Z II CRT US JAMAICEX5IS. r - tl-xktaw 



: iy six-cleft ; the pericarp a fleshy berrv, revered with an lui>V, obscure' v 

 three or six-sided, gibbons qii one si e, ohe-celled, hollow in. the iniddle; seeds 

 very maiVy, nestling, sub-globular^ wrinkjed-tubercled, excavated at the base,, 

 or only rudiments. Males on the same s] a ii :, fcbove the hermaphrodite powers, 

 seperated by spathes : Calyx, corolla, and nectary, as in the hermaphrodites; 

 the stamens have filaments as in the hermaphrodites, equal, erect; anther; the 

 same, o:i the filament pipped within the nectary, most trequently very smajl or 

 none; the pistil has a get ti as in the hermaphrodite, but I. <~; style and stigma 

 ti:.' -ai t , but less, and id -re obscure ; pericatp abortive, Two species are cul- 

 tivated in Jamai, a. 



1. PARATUSIACA. PAffABISE. 



Mum, caudice viridi, frit 'u I \gioi:e, falcatn, anguloso. Sloarre-, x. 

 2, p I l. .fpadicc nutanti, frjifttt triquet.ro obtongo wiajori. 

 Bro ;i , p. 363. 



Spadix nodding ; male flowers permanent. 



Root a perennial, roundish, soli I, watery, bujb, d i ' y i the out-dde, white within. 

 Stem s;>lt, fifteen or twenty feet high, v , si aight, quite pimple, round* smooth, 

 fungous, watery, lamellatcd ; the Ian ;n ilntaed, f?aph ending in lof." chart t 



nel led embracing petioles, imbric; .-base. The lower part of -the stem is the 



thickest, in 'j,-'">1 soil often a foot in di muter, diminishing gradually to the top, where 

 the leaves come out on every side; these are often eight feet long, and from two to 

 three feet broad, with a strong fleshy mid-i;ib, and a great number of transverse veps 

 running from the mid-rib to the borders, i The leaves are thin and tender, so thaj they 

 are generally torn by the wind ; for as they are large it has great power against them : 

 these Itfaves come out !nm the cc ntre of the stalk, and are, closely rolled up at their 

 first appearance, like a perpendicuh r spike, but gradually expand, and turn backward. 

 As these leave; come up thus rolled, their advance upward is so quick, that their 

 growth may almost be discerned by the naked eye ; and if a tine line is drawn across, 

 level with the top of the leaf, in an hour's time the leaf-will be an inch above it. When 

 the plant is grown to its .full height, the spikes of flowers .will appear in the centre, 

 which is often near tour feet jr. length, and nods on one side. The flowers come out 

 in bunches ; those in the lower part of the spike being the largest ; the others diminish 

 in their si;-..' upward. Each of these Lunches is .covered with a spathe or sheath of n 

 purple colour, which drops off. when the dowers open. The upper part of the spike 

 is made up of male or barren flowers, which are not succeeded by fiuit, but fall off 

 with their covers. The fruit or 'plantains are about a foot loner, and two to three inches 

 diameter; it is at .first green, but when ripe of a pale yellow colour. The skin is tough ; 

 and within is a soft pulp of a luscious sweet flavour. The spike; of fruit arc often so 

 large as to weigh upwards of fori y pounds. The fruit is generally cut before it is ripe. 

 Tl.e green skin is pulled 'ill', and the heart is roasted in a clear fire for a few minutes, 

 and frequently turned ; it is then scraped and served up as bread. This tree is culti- 

 vated on a very extensive scale in Jamaica, and forms a principal part of the food of 

 the negroes ; to whom it is, cither roasted or boiled, a palateable and strengthening 

 food. Plantains will also fatten horses, cattle, swine, dogs, fowls, and other domestic: 

 animals. 



The. 



