75© JAMAICA. 



56. Yaw-weed, or upright Woodbind, or Honey-suckle, with 

 oval leaves — Morinda, an P.cnclymenum ? 



There are feveral fpecles of this plant ; it is common in the low- 

 lands, and frequently found climbing among the bufhes in all the 

 lower hills ; one of them, which rifes to the height of twelve feet, and 

 bears fcarlet flowers, is fuppofed to be the Chili itiu, or periclymenum, 

 ufed by the Indians in dying. The roots of all thefe fpecies, boiled, 

 colour linens of a dark hue, and probably might be a ufetul ingredient 

 among the dyers ; for they will make a tolerable ink : and it is affirmed, 

 that the colour is fo permanent, it cannot be wafhed out. 



The peridymenuin of Jamaica, with round bunches of flowers at the 

 end of the branches, and oval leaves, growing in whirls, with foot 

 ftalks, the flowers of a coral-colour, feems to approach neareft in affi- 

 nity to that oi Chili. It rifes with a flirubby flalk, ten or twelve feet 

 high, fending out many (lender branches, covered with a light brown 

 bark, and garniflied with oval leaves, near two inches long, and one 

 inch and a quarter broad; four of them coming out at each joint, in 

 whirls round the ftalk ; they fland upon fliort foot-ftalks, and have 

 one ftrong mid-rib, with feveral veins running from the mid-rib to the 

 fides. The flowers appear in round bunches at the end of the branches ; 

 they are of a deep coral colour on their outfide, but of a pale red 

 within. 



That of Chili agrees in moft points, except that the bark is greyidi, 

 the leaves are pointed, and the flowers are fucceeded by oval berries, 

 the fize of fmall olives, and are cut into four fegments at the top. 



Some varieties may happen in plants of the fame genus from foil 

 and climate ; but as all of this clafs in Jamaica are found to pofTefs this 

 dyeing quality, in fome degree, fo the fuperiority may be decided by 

 Ikilful experiment ; and there is no doubt, but thefe roots may become 

 a valuable addition to the articles proper for export, if, upon trial, 

 they are found not to lofe their quality, by moderate keeping, or in 

 their dry ftate. 



^'j. SwEET-wooD, or Shrubby Sweet-wood — Atnyrls. 



Profeflor Linnaus, having obtained a fpecimcn of the balfam of 

 Mecca tree, was of opinion, that it was a fpecies of this genus. 



Mr. 



