832 JAMAICA. 



has unqueftionably other medicinal iifes, which, in the multiplicity of 

 healing plants, with wlilch the ifland e\'ery where abounds, are difre- 

 garded. It bears a yellow flower, which opens every day about an 

 hour before the fun comes to the meridian ; fo that this, and the mlra- 

 b'llis, or four o'clock flower, are a fort of vegetable fun-dials, corref- 

 ponding (where the days are fo nearly of equal length throughout the 

 year) with tolerable exaftnefs to determine hours or flations of the fun, 

 in the fore and afternoon. 



217. Alligator Apple, or Gork-VVood. — Annona uliginofa 



aquatica. 



It grows in great abundance about the Southfide lagoons, and on 

 the banks of feveral rivers. The fruit or apples are large, and of a cold 

 watery quality, efteemed highly narcotic, and even poilonous; but of 

 the latter, we have no certain proof: when they are ripe, and drop into 

 the water, the alligators watch their falling, and at the proper leafon of 

 the year, are faid to fubfift chiefly upon them. They have a fweetifh 

 tafle, but, perhaps, the crudity and coldnefs of their juice might make 

 them a fort of poifon to the ftomach in this climate, where even me- 

 lons and cucumbers, not duly correfted, will fometimes convulfe ir. 

 The wood of this tree is fo extremely light, that it is commonly ufed 

 by way of cork, to fl:op jugs, bottles, and cafks 3 and it makes excellent 

 floats for fifhing nets. 



218. Great Reed Mace. — Typha fol'ils fub-enfi-formlbus. 



This plant abounds in the lagoons, fwamps, and rivers, on the South 

 fide. The leaves dried make good mats, and a convenient thatch, 

 which will lafl feveral years. 



219. Morass, or Morass Weed. — Ceratophyllum. 



This is very common in all the brackifli rivers, and other waters ; 

 and is generally ufed for covering fifli, or aquatic plants, inch as water- 

 crefs, and the like, that are fent fome difl:ance inland ; for it i-etains a 

 great deal of moifiure, which keeps them frefli and cool for a coiilider- 

 able time. Where it can conveniently be obtained, it is very proper 

 to be laid round the tender feeds of the cacao, for a few days after they 

 are planted, or about the young plants ; it might likewife be found a, 



ufeful 



