278 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 



Plumbago scandens. Guajjote. Rubefacient. 



PoRTULACA OLERACEA. Decoction is anthelmintic and refreshing. 



PoRTULACA PILOSA. Verdolaga salvaje. A bitter and tonic. 



ScoPARiA DULCis. Raiz de escobilla. A decoction used to restrain 

 diarrhea and vomiting. 



SiDA RHOMIFOLIA. Escobtt blatica 6 babosa. The root is a diuretic. 



Spondias lutea. Corteza de Jobo. A decoction is used to cauterize 

 stubborn ulcers. 



Stachytarpheta jamaicensis. Verbena. A bitter, tonic, and 

 febrifuge. 



Trixis radiale. Juan de la Calle. Antirheumatic. 



TuRNERA DIFFUSA. Contains damiana, a stimulant tonic; in large 

 quantities a laxative. 



TuRNERA ULMIFOLIA. Carminative and tonic. 



Distribntion of the Plants. 



It may easily be seen from the description of the physical features 

 of the island that the variety of the vegetative conditions is very great 

 and also that the conditions for vegetative growth are much more 

 favorable in the rainy than in the dry season. The distribution of the 

 plants is naturally determined by their adaptation to particular con- 

 ditions. 



Bordering the sandy beaches are bushes of Tournefortia gnapha- 

 lodes and Suriana maritima, both of these being narrow-leaved, and 

 the former being Avoolly-pubescent. Croton flavens is a similar plant. 

 Next inland occur the low spiny bushes of Castela Nicholsoni. The 

 small and long-rooted Euphorbia buxifolia grows in the sand dunes 

 and near by are the small trees of Bumelia cuneata and Guaiacum 

 officinale. On the exposed rocky shores by Juan Griego, Euphorbia 

 thyviifolia grows in abundance in almost no soil. 



The region nearest in character to the seashore is the lagoon. This 

 is often bordered by Rhizophora Mangle, Laguncularia racemosa, 

 and Avicennia nitida, all shrubby or aborescent plants. On clear 

 sandy stretches by the lagoons and sometimes partly submerged in 

 the water are the low succulent plants, Batis, Salicornia, and Trian- 

 thema. Mingled with these in the drier places are Alternanthera 

 canescens and Iresine portidacoides , both having a low sprawling habit. 

 On the muddy shores of the brackish pond near Juan Griego grow the 



