TSPURGF.9 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 197 



tvards, convcrgfng, double the length of the upper one; the fourth very small, ob- 

 long, obtuse, placed between the lateral parts below the upper one : nectareous glands 

 four roundish, seated in the hollow of the corolla, formed of the upper segment and 

 the united part of the lateral ones, two of these are at the base of the upper segment, 

 nd tiie two others close to the side of the former; filaments about sixteen, awl-shaped, 

 Xinequal ; germ ovate, hanging on the outside of the corolla by a very long pedicel ; 

 style awl-shaped, longer than the germ, permanent; stigmas three, reflex, half two- 

 cleft. In South America a strong decoction of this plant, especially of the stalks, is 

 given in venereal cases, and in suppressions of the menses. Jacguin. 



3. HYPERICIFOLIA. HYPER1CUM-LEAVED. 



Tithymalis credits, acre's pttrietarce foliis gllibris, Jloribus ad caulium 

 nodos conglomet&tis. Sloane, v. 1, p. 197, t. 126. Minima re~ 

 clinata, foliolis ovatis'denticulatis ab altero latere major ibus ; ftoribus 

 quasi lunhrflatis, terminalibus et lateralibus. Browne, p. 235, E. 2. 



Leaves serrate, oval oblong, smooth ; corymbs terminating, branches divaricate. 

 This is an annual plant, which rises with a branching stalk about two feet high, her- 

 baceous, diffused, subdivided, round, coloured, smooth ; branches alternate, spread- 

 ing, pubescent : leaves petioled, opposite, oblique at the base, ovate, obtuse, veined, 

 glaucous underneath, sometimes purplish ; stipules simple, opposite, very short, blunt, 

 between the petioles. Peduncles axillary, alternate, erect, dichotomous, commonly 

 longer than the leaves, with the flowers crowded together. Calyx very minute ; petals 

 :four, convex, thick, green ; filaments two or three, longer than the corolla, with ru- 

 diments of others at the base ; anthers in pairs, like bifid filaments, yellow; germ 

 smooth ; capsule pedicelled. Native of most of the West-India islands, and a weed in 

 cultivated grounds. Swartz. Sloane says every part of this plant is poisonous to hogs-; 

 and its milk rubbed on warts cures them; the flowers white or purple. Browne says it 

 is common about the FerTy, and a slender weakly creeper, running only three or four 

 inches. 



4. HIUTA. HAIRY. 



Tithumalius Sulci's parietaria foliis hirsutis, Jloribus ad caulium nodos 

 conglemaratis. Sloane, v. J, p. 197. Reclinata minor sub-/iirsuta t 

 foliis scrratis oppositis, f.orum fasciculi's axillaribus. Browne, p. 

 234, E. 1. 

 Leaves serrulate, oVate-acuminate, peduncles in axillary heads, stems hairy. 

 Stem herbaceous, sub-divided, declined, from three inches to a foot in length, round; 

 leaves on very shert petioles, opposite, small, oblique at the base, nerved, rough with 

 hairs, paler underneath, spotted with red ; stipules in pairs, opposite, awl-shaped. Pe- 

 duncles opposite, very short, much shorter than the leaves ; flowers crowded together, 

 pedicelled, minute. Calyx b!ood-red ; petals four, truncate, thick, blood-red ; fila- 

 ments four, and not more, awl-shaped, from the bottom of the calyx, longer than the 

 >rolla; anthers roundish whitish, two-valved; germ rough with hairs. Swarts. The 

 creeping hairy spurge is common in all the dry savannas in Jamaica. It probably is a power- 

 ful resolutive and deobstruent, for it provokes both sweat and urine very abundantly, and I 

 doubt not may be given with success in most diseases arisingfrom a lentoror spissitude of 

 the juices. Cajacia, alias caacica. The Brasilians set a very great value upon this plant. 

 Piso saith, it is one of the best antidotes in the world to expel all sorts of poison ; even, 



saith 



