HORTUS JA.MAICENSIS. i.'Giar: 



scarlet flower '. These never grow so high as the other sorts: tfceyare called French 

 physic-nuts, and their purging quality is more strong than any of the other sorts. 

 jiurham, p. 1*1. 



3 DIVARICA.TA. DIVARICATE. 



Leaves ovate-acuminate, entire, very smooth ; racemes divaricating. -Sic. Fr. 

 p. 98. 



This species oijalropha was r <bund in Jamaica l)j Svrartz. 



.See Cassada. 



Pickeiiing's-Herb fee Christmas Pk;de. 



PIGEON or ANGOLA PEA. CYTISUS. 



Cl. 17, OR. 4. Diadclphia tlecandria. ' NaT. OR. Papilionaceai 



Gen. char. Calyx a one-leafed, two- lipped, perianth ; tipper lip two-cleft, lower 

 three-toothed ; corolla papiljonact ou s ; stamens diad< Iphous filaments, with sim- 

 ple anthers ; the pistil. has an oblong germ, a simple .style, and obtuse stigma ; 

 the pericarp an oblong jegume, attenuated at the base, stiff; seeds few, iadney- 

 form, compressed. One species is a native of Jamaica. 



CAJAX. 



Laburnum kutnilius, siliqua inter grana et grana juncfa, semine 

 cstulcnlo. SJoane, v. 2, p. 31. Fru/icosus, erectus, raviosus, 

 triphyllus; foliis sub-cinereis oblangis.; vexillo variegato-, giliqua 

 eompressa, ad semina torosa. Browne, p. 296. 



Racemes axillary, erect.; leaflets sub-lanceolate, tomentose, the middle one on 

 a larger petiole. 



This rises with a weak shrubby stalk eight or ten feet high, sending out many side 

 branches, which grow nearly erect ; the leaves are alternate, always three together, 

 dark green above, paler below, very soft to the touch. The flowers come out from the 

 side of the branches, single o. in clusters, of a deep yellow colour ; calyx sub-pubes- 

 cent; standard erect ; wings horizontally flat ; keel blunt; stamens truly diadelphous ; 

 legumes hairy, clammy, about three inches long, sickle-shaped, ending in a long 

 sharp point, swelling where each seed is lodged ; seeds roundish, a little inclined to 

 kidney-shape. The pigeon pea is so called on account of pigeons being fond of them ; 

 it is a very hardy plant, and thrives in the poorest soil. When young, and properly 

 cooked, it is very little inferior, as a green, to English peas; and, when old, is an 

 excellent ingredient in soups. The leaves are very good fodder for cattle, hogs, and 

 horses. It is a perennial plant, bearing when about a year old, and lasts from five to 

 seven years in good soil, whence it has derived the name of seven-year-pea. They 

 have generally blossoms, green and dry fruit, upon them at the same time, and con- 

 tinue in bearing for several months of the year, about Christmas ; and therefore some- 

 times called in Jamaica the Christinas pea. Dried they keep for a considerable time, 



and 



