AMPELIDE^. 181 



has been proposed to obviate these defects by root-grafting on 

 the native species. — Name, from Vita life, in allusion to the 

 enlivening effects produced by the liquors prepared from the 

 juice of the fruit. 



1. Vitis CaribfBa. Water-withe. 



Leaves cordate acuminate angulated dentate slightly 

 wooly above ferrugineo-laniiginose beneath. 



Vitis fructu minore rubro acerbo, Sloane, II. 104. t, 210. f. 



4 — Vitis sylvestris, uvis niinoribiis nigris, Browne, 178 V. 



Indica, Swartz, Obs. 95. — V. Caribaea, De Cand. Prod. 1. 634. 



HAB. Common in thickets, especially where the soil is of a 

 marly nature. 



FL. May. 



Stem woody : branches, angular, wooly, climbing. Leaves 

 alternate, petiolate, cordate, roundish, acuminate, more or less 

 angulated, 5-nerved at the base, with the reticulated divisions 

 of the nerves terminating at the margin in prominent teeth, 

 slightly lanuginose in white tufts above, and ferrugineo-lanu- 

 ginose beneath : petiole angulated, wooly. Tendrils opposite 

 to the leaves, compressed, wooly, bifid towards the extremity. 

 Racemes a crowded thyrse : peduncle elongated, opposite to a 

 leaf, thus occupying what would have been the situation of a 

 tendril, (and hence the tendrils are described by some Botan- 

 ists as racemiferous), dichotomously divided : branches subdi- 

 vided : terminal subdivisions bearing 10 or more shortly pedi- 

 celled small yellowish flowers. Calyx minutely 5-toothed. 

 Petals 5, oblong, cohering at the apex. Stamens 3, inserted on 

 the disk surrounding the base ovary. Ovary ovato-globose : 

 style short : stigma obtuse. Berries round, purple, 4-seeded. 



This plant is commonly known in Jamaica by the name of 

 the Water-withe, from the circumstance, that, in the early part 

 of the year, the stem and large branches yield, when divided, 

 about a pint of a clear transparent fluid like water. It is 

 tasteless, and, I believe, wholesome, and is of great service to 

 ti'avellers in the woods. By a wise and provident arrangement, 

 this plant is found most plentifully in limestone districts, where 

 the honeycomb rock prevails, and where Hq'w or no springs are 

 to be found. The fruit is small, of the size of a currant, and 

 has a rough acerb taste, recommending it for tarts. There is 

 no doubt, but that it is susceptible of iniprovement by cultiva- 

 tion, since there is a great difference in quality of the fruit of 

 different vines. I have never, however, observed it in our 

 gardens ; although the fruit, even in the wild state, ought to 

 entitle it to a place. 



