'4ia TORTUS JATVIA7CEKSTS.- ikbias 



or eight liroad in the midd)', lessening gradually to both ends, and terminating' in 

 points ; they have many tin;^ trvisverse veins ruiiniiig from the mid-rib to the sides, 

 and the leaf is fin 'ly c'lanneiled bciow every eighth veit), and prominent above, tiis 

 other veins runnnig iii-iine lines parallel to eacli other, hke music lines, an "i in number 

 seven, b'^twceo the tvvo lar<_^er ones; the leaves are l^eautffuiiy waved. Tiie. stalks are 

 ht-rbaceons, riving tour teec high, ennmpassed by the broad leafv footstalks of the 

 leaves; thev are compressed on two sides. At the upper piu-t of tiie stalks, many of 

 which rise frbmfthe sa-me rootj'<.he fl6.wers ai^e produced on loose spii^es, each bemg at 

 first covere i by a ioafv hood, which afterwards stainls. below the flower, and turns to a 

 brown colour. Eacti flower has one p'tal, cut almost to the boitom into six-sitiider 

 segments, the three-up-per Iwoadest, of a brij^ht scarlet colour, and v::ry elegant; en- 

 compassed by a three- leaved cai\x, which sLts upon a small, ! ,. anuish, rough, gem), 

 whicjh, after the flower 's fallen, swells to-a large fruit or capsule, oblong and rough, 

 having thj'fe longitudinal furrows, crowned--by the three -leaved cai.yx. When tiie 

 fruit is ripe, the capsule opens lengthways into. three cells, filled with round, hard, 

 l-'ack, shilling seeds, six in each celF, about the size of English peas. Tiiis plant 

 flowers all the year, but principally in June, July, and Afigust, The lutea, an East 

 Indian. variety, or species, Learhig a yellow flower, has beeii introduced. 



This is- so called from its seed being round, black, and so hard, that, blown throngTi 

 a trunk or pith, it will kill small birds; they are drilled through, and strung lo make 

 beads and bracelets. It grows exactly like the Indian arrovv-root, only the flower of 

 this IS of a most beautiful scarlet colour. The leaves are cooling and cleansing^, ap- 

 plied to the hvpocnondresj. ;With water-lily and auinga-oil, they abate the iiardne^s of 

 the s])leen. The juice of the root corrects the corrosive poison of mercurysublimate; 

 dropped into the ear, eases pain ; and, mixed with sugar, and applied to the navel S3 

 acutaplasmj cutes a diabetes. Barham, p. 76, 



INDIAN SORREL; IHBISCUS. 



Cl. is, or. 6. Monadelphiapolyandria, Iv'^AT. OR, Column [fcra:.- 

 EN. CHAB. iVe Changeable Rose, p. 175. 



SUBDARIFFA. 



Alcea acetosa, trifida folio Indite erie-iifali^. SteanCj t, 1, p. 224. 

 Ihifescens acetosus, foliistrilobis. Browne, p. 285. 



Leaves serrate, the lower ovate^ undivided, the upper seven-parted ; stem un- 

 armed ; flowers sessile. 



Root annual, single, descending; stalk herbaceous, from one to three feet high (or 

 inoi-e), upright, sni)-!!vvided, round,' smooth, of a biood-red colour. (Stem and 

 branches hollow and pithj'). Leaves alternate, broad-ovate-acuminate, blunt at the 

 end, crenate, nerved, smooth on i)Oth sides, the upper ones three or five-parted, up- 

 right ; petioles the length of the leaves, spreading, roun-d, smooth, coloured ; flowers 

 axillary, solitary, largish, on very short, round, thick, peduncles: the outer cahx 

 lias ten linear, awl-shaped, upright leaflets, of a dark purple colour^ inner cup-shaped, 

 lilic cletV Lroad-lanceolate, sliarp,.p,ale, .with three purple Lnes,_ciliate at the edgq; 



petals 



