76o JAMAICA. 



71. VfeLVET-LEAF. — Clematis baccifera, &c. SI. Hift. p. 20Q. 



This plant grows in great plenty commonly amongft ebony- 

 trees, climbing about them. Its leaves are as foft as velvet, round- 

 ing, of a yellovvifh-green colour. It is a great vulnerary, ap- 

 plying only one of the leaves to the wound ; and heals ulcers in the 

 lungs, a fyrup being made with the leaves and roots; which has 

 performed very extraordinary cures in confumptive cafes. 



72. Vervain. — Verbena, folio fubrotundo, ferratOy Jiore caruleo^ 



This differs not in appearance from the Englifh vervain in leaf, 

 flower, or feed, except that the leaf is fomewhat rounder, and it 

 is green here all the year round. It is efteemed a very powerful 

 remedy in worm-cafes. The death of moft children in America is 

 occafioned by thefe reptiles, which are propagated (it has been fup- 

 pofed) by too great indulgence in fruits. The juice of the vervain- 

 leaves, joined with the contrayerva, and made into infufion with 

 Madeira wine, expels them, and checks the fever confequent to 

 thefe diforders. 



73. Hog WEED. — Boerhavia, Browne, p. 123. 



This Is tliought to be a fpecies of valerian. The leaves are ga- 

 thered for the hogs, who devour them very greedily ; and they are 

 looked upon as a fattening and wholefome food for them. 



74. Broad-leafed Commelina. — Commelina, foliis ovato-Ian- 

 ceolatisy acutis, caule procumbente glabra . 



This plant is an annual ; has oval, fpear-fliaped, pointed leaves, 



and a fmooth, trailing ftalk, near two feet long : thefe put out roots 



at the joints, which ftrike into the ground. At each joint is one 



oval, fpear-fhaped leaf, ending in a point. The flowers come out 



from the bofom of the leaves, inclofed in a fpatha, which is com- 



preffed and fhut up. It is an excellent fodder for moft kinds of 



cattle. 



y^. Rush. — Scirpus. 



There are fix fpecies, growing in moifl: places and ditches, ob- 



fervable in this Ifland. The fmaller are proper for candles ; thp 



larger for mats and chair- bottoms, 



y6. Reed- 



