44S Wr>?.TUS JAMArCENSIS. llTTut* 



LEMON GRASS. Gevus UnJaw-n^yi. 



. This plant, which was.introdiijceJ about fifteen \'oaps atjo, has beei) pretty (rcnfrnlly 

 cultivated, and has thriven wfil, in most parts of Janiaica, but has never been observed 

 t.) produce any flower.^ or seed, ahhough carefully examined for several years rDuninn-. 

 Ic is thought toapproach nearJy to caiiiei's hay fiDidro/w^^'ui scheenanthus I . Tlie ro';t 

 jjj strong, woody, and tastes >omel.hing like lemon peel, but more bitter; it is about 

 half an mcli IP. diameter, and several inches lon;^, woody, and full of circular i)rotu- 

 berancesor leiiges, about a quarter of an inch distant from each other, of a yelloKV co- 

 lour, and sendmo- forth at its end and sides many white fibres, and fresh shoots, which 

 propagate the plant very fast, covering a large sarface of ground, the old leaves de- 

 taymg, while the new leaves shoot successively froni the centre of the stem, which 13 

 yound, and without joints, entirely formed of the stalks of the leaves circu- 

 larly enih-racing each other,, like tlie lamin.e of a cabbage-tree. The leaves are fre- 

 quently i'rom three to four feet in length, and three quarters ot an inch broad, striated, 

 and resembhng Guinea grass, as well as the plai.t generally, but they are of a h; rsher 

 nature,, and more coarse appearance, and no animal will eat them ; lo the touch they 

 arc rough and hard. Thes^e leaves have a very agreeable lemon-like smell, and the de- 

 coction of them, as well as of the root, is a very pleasant and cooling drink in fevers, 

 which has also been found very beneficial in nervous lucad -aches : they may be dried; 

 and kept for use for a great length of time, as they have been found not to lose th.ei, 

 virtues after a voyage to England. 



Le.mon Tree See Lime and Lemon Trees.. 



LETTUCE. LACTTTCA. 



Cl. 19, OR..1. ^i/ngenesia pnlygamia aqualis. Nat. .OR. Coqnpositee.. 

 This name is derived irom lacte, on account of the milkiness of the plant. 



Gen. char. Calyx common, imbricated, cylindrical, with a membranaceous mar- 

 pin ; corolla imbricated, uniform; stamens five filaments, with cvlindric anthersj^ 

 the pistil has a sub-ovate germ, a filiform syle, and two reflex stigmas ; there is- 

 no pericarp, calyx- converging, ovate- cyliudric ; seeds solitarv', ovafe-acuminnte, 

 even, compressed ; down capillajy, on along stipe, attenujited below; receptacle 

 iiaked. 



s.vriVA. 

 Leaves rounded stem-leaves ccvrdate ; stem corymhed. 



This useful vegetable thrives well in .Jamaica, in several of its varieties. ThFs has 

 long been celebrated for its cooUng and wholesome properties, and, as it- contains a 

 t^antity of a milky juice, of an opiate nature, it promotes sleep ; which it proliabiy effects - 

 Ly abating heat, and relaxing the fibres. Lettuce is also in .some degree laxative and: 

 ajperientj and proper in hot bilious dispo. itioQs. The seeds are of an emollient nature. 



