:*, i: OUT US JAMAICENSrS- rq* 



Nb English Name bPILANTHUS 



Cr.. i? 3 OR. l.Syngenesia poli/garnia teqmtis. Nat. or. Composite. 



GN. CHAR. Common mlyx sub-hemispherical, imbricate; scales lanceolate-linear 

 compact, in a double row ; corolla compound, uniform, tubular, conico convex ; 

 hfliinaphrodite cdrollets numerous, equal ; proper one-petaled, funnel-shaped, 

 border four or five cleft, reflexed ; stamens four or five capillary I i, short; 



anthers cyTmdric, tabular ; the pistil has an oblong compressed germ, a filiform 

 style the length of the stamens, stigmas two, recurved ; no pericarp, the calyx is 

 unchanged; seeds.solitary, oblong, compressed-flatj membranaceous margined, 

 two-awned at the tip, one awn often smaller than the other ; receptacle chaffy co- 

 ei< al ; chaffs compressed, deciduous. One species has been found in Jamaica. 



ULIGINOSUS. BOGGY. 



Leaves ovate-lanceolate, crenate ; stem erect, dicUotomous; peduncles termi- 

 nating, flowers radiate. Snariz. 



SPIRIT-LEAF, on SNAP-DRAGOK RUELLIA. 



Cl. 1 J., or. I.Didijnamia angiospermia. Nat. or. Pasonatas 



Gen, char. See Christmas Pride, vol. i. p. 1S9. 



TUnF.ROSA. TUBEROUS. 



Gentianella ftore caruleo, integro vasculo seminaK ex humidi confactw 

 impahenie. Sloane, v. 1, p. 149, t. 9.3, f. 1. Erecta, asphodcli 

 radices peduntulis tri-parlitis alaribus. Browne, p. 26S. 

 Leaves ovate cur, a'e, peduncles one-flowered. 

 Tubus of the root oblong, smooth; stem herbaceous, undivided, upright, from six 

 inches to a foot in height, four-cornered, smooth, but pubescent at top , leaves wedge- 

 fibaped at the base, ovate, nerved, smooth. Peduncles axillary, opposite, spreading, 

 seldom simple,, commonly three-parted, the length of the leaves, sometimes trichoto- 

 mous ; flowers large, blue: oapsuje oblong, acuminate; seeds roundish, black Sw. 

 Menou weed, spirit weed, or snap-dragon, is very common in most parts of Jamaica, 

 and is remarkable for its oblong fleshy roots, which are frequently used among the ne- 

 groes. These, when fresh, have a little pungency, which soon wastes upon the pa- 

 late; but, when dry, il.;v are quite insipid Browne. This plant is well known in 

 Jamaica bv this name. It hath several brown and straight roots, of an inch and an half 

 or two inches long; from these roots arises a four-square stalk, about nine or twelve 

 inches hi,.>h, jointed, where come out the leaves, of a dark-bluish colour; at the top 

 comes out the flower, monopetalous and bell-fashioned, of a delicate blue colour ; after 

 which succeeds a four-square seed-vessel, about an inch long, containing a great many 

 small brown flat seeds; which seed-vessel, touched with the least moisture, springs 

 open with a little snap or noise : And therefore I have advised a person to puc one of 

 the seeds in his mouth, and immediately it would fly open, with a leap up to the roof 

 of his mouth, which would surprise those who were not acquainted with it. By-this 

 cgriuging motion, it scatters its seeds as if sown by act, and often infests or over-runs 



great- 



