343 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. roun-d^ 



OtN. criAR. Calyx a orvc-leafed five-cli'ft perianth ; corolla one-petaleJ, ringcnt ; 

 ^l;llnens t'oiu- iilamcnts, two shorter; each pair of anthers convcri^iiig in t'orsn of a 

 crass; tiic |)istil has a i'our-clelt t^erm, a riiilorin style, and bilid stigma ; there is 

 310 p(Mic?.r])^ the caiyx cherishing the seecLs in its bosom, winch aie touj', ovate, 

 'i'here is only one species, long ago mtrodticcu iuto Jauiaica. 



HEDERACEA, IV^. 



Leaves kidney-shaped, crenate or scalloped. 



This well known plant now grows wild irijwany parts of Jamarca, thongh \t does not 

 ihrive in some places. The root its fibrous, ^ihe stiilks square, procumbent and jointej ; 

 the leaves are roundish, of a dusky green, liairy, ar^d crenated about the edges; the 

 flowers are moderately large, and of a beautiful blue. 



Ground-ivy, which has a strong smell, and bitterish aromatic taste, is an attenuant 

 and dissolvent, and famous both tnternaily and externally as a vulnerary. It is much 

 used by way of tea in disorders of the breast and lungsy antl is sometimes an ingredient 

 in the pectoral decoction. It is esteemed a specific in erosions and ulcerations of the 

 viscera, and particularly of the kidneys and lungs ; and its juice has been given in con- 

 snmptions. Lindanus praises it in empyema and vomica pulmonum, and recommends^ 

 it to such as void blood and purulent mutter Ijy urine. Jt is also said to be good in 

 bruises, and to cure the head ach. 



The infusion or decoction, taken inwardly, drires out the scorbutic itch. Dr. 

 fjuchan recommends it for the rheumatism and foul scorbutic eruptions; indeed, in 

 most rheumatic and scorbutic disorders, the internal use of bitters, with a little flour of 

 brimstone, to quicken the eruption and render it general, are highly beneficial, parti- 

 cularly in rheumatisms, which are combined with a scorbutic taint in the juices. In 

 cases of this kind, some eminent practitioners have had great success by trusting entirely 

 to bitters and flour of brimstone, with a free use of sarsaparilla, and totally rejecting, 

 gum-guaiactim. Ground-ivy and vervain tea are good in hectic fever. The expressed- 

 juice, mixed with a little wine, antl applied morning and evening, destroys the white- 

 specks ou horses eyes. 



GKOUND-NUTS, OR PINDARS. * ARACHIS. 



Cl. 17, OR. 4. Diadelphia decandiia. Nat. or. Papilionaceos. 



Gen. char. Calyx a two-parted gaping perianth ; corolla papilionaceous, rest!-- 

 pine ; the stamens are ten filaments, all united at the bottom; anthers alternately 

 roundish and oblong ; the pistil has an oblong germ, a subulate ascending style^ 

 and simple stigma ; the pericarp is an ovate-oblong legume, columnar, valveless,. 

 gibbous-torul(jse, veined, coriaceous, one-celled ; seeds two, oblong, obtuse, 

 gibbous, truncate at one end. There are two species, one of which has been in- 

 troduced. 



; HYPOGOEA. SUBTERRANEAN, 



Arachidna liidice iitriusque tetraphylla. Sloane, v. 1, p. 184. Te- 

 traphylla, silCquas in/) a terrain 7Xco7ide/is i sumniibus oblotigis. 

 Browne, p. S&J, 



Stea 



