S-iO HO RT us JAMAICENSIS, <seen- 



some species of dropsy it proniotes a fiovv of urine, and cures tlie disease. Tiie juice- 

 is 111 great esteem aiiioitgst tlie negroes for die cure of gonorrlicca and lues venerea." 



The following species of this genus are also natives of Jamaica; 



JVit/i upright leafy stems, 



2. SECUNDUM. 



Leaves on the stem oblong, eniarginate ; stem compressed; spike directed one 

 way; tube of the nectary length of tiie corolla. 



Tills is parasitical, having fibrous white roots, stem round at bottom, gradually com- 

 pressed, leafy, penJuious; leaves sessile, sheathing, alternate, spreading in two rows,, 

 the outmost ti.p eniarginate, veinlcss; peduncle scape-fonn, isfceii two feet long, ter- 

 minating, compressed, jointed as it were by the deciduous sheaths ; llowers terminat- 

 ing in form of a corymb, noddmg one way, pale red or brown ; spathes minute; three 

 of tlK' petals ovalc-lanceolale, spreading, two linear, bent down ; nectary longer than 

 the petals; lip thrte-lobed, the middle lobe eniarginate, ascending, spreading, the 

 Mde ones smaller, eniarginate ; column short, bifid at liie tip, bearing two pediceiled 

 anthers under a two-celled lid, and coiuealed within the tube ot tiit nectary ; stigma 

 in front tunnel-form ; capsule obioiig, angular,, thrte-valved. It varies with a ronncer 

 and more compressed stem ; leaves broader or more acuminate ; flowers terminating or 

 breaking out on the side, and tuue of the nectary shorter or longer thi,n tlie pciaU. 

 It grows in mouiuainous woods. Sw. 



3 UNEARE. LINEAR, 



'.. Leaves on the stem distich, linear, obtuse, eraargiuate ; stem simple ; flowers 



terminaluig, m a sort of spike, lip entire. 



Parasiticab Roots filiform, creeping, strict, white; stems simple, heaped,, .tufted^, 

 fnmi one. to two feet long, erv ct, filiform, leafv, compressed a little, smootn ; sheaths-, 

 radical, withering, ^whence the stems ajipcar to be jointed ; leaves alternate, approxi- 

 mating, sessile,, sheathing, slightly streaked, smooth on both sides ; sheaths of the 

 leaves comiH'esseJ ; spike scarcely the length of the leaves ; flowers sessile, ahernate, . 

 imbricate, trorn s\k to ten, small and bioou-red ; spathes sheathing, lijidtr the houtis,. 

 coloured; coroila three-cornered, gibbous at the back; the thrte outer and the two 

 inner petals almost equal, oblong, concave, blunt, the two outer in front vaulted, 

 compressed at the tip. Nectary of the same shape as the inner petals, erect, embrac- 

 ing the column at the base, having two dark purple spots on the edge, concave, blunt 

 gt top, blood- red. Column shorter than the petals, gibbous at the back, v.ith tlireo- 

 teeth at the tip, bearing in a cavity four oblong pediceiled anthers, closed by a four- 

 celled hd, hollov\ed in front for the stigma ; capsule oblcng, three- valved, o])ening in 

 tlie middle ; seeds extremely minute, dusty, and bristly. Jt is a native of thick moun- 

 tain woods. iw. 



4. NOCTURNUM. NIGHT. 



Leaves oblong, veinless ; lip of the nectary three-parted, quite entire,, the 

 middle segment, linear ; stem many-leaved. 



Roots li.und, thitk, filiform, whitish ; stem from one to two feet high, simple, erect^ 



round, leafy, smooth. Leaves sheathing, alternate, sub-distich, from two to three 

 inch.cs ]oiy, oblong, eniue, tbickish, vgiiUess, shilling. iiowGfd terKiUiating, two 



or 



