* HORTUS JAMAICENSIS, >ickaM 



with slender spines, opening with two valves, each ifictasing two hard seeds, about the 

 size and shape of children's marbles, of a shining yellow colour, containing a bitter 

 kernel. It grows more frequently in the inland parts of the island. 



2. EONDUCEIXA. 



Lobus cchinntiis /met u : casio folds fhftgioriius. SFoaroe, v. 1, p. 41, 

 Spinosa, Joins bipinnutis ovatis cum acuminc, sanlnibus ciiureis.- 

 Browne, p. 223. 



Prickly; pinnas oblong-ovate, with double prickles on the leaflets. 



This differs from the other in havinganuch smaller leaves, set closer together ; and 

 below each pair of leaflets are two short stiff crooked spines, which are opposite; the 

 flowers are of a deeper yellow, and the seeds are ash-coloured. This weakly plant 

 grows in many parts of Jamaica, and spreads a groat way about the root, or rises among 

 the neighbouring bushes if it finds but due support. cThe stalk and branches are very 

 full of thorns that arch backwards; the seeds are grey, and, like the other, used by 

 way of marbles by boys. Browne. Corolla almost regular, with no claws to the petals; 

 legume ovate, thomboidal, swelling in the middle, but flatted at the sides, with spines 

 all over it, stiff, but not pungent, ferruginous, bay-colour on the outside, pale within*; 

 the two valves very sm rib on the inside, without any vestige of a p rtition. Seeds 

 two or three, ovate-globular, very smooth and shining, seeming as if they had very 

 fine, parallel, angular, clefts, but quite entire; of a livid lead colour, with a brown 

 mark at the navel. Gtertnev. These plants make a good fence Grainier says the 

 shell of both species contains a farinaceous nut of admirable use in seminal weaknesses; 

 and that they are also given -powdered to throw out the yaws. Browne al-o observes 

 that the seeds, bark, and root, of both species, are thought to be astringents, and 

 sometimes given in glaets ; and the seeds toasted and powdered given to provoke the 

 menses. Sioane notices that these seeds are often east ashore on the north-west coasts 

 of Ireland and Scotland. The; plant is raised from seeds, which should be some days 

 soaked in water before they are planted, to soften them. 



Nickers There are two sorts of these trees which, are called nickers, the boys play- 

 ing with the cone or truit as they do with marbles"-: The one hatha yellow cone, the 

 other an ash-coloured one. Its prickles are short and crooloed, as the cockspur-p-ee 

 K ; it hath along spike, full of yellow flowers; the pods or husks are full of rough 

 prickles, like the chesnut, but sharper, and so stiff an to prick the finger if you touch 

 them ; within this rough pod or ease are four or five hard cones, which are called nick- 

 ers, so hard that the teeth cannot crack them. Tiie Indians and negroes make use of 

 them itl venereal cases, and say they purge and carry off the cause, and afterwards bind 

 and strengthen the part They grow also in the Eastern parts of the world ; for the 

 Egyptians, in Alexandria, account them a sort of guard for their children against witch- 

 craft and sorcery, hanging them about their necks as amulets. The fruit, finely pul- 

 verized, and given, half a drachm, hclprth the meagrim, the torture of drawing the 

 Dioutli of one side, as also convulsions, an I falling sickness. Barham, p. 114. 



See Horse-IIaddishTkee. 



NIGHTSHADE?, 



