IPOMG@A JALAPA. 13 
CONVOLVULACEA, 
R. BROWN. 
BINDWEEDS. 
Essentrat Cuar.—Inflorescence axillary or terminate. Peduncles one or many-flowered, the partial ones gene- 
rally with two bracts, which sometimes enlarge greatly after flowering. Calyx persistent, in five divisions, remarkably 
imbricated, as if in more whorls than one, often very unequal. Corolla monopetalous, hypogynous, regular, decidu- 
ous; the limb five-lobed, plaited, the tube without scales. Stamens five, inserted into the base of the corolla, and 
alternate with its segments. Ovary simple, with two to four cells, seldom with one; sometimes in two or four divi- 
sions; few-seeded; the ovules definite and erect, when more than one collateral. Style one, usually divided at the 
top, or as many as the divisions of the ovary, and arising from their base. Stigmas obtuse or acute. Dzsk annular, 
hypogynous. Capsule with from one to four cells, succulent or capsular; the valves fitting at their edges to the 
angles of a loose dissepiment, bearing the seeds at its base. Seeds with a small quantity of mucilaginous albumen. 
Embryo curved. Cotyledons leafy, shrivelled. Radicle inferior next the hilum. (Lindley, Veg. King.) 
This class is composed of herbaceous plants, usually twining and succulent, smooth, or with a simple pubescence ; 
sometimes erect bushes. Leaves alternate, undivided, or lobed, seldom pinnatifid, with no stipules. The plants of 
this class are possessed of two principles, which render a number of them valuable: these are resin and starch; the 
former constitutes the purgative, the latter, the nutritive principle. They grow in profusion in the tropics, but are not 
unknown to cold climates. | 
IPOM@A JALAPA. 
NUTTALL. 
Ipoma@a Purca.— Wenderoth. 
Sex. Syst.—Pentandria, Monogynia. 
Gen. Cuar.—Sepals five. Corolla campanulate. Stamens included. Style one. Stigma two-lobed ; the lobes 
capitate. Ovary two-celled. Cells two-seeded. Capsule two-celled. (Lindley.) 
SPECIF. Cuar.—Root a roundish, somewhat pear-shaped perennial tuber ; externally blackish, incrassated ; inter- 
nally white when recent, somewhat beset with fibres. Stem annual, twining, smooth, inclined to twist, reddish. 
Leaves heart-shaped, entire, smooth, conspicuously acuminated, and deeply sinuated at the base; the lower ones some- 
umes nearly hastate, or with diverging angular points; the under surface prominently veined; the footstalks often 
nearly the length of the lamina of the leaf, from the point of its insertion. Peduncles about the length of the petioles, 
ta ~ amd two, more rarely, three flowers. Calyz without bracts, five-leaved, obtuse; two of the divisions — 
Reese: ake funnel-formed, (with a clavate, cylindrical tube, and a sub-pentagonal, horizontally expanded limb, 
ee ») ac purple. Stamens five. Anthers oblong, white, somewhat exserted. Pisti/lum, germ slender and 
—. into the style. Stigma capitate. (Nuttall.) 
homage from which the true jalap is derived was, for a long time, the object of much conjecture and erroneous 
ae “ae aaa at first supposed it to be a Mirabihs, to which he gave the specific name of jalapa, but he after- 
a 3 : is goes and supposed it to be a bindweed, to which he gave the name Convolvulus jalapa. During 
Seema a » It was confounded with the Ipomea macorrhiza of Michaux. In the year 1827, Dr. J. R. Coxe, 
cada. a : eae Medica in the University of Pennsylvania, obtained from Mexico some living tubers, and 
ad Raaeee a ‘ e plant above described. The botanical account was drawn up by Mr. Nuttall, and published 
ike ki ten> eh oxe (Am. Journ. of Med. Sciences, Feb. 1830). The late Dr. M. Burrough, when Consul at Vera 
sidhin Peo » Sent some living tubers to Philadelphia, and some of them being placed in the hands of Dr. Wood, the 
essor In the University, a verification of all the statements of Dr. Coxe was made, thus most satisfactorily 
Settling thi 
ee tehad question. About the time Dr. Coxe’s paper appeared, Dr. Schiede and Dr. Wenderoth described 
. th 4 
