.-f? * K-OTITUS JAAIAICENSIS. polypod* 



Seme elver-; there are said to gather the roots and make a fine red tint of them ; hit 

 . incline rather to think they make use of the flower, berries, and stalk, for this pur- 

 pose/, as they are all of a beautiful red ; whereas the roots are very white. When the 

 juice of the berries is put upon paper, or the like, it strikes it with a high purple 

 colour, which is as fine .as any in the world,, but requires something to fix it, and pre- 

 vent its fading. 



A spoonful or two of the juice of the fresh root purges strongly, when it is dry it 

 Jo.- es this quality. The \ omit* tender leaves have very little of it ; but those which are 

 old, large, and thick, are said to operate violently ; nevertheless, I have known them 

 boiled and eaten", in order to open the body in th'e dry belly -;.che, and with great ad- 

 Vantage and safety. Long, p. 771. 



An ounce of the dried root, infused in a pint of wine, and ^iven to the quantity of 

 two spoonfuls, operates kindly as an emetic, and is preferable to met qthgrs,-as it 

 hardly altera the taste of the wine. The roots are applied to the nd reet in 



ardent levers. Farriers give a decoction of them to drench cattle, and apply them in 

 form of poultice for discussing tumours. Poultry are fond of the berried, but, if eaten 



in large quantities, they give the flesh a disagreeable flavour. Cutler, Mem. 



Anur. v. l. 



Negroes use the seeds for washing coarse linen; they are very bitter, and impart 

 that taste to birds which feed on them. 



2. OCTANDRA. EJGIIT-STAMENED. 



Erecta, simplex out vix divisa ; foliis integris, sustentaculis spicarufu 

 rotuhdatis. Browne, p. 232. 



Flowers eight-stamened, eight-styled. 



This is the stature of the foregoing species, but the leaves are whiter ; it is known 

 by the name of Spanish calalue. It seldom.continues longer than two years, and (lowers 

 and seeds plentifully the first year. . The stem is herbaceous, dividing at top into two 

 or three branches ; leaves ovate-lanceolate, six inches long, and almost three broad, 

 having a strong mid- rib and transverse veins; pedicels an inch and a half long. The 

 peduncles come out from the side of the branches, opposite to the leaves, are seven or 

 eight inches long, two inches naked, the remainder has sessile flowers, white, with a 

 blush of purple in the middle, cut into five segments almost to the bottom, and having 

 from eight to fourteen stamens, and ten styles; berries flat, with ten deep furrows; 

 cells the same number, with one or two smooth seeds in each. Browne says " It is a 

 native of Jamaica, and cultivated in most kitchen gardens. It is a palateable whole- 

 some green : the tender stalks are frequently served up for young sperages, and prove 

 an agreeable succedaneum. It shoots spontaneously in every fertile spot in the island.'* 



POLYPODY, or. MALE FERN". POLYPODIUM. 



Cl. 24, OR. 1Cryptogamia filices. NaT. or. Filices. 

 This generic name is derived from two Greek words signifying many-footed, the 

 roots having many tubercles. 



Gen, 



