368 H O R. T L' S J A.M A I C E N S 1:9. . BEAfta' 



Tins name is derived from two Greek words signifjnng seed. and heart, from the seed 

 being iiiaikod with a heart-shaped spot. 



Gen, CHAR. Calyx a four- leaved prrimitii ; kaflets obtuse, concave, the alternate 

 interior ones the size of the coroll^a, fuirinanent; tlie cor'Jjtahas four-petals, wiiich 

 are obtuse, alternate with tlie larger leaflets of the calyx; nectary four-pctaled, 

 coloured, inclosing the germ; leaHcts obtuse, grosving upon the petals, two upon 

 the erect lip, callous at the tip, hooked at the side ; the rest upon the closed lip ; 

 with equal sides ; the stamens are eight subulate fila;noiits, equal with the nectar}', 



' anthers small ; the pisul has a three-sided germ, three short styles, and simple 

 stigmas ; the pericarp is a roundish trilobate Ciipsule, inflated ttilocular, gaping 

 at the tip ; the seeds solitary, globular,, marked at the base yvitli a cordate scar. - 

 Two species are natives of Jamaica.. < 



1. IIAUCACABUM. 



Pisinn decimuni sive vcsicarium fruciu 7}iffra alha macula nctato.- 

 Sloane, v. 1, p: 23fr. Scandens, J'oliis iernato-teni<itis,:acuminatiSf 

 scrratis. Browne,' p. 213,. 



Leaves smooth and even. 



This has a wood}', cornered, rough staik, talking hold of any tree or shmb it comes- 

 near witli its clavicles, and mounting to eight or nine feet ; the tops then falling down, 

 cover the tree or shrub it ciimbcth upon. At about every three, ii.-hes distance, it 

 puts forth leaves, clavicles, and flowers, at the same place. The leaves stand on two 

 and an half inch long foot-stalks ; they are veiy much divided or laciniated, cut always 

 into nine sections, standing three togctlier on the same common pcliolus, coming from 

 the end of the footstalk ; that division of the three opposite to the end of the petiohis, 

 or in the middle, is the biggest, being two inches long, and one broaJ where broadest, 

 deeply notched or cut in on the edges, of a dark-green colour, very smooth, s ift, and 

 thin; the other two at the l)ase being of the same shape, and onlj' smaller. The cla- 

 vicles stand opposite to tiie leaf, beingfive inches long. Ex alis'foltorum come the 

 flowers, several together, standing en three-inch long foot-stalks, being white, pen^ 

 , tapetalous, and very.open. After the flowers follow three-cornered oblong bladders, 

 having in each of tiiem three distinct cells ; and in every one of these lies, fastened to 

 a irembrane, a round dark-brown or black seed, about the bigness of a small held-pea, 

 having three triangular lines meeting at the centre of a clay-coloured or whitish trian- 

 gular or cordated spot (and therefore called pisum corddtum), which is at the place 

 where it is joined to the bladder or its fiUus. Tlie seeds of this plant cause greater sleep 

 than opium ;, bruised with water and applied, they ease the gout, and coldness of the 

 joints with stiffness; the juice of the leaves, with black cummin seed, is good for heart-* 

 burning ; and mixed with sugar is good for a cough. Barham, p. 142. 



The leaves of this plant, which is very common in Jiimaica, are minutely divided, 

 and, from t,heir resemblance to those oi purshy, it is soaietimes called wild parsley. It 

 frequently climbs to the t&p of very high trees. 



2. GRAKDIFLOROM. GREAT-FLOM^ERED. 



Villosnm, stylo bifdo, staminibus subcoalitis opposito. Browne, p. 213. 

 Leaves pubescent j capsules acuminate, veiy large, smootli.and even. 



This,.. 



