499 IIORTUS JAMAICENSIS, MAia-GOLrf 



stalk is upright, thick, jointed, branching numerously, widely, erectly, frequently 

 more than a yard high. Leaves opposite, somewhat hcart-shapecl, sharp-porincd, on 

 inch-long pedicels : branchesand hranchlets terminated by numerous flowers in clusters . 

 on verj' short pedicels, which are of different colours in tiie varieties, some white, some 

 yellow, some, red, some variegated, some with flowers of different colours on the same 

 plant, ail making a most brilliant appearance. It is remarked that plants raised from 

 the seeds of the purple and white, never produce red and yellow flowers, nor the con- 

 ti-ary. The root of this plant was once thought to be the real jalap, whence the trivial 

 name, which medicine is procured from a species of convolvulus : the root is nc\er- 

 theless of a purgative nature, when powdered,, in d6ses of two scruples, or more. A 

 bed of the Jour-o^clcck, the name by which this ornamental shrub is generally known, 

 spreads a delightful fragrance to a onsiderable distance ; and is very generally culti- 

 vated, not only on this account, but because it is one of the most beautiful productions 

 of nature. Thunberg informs that the Japanese ladies make a white paint from tlie 

 tneal of the seeds for their complexioas. 



Four o'clock fl&wer. ^This plant is so called in Jamaica from its opening and- shutting 

 every four i)ours, night and day, as they have observed there. Ihaveseen of all co- 

 lours. Tiicy have of this plant now in English gardens, calling it marvel of Pent - 

 others make it a sort of jalap. It hath a root exactly like jalap ; but its stalk, jeavet',. 

 flowers, and fruit, are different. I have cut these as tliey do jalap, and, when cured, 

 he must have a good, jiulgnvent to know the difference ; and L have tried to .get the ; 

 resin out, as of jalap ; but I never could get above half an ounce out of a pound of rooty 

 whereas w. commonly get an ounce an,d a halPof resin, or two ounces, out of the true 

 jalap. Now, if the purging quality lies altogether in the resinous part of die /oot, 

 then this discovers the diM" rence of the two roots : But I am of opinion, tS'iat ;jll the 

 purging quality doth not lie in tne resin; for this four o'clock flower root, piven lu 

 powder, works as well as the other in powder, but giving four times the quantity, and 

 is of the same virtue. Its fruit is black, round, and rough, witbout-c-ide ; which skin, 

 being taken off, there appears a seed as big as an English pea, of the colour of Encr. 

 lish wheat ; and under tluit thin skin is a hne white flour or mfal, vei'v soft to the 

 touch, and tastes like wheat- flour ; which I believe will purge as welL as the root. . 

 liar ham, p. 62. 



MARYGOLD. CALENDULA. 



Cl. 19, or. 4:~Sy,njencsia polygamia necessaria. Nat. or. Composite. 

 Gen. cH;\r. Calyx common, sin)]jle, many-leaved; corolla compound, radiate-;. 

 proper of the heriiiaphrodiie tubular, of the female ligulate ; the receptacle is 

 Baked.;, there is no pappus ; seeds membranaceous. 



OFFICINALIS. " OFFICINAL. 



Seeds all boat^form^ muricated, bent in. 



This plant has been' long intn^duced and generally cultivatetl in Jamaica,, where it 

 thrives well. The flowers of the common marygold are supposed to be aperient and a{- 

 tenuating, as also cardiac, ale.xinharmic, jmd sudorific j they are principally cele- 

 brated 



