'204 HOItTUS JAMAICENSI9. sooah 



This plant is commonly known by the name df.pfss a bed, and is very common in Ja- 

 maica. The root in decoction is used as a diuretic, as a so for venereal and. ol her a- 

 plaints. The decoction is also recommended for a scalding of urine ; and the foments 

 ation is good for the mange in dogs, mules, and noises ; and it is useful 10 give them 

 the plant inwardly, by chopping it up in their food. The leaves as well as the roots' 

 decocted are excellent in jaundice and dropsy, and when taken inwardly and applied 

 outwardly drive out and cure the scorbutic itch, ringworms, and other cutaneous com- 

 plaints. Like other bitter plants, when taken inwardly, it sometimes occasions griping, 

 which is cured by acids. For this reason Barbara directs a decoction of the solarium 

 mamosum, (see Turkey berries) for the itch to be given in sugar ana lime-juice. For 

 a venereal or weakness the following has been recommended : " Take the root of piss- 

 a-bed, boil a large handful in three quarts of water, letting it boil down to two quarts 

 and a pint; when cold drink the same for common drink, and it will make a perfect 

 cure ; observing that it be taken in an early stage and regularly continued " 

 SVtCane-piece Sensitive Cassia-stick Tree Horse-cassia Ringworm Shru& 

 and Senna Trees. 



Stockvishhout See Nicaragua. 



Strainer-Vine See Cerasee. 



Strawberry Pear See Indian Fig. 



Styptic Bumi See Bastard Ipecacuanha and Vervain. 



Sugar Bean See Kidney Bean. 



SUGAR- CANE. SACCHARUM. 



Cl. 3, or. 2. Triandria digynia. Nat. or. Gram hire. 

 Gen. char, Calyx a two-valved glume, one- flowered ; lalves oblong lanceolate, 

 acuminate, erect, concave, equal, awnless, surrounded with a long lanugo at the 

 base: corolla two-valved, shorter, sharpish, very tender: nectary two-leaved, 

 very small : stamens three filaments, capillary, the length of the corolla ; anthers 

 somewhat oblong : the pistil has an oblong germ, two feathered stvles, and pla- 

 mose stigmas; no pericarp ; the corolla invests the seed ; which is single and ob- 

 long. 



officinarum. officinal. 



Gemculatum et succulentum, paniculum spatiosa. Browne, p. 123; 

 Sloane, t 66. 

 Flowers pankled, leaves flat. 



The root of the sugar cane is jointed, like that of other sorts of cane or reed. From 

 this arise four five or more shoots, proportionable to the age or strength of the root, 

 eight or ten feet high, according to the goodness of the ground ; iw some moist rich 

 soils canes have been measured near twenty feet long, but these are not so good ;ts 

 those of middling growth, abounding in juice, but having little of the essential salt. 

 The canes are jointed, and these joints are more or less distant, iu proportion to the 

 soil. A leaf is placed at each joint, and the base of it embraces the stalk to the next 

 joint above its insertion, before it expands ; from hence to the point it is three or four 



feet 



