MKDICINAL PLANTS OF JAMAICA. 2jl)7 



43. Croton elkutheiua *. 



This tree is common near the sea shore, and rises to about 

 twenty feet. The leaves are from two to three inches long, 

 and of a proportional breadth. On the upper side they are 

 waved, and of a rusty colour ; on the under side they are 

 ribbed, ai>d have a fine glossy or silvery appearance. 



From the axillae they have numerous small spikes, with a 

 great quantity of white, small, and fragrant flowers. The 

 capsule is tricoccous, like other crotons. 



The bark is the same as the cascarilla and eleutheria of the 

 shops. Medical writers have supposed these to be distinct 

 barks, and they are sold in the shops as different productions ; 

 but, when strictly examined, they prove to be one and the 

 same bark. 



Linn^eus's Croton cascarilla is the wild rosemary shrub of 

 Jamaica, the bark of which has none of the sensible qualities 

 of cascarilla. 



44. Daphne lagetto. — Alligator Bark, or Lace-Bark Tree. 



Sir Hans Sloane has figured a sprig of this tree, but did 

 not see the flowers or seeds. Dr Bkowne, in his Natural 

 History of Jamaica, is equally at a loss with respect to it ; 

 and botanists were unacquainted with this plant till the year 

 1777, when I brought complete specimens of it from Jamaica, 

 and Sir Joseph Banks, Dr Solan uer, and myself, settled 

 it as a species of Daphne. 



The tree grows on the high rocky hills to twenty feet high. 

 The trunks are straight ; the wood is soft ; the bark is thick, 

 and may be separated into twenty or thirty lamina, white and 

 fine, like gauze. Of this, caps, ruffles, and even whole suits 

 of ladies 1 clothes, have been made. 



It has the sensible qualities of mezereon, but in a greatej 



* Gluiia E/utcria, Linn 



