MEDICINAL PLANTS OF JAMAICA. 217 



better for the protection of the sugar cane than the penguin, 

 which harbours rats ; and better also than lime bushes, which 

 are liable to mildew, and afterwards to communicate the dis- 

 ease to the canes. 



Logwood trees seldom grow thicker than a man's thigh. A 

 clear amber coloured gum is found on the trunks, which is in- 

 sipid to the taste, and may, I believe, have similar virtues with 

 the gum-arabic.) 



56. Hibiscus esculentus. — Okra. 



This is cultivated in gardens and inclosures as an article of 

 food. It rises to five or six feet ; has broad leaves, and yellow 

 large flowers. The pod or okra is from two to six inches long, 

 and one inch diameter. When ripe, it opens longitudinally in 

 five different places, and discharges a number of heart-shaped 

 seeds. 



The whole of this plant, like others of the columnifera, is 

 mucilaginous, especially the pods. These are gathered green, 

 cut into pieces, dried, and sent home as presents, or are boiled 

 in broths or soups for food. It is the chief ingredient in the 

 celebrated pepper-pot of the West Indies, which is no other 

 than a rich olla : the other articles are either flesh meat or 

 dried fish and capsicum. This dish is very palatable and 

 nourishing. 



As a medicine okra is employed in all cases where emol- 

 lients and lubricants are indicated. 



(The trunk of the okra is thicker than a walking-stick, and 

 it sometimes grows ten or twelve feet high. The trunk is 

 woody, and has a large pith in the middle. The leaves are 

 broad, of a deep green colour. The pods are long and fur- 

 rowed ; and when ripe they open at the grooves and discharge 

 their black seeds. All ranks are fond of this vegetable, and 

 it is justly reckoned nourishing and restorative. 



