^ftV HORTUS JAMAICENSTS. 449 



This generic nritne is derived from two Greek v/ords, signifying all and power, or an 

 iierb of every virtue. 



Gen. char. Calyx an oblong spatiie, obtuse, compresseJ, openino- at the flat side, 

 drivelling; the corolla has six petals, laiic(!olate, flat, inserted nito-the tube of 

 the nectary, on the outside above the base ; nectary one- leafed, cyiiiKn-ic-funuei- 

 form, coloured at top, with the mouth sprcaduig, an:! tweive-clelt ; the stamens 

 six filaments, awl-shaped, inserted int.) the lips of tiie nectary, and longer than 

 they are; antlu rs oblon.r, incu.nbent; tlie pistii has a bluntly th.ree-cornercvl in- 

 ferior germ, a liliforni siyli', longer than the stamens, and a huint stii>!iM ; the 

 pericarj) a roundish capside, turec-sided, thret'-celied, three- vtUvba; seeds st;Ve- 

 jal, globular, One species is a native of Jamaica. 



CARIB^UNL CARIRF.AN. 



^^arcissus fotus alhus lutifolius poh/tinthos major odoraUis, stamiinhia 

 sex e tubi ampJi vwrginc e.itantibus. Sloan-e, v. !, p. 2t-i. Fcliis 

 compressis obtusis, scapo nialo, Jloribus urvhtllrJis. Browne, p. 194. 



Spathe many-flowered ; leaves lanceolate; segments of the corolla linear, and 

 longer than the tube. 



Tfe tube of the corolla, which throws its agreeable scent to a considerable distance, 

 bas six roundish corners, proceeding as it 'vere from the linear-lanceolate segments; 

 it is from three to four inches long, and more than a quarter of an inch in diameter, 

 greenish aijont half way, but becomes gradually whiter towards the segments, which 

 are longer than it, and about a third of an inch broad, concave, Ijluntly mucronate. 

 The peduncle is always porfectlv erect, and is nearly an inch broad, and one-thir I of 

 an inch thick towarils the base, being of an oval shape. The nectary is pure white in 

 all its parfs, fnnnel-shaped at top, seeming like a tender membrane unitmg the sta 

 rri-?Ms together for an inrh and a half, and proceeding as it were from the month of the 

 funnel, have a slight joint running vertically through its centre, by which it bends in- 

 tvaid, soniewliat in the manner of the membrane in a bat's wing, a little wrinkled, and 

 expan ling at the month from two and a half to liu'ce inches in diameter; the stamens 

 ar* awl-shaped, and from two to three inches long, from the rim of the nectary. Germ 

 bright green, about half an inch from the bottom of the pedicel, bluntly three-cor- 

 n rr I. The leaves are seldom less than twelve, sometimes more, all proceeding from 

 tt'e top of tiie bulbous root; they are ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, 



'This has a truncated hnlbous root, as large as a roan's fist, coate.'l like onions, with 

 many white fibres from its base. The leaves grow two feet, long, and are about three 

 jnciVes broad, channelled or concave in the inside, ve-"' green, jnicy, and smooth; 

 petioles sheathing at the base, spreading, half-rotmd. Fro n the centre of the leaves 

 .Ti^es the peduncle, three or four feet high, not hollow, of a fungou; consistence, and, 

 v.-hen cut, dropping water; it is about a third of an inch thick iii the centre, and 

 tipers toivards the e Iges, from the top of this issue six, seven, or more, very white 

 and beautiful flowers, standing on pedicels about six inches long. The flowers have a 

 Tery fragrant smeil. Sloanc. This plant grows wild in most parts of .Jamaica; the 

 roois are of an acrid nature, emollient, maturating, and greatly suppurative ; they are 

 used externally in cataplasms for these purposes with success. The common form of 

 ^plying them is boiled and bruised; hut some prefer the roasting of them until tender, 



M m m and 



