^OGWOOD'k 'HORTUS JA-MAICENSIS. , -<* 



hianaceous angles, one-celled, separat-e<l-l>y double isthmuses ; seeds sottie^ sub- 

 cyliiidric. There are ivyo sjiecics, both nauves of .TaHfaic^, 



I. ERYTHBINA. ^ 



Corfil arbor pohjphA/hJla non spmaca fvax hit folia, siiiqifadlis foliacch 



crtantihtis, voire molcndimrire fiiunatilis, vcl smniman lasernUj 



instar ain'M. Sloano, v. 2, p. 39, t. 176, f. -I-, 5. 'IWiis putnuhs 



ovati;;, raccn},ist6nnuialibus,sili(}uisquadriolAiis. Browne, p. 2!l^6, 



Leaves o^-atc^ 



This is a middle sized tree growing to the height of twenty-hve feet or more, witli ri, 

 -^ptem almost as large as a man's body, covered with iight coloured smooth bark, havin<j 

 bereaJid there large white spots; sending out several branches at the top without 

 priier. The trunk is unarmed ; the leaves are pinnate, with ses'en leaflets for the mosC 

 part, coHimonly opposite, quite entire, pubescent, deciduous ; race^vos thyreoid ter- 

 luuiating, many flowered, with decussated branches, flowers pe.luncled, uumcrous, 

 rather large, of a dirty white-colour ; caljx goblet-shaped, fivorcleft, unequal, of a 

 dusky purple colour, hoary ; the two upper segments scarcely divided, the three lower 

 ovale, the middle one acute; banner of the corolla roundish, compressed, covering 

 the wings and keel, keeled at the back ; wint^s ovate, clav/ed, oblique, white, with 

 . blood red veins keel curved in, gibbous, bifid, blood red at the tip ; germ striated, 

 pubescent; style curved in, awl-sliajicd ; legume membranaceous; compressed; the 

 wings not lateral but niarginal, in pairs ; seeds roundish. This tree grows chiefly In 

 the lowlands, on dry calcareous hills, and flowers through several of the spring months;, 

 fvhen there is no foliage u[)on the tree, which succeeds soon after. It is an excellent 

 timber wood, and the bark, which has a strong rank smell, and twigs, are remarkable 

 i'roin their power of intoxicating fish, like the Surinam poison, described under that 

 name ; for which purpose it is pounded very_small, and mixed w ith the water, by being; 

 put into sacks, in some (?.eep and com enient part of a river, whence it spreads itseli", 

 colouring the water of a reddish hue, and in a few minutes the tish tliat lie hid under 

 the rocks and banks rise and float on the surface, where they float as if dead, most of 

 tlie large ones recover after a time, but the smaller fry are destroyed, Browne observes 

 ihat the eel is the only fish he noticed that could not be intoxicated with the common 

 -jdose, though it was sensibly aflected ; for the moment the particles spread where it 

 4ay, it moved oflF v/ith great agihty through the water ; and he saw them sometimes 

 -chased to and fro, in tins manner, for some iuinutes, without being any ways altered. 



The wood i)f this tree is of a lightish brown colour, coarse, cross-grained, heavy, 

 ffirm, and resinous, and considered one of the best timber trees in tbo island. As it 

 lasts equally well in or out of water it makes excellent piles for wharves, and it is easily 

 propagated by seeds, slips, or cuttings ; the stakes soon form a good live fence. 



It is thought, from tlie restringent nature of the bark, that it v/ouUi probably answer 

 "for tanning leather. 



Thi 

 . and m 



.mud: S'lch a leaf ; i)ut they never grow so large. Its bark hath a very strong raun. 



: smell, and poisons fish. It makes a glorious show when in blossom, which it will be 



T, hen there is not a green leaf upon it : Tlie blossoms are very white and sweet, small, 



<ipd ijibuaches as full as the tree can hold ; afterwards come bunches of a membranons 



substance^ 



