4T<; IIORTUS JAMATCENSI!?, -majo 



a fronil, having rroquently ten pairs of leaflets, which are small nest the stem, and in- 

 crease in si2e as they approach the centre, whence tlicy again diminish towards the 

 point, and end in an odd one, the pairs of leaflets at hotli extremities being the smallest ; 

 the whole being from two to three feet long. The ]}air of leallets next the point arc 

 opposite, hut tlie rest alternate, gradually recetiir.g from each other as they approach 

 tlie stem, where they are about half an inch distant. The centre leaflets are about six 

 inches long and two and a half broad, those close to the stem not half the size. They 

 are ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, slightly wrinkled by the tran verse veins, the edges 

 aiittle revolnte, standing on ven\short ]H'tioles. From ti:e axillas hang loose panicied 

 racemes a foo.t and a half in length, , divided into man^' partial, lateral, alternate, ra- 

 cemes, the whole forming aai anij^le panicle. 'I he flowers are very numerous, small, 

 Sgssile, without scent, of a red colour ; many of them have the caly.i and corolla four- 

 parted. 



On examining t!ie, blossoms of one of these trees they were found as follow: When 

 expanded they were not bigger than a common pin's head ; ths calyx three small round 

 leaves; corolla three triangular petals,, larger than the cup, and ere^to- patent ; sta- 

 mens three erect very short filaments, shorter than die calyx, and placed one between 

 each petal ; and tliere appeared asmaU nee tareous gland betu ecu each sti men ; anthers, 

 erect, tesiiculate , germ very small and trigonal ; the styles very short, three in num- 

 ber, and capitated. In the ripe trust the vestiges of the style raay be perceived. A 

 tree examined was found to have ail the blossoms male ; the perianth, corolla, stamen:^, 

 and anthers, in form and number, exactly like those of the hermaphrodite flowers j 

 Lut, instead of a germ, v/as a trigpnal> short, concave, nectareous, gland, with un- 

 equal margins.. 



This tree is propagated by seeds or enttings ; stakes or posts of it put-intf) the gror.nu 

 si^eedily vegetate. 'I'he fruit is eatable, but not inviting ; and the wood hard, of a fine 

 grain, and reddish colour. This plant is so similar in liabit to the spatkclia simpler, 

 fsee mountain pride) that it is difficult to distinguish them from each oiher when not 

 in flower, for \^hich reason they have both been confounded by the name oi maiden- 

 plum. Jacquin observes that the whole tree abounds in a watery sap, shghtly glutinous, 

 which grows black in,, the air, and dy-es die hands a deep black that can scarcely jje. 

 washed out. . 



2. DENTATA.,. TOOXHfcD. 

 Leaflets spiny-toothed. 

 This species is very common in Jamaica, and some of them liave been observed 

 which bore female, some male, and some hermaphrodite, flowers. It is like the fore- 

 goino' species ; the leaves are crenate, somewhat pubescent; the racemes many and 

 terminal " Leaflets from six to ten, oblong, acuminate, spiny-toothed, veined at 

 the back, and sub-tomentose. .Uiice milky, glutinous, turning very black ; not to be 

 washed from the skin or cloth. If the tree be ever so slightly wounded, it has a strong 

 smell of dung. Ibe natives have a notion that it is dangerous to sleep under it." 

 J.acqui)i,- 



MAJOE OR IMACARY BITIEU. PICRAMNIA. 



Gi. 22, 0.1. 5. Dioccia fentandria, Tiiandria digynia. Sw, 



ThU- 



