67 



employed in soups, to render them thick, rich, and nourishing. 

 It is an important ingredient in the peculiar dish of the country, 

 called calalou. An infusion of the fruit, and also the leaves, is 

 much recommended in affections of the urinary organs. It is 

 a common opinion in Egypt, that the use of this vegetable pro- 

 tects against the attacks of stone or gravel. It has also been 

 recommended in cases of consumption. Barham mentions, 

 that by the constant use of the Okra as food, he cured in 12 

 months a case of this disease. The pods, with the seeds, dried 

 and reduced to a powder, may be preserved for a length of time, 

 and employed to thicken soups or broths. This plant grows in 

 the hottest and dryest parts of the Island, and is in constant 

 bearing. It does not thrive in the higher mountains. It is 

 said to have originally been a native of the Old World. 



5. Hibiscus Abelmoschus. Musk Okrci. 



Leaves subpeltate cordate 3-or sub-5-lobed acumin- 

 ate serrated, stem hirsute, peduncles longer than the 

 petiole, involucellum 8-9-leaved, calyx bursting 

 longitudinally, capsule pyramidal 5-sided setose. 



Alcea hirsuta, semine moschato, Marcgr. Bras. 45. t. 45. 

 Browne, 285. Hibiscus Abelmoschus, Cav. diss. III. t. 62. f. 

 2. Willd. Sp. III. 826. De Cand. Prod. I. 452. 



HAB. Cultivated : rarely found wild. 



FL. Throughout the year. 



Suffruticose, seldom lasting longer than a year, about 4 feet 

 in height, hirsute. Leaves 3-nerved, hirsute above, stellato- 

 hirsute beneath. Peduncles axillary, solitary. Calyx cleft on 

 one side, 5-toothed. Petals sulphur-yellow, with the claws 

 crimson. Stigmata 5, capitate, velvety. Capsule pyramidal, 

 5-sided, setose : seeds numerous, of a musky smell. 



This plant evidently belongs, from the character of the 

 calyx, to the 3d Section, Manihot of De Candolle. It is sup- 

 posed to be a native of both Indies. The seeds are warm to 

 the taste, and have a strong musky odour. They are said to 

 be emetic, and it has been proposed to employ them in nervous 

 and spasmodic diseases as a substitute for the more expensive 

 drug, which it resembles, at least, in smell. According to M. 

 de Humboldt, they are given, by the Spaniards of New 

 Andalusia, as a remedy for the bite of the Rattle-snake. The 

 Arabians also are said to perfume their coffee with them in the 

 state of powder. They are sometimes employed to adulterate 

 genuine musk, and as a substitute for it in perfumery. 



6. Hibiscus Subdariffa. Indian Sorrel. 

 Leaves dentate, lower ones ovate undivided, upper 



