have been preserved with sugar, and sent by way of 

 present to Europe j but tUc red and black kinds are generally preferred." Browne. 



COCOES OH EDDGES. AHUM, '. 



Gli, 20, OR. 5. Gynaiidria polyandna, Nat. or. Piperitce.' 



This name is derived from a Greek word signifying injury, from the' juice of the 

 leaves being very biting and paiufui in most of the species. 



Gen. CHAR. Male flowers on 'the same spadix with ihe female,- closely heaped be- 

 tween a double row of threads : Calyx a one-leafetf spathe, very large, oblonurj 

 convolute at the base, converging at tlie top ; the belly compressed, coloured 

 witliin ; spadix club-shaped, quite s,imple, a. little shorter than the spathe, co- 

 loured, fenced at bottom with germs, and shrivelling above them ; there is no pro- 

 per perianth; no corolla; Nectaries? thick at the base, ending in threads or ten- 

 drils^ in two rows, issueing from the middle of the spadix ; the stamens have no 

 filaments, e-dch anther is sessile and fouivcornered. The female flowers, on the 

 lower, part of the spadix, -close to each other. They have no corolla nor proper 

 perianth; the pistd has an ob-ovate germ, no style, stigma bearded with villoso 

 hair*; the pericarj^ is a. globular berry, one-celled ; seeds several, roundish. 

 Nine species grow yery generally iii Jamaica. Two of them, with their varietiesy 

 well kauwn under the name of cocoes and taj/as. 



&e2 I. C0L0A5LU 



