298 HORTU!f 'JAMATCENSIS. , . .ilea 



y 



maica. Jacqnin describes it as a small tree without thorns, upright, twelve anti some- 

 times twenty feet in height, with a trunk five inches in diameter. When ]t grows in 

 thick coppices it acquires an inelegant liahir, not much unlike the first species. Leaves 

 ohlong-ianceolate, acuminate; racemes liketiiose t/f the prick I3' sort, hut not elongated 

 Tvhcn in fruit ; continuing after thefniit is fallen, and then becoming red ; bractes the" 

 Same. Flowers sniaM, greenish yellov/, having a slight odour ; l)erry black, soft, con- 

 taining a whitish ]Mdp, which is ofien wanting, being probably eaten by insects, for it 

 is always foun4 iii the unripe fruit. 



Fit-Weed See Eryngo. 



FWE-FINGER. AHUM. 



Cl. 20, OR. 9. Gynandria polyandria. Nat. ok. Piperitce. 

 Gen. char. See Cocoes, p. 211. 



AL'RITUM. -EAREI>. 



jirum 77iaximinn scandens geniciiloiu-.v et trifnUatmn foliis, cd hasirt 

 auriailatis. Sioane, v. 1, p. 169. Svandms tripht/llRin, Jdiiis ex- 

 terioribus auritis, petiolis vaginantiims. -Browne, p. 331. 

 Radicant ; leaves ternate, those at the side one-!6bed. 



This plar>t is very common in Jamaica, running upon trees, and is very remarkable^ 

 as being the only species of /'MW, in this island, furnished with compound leaves. - 

 The stalk i=. better than an inch in diameter when full grown, thickly jointed, and full 

 of a milky clammy juice ; as are all parts of the plant. From the joints proceed clavi- 

 cles, pr roots, w hich adhere strongly to any tree it climbs upon, by which it reaches to 

 the top of the highest trees. The leaves are produced towards the top, their footsLilks 

 encompassing the stalk, when they drop olT leaving those marks which distinguish the 

 joints. They are longer than the leaf, sheathed within a few inches of it,, where they 

 become round. The leaf has three lobes in the young plant, but, as it acquires age 

 and strength, throws forth ears from the outward leaves, until it has frequently seven 

 divisions, the hinder ones appearing like spurs to the others. The uppermost or mid- 

 dle leaf is hv far the laigest, being frequently a foot long and half as broad ; the others 

 diminishing as they recede from it, the smallest not exceeding four inches long and two 

 broad. The leaves are smooth and milky, dark green above, and. paler below. 



A decoction of the leaves, stems, or roots, of this plant is sometimes used as a sub- 

 stitute for sarsa]janlla in venereal complaints. The stalks aiid leaves, boiled with salt 

 tnd other hog-raeat, are used in many places for the purpose of fattening hogs. 



FLEA-BANES. CONYZA. 



Cl. 19, 011.2. Syngenesia polygamia superflua. Nat. OR. Composilof. 

 Gen. char. Calyx common imbricate, roundish, squarrose ; scales acute, the outer 

 somewhat spreadifiji J coroiia compound, tubulosej coroliets hermaphrodite, nu- 

 merous. 



