timr.u* HOTvTUS J AM A IC E N SI 3. yja 



- VANILLA, EPIDENBITJM 



f. CO, on. I ' \i D'a-.dria. NaT. pa. Orch.dc.c. 



Ci.. CHAR. Sac G.-tauitbe, vol. I, p. 3^9. 



5TAXIIXA. 



LohiSLoblongn&arpmaticus: Sloane, v. i, p. iso Scaniens. fnliis.tl- 

 liptico nitidissivi's, majgine inenibr avao cinctis, subsessili- 



bus ; ii ferioribttSclavieuliajugifitis, suptrioribusoppoiitis. Brovynej 



p $>.<->'. 



T.-aves ovate - >] g, nefve1, sessile-, rauline, tendrils spiral. 

 Stems sub-parasitical, climbing very high, ro >ting by means of simple fibres like 

 Hendrils oppo .ite to the leaves, sub-flixuose, leafv, sub-divided at top, round, thick, 

 Ipcculenc, smooth ; lea^ ;s sessile, or half embracing, or somewhat sh athed, alternate, 

 ovate, acmbinate, half a foot Ion entire, longitudinally i.erved, very smooth, thiol? ;. 

 Bowers pedoncled, axillary, sooxny, large, purple; peduncle axillary; one or two 

 flowered, short ; with a sessile ovate-leaflet or bracte undt r each (low. r ; siliques pen- 

 dulous, naif afoot long and more, smooth, one-celled, three-valved ; seeds roundish, 

 black, shining . S'unrz. The pods grow in purs, are generally the thickness oi' a, 

 child's finger, and about five or six inches in length ; they ire green at first, then yel- 

 lowish, and turn of -a brownish cast as they, ripen. The.staik is moderately slender, 

 and throws out a ion; winding tendril opposite to each of the lo.ver leaves, by which it 

 sticks to the branches of a, tree ; hut after it gains the top, then become useless, 

 end the place of each is supplied by a fellow leaf It is found wild in all part.-; 

 of til- mountains; particu'l irly in the parishes of St. Ann and St. Mary, and 

 grows most luxuriantly in cool and shady places. Ifthepods remain, too long upon 

 the stems thev transude a black fragrant balsam, which carries oiF both the smell and 

 deii acy of the s -eas, which are frequently mixed ith chocolate^ to wnich they yield a 

 delicate smell and agreeable flavour ; and ire used to perfuuie snuff" and other sub- 

 Stances. As a medicine they are commonly looked upon as cordial, Stomachic, and good 

 in nervous complaints ; as provokers of urine and resisters of poison. Broxciie \\"ht n 

 this plant is designed for propagation, cuttings may be taken ol about three or four 

 joints, and planted close to the stem of trees, in low, moist situations. The earth is 

 afcrwards to be kept clea r from weeds, which, if permitted to grow about the cuttings 

 Before they are well-rooted, would overbear and destrov them; but, after they have fas- 

 tened their shoots to the stems of the trees, they are out of danger from injuries 

 of 'his sort 'hey do not produce flowers until thev are grown strong, so that some 

 affirm, that six or seven years pass from the plaining to the time of their bearing 

 fruit; but when thev begin to flower and fructify, they continue b aring for several 

 years without any further culture. It pro luces but one crop of fruit in a year, which, 

 is commonly ripe in May, or fit for gatheiing : for it is not suffered to remain until it is 

 p rfectlv mature, because- it is then not so fit for use. When it. is about halt changed 

 yellow, it is esteemed better for keeping than when it is changed to a brown colour, at 

 which time it splits an I discloses its seeds. While green, it affords no remarkable 

 scent, but, as it ri"ens, it emits a most grateful aromatic odour When the fruit be- 

 gins to. open, the birds attack it and devour all the seeds very greedily, but do not eat 

 any other part of the fruit. The method used to prepare it is to gather it when it tu ns- 

 ef a.yeliow colour, it is then piicd ia smstd Leaps w ferment two or three days, and 



afterwards 



