Medical Properties of the Passiflora. 127 



Researches and Experiments on some Species of the genus 

 Passiflora. By J. B. Ricord Madianna, M. D. Read 

 March 8, 1824. 



M. Decandolle has perhaps been led into errors respect- 

 ing the medical properties of the plants composing the genus 

 Passiflora, from not having been placed in situations where 

 he could properly investigate the subject. He asserts that 

 "no species of the family of the Passiflorece is employed in me- 

 dicine ; and that the stalk and leaves do not appear to possess 

 any remarkable properties.* The fruit is pulpy, gelati- 

 nous, sweet, and edible, in almost every species ;" and he adds, 

 " that in America the fruits of the P. coccinea, P. maliformis, 

 and particularly the P. quadrangular is, are thus known." 



The researches, however, which I have been enabled to 

 make on these plants in their native situations, will satisfy the 

 medical botanist that this celebrated Professor, so distinguish- 

 ed for his accuracy in other respects, has in this instance de- 

 cided without proper examination. The P. coccinea L. bears 

 a fruit which is certainly not edible ; neither is that of the red 

 grenadilla P. rubra L., which the negroes of Guadeloupe call 

 Pomme zombi. The P. maliformis L. the fruit of which is vul- 

 garly known by the name of Pomme de la Dominique, is also 

 inedible, contrary to the assertion of that admirable botanist ; 

 and its pulp, which is difficult to be got at for its hard enve- 

 lope, is inferior to that of the P. fatida L. (mari gouja) al- 

 though the latter is in but little estimation. The flowers of 

 this plant are considered pectoral, and are used by the negroes 

 in infusion for colds, &tc. Pere Nicholson, in his work on 

 St. Domingo, attributes to it anti-hysterical properties. The 

 ashes of the plant are used by the planters in the composition 

 of a ley for purifying the juice of the cane. M. Decandolle 



* F,ssai sur Ios Proprietes Medicates des Plantes. par A. P. Decandolle. 



