BOOK III. C II A P. Vill. 815 



The root, fliced and preferved, opens the body. It has fometiincs 

 been dried, powdered, and adniiiiiflered for jalap; i^ purges mode- 

 rately, but requires to be given in too large a quantity. The root 

 fcarcely differs from that of the true jalap in appearance ; one pound 

 weight of it yields about half an ounce of refin ; but the fame 

 quantity of the true jalap root gives from an ounce and an half to two 

 ounces; and as the purgative quality lies in the refinous part, the 

 difference between the two roots in their operation may be eafily 

 accounted for. 



The true jalap is a convolvulus plant, climbing upon trees, ha» 

 a milky, knotted, multangular, reddidi flalk ; with here and there 

 folitary leaves, which are tender, very green, and heart-formed. 

 The flowers mcnopetalous, with four indentations; the outfide of 

 a pale rofe-colour, but purple on the inlide towards the bottom^ 

 and {landing in a capfulc ; after the flowers follow the feeds, about 

 the fize of peas a little comprefled, and contained in an umbilical 

 c'lfta. The outfide of the root is rugofe, brown, of an oblong form 

 and large. Dr. Houfl;on carried two or three of thefe plants from 

 the Spanifli Weft-Indies to Jamaica, where he fet theai in a gar- 

 den ; but they were afterwards rooted up and deftroyed by hogs. 



They are eafily procureable from the Spanifh Main, and might 

 be propagated in this ifland, by a fmall degree of care and attentiort 

 given to fuch as may be introduced for trial. 



The Afckpias (4th) of Browne^ p, 183. " Scandens villofa 

 " major, foliis et capfulis majoribus ovatis." 



" Climbing Afckpias with large pods.''' 

 And the 5th of the fame, " minor fcandens foliis rariffmiis, floribus 

 " paucioribus racemofis racemis fparfis." 



" Smaller climbing Afckpias," which are both claffed by him under, 

 the Ipecacuanha tribe, feem to approach neareft. 



The former was found in Portland and St. Thomas in the Eafti 

 tlie latter is more frequent in the lower fwampy lands. 



176. Barbadoes Pride, or Flower Fence, — Poinciana, 



This fhrub frequently rifes to the height of fix or feven feet, and 

 bears an elegant flower. Sir H. Sloane calls itfena fpuria, arborea^ 

 fpinofa, or baftard fena, and it comes very near to the Alexandrine- 



