ig4 HORTUS JAMAICENSl-S. ^eschalot 



straight down into the earth, and unitin*^ iu one towards its surface. The leaves spread 

 on tlie ground on every hand to die number ot five orsix, eii>ht inches long-, arid one 

 broad near the end where broadest, very deeply serrated, and having on their edges 

 soft prickles. From the centre of the leaves rise one or two stems a foot or more high, 

 bouiewhat angular, green, dichotomous, sjireatiirtg, having at the division two deeply 

 cut, prickly, short, leaves. 'I'iie leaves on the branches opj)osite, steni-clasping, witli 

 their edjje.s tiTothed. Tlie seeds set round a Hniall column, are brown, with heitiis- 

 pheric dots. M\ parts of tlie plant have a very penetrating strong, though not very 

 unsavoury, smell. It is counted a great alexiphariuic. ,TJae distilled water in reckoned 

 extremely useful to resist liysteric fits. Sloane. 



The root powdered, and taken to tlie quantity of three drachms, in ten ounces of 

 water, strengthens a weak and cold stomach, cases pains of the belly and other parts 

 from coldj, dissipates wind, is good for cholic and Iliac diseases, is diuretic, and helps 

 tiie catamenia, cures surfeits, incites venery, andis good against the bites xsi venem- 

 ous serpents. It has a better effect if it be given out of a hot and strengthening liquor, 

 it dissipates preternatural tumdurs and JiUQiours of tiie joints, and remedies all cold 

 intemperatures. Hernandez. 



All the parts of this plant are reckoned powerful anti-liysterics and epileptics, admi- 

 nistered in decoctions or infusions, hence it has been called^/ii't'ef/; it is also said that 

 the decoction has been found useful in asthmatic conipiaints. Barham says it tastvsa- 

 Uke skirrets, anci, having a syong smell, is good against Jiysterics if only smelt. 



ESCHALOT. ALLIUM. 



Ci.. G, OR. 1. Hexandria vionogynia. Nat. ok. Spathacea. 



*GeN. CHAR. Calyx a common spathe, roundish, withering, many-flowerecl ; co- 

 rolla six oblong petals ; stamens six filaments, subulate, often the -length of th.e 

 corolla, with oblong upright anthers ; the pistil has its germ superior, sliort, 

 bluntly three-cornered, the corners marked with a line; style simple; stigma 

 sharp ; the pericarp is a very short capsule, broad, tln'ee-lobed, tiyee-celled, 

 three-vaived ; seeus few, roundish. .Several species of this useful genus ..hav-e 

 been introduced, and generally cultivatedwith success. 



1. ASCALONICUM. 



Scape columnar; leaves awl-shaped ; umbel globose ; stamens three-cusped. 



The eschalot was found wild in Palestine by Dr. Hasselquist. The root is conglobate, 

 consisting of many oblong roots, bound together by thin membranes. Each of these 

 eniall roots sends forth t\vo or three fistulous, Iflng, awl -shaped leaves, issuing from a 

 sheath, and are nearly like those of the common onion. The fiower-stem shoots from 

 a membranaceous sUtiatJi ; is round, almost naked, and terminated by a globular umbel 

 of flowers, which have erect purplish or hlueish lance-shaped petals of the length of 

 the stamina. The root of this species is very pungent, has a strong but not unpleasant 

 Ciaell, and theiefoie i^ generally preferred to the onion for making high flavoiaed soups^ 



au4 



