46 HORTUS JAMAICENSI-S. ^Hujcak 



tim ncsccntibus. Sloane, v. 2, p. 175. Scandcns, faliis inferiors- 

 bus phinuto-tcrnatis, supcrioYibus geminatis claxiicula intcrjjositis. 

 Browne, p. 267. 

 Lower leaves temate, upper geminate ; tendrils interpVtiulary, terminating ; 

 stem scandent. 

 This climbing plant is frequent in many parts of the island, but seems most common 

 between St. Elizabeth's and Westmorland. It rises with great ease to the top of the 

 tallest trees in the woods, and then spreads a great way over the limbs of the neigh- 

 bouring trees, or bends again towards the ground. It is generally-more luxuriant to- 

 wards the top ; and, as this part requires a greater support, nature has supplied it, in 

 a peculiar manner, with tendrils ; for the leaves, which are always three oivevery com- 

 mon footstalk, towards the root, are never more than two at the top ; but the extremity 

 of the common stalk, which generally holds the third leaf in the lower-branches, shoots 

 here into a long winding tendril, by which it holds and sucks to every twig or branch 

 it meets. Browne, it l-. ejdled pear-withe, as the fruit, when it-is- ripe, has a- sweetish 

 bitter taste, and has some stoney stasia in it, like a pear. 



2. PARASITICUM. PARA&iTICAL. 



Crcscentia ? 5. Scandens, sarmcntis crassioribus, folii$-iiizjcid.hu$ 

 ovatis nitidis oppositis. Browne, p. 266. 



Leaves ovate, coriaceous ; stem scandent, shrubby, rooting. 



This weakly plant sustains itself generally by the help of the neighbouring trees, or 

 is found spreading upon the ground, where it does not meet with support. Its stem is 

 .moderately thick, and stretches frequently about seven or eight feet from the root. 

 The leaves are thick, oval, -and shining, and tire fruit round and smooth. It is found 

 about Port-Antonio, near the Cascade in St. Ann's, arid in many parts of the moun- 

 tains, especially between Sixteen-Mile-Walk and Luidas. rBrawne. The flowers are 

 of a very deep purple colour, and arise in a binate order from the alee .of the leaves, 

 which fade where they grow ; these leaves are large and thick. It flourishes in February 

 and March. The stem is as thick as a man's arm, and emits roots in the manner of ivy 

 it climbs rocks and trees to the height of fifty or sixty feet. The leaves are a little bit- 

 terish in taste. 



PELICAN FLOWER, or POISON HOGWEED. ARISTOLOCIIIA. 



Cl. 20, OR. 5, Gynandria hcxandric. Nat. r. Sarmcntace<c, 

 GEN. cuar. Use Contrayerva, p. 231. 



GRANDIFLORA. GREAT-IXOYVERED. 



Scandent, Joiiis amplioribus cordatis; florum flabcllis maximi's varic- 

 gatis, in appendicem longam tenuemquc desincntibus. Browne, 

 p. 329. 



Leaves broad-cordate ; stem twining, sub-:herbaceous ; peduncles solitary ; lip 

 of the corolla very large, with a very long tail. 



The 



