MEDICINAL PLANTS OF JAMAICA. -fc*2l5 



Admiral Rodney, with many other valuable plants, captured 

 in a French ship by Captain Marshall. 



This plant was but young when I saw it ; but, as it was 

 healthy, and carefully attended to in Mr East's garden, it is 

 hoped it will thrive, and in time be propagated by the seeds. 



In Amboyna, and several other parts of the East Indies, 

 sago is made from this tree. 



The pith is beaten into a stiff paste ; then granulated 

 through a sieve, in o the same manner as the grains of gun- 

 powder are formed. 



The sago powder sold in the shops is merely the starch of 

 potatoes ; and the tapioca of the Brazils is the starch of cas- 

 sada. 



See the. articles Jatropha and Maranta. 



91. Phoenix dactylifera Date Tree. 



This tree is not indigenous, but was introduced soon after 

 the conquest of the island by the Spaniards. There are, how- 

 ever, but few of them in Jamaica at this time. The fruit is 

 served up as a desert ; and the kernels yield an oil, or but- 

 ter, similar to the palm oil from Guinea. 



There are several other palms growing wild in Jamaica, 

 viz. the mountain thatch, the palmeto thatch, the palmeto 

 royal, &c. The fruit is either a drupa, or a berry, and all 

 of them have one or more nuts, which contain a kernel that 

 yields oil. This circumstance, with the great resemblance in 

 their habit, makes them truly a natural class, or family. 



