﻿244 THE NATURAL HISTOR 



MARCGRAVIA I. Scandens, foliis caulinis fubrotundis, ad margines glan- 

 dularis-, ramorum integris, ovqtis, altemis, dijiiche 

 Jitis; fori bus umbellatis terminalibus. Tab. 26. 

 Marcgravia. L. Sp. PI. 6c Plum. Gen. , 



Philitidi fcandenti affinis major, &c. Slo. Cat. 15. & H. t. 28. 





The climbing Marcgravia* 



This curious plant is frequent in the woods of Jamaica j and appears in fuch 

 various forms, that it has been often miftaken for different plants, in the different 

 ftages of its growth. It is but a flender weakly climber at hrft, (See Tab. 26. f. 1.) 

 and, as it riles, throws out a few leaves, fomewhat of the form of a heart, on both 

 lides : thefe are fuftained by very fhort foot-ftalks, and ftand always oppofite to a 

 number of flender radical fibres, whereby it flicks and grows to its fupporter. By 



thefe means the plant continues its growth 



top, and lays its trunk 



branches are plain, of an oblong oval form, with a fmooth membranous edge 

 while thofe of the younger plants are always obferved to have many little glands 

 fet gradually round the margin. 



ARGEMONE 1. Spinofum fucco luteo turgidiim. 

 Argemone capitulis quinquevalvibus, foliis Jpinofs, L. Sp. PI. & H. C. 

 Papaver fpinofum. C. B. 



The yellow Thiftle. 



This plant is pretty common in all the fugar- colonies, where the feeds are looked 

 upon as an excellent remedy, and frequently administered by the inhabitants, in 

 diarrhoeas, and bloody-fluxes : they have a pungent warm tafte ; but it does not ma- 

 nifeft itfelf for fome time upon the palate. They work both by ftool and vomit, and 

 have been frequently adminiftered in the dry belly-ach, by the good women ; but we 

 have much fafer and better medicines for both thefe diforders; though this may be 

 adminiftered with fuccefs, where the parts are relaxed or weakly j or the diforder 

 proceeds from an indigeftion; which is frequently the cafe in thofe climates. 



As this medicine is given only by the country people, the dofe is yet very various ; 

 for they commonly meafure the feeds with a thimble, and give from one to five of 

 thefe (well pounded) at a time. The juice is very deterfive, and generally ufed in 

 the difeafes of the eyes : but the infufion is looked upon as a fudorific and refolu- 

 tive, which may be ufed, with fuccefs, on many occafions. 





BOCCONIA 1. Ramofa, foliis majoribus fnuatis, racemis termin 



libus. 



2 



' 



» 







commodioufly over fome of the larger branches of the tree: then it beg 

 ftrengthen, and cafts many flender, dependent, and fubdivided, branches from the 

 upper parts. But as it increafes at the top, the ftem grows thicker, feparates from 

 the fupporter, throws off its now ufelefs leaves and roots, and appears a ftrong withey 

 fhrub, whofe trunck is frequently no lefs than four or five inches in diameter. 



The branches of this plant hang always downwards, (See Tab. 26. f. 1.) bearing 

 their leaves, in an alternate but diftich order. The flowers are fuftained by long foot- 

 ftalks, and difpofed in the form of an umbella, about the extremities of the branches; 

 but the fummit, or crown of the fupporter, is conftantly adorned with four, five, or 

 more hollow, divergent, glandular bodies, that occupy the center of the umbella : 

 thefe are of an arched oblong form, obtufe and roundifh ; they are hollow within, 

 and affixed by very (bort foot-ftalks, that rife immediately from one fide of the aper- 

 ture, or opening of the gland; which is fo difpofed, as to receive the water that 

 dribbLs down along the branch in rainy weather. What the real ufe of thefe may 

 be, is not eafily determined : it is, however, remarkable, that the leaves of the 





Bocconia \ \ 





