^ORN HORTUS JAMAICENSIS, SUf 



what was necessary to promote the digestion of that oleaginous heavy food. The stalk 

 is very tough and Hexih , and often n>ade into hoops, when there is a sci'.rcity of those 

 iniportisd from Europe or America, but they are not so strong or durable, ;uid there- 

 fore used only in time of need. ^Broxvne. 



Coopers' Withe. This withy plant is so called because coopers make hoops of its 

 stalks or withes, being very tough and flexible ; and although this plant doth not climb 

 or twist round otlier plants, yet it cannot support it?elf, but, growing by the side of 

 any tree, it leans upon it, and, by its many branches, will overspread it. It hath a 

 leaf of the breadtli and t-hape of laurel leaf, but not so thick or glossy ; its flowers are 

 inodorous, mixed witli purple streaks ; and then follov/ small round berries, growing 

 all along the spikes or twigs of the shrub, in colour, shape, and bigness of elder ber- 

 ries, for which reason some call it Sjianish elder; but that is another plant. It hath 

 a uncommon excrescence, that is found growing among the branches at one time ot 

 the year, which is in shape exactly like the stomach of a man, having a thin membr-auc 

 or skin over it, interwoven variously with innumerable small reddish veins ; it adheres 

 to a tender soft stalk, which runs through the upper part of the excrescence. This 

 plant is of divers pl^'sical uses. Bess Walker, who kept a tavern in Port Royal in Ja- 

 maica, before the great earthquake in 169'2, used to make a famous drink, reckoned 

 of use in venereal cases ; for which she boiled the young tender withe, sliced in water, 

 .with a little Hgiimn vit<e bark, worked it up- with sugar or melasses, and then bottled it; 

 it drank brisk like bottled ale, only bitterish. It is a good stomachic, and opens ob- 

 structions. The Indians make a bath of this plant; tiiey strip naked, and place them- 

 selves so as to receive the fumes or steam of the liquor, being covered all over with a 

 blanket or pavdion, after which they are put to bed, and rubbed very well ; by this 

 method, the)^ recover the use of their weak and numbed limbs, and comfort llieic 

 l)owels. Barham, p. 46. 



2. HUMILIS. HUMBLE. 



Dichofoma erecta, foliis Qvato acummalis, spiels Ici.vis lateraUhv.s aS" 

 surgentibus. Browne, p. 148. 

 Racemes simple^ flowers four-staijiened ; leaves pubescent. 



This Browne calls the smaller I'ivinia, with scarlet berries, which grows very com- 

 mon in St. Ann's, and in most places in the mountains where the soil is sandy and well 

 shaded; it rises commonly to the height of three or four feet, or more, well furnished 

 with berries towards the top, which are succulent, and of a fine sciirlet colour, but the 

 juice is apt to change. Brmcne. This plant is ihe piercia of Miller. The juice of the 

 'berries of this genus of plants are said to form -a beautiful stain, of a bright red colour, 

 4^or paper, lineD, or flowers. 



Hops, Wild See Wild Hops. 



HORN FLOWER. ANTHOCEROS. 



Cl. 24, ou. 3. Cryplogamia hepatica. Nat. or. 

 Csn. CUAR, Male calyx six-paited, or entire ; anthers tliree to -eight, ob-ovate. 



